𝖮 𝗂𝗌 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝖮𝖻𝗌𝖾𝗌𝗌𝗂𝗈𝗇 ʰʲᵖ

• ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 𝔗𝔴𝔢𝔫𝔱𝔶 𝔉𝔦𝔳𝔢 : 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔗𝔯𝔲𝔱𝔥 •

TW: Self-harm. Again, please don't do this. I am free to listen if you need any listeners.

• Chapter Twenty Five : The Truth •

[••• ––– •••]

(Y/N) patiently stood at the bottom of the staircase from the boys' dormitory. Thankfully, she had no extra books on her arms at that moment because if there was, she could have just cut her arms off for waiting an entire hour since she woke up.

She tapped her wristwatch for the umpteenth time that hour. A few more minutes, she kept thinking, he will be down here in a few minutes.

A huddle of boys came striding down the stairs yet the person she waiting for wasn't there. One by one or by twos, threes, fours, a whole crowd more of boys — from first-years to seventh-years — but he wasn't there as well.

A few more seconds, he will be here, she thought forcefully to stop the urge to leave her place. A little more.

Then, finally, she heard him —

"— so, I thought, he'll have my essay this time but he ended up putting it in the wrong House, and now it's gone!"

Andrew emerged down the staircase with Terry Boot. He was talking animatedly to a laughing Terry.

"That's horrible, man." said Terry, slightly shoving Andrew into the wall.

Even before they could totally leave the stairs, (Y/N) shifted and stepped in.

"Andrew." she mumbled. "Can we talk?"

The Steward boy glanced at his friend shortly. (Y/N) remained gaping at him to show how serious she was.

"I'll see you later, mate." said Andrew, nodding.

When Terry finally left, (Y/N) plunged on with her intention.

"I just want to apologize —" she began. "— about last week. I didn't mean to snap at you. I was just too preoccupied with everything that I forgot about anyone else. I'm sorry, Andrew."

The boy's lips slowly lifted up and formed a small smile. He stepped forward and, without any words from (Y/N), hugged her.

The Heather girl flinched at the sudden contact but softened immediately when she realized what was happening. She reluctantly raised her arms and hugged back.

"It's okay." said Andrew, caressing her hair. "Don't apologize now. I understand you."

He slowly pulled himself away from her. But the moment he saw her face, his smile turned upside down, and his eyebrows furrowed.

"Why do you have bruises?" he asked hastily, holding her chin as he examined her cheeks and lips. "Who did this to you? Was it Harry? Did he hurt you? I swear if he did, I'll break his face —"

"What? No!" said (Y/N) skeptically. "No — he didn't!" She slowly pulled down his hand from her skin. "It was an accident..."

"Are you sure?" questioned the boy. "It doesn't look anywhere near an accident."

"Trust me, Andrew." defended (Y/N).

When Andrew sighed and nodded, she felt highly relieved. At least she wouldn't have to answer any question related to her bruises again.

"Shall we go down?" she asked, grinning.

"'Course."

The two Ravenclaws began pacing out of their common room and down to the very exhausting and long spiral staircase that can cause heat stroke if you weren't used to it with the usual casual and friendly atmosphere above them.