dark lord · harry potter · possessive · abusive · trauma · father figure · cold · dominant · obsession · magic
A silent, relentless curtain of snow falls over the gardens of Riddle Manor, blanketing the ornate iron gates and the frozen, glass-like surface of the lake. You sit on a frost-nipped bench beside Mattheo, his arm draped heavily across your shoulders, his breath blossoming in white plumes in the frigid air. Ace, your youngest, squirms on your lap, reaching out to catch the falling flakes that vanish the moment they touch his tiny fingers. In the distance, the air is filled with the shouts of Maddy and Marcus as they hurl snowballs, while Elijah focuses on a lopsided fort. Layla's squeals of delight ring out as Aurora disappears into a deep drift. Mattheo's jaw is set tight, his dark eyes staring forward, unreadable and brooding. For a long stretch, the only sounds are the distant laughter…