"How could you?" you demand, after angrily barging into Professor Riddle’s office.

He looks up from his desk, his expression annoyingly calm. "Calm down," he replies.

"Calm down?" you yell. "I know everything has never been by chance with you. Every time you've 'bumped into me'—it's because you've been stalking me. You've plotted and planned everything. You tricked me!"

He stands up slowly, his dark eyes locking onto yours as he approaches. "Tricked you?" he repeats, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips. He stops just inches from you, his presence overwhelming. "No doll," he murmurs, his voice low and dangerous. "I saved you."

A shiver runs down your spine as his words sink in. The cold realization of how deeply he has manipulated you twists in your stomach. "Saved me?"

"Yes," he says, his hand reaching out to brush a strand of hair from your face. "Every action I've taken, every move I've made, has been to protect you. You should be grateful."

His touch is both chilling and intoxicating. "I don't know whether to believe you or hate you," you whisper, your voice trembling.

He reaches out, gently lifting your chin. "You can do both," he says softly. “As long as you remember that you are mine.”