A Hogwarts Mystery: Talbott Winger x Reader

The Vault of Fear

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For the worst

Talbott had spent the past few days trying to get used to his feelings towards y/n, and that feeling only grew and deepened.

She had become a constant presence in his life at school, occupying his thoughts even if he hadn't seen her. If he was lucky, whenever he saw a glimpse of her smile, the sound of her voice, or just her presence in class, it made him happy. And when she was nowhere in sight, every memory of their time together made him yearn to be closer to her, to share more moments, and to make her smile and laugh.

But then again, even with his growing affection for her, he can't help but feel that whatever he was feeling is doomed. They were opposite. Completely different. She was a bright person, someone who enjoyed the world in the sun. He was a person who's comfortable in the shadows, only dimly lit by the moon.

Still, he hopes, as a friend, he can still have moments he can share with y/n, even if they are fleeting. She had already squeezed herself into his world, so every second he spent with her, he wouldn't trade it for anything.

Perched on a window inside the owlery, Talbott was watching y/n on the training grounds below. She was practising spells with the Weasley siblings, with Rowan cheering them on. He couldn't help but admire how carefree and relaxed she looked as she duelled with her friends, yet she showed elegance that she could only pull off with her hair pulled up in a high ponytail and looking as if she had just survived a fight with a troll. Not that he knows how a person can survive a troll attack, but if he were to bet that with y/n's adventures, he's sure she'd probably fought off a troll once.

He marvelled at her ability to be both brave and serious when needed, yet playful and clumsy at other times. He even chuckled softly as he recalled the time she had tried to talk to Mrs. Norris with a funny voice, just so they could get his necklace back from the cat.

The sun shines brightly today, but to his eyes, she radiates a brilliance that rivals it. People say that you shouldn't look at something so bright for a long time because it could bring pain, but Talbott couldn't tear his eyes away from her.

Even if it was impossible, as if she had sensed him staring, y/n looked up in the owlery's direction. Panicked, he lost his balance, stumbled backward, and fell down the owlery floor. Berating himself for his reaction, he stood up; she couldn't possibly see him from this far up.

He dusted off his robes as he cautiously peered back at the window at the training grounds. He saw Y/n and her friends leaving; he sighed and decided that it was time for him to leave as well.

Descending from the owlery, Talbott couldn't help but feel a sense of longing. He could finally admit that he wanted more than just stolen glances—more than just being a silent observer in Y/N's world. But he knows that openly pursuing those desires might not be possible for him.

As he walked away from the owlery, a turmoil of emotions followed him. He wanted to one day change the circumstances. But until then, he would content himself with cherishing the moments he could steal, the stolen glances, and the secret smiles that she brought into his life.

~~~

He was walking fast with no destination in mind. He appeared calm and collected, even with his quick pace. But inside, he was panicking. His heart and mind raced even faster than he was walking as he tried to process what he had just heard.

Y/n and her friends had gone and ventured inside another cursed vault. He knew y/n were brave and capable, but the dangers that are within those vaults are not to be underestimated; even the professors or any other adults haven't even tried to enter them, and yet, here she was, recklessly entering one.