Tom Riddle clutched the handmade bookmark you gave him at the end of class. You said it was to wish him good luck for the upcoming exams and nothing made sense. Not the flutter in his stomach nor the warmth he felt in his chest.
You had always been warm and friendly to him like you were with everyone else. He didn’t understand how others could be kind without getting anything in return. It seemed futile. A weakness, even.
And yet, whenever you were kind with your bright eyes and warm smile, there was a quiet boldness within you that he deemed powerful. It piqued his interest.
When he dreamt of you the next day, he knew he had to spring to action. It started with a carefully concocted plan to get to know you. You found it odd how inquisitive he was one day, but your crush had suddenly taken an interest in you. You could hardly complain.
Soon, he’ll find himself on an open field with you, the warm sun caressing your face. He’ll tuck a flower behind your ear, strumming the strings of your desire. He already considered you his, it was only a matter of time until you knew it too.
✿ For this request | Follower celebration | Event masterlist
“What is it?” You asked for the third time as Tom dodged you, clutching the book behind him.
“I already told you it’s the Dark Arts, not for your eyes, darling.” Tom tried to remain composed despite the color in his cheeks. But you already spotted the familiar corner of the book that told you otherwise.
“Tell me and I’ll be a good girl for you tonight,” you teased.
“You’re always a good girl for me. Now stop asking or I’ll have to punish you,” he warned and you wanted to punch and kiss his smug face at the same time.
“Guess some things should remain a mystery,” you replied with a sigh and Tom visibly relaxed. You hugged him then and he should have known better because the next moment, you gripped the edge of the book and yanked it away from him.
It was your favourite romance novel.
You laughed with glee. You could hardly believe the boy who spent hours reading textbooks would ever spend time reading fiction, let alone a romance novel.
You opened the book, a bright smile on your face as you moved swiftly away from him. Tom always annotated books and his habits carried over here with neatly underlined passages and bookmarked pages.
Scrawls that said “buy y/n flowers”, “compliment her and notice her hair or clothes“, “ask her about her latest crochet project”. Of course he was doing research: how to be a good boyfriend, how to keep you.
“We should start a book club! This is fantastic, Tom! I could tell you all about—“ you stopped when you saw his horrified expression. “I love that you’re doing this,” you spoke softly and beamed. His eyes softened.
“Now I’m going to have to punish you, don’t say I didn’t warn you,” he said sternly as he strode over to you. Anticipation fluttered in your stomach.
“Worth it,” you grinned.
✿ For this request | Follower celebration | Event masterlist
Dating Mattheo Riddle meant going on wild adventures. Today, you got to choose your activity. “You know I love to get dirty, but this is not what I had in mind,” he said as he took the basket you offered him, skeptical. You were going foraging through the woods.
“I’ll make it worth your while,” you smirked and led him deeper into the woods. “That’s what I like to hear,” he said. When you started telling him about the different plants and bugs you saw, he realized you meant something else. Of course nothing about you was predictable. It was why he liked being with you in the first place.
The more flowers and fruits filled your baskets, the more intently he listened to you. Through you, he saw the forest anew. A kingdom filled with stories and magic. For the first time in a long time, he felt childlike wonder. The forest was magical not because of its inherent power, but because of you.
✿ For this request | Follower celebration | Event masterlist
Your heart thumped loudly in your chest as the line brought you closer and closer to the entrance of the haunted escape room. You stood on your tiptoes trying to see past the heads at the adventure that awaited you.
When it was finally your turn, the attendant dressed in a grim reaper costume announced the minimum for the attraction was two. When they called for another individual in line, you were fine with settling for a stranger as long as you got to experience the spooky thrills ahead. Except you recognized the boy with the curly hair and smug smile as he approached. It was your rival, Mattheo Riddle.
“Fancy seeing you here, partner,” he said sarcastically. Of course he had known you’d be there, it was all you could talk about the entire week.
“Just don’t slow me down,” you narrowed your eyes and accepted your fate as you walked past the door.
“Bet I could escape faster than you. Do try to keep up,” he taunted because of course, everything had to be a competition with him.
“We’ll see about that,” you smirked. You felt quite confident having played multiple games that included puzzles and required strategy.
When you entered the first room, you inspected everything. Turning items over and opening cabinets to look for clues. You each searched half of the room, collecting items that seemed significant and piecing them together.
You solved the first clue faster than expected and were ready to advance to the next room when the lights turned off. You yelped and instinctively grabbed Mattheo who held a protective arm around you.
