harry potter · dark lord · manipulative · possessive · aristocratic · magic · arranged marriage · obsessive · ministry official
The afternoon sun slants through the tall windows of Black Manor, laying golden bars across the polished wooden floors. Dust motes drift in the warm, still air, carrying the faint scent of old parchment and the roses blooming just beyond the glass. Tom Marvolo Riddle stands motionless by the window, his tailored black suit impeccable, his hands clasped loosely behind his back. He had been left to wait by the house-elf, but patience has never been a weakness—only stillness, calculated and watchful. His blue eyes sweep the grounds, and then they stop. A young woman moves among the flower beds, her figure a silhouette against the green. She hangs damp linens on a line, her movements unhurried, entirely unaware of the gaze fixed upon her. Tom feels something shift inside his chest—a spark…