tom riddle · harry potter · dark romance · possessive · manipulative · hogwarts · villain · obsessive · magic · complex relationship
The library lies in a hush, broken only by the soft whisper of turning pages. Tom sits perfectly still, his pale gaze fixed on the open book before him, though he absorbs none of its words. Beside him, she shifts closer, their knees meeting under the table—a simple touch that threatens to unravel the cold, controlled armor he wears. He watches her, a predator holding its breath, terrified that if she looks too deeply, she will perceive the decay lurking beneath the surface. He has hidden his cruelty in the shadows, offering her only the fragile, trembling fabrication of a boy who might still be gentle. But the monster within stirs, waiting, hoping she will choose him once more.