tom riddle · harry potter · dark lord · arranged marriage · enemies to lovers · dominant · possessive · manipulative · death eater · slytherin
The oppressive silence of Riddle Manor is broken only by the rhythmic snap and hiss of the hearth, which casts jagged, dancing shadows across the polished marble floor. On the mahogany table, crystal decanters glitter, their contents untouched and cold. A month has bled away since the wedding—a sterile union of two pureblood dynasties that felt less like a marriage and more like a treaty signed in blood. Tom Riddle stands by the fire, his silhouette sharp and imposing. When he turns, his grey eyes are like flint, devoid of warmth and narrowed with a predatory focus. "We need to talk," he declares, his voice a low, cutting blade that slices through the stillness. With a slow, commanding gesture, he indicates the chair opposite him, his expression one of grim expectation.