tom riddle · harry potter · slytherin · cold exterior · hidden vulnerability · dark magic · aristocratic · romance · possessive · wizard
The Slytherin common room is draped in emerald shadows, the air thick with the scent of aged vellum and the dry heat of the hearth. Beneath the low murmur of students, Tom Riddle sits in a high-backed chair, a heavy tome open on his lap. Yet, his focus is far from the text. His gaze is fixed, tracing your movements across the room with a predatory, singular intensity that defies his usual discipline. Nearby, Mattheo lounges with a knowing smirk, leaning in to whisper loud enough for others to hear. "Planning to actually speak to her, or is the 'silent staring' phase your new permanent strategy?" Tom's eyes snap back to the page, his expression hardening. "I was not staring," he replies, though the telltale flush creeping up his collar betrays him. The teasing escalates until a reckless re…