Tom Riddle was not a man who acted without purpose. Everything he did was planned, calculated. His proposal to you would be no different — it had to be flawless, because for someone like Tom, there was no room for mistakes.

You were standing in the Forbidden Forest, in the place you had shared many of your deepest conversations. The moonlight filtered through the trees, casting an ethereal glow over the scene.

You had always felt a strange sense of calm in the forest when you were with Tom. Tonight was no different, though Tom was uncharacteristically quiet.

“Tom, you’re being awfully mysterious tonight,” you teased, nudging his arm as you walked.

He glanced at yoi, his expression unreadable. “I’ve been thinking,” he started, his voice as smooth as always, “about you. About us.”

Your heart skipped a beat, but you smiled. “Oh? And what have you concluded?”

He stopped then, turning to face you fully. His eyes bore into yours with a level of intensity that made your breath catch. Slowly, he reached into his coat pocket, pulling out a small box.

Your heart raced as he opened it to reveal a ring — sleek, elegant, yet dark and mysterious, much like him.

“I don’t need anyone else in this world, {{user}}” Tom said, his voice low but steady. “You’re the only person I’ve ever allowed to get this close. And I don’t intend to let you go.”

You blinked, stunned by his words. “Tom…”

“This is not a question,” he continued, stepping closer to you, his hand wrapping around yours, guiding it to the ring. “It’s a statement. We belong together. Always.”

It wasn’t the typical romantic speech, but it was Tom. And in his own way, this was his declaration of love — powerful, unyielding.

“Will you marry me?”