Forbidden Love

Settling In

After the chaos of the Sorting Ceremony and the overwhelming introductions in the Great Hall, I was ready to see where I'd be staying. Charlotte turned to me with a warm smile, her excitement contagious.

"Ready to see your new dorm?" she asked, gesturing toward the entrance to the dungeons.

I nodded, a flutter of nerves and excitement mixing in my stomach. "Yeah, let's go."

"Unfortunately, I'm in a different dorm, but I'll walk you there," Charlotte added as we started down the cold stone staircase that led to the Slytherin common room.

The dimly lit corridors of the dungeon felt almost foreboding, but Charlotte's cheerful demeanor kept my spirits high. When we reached the entrance to the Slytherin common room, she whispered the password, and the stone wall slid open to reveal a cozy, dark-lit room with green and silver accents. It was everything I imagined Slytherin would be—elegant, mysterious, and just a bit intimidating.

"Your dorm is just through there," Charlotte said, pointing to a door off to the side. "I'll catch up with you tomorrow morning."

"Thanks, Charlotte," I said, offering her a grateful smile before stepping through the door to my new dorm.

Inside, the room was spacious and furnished with dark wood and green velvet. Two beds were already occupied with belongings. My gaze was immediately drawn to a figure standing by one of the beds, arranging his things. He was tall, with tousled dark hair and a friendly smile that instantly put me at ease.

"Hey, you must be the new roommate," he said, turning to me. "I'm Aiden Gray."

I offered a shy smile, feeling a slight flutter in my chest. "Nice to meet you, Aiden. I'm Abigail Black, but you can call me Abby."

"Abby, got it," Aiden replied with a grin. There was something about his easygoing demeanor that made me feel instantly at ease. And, I couldn't help but notice, he was kind of cute.

Before I could respond, the door opened again, and a familiar face walked in. Pansy Parkinson, who had been so welcoming at the Slytherin table, strolled in with a confident stride.

"Oh, good, you've found your way," Pansy said, tossing her bag onto the last empty bed. "Looks like we're roomies, Abby."

"Yeah, it's nice to have someone I know," I admitted, feeling a wave of relief.

Pansy smirked. "Don't worry, Aiden's not as scary as he looks."

Aiden chuckled. "I'll try not to be too terrifying."

We all shared a laugh, and I could feel the tension in my shoulders beginning to ease. The room already felt more comfortable, and I was grateful to be sharing it with people who seemed friendly. Though, I couldn't shake the thought that maybe Aiden was more than just friendly—there was something about his smile that made my heart skip a beat.

As we continued unpacking and settling in, Aiden turned his attention back to me. "So, Abby," he began, leaning casually against the bedpost, "what's it like being a new student at Hogwarts? I mean, most of us have been here for years, but you're jumping in right in the middle of everything."

I smiled, appreciating how easy he made conversation feel. "It's definitely overwhelming. I've heard so much about Hogwarts, but being here is a completely different experience. I'm just trying to keep up with everything."

Aiden nodded, his expression understanding. "Yeah, it can be a lot at first. But you'll get the hang of it. If you ever need someone to show you around or help you out with anything, just let me know."

"Thanks, I might take you up on that," I replied, feeling a warm flutter in my chest. There was something about Aiden's easygoing demeanor that made me feel instantly at ease.

"So, what's your story?" Aiden asked, genuinely curious. "Why join Hogwarts now?"

I hesitated for a moment, not wanting to dive into the whole complicated history of my family just yet. "My dad was... a bit protective. He didn't want me to come at first, but I guess he finally realized that I needed to be here, just like everyone else."

Aiden tilted his head slightly, his eyes softening. "I get it. Parents can be like that sometimes. But hey, you're here now, and that's what matters. Besides, you've already made a bunch of friends."

"Yeah," I said, glancing over at Pansy, who was busy unpacking her things. "Everyone's been really welcoming. It's nice to have that, especially since I'm new."

Aiden grinned. "Well, Slytherin isn't as bad as some people make it out to be. We've got a strong sense of camaraderie, and we look out for each other. I think you'll fit right in."

I found myself smiling back, the last of my nerves beginning to dissipate. "I hope so. I'm just excited to finally be here and experience everything."

"You will," Aiden assured me. "And if you ever need a break from it all, we can always sneak out for a late-night snack or just hang out in the common room. Sometimes it's nice to just relax and not think about school."

"Sounds like a plan," I said, my heart skipping a beat at the thought of spending more time with Aiden. There was something about him that made me want to get to know him better, to see the person behind the friendly smile.

Aiden caught my gaze and held it for a moment longer than necessary, his smile turning a little softer. "Welcome to Hogwarts, Abby. I have a feeling you're going to do just fine here."

"Thanks, Aiden," I replied, my voice a little quieter. "I really appreciate that."

As Pansy finally finished her unpacking and joined the conversation, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. Hogwarts was already turning out to be more than I expected, and as I glanced at Aiden, I couldn't help but wonder what else this year had in store for me.