Until forever

unexpected encounters

3rd person pov

        Lily Emerald stepped off the Hogwarts Express, her heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. It was her first time setting foot on the grounds of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and she couldn't help but feel a surge of anticipation at the prospect of starting a new chapter in her life.

         As she made her way through the crowded platform, Lily's eyes scanned the sea of unfamiliar faces, searching for a glimpse of the towering castle she had heard so much about. But before she could get her bearings, she felt a sharp elbow jab into her side, nearly knocking her off balance."Watch where you're going, Emerald."Lily's breath caught in her throat at the venomous words, her eyes narrowing as she turned to face the source of the insult. 

         Standing before her was a boy with tousled dark hair and Piercing  Brown eyes, his expression twisted into a sneer of contempt.Mattheo.Lily felt her blood boil with anger at the sight of him, memories of their encounter on the train still fresh in her mind. 

       From the moment they had met, Mattheo had made his disdain for her perfectly clear, his insults cutting deeper than any curse.But Lily refused to let him see how much his words affected her. Squaring her shoulders, she met his gaze with a steely glare of her own, her voice dripping with ice as she shot back, "I'd watch my mouth if I were you, Riddle."Mattheo's eyes flashed with fury at the insult, his jaw clenching as he took a step closer to her. 

      "You'll regret crossing me, you filthy blood traitor" he spat, his voice low and menacing.Lily refused to back down, standing her ground as she stared him down with defiance. "Is that a threat, Riddle?"For a moment, they stood locked in a battle of wills, neither willing to back down from the other. And then, suddenly, the tension was broken by the sound of approaching footsteps."Lily! There you are!"

       Lily turned to see a girl with long red hair and freckles rushing toward her, a look of concern etched on her face. Relief flooded through Lily at the sight of her friend, grateful for the distraction from the confrontation with Mattheo."Rose!" Lily exclaimed, a genuine smile spreading across her face as she embraced her friend. "I'm so glad you're here."Rose returned the hug with equal enthusiasm, her blue eyes sparkling with excitement. "I was worried I'd lost you in the crowd," she admitted, pulling back to look Lily in the eye. 

      "Are you alright?"Lily nodded, her smile faltering slightly as she glanced back at Mattheo, who was watching their exchange with thinly veiled contempt. "I'm fine," she replied, her voice tinged with bitterness. "Just ran into an old...acquaintance."Rose followed Lily's gaze, her expression hardening as she caught sight of Mattheo. "Riddle," she muttered under her breath, her tone laced with disdain.

       Lily nodded in agreement, her fists clenching at her sides as she fought to contain her anger. "Let's just go, Rose," she said, turning away from Mattheo and heading toward the castle with her friend in tow.As they made their way across the grounds, Lily couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the air. She knew that her encounter with Mattheo was far from over, and she dreaded the inevitable clash that lay ahead.

    ***The first few weeks at Hogwarts passed in a blur of classes, homework, and Quidditch matches, the days blending together in a whirlwind of activity. Despite her initial reservations, Lily found herself settling into her new routine with surprising ease, her classes challenging yet rewarding, her friendships blossoming with each passing day.

         But try as she might, she couldn't shake the memory of her encounter with Mattheo on the train, the animosity between them simmering just beneath the surface. Everywhere she turned, it seemed he was there, his presence a constant reminder of the rivalry that had ignited between them.And then, one fateful afternoon, their paths collided once again in the most unexpected of places.Lily was making her way through the corridors of Hogwarts, her mind preoccupied with thoughts of an upcoming Transfiguration exam, when she rounded a corner and collided head-on with a solid figure."Oof!"Lily stumbled backward, nearly losing her balance as she struggled to regain her footing. And then, as she looked up, her heart sank at the sight before her.

      Mattheo.He stood before her, a look of annoyance etched on his face as he rubbed his shoulder where she had bumped into him. Lily felt a surge of anger rise within her at the sight of him, her fists clenching at her sides as she glared at him with disdain."What are you doing here, Riddle?" she spat, her voice dripping with contempt.Mattheo's eyes narrowed at the insult, his jaw tightening as he met her gaze with a steely glare of his own. 

       "I could ask you the same thing, Blood Traitor" he shot back, his voice laced with venom.Lily bristled at the slur, her anger boiling over as she took a step closer to him. "Don't you dare call me that," she seethed, her fists trembling with rage.But before she could say another word, a voice interrupted their confrontation from behind."What's going on here?"Lily turned to see Professor McGonagall striding toward them, her expression stern as she took in the scene before her. Lily's heart sank at the sight of her head of house, knowing that she was about to be reprimanded for her behavior."Professor, I-"

         But before Lily could explain, Professor McGonagall held up a hand to silence her, her gaze flickering between Lily and Mattheo with a mixture of concern and disappointment."I expect better behavior from both of you," she admonished, her tone firm yet fair. "Now, I suggest you both return to your dormitories and think about what you've done."

     With a resigned sigh, Lily nodded, knowing there was no arguing with her professor. She shot one final glare at Mattheo before turning on her heel and storming off down the corridor, her mind swirling with a mix of anger and frustration.Little did she know, their clash was only the beginning of an unexpected journey that would forever change the course of their lives.