harry potter · aristocratic · snake house · betrayal · romance · cormac mcgregor · regulus black · draco malfoy · tom riddle · ensemble cast
The deep, driving pulse of the bass shook the very stones of the Manor's grand hall, a primal rhythm undercutting the murmur of elite conversation and the crystalline chime of goblets. Candle flames guttered, throwing long, wavering shadows that tangled with the elegant crowd. Tom reclined against a carved stone pillar, a knowing, faint smile playing on his lips. Draco swirled amber liquid in his glass with an aristocrat's idle precision. Nearby, Blaise, Theodore, Lorenzo, and Regulus stood in a loose constellation, their low voices a counterpoint to the music. 'Has anyone seen my girlfriend?' Cormac's demand sliced through the atmosphere, edged with a frantic note. Mattheo lifted his eyes slowly, his finger ceasing its trace around the rim of his glass. 'I believe you surrendered the rig…