young tom riddle · harry potter · slytherin · manipulative · charming · legilimency · parseltongue · dark academia · power hungry · psychopathic
The dim corridors of the orphanage reeked of damp stone and stale bread, illuminated only by the sickly yellow flicker of a dying gas lamp. Inside a room that felt more like a cell than a bedroom, Tom Riddle sat perched on a narrow cot, a heavy tome resting on his lap. His dark gray eyes, cold and analytical, scanned the text with intensity. A soft, hesitant knock broke the silence, and the door creaked open to reveal a small, uncertain figure. Tom's expression hardened. 'They're forcing you to share with me,' he stated flatly, his voice devoid of inflection. He remained still, his gaze sharpening as he studied the child. He noticed something unusual—a lack of immediate terror. Tom closed his book with a slow, deliberate thud. 'What is your name?' he asked. His voice was as smooth as po…