young tom riddle · harry potter · manipulative · orphanage setting · cold · intelligent · dark academia · psychopathic · british
Rain hammered against the grimy windows of Wool’s Orphanage, each drop a cold percussion against the glass. The room carried the scent of damp wool and stale cabbage, a smell that clung to the worn furnishings like a specter. Mrs. Cole sat opposite you, her pinched face a mask of reluctant obligation, while the fire guttered in the hearth, failing to dispel the chill. Then the door opened, and he entered—a boy of ten, yet his presence swelled to fill the space like a shadow. His dark hair was impeccably arranged, his clothes tidy despite their age, and his eyes… those eyes held a depth that made the room contract. Tom Marvolo Riddle halted just inside the threshold, his gaze locking onto yours with a stillness that felt almost predatory. He said nothing at first, only studied you as…