The quartet made their way through the school corridors, their footsteps echoing against the stone walls as they engaged in casual conversation. It was during this stroll that a surprising revelation emerged, Ron's exclamation cutting through the air like an unexpected gust of wind.
"You two are neighbors?" he exclaimed, his tone a mixture of astonishment and intrigue. Y/N and Hermione shared a knowing glance before both nodding in unison, their responses accompanied by small, affirmative hums. As the revelation of their proximity settled in, Harry, never one to miss an opportunity for a remark, couldn't help but add his own touch of commentary.
"Maybe it really is fate—blergh!" His mockingly dramatic groan was cut short by a sudden, discreet kick to his gut. Hermione's actions went unnoticed by Y/N, who continued walking, her gaze focused ahead.
"It's a nice coincidence," Hermione murmured, her voice carrying a note of sincerity that contrasted with the earlier jesting. Just as the group seemed to be settling into this newfound understanding, Harry's announcement brought an unexpected interruption.
"Actually, guys, I have to go somewhere. I'll see you three later," Harry hastily spoke up, departing from the group without further explanation. The three remaining friends exchanged curious glances, their gazes trailing after Harry's retreating figure as it disappeared down the corridor.
"He's been doing that a lot," Hermione noted, her tone inquisitive as she voiced her observation. Ron and Y/N nodded in agreement, the repetition of Harry's sudden departures was quite strange.
"I think I know why," Ron's voice carried a touch of knowing as he voiced his revelation, effectively drawing the attention of both girls. Their gazes turned toward him, curiosity dancing in their eyes as they awaited his explanation.
"Why?" Y/N's question was swift, her eagerness evident in her tone.
"He's found a mirror," Ron stated with a matter-of-factness that held a hint of understanding. The words hung in the air, a puzzle piece that had suddenly fallen into place. Hermione and Y/N exchanged confused glances, their mutual bewilderment mirrored in their expressions.
"A mirror?" Y/N repeated, her voice a mixture of skepticism and confusion. Ron's nod served as confirmation, the gravity of his words gradually sinking in.
"It shows him his parents," Ron elaborated, his tone shifting to one of shared empathy. His casual shrug seemed to downplay the significance of this discovery, though the weight of his words belied the nonchalance of his gesture.
"But I saw Head Boy and Quidditch Cup," he added with a wry smile. As the conversation unfolded, Ron's mention of a proposal set in motion a different tone altogether.
"Anyways, I gotta bounce too," he announced, his words carrying an air of enthusiasm as he revealed his upcoming plans. "Dean's asking me to help him set up his proposal to ask Seraphina to the New Year's dance." The words were spoken with a touch of excitement, a glimpse into the intricacies of teenage romance.
With a final wave and a swift departure, Ron left Hermione and Y/N alone amidst the corridors. The echoes of his words lingered, weaving a tapestry of emotions that ranged from understanding to amusement.
"Are you gonna check up on him?" Y/N ventured, her tone carrying a mix of concern and curiosity. The question prompted a wry smile to grace Hermione's lips.
"I would, but..." Hermione's voice held a note of sheepishness, her gaze shifting momentarily as she contemplated her response.
"I need to help with the New Year's party," she admitted, a touch of regret evident in her tone. The responsibilities that came with organizing such an event were clearly a priority, though the undertone of Hermione's words suggested a willingness to do more if circumstances allowed. Y/N's understanding nod conveyed a shared sentiment, an acceptance of Hermione's commitments even as their conversation veered into a more practical realm.
"Right now?" Y/N inquired, her curiosity prompting her to seek clarification on the timing of Hermione's involvement.
"Yeah, right now," Hermione's affirmation came with a hint of resignation as she confirmed. The anticipation of the New Year's party seemed to be looming large in her thoughts.
"See you tomorrow?" Hermione offered, the words a hopeful invitation for a continuation of their friendship in the days to come. However, Y/N's curiosity wasn't fully satiated, a lingering question dancing at the tip of her tongue.
