Hidden hearts

Chapter 3 || The astronomy tower

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The astronomy tower
Mess it up
by Gracie abrams
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Arabella sat at the astronomy tower, her mind a whirlwind of shock and confusion. The chilly evening air nipped at her skin, but she barely noticed. Why had Malfoy done that? What had driven him to expose her secret so cruelly? Now, the entire school knew about her powers, and the reality of that knowledge spread like a dark cloud over her.

Her thoughts turned to Harry, the one person whose opinion mattered the most. What if he thought she was a monster? The very idea made her chest tighten painfully. But then, she reminded herself, Harry already knew about her powers. He had always accepted her for who she was, hadn't he? Despite this reassurance, the fear lingered. What if something changed? What if they argued, and she lost control? The thought of accidentally hurting him was unbearable.

As these worries churned in her mind, Arabella tried to calm herself, but her efforts were in vain. The weight of potential rejection and fear pressed down on her, making it hard to breathe. She cast her gaze out over the Hogwarts grounds, usually a place of solace and beauty, now tainted by her anxiety. The sun was setting, casting a warm, golden hue over the landscape, but its beauty was lost on her.

Tears began to blur her vision, and she blinked furiously to clear them, but it was no use. She could feel the dam inside her breaking. The sobs started softly, almost a whisper, but soon they grew louder, shaking her shoulders with their intensity. The realization hit her hard—she would probably lose all her friends because of this. The thought of isolation was terrifying, a cold, dark void waiting to engulf her.

Her mind raced, picturing the faces of her friends, now filled with fear and hatred. Would they turn away from her, avoid her in the corridors, and whisper behind her back? The pain of such betrayal was almost too much to bear. Arabella buried her face in her hands, her sobs echoing in the quiet of the tower.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of pink and orange, Arabella felt an overwhelming sense of despair. The beautiful sunset, a sight she usually cherished, was now a stark contrast to the turmoil inside her. She felt utterly alone, her future uncertain and fraught with the fear of losing everything and everyone she held dear.

She heard footsteps echoing up the winding stairs to the astronomy tower. Arabella looked up, her tear-filled eyes searching for the source of the sound. When she saw who it was, her heart leapt.

It was Harry. Warmth spread through her chest, and butterflies fluttered in her stomach as he approached. He studied her face, taking in the traces of her tears and the misery in her expression. His heart ached seeing her like this, so broken and vulnerable. Yet, despite her sadness, she still looked like a goddess to him, radiating a beauty that was untouched by her distress.

Years of friendship had forged an unspoken understanding between them. They didn't need words to communicate their deepest feelings. Tonight was no different.

Without hesitation, Harry walked up to her and wrapped her in a tight embrace. She felt the warmth of his body and the strength of his arms around her. "Hey, Raven," he murmured softly, using the nickname he had given her long ago. "Look at me. I'm not scared of you, okay? We will fix this, I promise." His voice was calm and reassuring, as if he could read her thoughts and knew exactly what she needed to hear.

Arabella looked up into his eyes, finding solace in their unwavering confidence. For a moment, the turmoil inside her seemed to quiet, replaced by the steady comfort of Harry's presence. He sat down beside her, keeping his arm around her shoulders, drawing her close.