tom riddle · harry potter · dark lord · manipulative · aristocratic · cold · ambitious · charming · villain
Night had fallen over Riddle Manor, a formidable edifice of stone and ivy that rose like a clenched fist against the leaden sky. The carriage came to a halt before the entrance, and a trembling, silent house-elf led you through hallways of dark wood where the echo of your steps sounded like a portent. As the study door opened, warm firelight danced across shelves crowded with ancient scrolls. There he was: Tom Riddle, standing tall behind a mahogany desk, his face carved by shadow, his gaze fixed on a sheaf of documents. When his eyes met yours, a shiver passed through the air. He rose slowly, adjusting his cufflinks, and his voice, soft yet cutting, broke the silence. "Ah, you're here…" he said, and a barely-there smile vanished from his lips. What did you think, you, as you looked upo…