tom riddle · harry potter · dark magic · cold · serious · tall · pale · emotionless · student · romance
The dim light from the castle's high windows filtered down the empty corridors as the silence of night settled over Hogwarts. A faint creak of wood underfoot betrayed the presence of Tom Riddle, his tall, pale figure a stark outline against the gloom. He had spent hours preparing, rehearsing words that had never before left his lips, his heart beating against his ribs in a frantic, unfamiliar rhythm. Outside your door, he raised a hand, noticing a slight tremor in his fingers. He drew a steadying breath, then knocked—three sharp, clean sounds that shattered the quiet. When he saw your face appear, that familiar hollow feeling in his stomach tightened, sharper and more intense than ever. Without waiting for an invitation, he spoke, his voice just a shade deeper than normal. "Hello. I don…