In third-year halls, their paths first crossed,
A Raven boy, a Blonde girl lost.
"Stay out of my way," she warned with a glare,
But something lingered in the frosty air.
Crimson with his scar and fame,
Emerald with her secrets untamed.
Two worlds ap...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
A few days had passed since the intensity of their first day back at Hogwarts. The castle had returned to its usual rhythm of bustling students, hurried professors, and the occasional magical mishap. The stone corridors were alive with the sound of footsteps, echoing off the ancient walls as students rushed from class to class, all trying to stay ahead of their assignments.
Aria had just left Potions, her mood sour. Her bag hung heavy on her shoulder, and her mind was already spinning with the thought of all the work she had to get done.
She turned a corner, lost in her thoughts, and walked briskly down the corridor, her footsteps quick and sharp. She barely noticed the figure coming from the opposite direction, equally distracted and in a rush.
Bam.
They collided head-on, her shoulder slamming into something—or someone—hard. Aria stumbled back, a sharp breath escaping her as she caught herself. Her books tumbled out of her bag, skidding across the floor. Annoyed, she looked up, only to meet a familiar pair of green eyes.
Harry.
He was scowling, looking just as irritated as she felt. His jaw clenched as he rubbed his shoulder, the impact having clearly caught him off guard as well. "Watch where you're going," he snapped, his voice harsher than usual.
Aria felt a surge of anger rise in her chest. It wasn't like she had run into him on purpose, and honestly, she was too tired and frustrated to deal with Harry's attitude. "Excuse me?" she retorted, bending down to gather her books without breaking eye contact. "You're the one who crashed into me, Potter. Maybe you should be the one watching where you're going."
Harry huffed, clearly not in the mood for pleasantries. He folded his arms, his eyes flashing. "I don't have time for this. I've got enough to deal with without you barging into me and blaming me for it."
Aria stood up, her arms full of books, and met his glare head-on. "Oh, right, because you're the only one with problems, aren't you? Always playing the martyr, Harry."
That hit a nerve. Harry's scowl deepened, and his fists clenched at his sides. "I'm not playing the martyr, Aurora. You have no idea what I'm dealing with right now."
Her own frustration boiled over, and she felt her hands trembling slightly, the weight of everything building up inside her. Between her friends' distrust, her secret half-brother situation with Draco, the horrors of the graveyard last year, and the silent battle she was fighting with herself, she had more than enough on her plate.
"Well, guess what, Harry? You're not the only one dealing with things!" Aria shot back, her voice rising. "I know you think you've got it the worst, but you're not the only person in this school who's had a rough summer!"