"Wait, actually, who are you taking to the dance?" The query was delivered with a hint of bashfulness, Y/N's hands finding their way behind her back as she fidgeted with her fingers, an endearing display of nervous energy. Hermione's response held a hint of vulnerability, her words carrying a touch of uncertainty.
"Actually, no one's asked me yet..." Her gaze shifted, a fleeting glance to the side.
"Oh, I can go with—" Y/N's attempt to interject was swiftly thwarted by an unexpected intrusion, a voice emerging from the periphery of their conversation.
Aurora's arrival was heralded by her enthusiastic tone, a smile lighting up her features as she approached Y/N and Hermione. The sudden interruption seemed to dissipate Y/N's words, leaving them hanging in the air, unheard and unspoken.
"Y/N!" Aurora's exclamation carried a contagious excitement, her hand finding its way to Y/N's shoulder in an affectionate gesture.
In her other hand, she proudly displayed a handful of tickets, their significance shrouded in mystery. Curiosity got the better of Y/N, though a flicker of annoyance lingered beneath the surface of her expression.
"What's that?" Y/N inquired, her voice tinged with a hint of frustration born from the untimely interruption. With a grin that matched her enthusiasm, Aurora provided the answer.
"Tickets to the New Year's party – my favorite band's performing tonight," Aurora revealed, her words an invitation into the realm of music and celebration. The prospect of a night filled with music and fun was evident in Aurora's excitement.
"We're going together, right?" Aurora posed the question to Y/N, her gaze a mixture of anticipation and hope.
Y/N's response was a moment of hesitation, her gaze flickering between Aurora and Hermione. Caught between two worlds – the offer of a fun-filled evening with a friend and the unspoken dynamic she shared with Hermione – Y/N's emotions seemed to play out across her features. Her mouth twitched as if she was on the cusp of speaking, her eyebrows furrowing in thought.
In the end, Y/N's nod was reluctant, a decision made under the weight of competing priorities. Her gaze shifted from Aurora to Hermione, the latter's expression carrying a note of subtle disappointment. Their unspoken connection seemed to hum in the air, the tension of an unresolved conversation hanging between them.
Hermione's voice, when it finally emerged, was soft and resigned.
"I'll get going now," Hermione announced, her words carrying a sense of finality. With a small, unspoken nod in Y/N's direction, Hermione turned and walked away, her figure fading every step she took.
"You okay?" Aurora asked, Y/N looking to the side as she gently pushed her away with a small nod.
"I need to go." Y/N murmured, leaving Aurora alone.
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Instagram DM's
@ronnieboy
@no1crimson : hey
@ronnieboy : hi
@no1crimson : what's harry's number
@ronnieboy : he doesn't have one
@no1crimson : elaborate?
@ronnieboy : he doesn't have a phone
@no1crimson : oh
@no1crimson : well, can you tell me where this "mirror" is? i need to talk to him
@ronnieboy : just go up the stairs in the direction where harry went, it's on the edge of the hallway in the strange corner
@no1crimson : thanks
@ronnieboy : anytime
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The ascent of the staircase brought Y/N to a moment of introspection, her phone finding its place in her pocket as she surveyed her surroundings. Her gaze swept over the expanse of the hallway, eventually coming to rest upon a darkened passage.
The sight seemed to trigger a subtle flutter within her chest, a heartbeat that momentarily skipped a beat. A hitch in her breath caused her to take a few steps back, as if retreating from an unseen force that seemed to linger within the shadows.
In an instant, her mind was transported to a different time, a moment suspended within the tapestry of memory.
FLASHBACK
"Daddy, where are you going?" A younger Y/N's voice carried a sense of innocence as she held her beloved teddy bear close, her voice a sleepy murmur as she rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand. Her gaze met Caspian's, her father's, as he stood at the threshold of her bedroom door.
