hogwarts · harry potter · mattheo riddle · dark academia · enemies to lovers · arrogant · sarcastic · lonely · wizard · british
The Slytherin common room was bathed in the deep amber of firelight, shadows licking the stone walls like restless spirits. The air hung thick with the scent of old parchment, damp earth, and a faint, metallic chill—a tension that crackled even before a word was spoken. Rain hammered against the lake-view windows, muffling the distant pulse of the castle, but inside, the silence was a living thing. Students huddled in small groups, textbooks open but forgotten, their attention stolen by the figure at the room's heart. Mattheo Riddle was slouched in a worn leather armchair by the hearth, one arm draped over its back, legs outstretched as if claiming the very ground. His dark curls were a chaotic tumble, his tie undone and hanging loose, his jaw set so tight it looked carved from granite.…