𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐒, james potter

23. easy, safe, familiar

tw: sexual harassment/abuse

NESRIN STANDS OUTSIDE the stairs to the astronomy tower with a frown on her face.

She originally came out because she needed some fresh air, but once she got to the tower, she didn't want to go up. There are too many unwanted memories threatening to surface, and she doesn't want to deal with the sadness anymore.

She just wants one fucking minute of being numb. To everything.

Sighing, she turns and starts to walk back to the common rooms. She only gets a few steps in before a voice speaks from behind her.

The masochistic part of her hopes it is James. It isn't.

"Nesrin," comes Garrett's voice.

She freezes, a deep tension settling inside of her. What the hell is he doing here?

She turns around, suppressing a sigh.

His mouth curls in a strange smile Nesrin doesn't like at all.

"I thought I saw you come out here," he says, accusation in his tone. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing," she responds calmly, her face a mask of indifference. "Just wanted some air."

Garrett's smile turns smug.

He steps closer. Instinctively, she takes a step back. But then he moves closer and closer until her back hits the wall and she has nowhere left to go.

He rests his hand beside her head as he leans closer.

"I know a place we could go. Real quiet. We'll be all alone. Think of everything we could do."

With the hand not resting on the wall, he raises it to grab a stray strand of her hair and twirls it between his fingers.

Disgust coils around her like a snake, wrapping her body and squeezing until it is hard to breathe.

She clears her throat. "Actually, I just want to go back to the dorms and get some sleep."

She tries to shrug off his hand, but he doesn't move.

"Aw, come on, Nes," he says, moving closer to her so that his body is pushed against hers.

His hand drifts down to touch her shoulder, the length of her arm. Then it moves to touch her breast briefly before moving further down to rest on her waist, his grip tight.

"Garrett," she starts in what she hopes is a calm tone even though she's panicking now. "Please back up."

He chuckles as if she were telling a joke. "Hey, no need to act like you don't want me. It's a little too obvious that you do. But I'm not complaining. I'll gladly show you a good time."

His head drops to her neck, his lips touching her skin.

Full-blown panic now settles in her stomach, and she can't stop her voice from showing it.

"Garrett, stop. Please stop."

He doesn't.

His other hand moves underneath her shirt, his hands gripping the skin of her waist. She tries to push him away, but he doesn't budge.