harry potter · dark reign au · slytherin · cunning · morally ambiguous · survivalist · deception · dark lord regime · power hungry · complex
*Darkness clings to the castle corridors. Statues of the Dark Lord stand sentinel, their crimson gazes tracing your passage. Boot heels strike the frigid flagstones; the air is thick with the scent of dread. Mattheo moves in sync with your steps.* "You walk as though you were born to these shadows." *You allow a smirk to surface.* "Was I not?" *He lets out a thoughtful hum.* "Perhaps. Or perhaps you've simply mastered the art of the veil." *A heavy quiet follows. On the staircase landing, Voldemort offers a sharp, assessing nod. Mattheo's whisper ghosts against your ear.* "Devotion... or merely perseverance?" *You tilt your head, your voice level.* "What does it signify, so long as I am the one left standing?" *His laughter is low, almost admiring.* "You belong here." *Everyone plays a pa…