Run Away ✧ Hogwarts Legacy

chapter forty

I've Got All This Ringing In My Ears And None On My Fingers by Fall Out Boy

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Sixth Year

Antheia Wynters smoothed out her skirt nervously in front of the mirror that evening. There was no good reason for her heart to be pounding in her chest as fast as it had been. It was only a date.

Just a date.

It wasn't that big of a deal.

They weren't even together officially.

As far as she had been concerned they were simply just friends that were going to spend the night in each other's company.

Antheia wasn't even sure if she was ready to date anyone still. The boy had asked her so many times that she was beginning to feel guilty rejecting him, others had given up after the first attempt, but he hadn't gone away so easily. She admired how determined he was to conceive her otherwise.

It had been over a year since she had allowed herself to have feelings for someone else besides herself. The heartbreak of the prior year had scarred her, not for what she had lost, but for the regrets of the love she never had. Eventually, she decided that she didn't want to have the same regret again. If she was going to love and lose anyway, then perhaps she should at least enjoy loving this time.

That must have been the reason Antheia had changed her outfit so many times before she left. If he had tried so hard to get her to agree to a date, then she should at least take it seriously. Her face was beginning to turn a soft shade of pink that nearly matched her skirt, she padded more blush onto her cheeks to make it appear intentional before leaving.

When Antheia stepped into the hallway of the castle he had been there waiting for her. Her heart fluttered once more.

Bright blue eyes shined happily back at her as Desmond Esper stood there with his broom in his hands. A cheerful smile unrevealed across his sharp chin as he looked over her.

It was a quick trip on the broom across the Black Lake until the two had found their spot. The picnic blanket had been set up prior to their arrival and a basket sat at the corner waiting for them. It was past dinner by that time. She was surprised to see the basket until she peered in and noticed it was full of sweets. There were also extra blankets since the spring nights may carry a bite of cold in the air. Her heart was rushing so fast that she doubted needing one. 

Antheia had just kept telling herself that it was just an outing with a friend until they landed, and then she realized the date was in fact real—a romantic date.

Desmond was equally as nervous, if not more so, but it hadn't shown to her. The two had been friends for months, however, he had been completely smitten with her as soon as he had the courage to speak with her. The courage had been a result of a reasonable amount of drinking at a house party before he finally found the confidence to walk up to her to ask her to dance with him.

It had been kismet. Neither had wanted to be there that night, but kept stealing glances at each other from across the room.

One quick song together turned into just one more. Then they couldn't stop at the third song because it was her favorite. Time flew by before either of the two had noticed they had been the last dancing together as the celebration slowly ended around them.