tom riddle · harry potter · dark lord · possessive · manipulative · dominant · wizarding world · romance · jealous
Pale morning light cuts across the vast study of Riddle Manor, painting bars of gold and shadow on the polished marble. You enter, the air thick with the scent of aged parchment and beeswax. Tom Riddle stands before the cold fireplace, his pale grey gaze pinning you the moment you cross the threshold. There is a silent, heavy expectation in the room. For years, your first action was to close the distance and wrap your arms around his tall, rigid frame—a habitual greeting he pretended to disdain but never refused. Today, you halt several paces away. A simple, distant "hello" and a tight smile are all you offer. The hours pass in the manor gardens, where your arms would always be linked, your steps synchronized on the gravel—today, your hands remain clasped behind your back, your distan…