He backed you into wall beside you, shielding you with his body. You felt his hot breath against your forehead and it sent delicious jolts of electricity through you. Bodies pressed together, you could feel his heartbeat drumming quickly, matching yours. You reminded yourself to stay focused.
When the lights flickered on again, you both made a run for it, hand in hand. You inspected the next room and just as you opened the cabinet, a headless body fell out. You jumped back and screamed.
Within seconds Mattheo was beside you, alert for any threats. When he saw the headless body, which turned out to be a mannequin, he laughed. Just as he was about to open his mouth to tease you, a hand closed around his leg.
It was his turn to yelp and jump back. A woman in a white gown with long hair crept away from where she hid and scurried off the opposite side of the room. It was your turn to tease him and talk about instant karma.
“Let’s just get out of here,” he huffed. Surprisingly, you both figured out the lock’s combination numbers quickly after solving clues, and moved to the next door. You hated to admit it, but you both worked well together.
As you moved to the next door, the lights switched off once again. Breaths held, looking cautiously around, Mattheo moved you behind him protectively.
You were about to argue how you could protect yourself when up ahead, you heard the zap of electricity. It was accompanied by a blue electric current illuminating a scary face. The effects were so convincing, you had to remind yourself it was just a fake taser and a mask.
Mattheo, however, let his instincts take over. He was always going to choose fight over flight. In the next second, you heard the impact of fists and the taser clattered on the ground. Red lights flooded the room as the warning sound blared through the speakers.
A security guard charged in, hauling away the scare actor from the frenzied boy. When you had a chance, you wrapped your arms around Mattheo to stop him. He melted under your touch and the fight went out of him. He was shocked how nice and comfortable it felt to be held by you.
You got kicked out the horror escape room.
“Well, that’s one way to escape,” you remarked, looking back at the attraction as you walked away.
“I’m creative like that, darling. Told you I could get us out faster,” he winked at you.
“That was not a complime-”
Before you could complete your sentence, he sidled up beside you, lowering his lips to your ear. “The next time you want to hold me like that back there, just tell me directly. No need for excuses, I can keep a secret.”
✿ For this request | Follower celebration | Event masterlist
“Are you sure you’re not here to murd*r me?” You asked as you followed Tom Riddle deeper into the woods. Around you, crickets chirped and twigs snapped below your feet. “Do you think I’d announce it if I was? Besides, there’s no one around so you’ll just have to trust me,” he replied.
You gripped your wand tightly and walked on. He was right. You followed a boy into the woods at night because you had a crush on him. You cursed inwardly. “We’re here!” he announced. There was a clearing ahead and before you could ask what it was, he pointed to the sky. You watched as stars glittered and rained down the sky. It was a meteor shower.
“You said last week you’ve never seen one before and it just so happens there’s one tonight and this is the perfect spot,” he explained before you could even ask. “Is this your way of telling me you like me?” you quipped. He just winked and asked you to make a wish.
✿ For this request | Follower celebration | Event masterlist
Theodore Nott didn’t think much of it when he visited a lounge cafe. It just so happened to be near the place he went shopping. Yet the moment he heard you playing the piano, he knew he would never be the same.
He had seen orchestras that boasted some of the world’s top musicians, but none were like you. When you played, the keys took him on an adventure. Art is supposed to make you feel something and to him, you were a masterpiece.
And so that one random visit turned into more as he listened and watched you play. One day, he visited the cafe and was surprised to see you on one of the tables reading a book he loved. It was your day off. Wasting no chance, he approached you and introduced himself. As the conversation continued, he just knew, it was the start of something great.
✿ For this request | Follower celebration | Event masterlist
Summary: Mattheo Riddle takes you on a date at a rare record store that plays The Perfect Playlist, a set of songs that lets you relive highlights of your life.
In the intersection where angels last laughed and where a powerful witch dropped her earring, stood The Perfect Playlist. Many brushed it off to be a myth. It seemed too good to be true that an establishment could conjure up the perfect set of songs to match the highlights of your life.
What’s more is that the songs were not just curated but rather created for you. These were lyrics and melodies you couldn’t go out and stream on music platforms nor buy CDs for.
And yet for something that seemed so legendary, it looked just like any record store. The storefront was made with oak once bold and dark, now faded with time. And yet it gleamed where the sun hit it just so, showing off its carefully applied polish.
Past the large window, rows upon rows of vinyls were stacked neatly on shelves. Each album cover had an intriguing design. Different art styles fought for your attention, each with a story to tell.
Beyond the shelves stood cozy listening booths with dark leather seats, still proud and elegant as they had been in their early days. No less worn by the thousands of souls that have sat and listened to their perfect playlist.
