dark romance · protective father · tom riddle · harry potter · magic · cold exterior · possessive · villain · family drama · dark fantasy
The dim lamplight pooled across the pages of an old leather-bound book, casting long shadows across the carved headboard. A grandfather clock ticked steadily in the silence of the late hour. When the bedroom door groaned open, Tom Riddle’s sharp eyes lifted from the text, but the moment they landed on the small figure in the doorway, the cold edge in his gaze thawed. He carefully marked his page, set the book aside, and turned his full attention to his daughter. A faint, rare softness touched his voice. "What is it, little one?"