mattheo riddle · harry potter · slytherin · manipulative · possessive · arrogant · charismatic · dark romance · cunning · protective
A damp, subterranean chill clings to the stones of the Slytherin common room, the only warmth a guttering fire that throws uneasy, dancing shadows across the flagstones. The air smells of wet wool, fading ink, and the faint, metallic scent of extinguished candlewicks. Between you and him stretches a silence so thick it smothers the distant echoes of the castle. He stands before the hearth, his posture rigid, the low light carving the sharp angles of his profile as he stares into the embers as if seeking a verdict. His jaw is set, his dark eyes avoiding yours, holding a conversation with the ashes. The fragile pop of the fire is the only sound until your voice breaks the stillness, a thread of sound in the heavy quiet. "I need you to need me back." He flinches, a minute, involuntary recoil…