Forged in Darkness (English) ON PAUSE

Chapter 3: First Loves

Two weeks later...

Hogwarts, with its ancient walls and hidden secrets, had always been a refuge for me. Yet, as our third year began, I felt a strange unease growing inside me, as if an invisible shadow were watching me. Every time I crossed paths with Professor Dumbledore in the corridors, I noticed a tension in his blue eyes, something I couldn't decipher. Minerva McGonagall, my maternal figure and advisor, seemed increasingly worried about me, but whenever I asked her about it, she would change the subject or smile reassuringly, trying to calm my doubts.

The situation at Hogwarts was already tense enough with the Dementors patrolling the castle boundaries in search of Sirius Black. And with the arrival of Remus Lupin as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, it felt like everything was about to change.

During Lupin's first lesson, there was a certain electricity in the air. As he explained dark creatures with a calm and hypnotic voice, I couldn't help but feel a magnetic attraction toward him, a sense of familiarity I couldn't explain. Hermione, sitting next to me, didn't seem to notice my vaguely absorbed gaze, and I tried to focus, but I felt there was something different about this man, something that intrigued me deeply.

A few days later, I found myself alone in the Hogwarts library, as usual searching for answers. As I leafed through a dusty book on defensive spells, a voice behind me startled me.

"You're very diligent, Sarah," said Professor Lupin, with his soft and gentle tone.

I turned around, finding him standing there with a kind smile on his face. "Professor Lupin, I didn't hear you come in," I replied, trying to control the quickening beat of my heart.

"I apologize if I startled you," he said, moving closer to the table and looking at the scattered books. "Have you always been so interested in Defense Against the Dark Arts?"

I nodded. "It seems important... to know how to defend oneself," I said, trying to avoid his gaze. But his eyes, so full of understanding and a sort of melancholy, were looking at me intensely.

"It's an admirable quality," he replied, with a note of sadness in his voice. "But sometimes, Sarah, knowledge can lead to discovering truths we're not ready to face."

There was something in his voice that struck me deeply, as if he knew something about me that even I didn't know. "Professor, do you think knowing the truth is always... right?"

Lupin paused for a moment, as if choosing his words carefully. "The truth can be a powerful weapon, but it can also be a burden. It's up to us to decide how to use it."

I felt a shiver run down my spine. His gaze became more intense, and for a moment, there was a charged silence between us. I felt a strange connection, something deeper than mere attraction. He lowered his gaze and took a step back.

"Sarah, there's something about you... something I can't ignore," he finally said, his voice betraying an inner conflict. "But it's my duty to keep the right distance, for your own good."

His words hit me like lightning. For a moment, the room seemed smaller, more suffocating. I wanted to ask him what he meant, but his gaze avoided mine. There was a palpable tension, an invisible wall that seemed to rise between us.

"I think it's best if you return to your studies," he concluded finally, his voice now more distant, almost cold.

I nodded, unable to say anything. Lupin turned and left the library, leaving me with an emptiness inside and a confusion I didn't know how to handle. There was something dangerous in what I was starting to feel for him, and he knew it better than anyone else.

_____________________________________________

That evening, as I was returning to the dormitory, I ran into Fred in the hallway. He took my hand and pulled me aside, away from the curious eyes of the other students.

"Do you feel like taking a walk?" he asked me, with that usual mischievous smile of his.

Despite my turmoil over what had happened with Lupin, I couldn't resist Fred. I nodded, and we headed toward the Astronomy Tower. We walked in silence for a while until we reached the top, where the view of Hogwarts was breathtaking.

"You know, Sarah," Fred began, looking at me with an uncommon seriousness, "since this year started, you seem more... distant. Did something happen?"

I wanted to tell him everything, but something held me back. How could I explain what I was feeling without sounding crazy? "It's just... a bit of stress. The classes, the Dementors, everything."

Fred scrutinized me for a moment, then pulled out a small package from his pocket. "I thought this might help you relax a bit." He smiled, showing me a small box of chocolate frogs.

I couldn't help but laugh. "You're always you, Fred. Thank you."

He hugged me, and for a moment, I felt protected, as if nothing else mattered. But as I held him, I couldn't stop thinking about what Lupin had said and that dark feeling stirring inside me.

author's note

I hope you're enjoying the story. If there's something you don't like, let me know so I can make it better.
Anyway, I'll try to write these notes as little as possible because I'm afraid they might "disturb" you in some way, but for today, it's necessary.
This chapter talks about how the first weeks at Hogwarts went for Sarah. Did it seem too fast? Also, with the situation with Remus, would you like me to delve deeper into the topic? (Keep in mind that there will be more dialogues and situations in the upcoming chapters).

Thank you for reading❤️