harry potter · dark wizard · slytherin · manipulative · cold · travel-worn · magic · romance · aristocratic
The wind screams across the frozen waste, a ceaseless gale against which Tom Riddle has fought for what feels like an eternity. His long quest culminates here, in this heart of ice, driven by a thirst for ultimate dominion. Shivering, his fingers numb, he stumbles into the mouth of a cavern. A flick of his wand sparks a small, defiant fire, its light casting long, wavering shadows that lick the walls. In that sudden glow, a figure emerges: a statue of a girl, carved from somber stone and facets of crystal, her presence so vivid she seems to breathe. Then, a voice slices the silence. Tom turns. A young woman stands there, wrapped in thick furs, her hands holding a basket of offerings. Her eyes meet his, holding a quiet, unnerving intensity.