regret, harry potter (rewriting)

fifteen

"Hey Ernie!" she beamed when she saw Ernie walking in front of her.

"Hey, Rellie! How are you? It's been a while," he said.

"Yeah it is, and I'm fine, how about you?" she asked.

"Good, good," he nodded. "I heard you met Malfoy and Nott the other day, how are they?"

"They're fine. Surprisingly friendly."

"Do you forgive them?" he asked.

"I think so, yeah. I think some part of me would always be mad at them, maybe not Nott, he was never a death eater isn't he, but Malfoy? He still let those death eaters in our school in the sixth year."

"Yeah," he agreed. "Hey, er- I just want to ask, we're cool, right? There are no hard feelings?"

"Of course, why would you think I'm mad at you?"

"Just want to make sure," he said. "Er- Rellie, I'm seeing someone else."

Aurelia surely has moved on from Ernie but what just came out of his mouth still made her uneasy. She felt her heart drop that she was left agape and a bit speechless.

"Who?" she asked.

"Susan Bones," he answered hesitantly.

"Oh."

"Rellie-"

"No it's fine Ernie, I'm happy for you," she smiled at him.

"Rellie, I'm sorry," he apologized, looking a bit guilty after seeing her reaction.

"No, it's alright Ernie. We both have moved on. I'm happy you have found someone again," she said genuinely.

"Rellie," he stopped her from walking and now they're face to face with each other.

"What we had was amazing. I don't want you to think that it meant nothing to me, it meant everything to me. I wish things would've worked out between us because I loved you, I truly did. I still love you, but not like that anymore," the last bit was a little inaudible but she could still hear it.

"I understand Ernie, truly. I never doubted your feelings. I loved you as well and I'm glad you found Susan, really," she smiled at him.

He hugged her and said, "I'll always be here for you if you need me okay?"

"Okay," she hugged him back.

They broke up before but this felt more like a goodbye. When they broke up the first time, some part of them thought that they would find their way back together, so it doesn't feel like a goodbye but this time, it does.

Then it hit her, she lost Ernie forever. She ran to the nearest bathroom.

She let out tears that she had been holding on to the whole time. Sure she has moved on but it still hurts knowing you lost someone you loved and spent a great deal with. She could see it in his eyes when he talked to her earlier; there weren't any sparks anymore. After she stopped crying, she quickly washed her face and walked to her transfiguration class.

Thankfully, Ernie wasn't in her transfiguration class.

"Sorry professor, I had to go to the hospital wing first," she said as she entered her classroom late.

Professor McGonagall was about to get mad at her until she saw her slightly puffy and red eyes.

"It's alright Miss Clemonte, now go to your seat."

She sat next to Harry like they always do after they become close again.

"Were you crying?" he asked, concerned after she took a seat next to him.