Shadows of Kindness

                                    

                                          
Title: Shadows of Kindness
Summary: Mattheo Riddle, feared as the Dark Lord’s heir, hides a secret few know. Beneath his cunning exterior lies a surprisingly kind heart—a truth known only to Regula Black and a select few. As Lucius Malfoy, Rodolphus Lestrange, and Severus Snape navigate their own alliances, they grapple with Mattheo’s hidden nature and the ripples it sends through the world of power and loyalty.
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The room was dimly lit, with firelight casting long shadows against the cold stone walls of the Black family manor. Regula Black sat on the edge of a worn sofa, her usually composed demeanor shattered as her hands trembled in her lap. Her cousin, Bellatrix, had yet again unleashed her fury on her for what she perceived as "weakness." The stinging words still echoed in Regula's mind.
"You are unworthy of the Black name," Bellatrix had spat.
But tonight, Regula wasn’t alone.
“Regula,” came a soft voice, almost at odds with the man who spoke it. Mattheo Riddle, his crimson eyes sharp and calculating as ever, crouched before her. His fingers lightly touched her chin, tilting her face so their eyes met.
“You are not weak,” he said, his voice gentle but firm. “Bellatrix is blinded by her own madness. Don’t let her poison infect you.”
Tears welled in Regula’s eyes, but she refused to let them fall. “Why do you care?” she whispered.
Mattheo smiled faintly, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “Because I see what others don’t. You have strength, Regula. You just need to believe it.”
Lucius Malfoy, standing in the doorway with his arms crossed, let out a quiet scoff. “You’re too soft with her, Riddle,” he remarked, though his tone lacked malice.
Mattheo didn’t turn to face him. “And you’re too cold, Malfoy. There is power in kindness—it breeds loyalty far deeper than fear.”
Rodolphus Lestrange leaned against the wall, his wand twirling lazily in his fingers. “Power in kindness?” he mocked. “We don’t need loyalty; we need control.”
Severus Snape, seated in a dark corner, finally spoke, his voice a low drawl. “You underestimate him, Rodolphus. Mattheo doesn’t waste words. If he’s kind to her, it’s because it serves a purpose. Isn’t that right, Riddle?”
Mattheo turned his head slightly, his lips quirking into a smirk. “Perhaps. Or maybe I just don’t enjoy seeing her hurt.”
The room fell silent at that, each man grappling with the dissonance between Mattheo’s reputation and the moment of vulnerability they had witnessed.
Lucius finally broke the silence. “You’re an enigma, Riddle. One moment, you’re ruthless. The next, you’re—”
“Human?” Mattheo supplied. He stood and glanced at Regula, who managed a small, tentative smile.
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” he said, striding toward the door. He paused and glanced back at Lucius, Rodolphus, and Severus. “Remember this: kindness is a weapon too. Wield it wisely.”
As Mattheo disappeared down the hall, Lucius turned to Severus. “You’ve known him longer than any of us, Snape. Do you think he truly means it?”
Severus’ dark eyes glinted with something unreadable. “Mattheo Riddle is not what he appears. But whether that makes him our salvation or our undoing... remains to be seen.”
Regula watched them all quietly, her heart lightened by Mattheo’s unexpected compassion. For the first time in years, she felt hope—a dangerous emotion in a world ruled by fear.