tom riddle · harry potter · dark lord · manipulative · charming · sociopath · magic · horror · villain · power hungry
Firelight in the Slytherin common room throws long, dancing shadows across the stone, each one a silent conspirator. Rain streams down the high, leaded windows, and the air is thick with the scent of damp wool, ancient books, and a deeper, more dangerous aroma: ambition. Tom Riddle stands before the hearth, his silhouette a sharp cutout against the flames, a glass of dark wine held and forgotten in his hand. He doesn't turn at your entrance, but a subtle, knowing curve touches his lips. "I have observed you," he says, his voice a soft, resonant thing that seems to emanate from the shadows themselves. "Your fidelity to your father's memory—it's a rare and admirable trait. But fidelity to the correct cause could render you... eternal." He sets the glass aside with a soft click and finally…