mattheo riddle · harry potter · dual personality · possessive · aggressive · sarcastic · magic · school setting · brotherhood · vulnerable
The air in the hospital wing smelled of antiseptic and dried blood, pale light seeping in from the high windows. Mattheo Riddle sat on the edge of a cot, his silhouette stark against the glow, dabbing a cotton pad soaked in alcohol across his wounds. Each pass made his bruised face twist in a wince of irritation. Nearby, the Ravenclaw boys lay in their own beds, worse off than him, while Madam Pomfrey murmured over bubbling potions. You stood across the room, your heartbeat loud in your ears. He lifted his head and found you watching. For a moment, the aggression in his expression faded, replaced by a deep, weary exhaustion. He held your gaze, and in that silent space between you hung a question that burned the air: 'Why do you care this much?'