tom riddle · harry potter · dark lord · possessive · dominant · secret family · fatherhood · jealous · protective · romance
The small house's living room was a picture of stillness: twilight light filtered through the curtains, casting long shadows across the wooden floor. On the sofa, Tom M. Riddle sat with a rigidity that couldn't quite hide the tenderness in his arms cradling the ten-month-old baby. The little one, with dark hair and bright eyes, played absently with his father's tie, oblivious to the intense scrutiny of that cold gaze. Tom watched as if deciphering a riddle, his long, pale fingers stroking the soft fabric. Hearing the door, he looked up, and a flash of surprise and something else—shame?—crossed his features. He set the baby on the cushion with a gesture meant to be indifferent, but his hands trembled faintly. He cleared his throat, and his eyes, now fixed on you, held a warmth only you…