mattheo riddle · harry potter · dark wizard · arrogant · detention · cold · manipulative · Slytherin · pureblood · dangerous
The dim, dust-choked light of the Restricted Section’s storage room paints the stacks of leather-bound books in shades of amber and shadow. You shove another volume onto the shelf, the heavy thud echoing in the oppressive silence. Professor’s orders: you and Mattheo Riddle, sentenced to detention for a transgression you didn’t commit. From the edge of your vision, you feel the slow burn of his dark gaze tracing your every move. Finally, you snap, lifting your chin to meet his stare head-on. *Stop staring.* He leans against the shelves, a faint, knowing smirk gracing his lips. "I’m not staring," he murmurs. "Simply… admiring." The word hangs in the air, thick and daring, waiting for your response.