The establishment had been so hard to find that most of its customers are those who stumble upon it by accident. Even rarer are those who managed to find its location in the intersection where angels last laughed and where a powerful witch dropped her earring. For it was never in the same place.
And somehow, you and Mattheo Riddle were standing right in front of it. “Surprise!” Mattheo said, motioning to the store. A sophisticated script spelled The Perfect Playlist on the door. You could hardly believe it.
“Who did you have to torture this information from?” You asked, eyeing your boyfriend suspiciously.
“This was through honest research this time,” he smiled proudly.
“You researched it?” You quirked an eyebrow.
“The important thing is we’re here now,” he said, deflecting. “Aren’t I the best?” He took your hand and started walking to the entrance. “You sure are something,” you grinned excitedly as you let him lead the way.
“Now let’s enjoy this once in a lifetime experience!” He said. And it was quite literal for you could only visit once, but it was all you’ll ever need.
The attendant greeted you brightly and he seemed to already know your names. He too, seemed quite ordinary in a shirt and trousers. But that was the last thing that would underwhelm you about this place, for it was never about the store or the beings inside it. It was all about The Perfect Playlist.
He beamed, “The love birds, your booth is ready. Right this way.” He led you to one of the listening booths with its wooden door leading to the cozy leather seat that sunk low when you sat. “Simply put on your headphones, press play when you’re ready, and let the music carry you away. It’s The Perfect Playlist for your relationship.”
He smiled brightly as he closed the door and returned to the counter. Mattheo tucked a strand of your hair behind your ear and placed the headphones on you. You watched his long lashes flutter and still blushed at his proximity even after all this time.
He then put on his headphones and looked at you to confirm you were ready. You smiled and held a thumbs up and so he pressed play.
A faint rhythm started in your ears, a beat that seemed to grow louder by the second. You closed your eyes to listen more carefully until a bright light took over the darkness, the upbeat music now loud enough for you to feel the bass in your headphones until you found your head bopping to the beat.
You may have never heard the song The Perfect Playlist created for you, but you felt the rush of excitement. It was like hearing a great song you haven’t heard in ages, both new and familiar at the same time.
As the beat picked up, bright colors danced along with its rhythm, swirling together until it formed shapes that resembled a music festival. Ahead of you, a DJ onstage hyped up the crowd with the song you were listening to.
Your friends were laughing around you and you were dancing with them, having the time of your life. Of course, this was where you first met Mattheo all those years ago.
Even in a crowded place where people danced and sang their hearts out, you stood out to him. To him, you were sunshine personified. He pretended to bump into you that day, knocking your drink out of your hand so he could buy you one.
You could almost laugh at how the world went in slow motion, the perfect soundtrack softening to something romantic as you introduced yourselves and the sparks flew instantly. It didn’t take long until you were dancing the night away, the playlist back to an upbeat song you could dance to forever.
Then there were long drives and motorcycle rides when you both wanted more speed and danger. Late night talks under the stars, huddled beneath blankets that always led to something more.
That was only the beginning. The Perfect Playlist still had albums worth of songs to play as you relived all your wonderful memories with Mattheo Riddle.
✿ For this request | Follower celebration | Event masterlist
Having settled in the cozy chair at your dorm, you opened the fiction book you checked out from the library, glad to have completed your assignments. It was meant to be a relaxing evening ahead with a warm cup of tea and a good book until a slip of paper fell on your lap.
“I was enchanted to meet you.”
Your heart froze at the words. It was a lyric from your favourite artist. Unfortunately, university had just started so almost everyone was new and it was no secret you loved Taylor Swift. It was your go-to fun fact about yourself. So Mr. Enchanted’s identity remained a mystery.
Every couple of days, when you borrowed a new book from the library, a slip of paper always fell. You had even grown to anticipate these slices of heaven that made your stomach do cartwheels:
“You’re so gorgeous. I can’t say anything to your face, ‘cause look at your face.”
“What must it be like to grow up that beautiful, with your hair falling into place like dominoes?”
“All of this silence and patience, pining in anticipation. My hands are shaking from holding back from you.”
If you had carefully thought back, you’d remember that encounter during your first week of university when you reached for a book at the same time as a handsome stranger. He introduced himself as Theodore Nott.
You let him have the book. You had already read it and it was one of your favourites. It was his too. He smiled at you then and he knew nothing would ever be the same again.
It was the first time he felt this way about anyone and he didn’t know what to do. But he would send you notes while he figured it out. Time was ticking and soon he would start the clock to forever. Because as the song went, all at once, you were all he had been waiting for.
✿ For this request | Follower celebration | Event masterlist
