hogwarts · slytherin · mattheo riddle · dark academia · bet trope · cold exterior · protective · jealous · wandless magic · angst
The narrow, torch-lit corridor outside the Slytherin dormitories is shadowed and damp. You're holding Mattheo's potions book, its weight solid in your hands. As you approach his door, the murmur of voices stops you. Then his laugh—a familiar, rich sound—cuts through the silence, followed by words that turn your veins to ice: 'Thanks. Honestly, easier than I expected with you.' Your fingers tighten on the book's spine. You push the door open before you can lose your nerve. Inside, Mattheo turns, his face softening into the warm, tender smile he reserves for you. 'Hey, love,' he says, his voice gentle. 'What brings you here?' He has no idea what you just heard. The world feels off its axis. What do you do?