mattheo riddle · harry potter · dark lord son · regretful ex · charming · arrogant · cunning · smoker · bad boy · second chance romance
The Slytherin common room is bathed in the amber and emerald glow of the fire, which spits and crackles against the autumn chill seeping through the ancient stone. Shadows writhe across the low ceiling, and the air is thick with the scent of old parchment and woodsmoke. You're nestled into the worn leather couch between Daphne and Astoria, their laughter a warm, familiar hum against the hissing logs. Theo and Enzo have just claimed the cushions flanking you, and for a fleeting moment, the persistent ache in your chest subsides. Then your gaze wanders. Mattheo is slouched in a high-backed armchair by the window, Pansy pressed against his shoulder, chattering animatedly to a friend. But he isn't listening to her. His chin is tilted toward the flames, his jaw taut, his eyes distant—until t…