"I'll be home soon, darling," Caspian reassured, his words a balm to soothe any unease that might have arisen from their impending separation. He took a few steps back, his gaze filled with a mixture of paternal affection and a hint of hesitancy. Bending down, he bestowed a tender kiss upon Y/N's forehead, a gesture that held the promise of return.
Amidst this quiet exchange, Amaryllis emerged, her presence a shift in the familial dynamic. Y/N peeked her head out from her room, a silent observer to the interplay between her parents. Caspian's gaze lingered on his daughter, a fleeting moment of connection that spoke volumes.
However, it was the interaction between Caspian and Amaryllis that drew Y/N's attention like a moth to a flame. Their shared gaze held a palpable tension, a unspoken exchange that seemed to carry the weight of unaddressed conflicts. Their unyielding stares gave birth to a silent battle of wills, a clash of emotions that played out within the boundaries of their shared gaze.
In the midst of this tense tableau, Caspian's voice broke the silence, his words abrupt yet laden with a vulnerability that caught Y/N off guard.
"If... Mommy and Daddy were to— split, who would you rather be with?" The question hung in the air, a sudden and unexpected intrusion into the realm of a child's understanding.
Y/N's youthful gaze widened in response, the innocence of her features tinged with the confusion that often accompanied complex adult matters. The question remained suspended between them, an unresolved query that echoed within the passage of time. Y/N's voice emerged with an innocent pout, her words carrying a touch of vulnerability that seemed to cut through the air like a plea.
"I don't want you to split," she confessed, her eyes glistening with an earnestness that tugged at Caspian's heartstrings. A heavy sigh escaped him, the weight of the situation evident in his expression.
"Caspian, cut it out," Amaryllis's tone was sharp, a directive that held a note of authority. Her voice clashed with Y/N's vulnerability, the two locking eyes with an intensity that mirrored the unspoken tensions between them. Despite the confrontation, Caspian's determination held steadfast. He refused to let the moment slip away without resolution.
"Come on, Y/N. Answer, okay?" His insistence hung in the air, a request that carried a hint of urgency. The frown that tugged at Y/N's lips was a testament to her inner turmoil, her conflicted emotions playing out across her features.
As the tension continued to mount, Amaryllis's patience wore thin, her exasperation spilling over.
"Caspian, just fucking leave already!" Her outburst was punctuated by the tight grip of her hand around Y/N's arm, a protective gesture that pulled the petite girl closer to her side. Caspian's jaw clenched, his own frustration evident as he rose from his seat.
But his departure was met with a plea, an appeal from his own flesh and blood that echoed in the dimly lit hallway.
"Amaryllis, she's as much of my daughter as she is yours," Caspian's voice held a note of desperation, a final attempt to bridge the chasm that had formed between them. Yet Amaryllis's glare remained unyielding, a wall of resistance that defied his words.
"Go be with your other woman," Amaryllis's words were abrupt, the sharpness of her tone a reflection of her resolve. She held Y/N close, a protective embrace that symbolized her unwavering stance. "Y/N and I will do just fine here," she declared, her voice laced with finality.
Caspian's sigh held a note of defeat as he took a step back, his figure receding into the darkness of the hallway. The enveloping shadows seemed to echo the sense of closure that had been reached. Y/N's gaze flickered between her two parents, her confusion a tangible presence that hung in the air.
"Daddy, don't leave, please," Y/N's plea was a whisper, a fragile note of hope that held the potential to mend what had been fractured. But Caspian's face disappeared into the abyss, his presence fading, leaving Y/N in a world of uncertainty. Amaryllis held her close, the warmth of their embrace a comforting anchor amidst the storm of emotions.
Y/N's eyes glistened, a reflection of her innocence and the weight of understanding that had begun to settle upon her young shoulders. The complexities of adult relationships remained beyond her grasp, but the essence of their discord was palpable, leaving an indelible mark on her consciousness.
TO BE CONTINUED...