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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As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the corridors of Hogwarts, Aria and Harry made their way hand in hand toward Snape's office. The air was thick with an unsettling mixture of excitement and dread. Classes had been particularly taxing that day, and now the thought of facing Snape filled them both with an acute sense of apprehension.
"Do you really think we need to do this?" Harry asked, his voice low as they walked. His brow was furrowed, the tension in his shoulders evident. "I mean, can't we just practice some other spell? Anything but Occlumency?"
Aria chuckled nervously, squeezing his hand for reassurance. "Believe me, I'd rather be anywhere else right now. But if Voldemort is trying to invade our minds again, we don't really have a choice, do we?"
"Yeah, but it's Snape. I can already picture his smug face when we mess up," Harry groaned, rolling his eyes dramatically. "And to think we have to learn from the same guy who spent years calling me 'Potter' like it's a curse."
They paused at the entrance to Snape's office, the door looming ominously before them. Aria took a deep breath, her heart racing. "Well, here we go," she said, attempting to sound more confident than she felt.
Harry nodded, his expression a mix of determination and reluctance. "Let's get this over with."
With that, they pushed open the heavy door, stepping into the dimly lit room. The familiar scent of potions and herbs hung in the air, mingling with the sharp tang of something unidentifiable. Snape was seated behind his desk, his dark eyes glinting as he glanced up from a stack of parchment.
"Ah, Miss Black, Mr. Potter," he drawled, his tone dripping with condescension. "I see you've finally decided to grace me with your presence."
Aria exchanged a quick look with Harry, silently conveying her annoyance. "Sorry to keep you waiting, Professor," she replied, her voice steady despite the wrenching in her stomach.
"Let's not waste any more time, shall we?" Snape said, rising to his feet and gesturing for them to approach. "I trust you are both aware of the importance of Occlumency in safeguarding your minds against external influence?"
Harry crossed his arms, a rebellious glint in his eye. "Yeah, but do you really have to act like this is some kind of punishment? We're here to learn."
Snape's lip curled slightly, the corners of his mouth twitching with the hint of a smirk. "Learning requires discipline, Potter. If you would prefer a softer approach, perhaps I could arrange for your dear friend Hermione to give you some reading assignments instead."
Aria held back a laugh at the thought, knowing Hermione would likely drown them in textbooks if given the chance. Harry shot her a mock-glare, and she stifled a grin.
