𝔗𝔥𝔢 ℭ𝔬𝔩𝔩𝔢𝔠𝔱𝔦𝔬𝔫

-𝔼𝕣𝕟𝕚𝕖 𝕄𝕒𝕔𝕞𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕒𝕟-

Adhara Potter, a quiet and shy student at Hogwarts, often found solace in the library, engrossed in her studies. She could usually be spotted there, twirling her blue tie absentmindedly while immersing herself in a world of books. This particular day, she was engrossed in a tome about werewolves, likely for her upcoming Defense Against the Dark Arts essay on nocturnal beasts. Ernie Macmillan, couldn't help but admire Adhara from afar. His fellow Hufflepuff friends in the library, who were part of his study group, often shook their heads in amusement at his secret infatuation. Justin leaned in, whispering to Hannah, 'He's doing it again.' Hannah, with a hint of exasperation, rolled her eyes and whispered back, 'Why don't you just talk to her, Ernie?' Ernie's elbow, stricken with anxiety at the mere thought, promptly slid, causing his chin to collide painfully with the table. 'Ow! I can't do that, are you mad?' he hissed, rubbing his injured chin. Hannah persisted, her tone filled with playful teasing, 'Well, we're tired of having to watch you stare at her all the time.' Justin chimed in, still quietly amused, 'She's right. It's getting creepy, mate.'

Ernie grumbled, defending himself, 'It's not creepy... I'm not creepy... she's just so - so, so...' He trailed off as Adhara, having finished her reading, closed the book and walked past him to return it to its shelf. His words melted away as he was once again entranced by her presence. As Adhara walked out of the library, her presence seemed to linger in Ernie's longing gaze. He watched her graceful exit with a wistful expression, lost in his thoughts. Meanwhile, his friends couldn't contain their amusement at his ongoing infatuation. Suppressing their laughter, they started tossing crumpled bits of parchment at Ernie, who had crossed his arms and was now sporting a pout with annoyance etched across his face. 'Come on, guys, cut it out,' he muttered, cheeks tinged with embarrassment. But the more he protested, the harder they laughed. Justin, still snickering, leaned over to Ernie and teased, 'Ernie, you've got to make a move sometime, mate. You can't keep mooning over her forever.' Hannah, a mischievous glint in her eye, chimed in, 'Yeah, seriously! Just strike up a conversation. She's not going to bite.'

Ernie, still smarting from his earlier embarrassment and the parchment missile barrage, sighed deeply and gave in, 'Fine, fine. I'll talk to her. Next time. Maybe.' His friends exchanged knowing glances, well aware that Ernie had made similar promises before. But this time, they decided not to press the matter further, hoping that their friend would summon the courage to approach Adhara at long last. The three returned to their quiet studying, when Hannah suddenly perked up as a thought came to her mind, 'Why not write her a letter? Confess your feelings and ask if she's willing to get to know you. You can set up a meeting place, then based on if she shows up or not... you have your answer.' Justin nodded in agreement with Hannah's idea. 'Yeah, that's not a bad plan, Ernie. It's less intimidating than approaching her directly, and it gives you a chance to express yourself without getting all tongue-tied.' Ernie considered their suggestion, and his expression softened. 'You know, maybe that's not a bad idea. I could write her a letter and, you know, pour my feelings into it.' Hannah, pleased with Ernie's response, continued, 'And if she's interested, she might show up at the meeting place you suggest. If not, well, at least you'll have tried, right?'

Ernie nodded with a newfound determination. 'Alright, I'll do it. I'll write her a letter.' With a renewed sense of purpose, Ernie pulled out another piece of blank parchment, ready to draft a heartfelt letter to Adhara, hoping it might finally be the first step towards getting to know the object of his affection. Ernie spent hours that evening carefully crafting his heartfelt letter. He poured his feelings onto the parchment, expressing his admiration for Adhara and his desire to get to know her better. He asked if she'd be willing to meet him at the Black Lake, a place he thought was serene and perfect for an honest conversation. He sealed the letter with a touch of nervous anticipation, and the next day, he handed it over to a friendly owl who was more than happy to deliver it to Adhara. As the day passed, Ernie's anxiety grew, but his friends kept encouraging him, assuring him that he had made the right decision. The afternoon sun cast a warm glow over the Black Lake, as Ernie nervously stood at the edge of the dock, glancing around in anticipation. His heart pounded in his chest, and he couldn't help but replay the words of his letter in his mind, hoping that they had conveyed his feelings adequately.

As minutes stretched into what felt like hours, Ernie's nerves began to get the better of him. 'What if she doesn't come?' he whispered to himself, feeling a pang of disappointment. The serene beauty of the lake seemed to contrast with the tumultuous thoughts swirling in his mind. With every passing moment, the weight of uncertainty settled upon Ernie's shoulders. 'I should have just talked to her in person,' he muttered, regret tingeing his voice - he wondered if his gesture had been too forward. Just as doubt began to creep in, a figure in a blue Ravenclaw robe appeared in the distance. Ernie's heart leaped with hope as he recognized Adhara, walking slowly toward the dock. A mix of excitement and relief washed over him as she approached, a curious expression on her face. Adhara stopped in front of Ernie, and he held his breath, waiting for her response. She smiled warmly and said, 'I got your letter. It was sweet, and I appreciate your honesty. Did you really mean all those things?' Ernie's face broke into a relieved smile, and he stammered, 'I - Yes, Adhara, I meant every word. I've admired you from afar for so long, and I thought it was time to let you know how I feel.' Adhara's smile deepened, and she looked touched. 'I'm flattered, Ernie. It's not every day someone writes me such a heartfelt letter.' She took a small step closer, biting her bottom lip gently, 'I'd like to get to know you better.' 

Ernie's heart soared, and his eyes lit up with joy as he absorbed Adhara's words. 'Really? You mean it?' Adhara nodded, her gaze unwavering as she held a small smile on her face. 'I do, Ernie. Your letter was sweet and sincere, and it meant a lot to me. I'd love to spend more time with you.' Ernie's smile widened, and he couldn't believe his luck. 'I can't tell you how happy that makes me. I've been wanting to get to know you for so long.' They both shared a lighthearted laugh, the tension and uncertainty of the moment giving way to a sense of connection and newfound excitement. Ernie and Adhara began to talk, sharing stories, interests, and aspirations. The sun set over the lake, casting a warm, golden hue over the scene, and as they talked and got to know each other better, it felt like the beginning of something truly special. As they walked away from the Black Lake together, Ernie couldn't help but feel that his leap of faith had been worth it.