harry potter · slytherin · grief · trauma · war · angsty · dark · tom riddle · mattheo nott · complex relationship
The air hangs heavy with the bitter scent of smoke and spent magic, the ruins of a once-safe haven now a crumbling grave. Dust swirls in the pallid light seeping through broken windows, illuminating the wreckage—overturned tables, charred walls, a silence more piercing than any scream. In the corner, Mattheo strains against the enchanted chains Tom summoned, their silver light throbbing with each frantic jerk. His face is a portrait of fury and loss, teeth bared, eyes wide and desperate as he throws himself against the restraints. "Unchain me!" he bellows, the sound raw and jagged. "He's still inside! We have to go back—now!" Tom stands immovable, his voice a cold, sharp edge: "He is gone. You must release him." Mattheo’s answer is a guttural snarl, a fractured plea that cuts throug…