The first frost of October had settled over the grounds, and the castle walls seemed to echo with whispers of the oncoming winter. The chill seeped through the stone corridors, and i found myself pulling my cloak tighter as i walked to the library. It was one of those rare moments when i needed to be alone, and the library was one of the few places where people generally knew to leave me in peace.
I had been avoiding Theo since our last conversation in the common room, and not because i didn't want to see him - if anything, i wanted to be near him more than ever. But wanting was the very problem. The intensity of my feelings frightened me, made me question my own judgment, my own defenses. I needed to clear my head, to think things through without the distraction of his eyes watching me, or the warmth of his hand against mine.
The library was nearly empty, and i slipped into a familiar corner by the tall window overlooking the lake. The view was one of my favorites - the dark, still water, the low fog hovering just above the surface, the hint of shadows moving beneath. It was quiet and still, a contrast to the storm of thoughts raging inside my mind.
As I settled in, i tried to lose myself in the book i had brought with me. But my mind refused to cooperate. Every few moments, my eyes would drift to the window, and my thoughts would wander back to Theo.
I'm not going anywhere.
His words played on a loop in my head, relentless and inescapable. I wanted so badly to believe him, but a part of me was still waiting for the other shoe to drop. Because people always left, eventually. It was a lesson i had learned over and over again - first with my parents, and then with everyone else who had ever gotten too close.
But Theo wasn't everyone else.
After an hour of failing miserably to focus on the words in front of me, i gave up and decided to head back to the common room. As i walked through the corridors, the familiar green and silver tapestries seemed to mock me, reminding me of all the expectations and assumptions that came with being a Slytherin. Strength, cunning, self-preservation - those were the traits we were known for. But in moments like these, they felt more like a prison than anything else.
When i reached the common room, i hesitated at the entrance, taking a deep breath to steady myself. I knew Theo was inside - somehow, i always knew - and i wasn't sure i was ready to face him. But avoiding him forever wasn't an option, and part of me was tired of running.
As i stepped inside, the warmth of the fire immediately washed over me, and i saw Theo sitting in his usual spot by the window. His posture was relaxed, but there was a tension in his shoulders, a sign that he was waiting for something - or someone.
When he looked up and saw me, his expression softened, but there was a wariness in his eyes that hadn't been there before. I felt a pang of guilt, knowing that i was the reason for that look. But i couldn't bring myself to speak, not yet.
"Busy day?" he asked, his voice carefully neutral.
"Something like that," i replied, forcing a small smile as i settled into the armchair across from him. The distance between us felt both comforting and suffocating at the same time.
We sat in silence for a while, neither of us willing to break it. I stared at the fire, watching the flames dance and twist, trying to find the courage to say something - anything - that would bridge the gap between us. But every time i opened my mouth, the words seemed to die on my tongue.
Finally, it was Theo who broke the silence.
"You're avoiding me again," he said quietly, his tone holding no accusation - just a simple statement of fact.
