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...
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The afternoon of the last day of Christmas break at Grimmauld Place was filled with a bittersweet sense of joy. The fire in the hearth crackled gently, casting flickering shadows across the room. Laughter echoed off the walls as the group of young witches and wizards made the most of their final hours together before heading back to Hogwarts the next morning.
Harry and Aria were curled up on the old but comfortable sofa near the fire, the soft, glowing warmth radiating over them. Harry's arm was draped loosely around Aria's shoulders as she nestled into his chest, their quiet comfort providing a stark contrast to the energetic atmosphere around them. Every so often, Aria would tilt her head up and their lips would meet in a soft, sweet kiss, sharing a moment of intimacy between the bursts of laughter and conversation. They didn't need to say much, letting their silence speak of the deep connection that had blossomed between them over the holiday.
Near the center of the room, a heated game of wizard's chess was in full swing between Ron and Fred. The clattering of pieces as they moved across the board was punctuated by Ron's triumphant shouts and Fred's increasingly frustrated commands to his chessmen.
"Move! Come on, move!" Fred urged his pieces, leaning forward with an intensity usually reserved for his pranks.
Ron, on the other hand, was grinning ear to ear, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Checkmate," he said smugly, watching as his knight made the final blow, sending Fred's king tumbling dramatically off the board.
Fred threw his hands in the air, half-laughing and half-annoyed. "You must have used some kind of cheat, Ron! There's no way you're this good at chess!"
Ron crossed his arms, leaning back with a wide grin. "Just natural talent, Fred."
Fred opened his mouth to retort, but the room filled with laughter as George, seated nearby with Ginny, piped in. "Or maybe it's all the years you've been practicing while avoiding Mum's chores."
Across the room, Hermione sat at a small table by the window, attempting to teach Toby a few muggle card games. The table was littered with cards, and Hermione's voice was patient as she explained the rules of spades for what felt like the fourth time. However, despite her best efforts, Toby wasn't exactly paying attention. His gaze kept drifting away from the cards to her, a soft, fond smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
"Toby, you're supposed to be playing, not daydreaming," Hermione scolded lightly, though her tone was more amused than irritated.
Toby chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "I can't help it if I'm a little distracted by the beautiful girl sitting in front of me."
Hermione blushed furiously, her face turning a deep shade of pink as she fumbled with the deck of cards in her hands. She bit her lip, trying to hide her smile, but it was no use. Toby had a way of making her feel flustered, and as much as she wanted to focus on teaching the game, her heart fluttered every time he looked at her like that.
