Unexpected Encounters

Harry darted down the corridor, his heart pounding in his chest as the familiar sound of giggles echoed behind him. The fangirls had gotten worse over the past few months—no longer just admiring glances from afar, they now followed him in packs, giggling, smiling, and pointing whenever they saw him. They didn't exactly chase him, but the way they lingered in gaggles, whispering and watching, was enough to make Harry feel constantly on edge. Desperate for a moment of peace, he slipped into an empty classroom near the Defence Against the Dark Arts room. He slammed the door behind him and leaned against it before sliding down to the floor, catching his breath, hoping to lose them, if only for a little while. 

For a moment, the only sound was his own ragged breathing. When he looked up, he realized the room was mercifully empty apart from a lone figure who looked up at the sound of the slamming door. The boy's sharp, piercing blue eyes met Harry's in surprise, his quill suspended mid-air above his parchment. He was surrounded by several open books and scattered parchment.

Zane's expression shifted from shock to curiosity as he watched Harry panting against the door. The boy's light brown hair fell messily around his lightly freckled cheeks on butterscotch skin, nearly brushing his shoulders. An unasked question on his pale peach lips, the Hufflepuff tie hung loosely around his neck. He looked like he'd been at work for a while, though his parchment contained only a few half-scratched-out lines. Several seconds passed before he arched an eyebrow, finally breaking the silence.

"Harry, right?" Zane asked, his voice steady, though his eyes twinkled with amusement. He gestured toward Harry with the quill he held, as if confirming his identity. 

"Uh, yeah," Harry muttered, still catching his breath. "Sorry, didn't mean to disturb you." He got to his feet, glancing anxiously at the door.

"Who're you running from?" Zane asked, his lips twitching into a grin as he leaned his head on his hand, eyes dancing with curiosity.

Before Harry could reply, the muffled giggles and whispers from the other side of the door made his stomach drop. He bolted again, this time ducking behind Zane's desk just as two girls entered the room. Zane raised an eyebrow, clearly trying to suppress his amusement as Harry hid at his feet.

The first girl, a Hufflepuff with sleek, dark hair, approached Zane, her eyes scanning the room. "Hey, Zane. You haven't happened to see anyone come in here, have you?" she asked, her tone casual but eager. Her Ravenclaw friend hovered nearby, casting glances toward the far corners of the room with barely contained excitement.

Zane, without even a glance toward Harry's hiding spot, put on an innocent expression. "And what poor sod exactly are you looking for, Claire?" he asked, twirling his quill lazily between his fingers as if the situation bored him.

The girls exchanged giggles before Claire replied with a cheeky smirk, "Oh, you would know if he walked in. What with the way your eyes never seem able to glance away from his arse any time he walks into the room." 

The words hit Zane like a stunning spell, a deep flush creeping over his freckled cheeks. He forced himself to maintain his composure, though he could feel Harry's presence just inches away, hearing everything. Zane rolled his eyes, doing his best to sound indifferent. "Who doesn't? Honestly, you lot should stop embarrassing yourselves. Leave the poor bloke alone. He literally died for all of us; least you can do is not stalk him." His tone was casual, but his body remained rigid, betraying his unease.

Claire huffed, clearly displeased with the response, and stormed out, her Ravenclaw friend trailing after her, shooting one last glare in Zane's direction.

Once the door closed, Zane relaxed a little, his posture softening. He sighed, looking down at Harry who peeked out from behind the desk. "Give it five or ten minutes before heading out," Zane said, pretending to be absorbed in his unfinished homework once more, not wanting to let on to how uncomfortable he was.