Tomatoes. ➭ Cyno X OC [Hogwarts AU]

nevertheless. || twenty five.

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Ainsley was crying on FaceTime with her dad.

"I can't even cook!" She sobbed.

"Now what is with ya?" Her dad sighed.

"I tried to make pancakes but I couldn't. " She continued, her lips trembling like they always do when she cried.

"I wasted a bunch of ingredients! I'm such a spoiled brat!" She went on. Ainsley cried easily and a lot too. Her parents weren't sure which one she got it from.

But still Iris was the only person who had seen her cry before and that too only because she stubbed her toe once while in 7th grade.

"Now, cmon Ainsley." Her dad spoke. Ainsley's voice died down but her tears were still flowing non-stop. "You can't just get things right the first try. Say, have you driven a car before?" Ainsley hummed a no.

"So if I told you to drive one right now, you wouldn't do it right. That's the exact same thing you're crying about. That's kinda dumb, isn't it?"

Ainsley began thinking.

" Oh wait that is kinda dumb, the hell. " She wiped the tears off her cheeks with a frown.

" Okay I take it all back, bye. " Her dad gave her a 'bye' back, before hanging up.

Instances like these were the only times you could see Ainsley's parents actually parenting her. The same father would threaten to pull her eyeballs out if she cried except for when she was physically hurt.

That was the reason why Ainsley is often categorized as someone with a tough heart when in reality she's maybe even more easily hurt than the crybaby Nora herself.

These moments were also the ones where Ainsley felt loved by her parents. That night, a memory came to Ainsley.

A few years ago, Ainsley was gifted her first book. And since then she has continued to read a bunch of stuff. When Ainsley's dad learnt of her new hobby, he drove her miles to the best bookstore in the city just to make sure Ainsley could get any book she wanted.

He was like that. Absolutely loving one moment, and threatening to kick her out the other.

Ainsley's mind took a trip down the bittersweet memory lane as she looked at the scars on her thigh.

That was arguably the worst thing he's father had done to her. He said that it was his way of disciplining her and this way, every time she looked at those scars, she'll remember what she did that caused her dad to bring a hot hair iron to his daughter's thigh and draw lines while her mother was screaming for him to stop.

But the funny thing is, Ainsley only remembered all the harsh words her father spoke at that moment whenever she looked at the scars, not the mistake she made to deserve them. They were almost faint after spending years on her thigh.

But Ainsley truly was her parents' child, and loved them nevertheless.

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"What's all this?" Cyno squinted his eyes at the packages on Ainsley's carpet.

"I don't know..." She replied.

"Then why did you call us over?" Nora questioned, while opening Ainsley's blinds for better light.

"It could be Pennywise, trying to make me float and shit."

"Are you fr right now?" Serene rolled her eyes at her.

"What? If magic could exist, Pennywise could too." That was Ainsley's defence.

" Then too, you don't need seven people to save you. Alhaitham alone would be enough. " Carla let out in annoyance.

" I only asked for someone, what can I do if more than half the gc showed up? " Ainsley shrugged.

" I've got to say, seeing that all of you came to check on me, you guys really love me that much huh? " She smirked.

" Hell no, I hurried here hoping that you dropped dead. " Andy stated.

" Okay are we or are we not opening these boxes? Kaveh is probably waiting for me at dinner. " Alhaitham said, reminding everyone about what they're actually there for.

" I smell roommates to lovers." Ainsley mumbled to Cyno.

"They're probably already together at this point." He whispered back.

Ainsley let out a low chuckle, before casually pulling out a fancy, lavender pocket knife out of her hoodie's pockets.

"Why do you have something like that for?" Carla frowned.

" You don't have to worry about that. " Ainsley smiled, gaining the usual suspicious look from Andrea.

Ainsley approached the packages but reversed her actions and handed the blade to Alhaitham.

" You do it, I'm scared. "

" Seriously? "

" What? I'm just a girl."

Alhaitham gave in.

Iris spoke, while watching the eldest cut open the boxes.

" You know, I wish someone would cut me open like that. "

" Honestly, same. " Serene spoke out.

" It seems to be a dress. "

The girls looked at Iris, then in the direction she was pointing at.

"Oh then it must be for the ball!!" Nora exclaimed.

Alhaitham pulled out a note and examined it before giving it to Ainsley.

"Is that all?"

"Yeah, you're free to go join Kaveh now."

"Alright, don't be late to dinner." Father was fathering.

After bidding him goodbye, Ainsley read out the letter.

'Sky was kind enough to help me find a dress that you would love. Be sure to thank her.
-Mom.

(P. S) I'm sad that I'm not your only bae anymore but it's okay! Have fun at the ball xx
-skyler'

"Oh I love her sm!" Ainsley squealed.

"You're going to go with this guy, right? ." Serene pointing at Cyno, who just stood there like 🧍‍♂️.

"Who said I'm going with him?" Ainsley raised a brow, attempting to tease her boyfriend a little.

" Who else would you go with? "

" I don't know, Cedric? "

" I'm hurt. " Cyno chuckled.

He told them his goodbyes, before finally leaving.

The six girls huddled together, to look at the dress.

"Oh wow." Ainsley was amazed.

It was a purple dress, Ainsley's favourite shade.

The night ended with Ainsley trying on the dress and then everyone discussing their yule ball looks.

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Filler Chapters are my speciality 👍

-RJ <3

(word count: 1009.)