𝖮 𝗂𝗌 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝖮𝖻𝗌𝖾𝗌𝗌𝗂𝗈𝗇 ʰʲᵖ

• ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 𝔗𝔴𝔢𝔫𝔱𝔶 𝔖𝔢𝔳𝔢𝔫 : 𝔅𝔞𝔠𝔨𝔰𝔱𝔞𝔟𝔟𝔢𝔯 •

TW: Mental health problem. Depression. Heavy sense of guilt. Anger issue. As I said, all information here is based on what had happened in real life, either by me or a friend. Not research-based but personal experience-based. Manipulation through sympathizing.

• Chapter Twenty Seven : Backstabber •

[••• ––– •••]

The past few weeks denied the cheerful atmosphere around (Y/N). Her bright demeanor fought fairly with her grim, all courtesy to her friends and Harry. Cho and Luna kept visiting her in her room at some random points of the day. Hermione, Ginny, Pansy, and sometimes Ron would occasionally sit down at the Ravenclaw table to give her company. Draco and Blaise, who both were still clueless about what was happening, always follow (Y/N) around if she was going somewhere (except for the bathroom, of course) under Pansy's instructions. They never hesitated to say otherwise because they also wanted to watch over her.

Harry was still going out for his classes, but only for his classes. He chose not to engage too much with people in a large crowd. He would go to the kitchen to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner and would stay inside the dormitory to do his homework. (Y/N) would constantly visit him at night, around nine, to see if he was doing fine.

Andrew, on the other hand, could be seen attaching himself to (Y/N) all day long, even week long. (Y/N)'s dorm mates, Padma, Jill, and Toni, noticed Andrew's visits to their dormitory for the Heather girl. He was almost residing in their dormitory with the way he comfortably lay on their beds, especially (Y/N)'s.

The Heather girl noticed it too, but overlooked it, thinking that Andrew was bored on his own, seeing as his closest friend on his year were all girls. However, she couldn't overlook the truth that Andrew was maintaining very close contact with her, always having his arms around her shoulder, always holding her hand, always fixing her hair, always trying to get her attention.

She had never tried to stop him, but when Harry tried talking to (Y/N) about it, she realized that it was really dodgy.

"I don't know actually." she had replied, clearly frustrated as well. "I didn't want to confront him because I knew that he'll just say that he's looking after me. He's done that before, you know that."

"Yes..." said Harry testily as he continued trying to braid her hair. "But does he have to pretend as though he's your boyfriend? Holding your hand in public? Serving you food even though you didn't need one? Sticking next to you in classes even if I'm there?"

Harry sighed heavily while finally tying her braided hair. He then wrapped his arm around her waist and effortlessly pulled her on his lap, then nestled his chin on her neck to smell a bit of her perfume. Admittedly, he was just stopping himself to go back to his old self and murder Andrew at once.

"Look." said (Y/N), leaning her body close to Harry's. "I know it's weird and yet I can't say that he was being friendly. But... well, I can't take any confrontation right now. You know how I hated confronting people... or being confronted, which is to say I didn't like the experience..."

She inhaled and exhaled again to calm herself down while unconsciously squeezing Harry's hand.

"I'm —"

"Don't apologize." said the Heather girl firmly, looking to the side to gape at him. "I told you, I don't want to hear you apologize anymore."

Harry bit his bottom lip to stop himself from further apologizing and snuggled his face on the back of her neck.

"You have Astronomy class, right?" Harry asked, his voice muffled.

"Yes, but no..." replied the girl immediately. "You're not coming with me."