CLOSE TO YOU • jp + sb [1]

01.06 | TRUE FEELINGS

CHAPTER SIX

     SELYNA Diggory walked briskly through the bustling corridors of Hogwarts, her mind focused on her Potions class. The day had been relatively normal until she noticed a group of girls giggling together, their eyes fixed on her. Their whispered laughter floated down the hall, and though she tried to ignore it, a prickling unease settled in her chest.

As she continued her walk, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Heads turned as she passed, their glances varying from curious to pitying. It was unsettling. She tightened her grip on her books, the sense of being scrutinized making her feel increasingly self-conscious. Her thoughts drifted back to Sirius. They had been 'dating' for a few weeks now, and she had been revelling in the newness of it all. Sirius had been attentive, caring, and had broken away from his usual womanizing reputation. To Selyna, it felt like a dream come true—she felt special, cherished in a way she had never experienced before.

Finally arriving at the Potions classroom, she took a deep breath and tried to put her concerns aside. She spotted Marlene McKinnon already seated and made her way over, hoping that a friendly face would offer some comfort. Selyna slid into the seat next to Marlene, who was pointedly avoiding eye contact.

"Hey, Marlene," Selyna began, her voice light but her concern evident. "You've been awfully quiet today. Is something wrong?"

Marlene shifted uncomfortably, her gaze fixed on the Potions book in front of her. "It's nothing, really," she mumbled, clearly reluctant to discuss whatever was on her mind.

Selyna's unease grew. "Come on, something's not right. Everyone's been looking at me strangely all day, and I don't understand why."

Marlene hesitated before finally meeting Selyna's eyes, her expression serious. "Okay, fine. There's a rumour going around. Apparently, Sirius was seen last night in a broom cupboard on the third floor with another girl."

The words hit Selyna like a physical blow. The world seemed to go silent around her, the murmur of other students and the clinking of cauldrons fading into the background. Her heart dropped into her stomach, and an emptiness began to spread through her chest. The excitement and hope she had felt about Sirius now felt like a cruel joke.

"Are you serious?" Selyna's voice was barely above a whisper, her hands trembling slightly. "Are you sure?"

Marlene nodded, her expression pained. "I'm sorry, Selyna. I didn't want to be the one to tell you, but I thought you deserved to know."

The revelation stung more than Selyna could have anticipated. The feeling of being valued and special, which had seemed so real just a few days ago, now felt like an illusion. She had hoped Sirius was different from his usual self, that he might have truly cared for her in a way that was more than just a fleeting fancy. But now, with this information, the doubts she had managed to suppress began to surface.

As the Potions lesson began and Professor Slughorn started explaining the day's brew, Selyna struggled to focus. Her mind kept replaying Marlene's words. Her feelings for Sirius had seemed so promising, but now she felt foolish for letting herself believe in something that might have been nothing more than a temporary distraction for him.

The class continued, but Selyna was lost in thought, her emotions a tangled mess of confusion and hurt. Despite her best efforts to concentrate on the potion in front of her, she could only think of how her idealized vision of Sirius had been shattered, leaving her grappling with a painful new reality.

     AS the final bell of Potions class rang, Selyna Diggory practically leapt from her seat, her heart pounding and tears blurring her vision. She could barely register the chaotic clamour of students packing their bags and heading out. All she felt was a rush of overwhelming sadness and confusion. She shoved her belongings into her bag with trembling hands and bolted from the classroom, not noticing the concerned glances from her classmates or the worried expressions of James Potter and Remus Lupin out in the hall, who had seen her distress.