Swallow your pride

Bullying

Yarra's PoV

The rest of the day was a blur. Yarra attended her other classes in a sort of haze, her mind swirling with thoughts. She tried to keep her head down and avoid any unnecessary interactions, just as Professor Sharp had asked.

And she managed to do so, for the most part. There were a few times when she saw the girls from earlier looking at her, whispering amongst themselves. But she ignored them, focusing on her studies and her own thoughts. The day slowly dragged on, the hours ticking by slowly, but eventually, the final bell rang, signaling the end of classes for the day.

Yarra was exhausted. The day's events had taken a toll on her, and she felt emotionally and mentally drained. All she wanted now was to retreat to her room, curl up in Bed, and forget about the world for a little while.
As she walked back to Slytherin common Room, she heard a voice calling her name. "Yarra? Wait up!"
She turned, seeing Sebastian walking briskly towards her. His face wore a mix of concern and determination. He fell into Step alongside her, his gaze on her face.
"Can we talk?" he asked, his voice serious.
Yarra looked around and spoke, "Sebastian what's the matter? We shouldn't be seen together."

Sebastian glanced around as well, his eyes darting around the corridor cautiously. "I know, I know," he said, his voice low. "But this can't wait. I need to talk to you, now." Yarra felt a pang of worry. Sebastian's sense of urgency was concerning, especially given the current situation. But she also knew him well enough to know when he was stubborn and wouldn't be deterred.
"This better be important," she said lowly, matching his tone. Sebastian nodded, his expression earnest. "It is," he assured her. "Please, just hear me out. Let's... find somewhere we can talk. Somewhere private."
Yarra let out a sigh, realizing she wasn't going to get rid of Sebastian anytime soon. She glanced around the corridor again, noticing a narrow passageway that led to a secluded area near the common room.
"Over there," she said, gesturing to the passageway. "No one ever goes there." Sebastian followed her gaze and nodded, looking relieved. They walked quietly towards the passageway, their footfalls against the stone floor echoed softly. Once they were out of sight from the others, Sebastian turned to Yarra, his expression serious.

"Alright," Yarra said cautiously, turning to face him fully. "We're alone. What's this about, Sebastian? What's so important it couldn't wait until a better time?"
Sebastian took a deep breath, his shoulders tensing as he leaned against the wall. He ran a hand through his hair, his gaze meeting hers. "It's... it's about us," he said finally, his voice low and serious. "About what those girls were saying before, about... about us." Sebastian's jaw clenched, his eyes intense and unwavering, fixed on hers. "I know you didn't want to talk about it before," he said huskily. "But I can't stop thinking about it. And I don't think you truly grasp how dangerous it is for us."

Yarra's heart fluttered at Sebastian's words, her mind immediately going to the worst-case-scenario. She swallowed hard, trying to keep her voice steady. "What do you mean... dangerous?" she asked quietly, her voice nearly a whisper. Yara had a feeling she knew what Sebastian was worried about, but she needed to hear him say it. She needed to know exactly what was bothering him so much.

Sebastian took a step closer to her, his voice dropping even lower. "I mean," he said, his words thick with tension, "that the more people start talking, the more likely it is that someone will find out about us. About... what we've been doing." He paused, his eyes darkening. "And I don't just mean the students. I mean the professors, too. The headmaster. He is friends with Lord Gaunt. If they find out, it could be disastrous."

Yarra's heart was racing now, fear and worry mixing together in a heady, toxic cocktail. The idea of anyone finding out about their secret was terrifying, but the thought of being discovered by the headmaster was even more horrifying. The power structure and political climate within Hogwarts was delicate, to say the least. If they found out about their relationship, it could mean punishment. Not to mention the danger that loomed from Lord Gaunt. She swallowed hard, her voice shaking a little. "We've been so careful..."