Seers Secret ✧ James Potter

~Chapter 121~

Alina's eyes flicker to Remus Lupin. It's the full moon tonight—two days since her detention with Sirius.

Remus looks exhausted, dark shadows under his eyes betraying his lack of rest. He'll probably head straight back to his dorm after this.

Alina quickly looks away before anyone catches her staring. Peter left breakfast early this morning, claiming he had extra work to do for Herbology. Not that he needs the extra credit in the class.

Barty isn't here yet either. At their respective tables, Evan, Pandora, and Dorcas sit quietly, with Pandora leaning over to talk to her brother.

The Great Hall is unusually subdued, the chatter of students blending into a low hum in the background. Alina absently pushes bits of food around her plate, her appetite dulled by her thoughts.

A few minutes later, the flood of owls arrives, swooping down to deliver their usual morning cargo. Letters and parcels drop in front of students, drawing delighted exclamations or groans, depending on their contents.

One particular letter lands directly in front of Alina, its arrival startling her from her thoughts.

She stares at her name scrawled across the envelope, her stomach twisting.

Her parents.

Alina snatches the letter up, crumpling it slightly as she shoves it into her bag without opening it. She stands abruptly, the scrape of the bench echoing faintly in the quiet.

Neither Barty nor Peter is here to notice anything is wrong. She can keep pretending.

Bag in hand, she walks briskly away from the Slytherin table, her footsteps echoing in the Great Hall. She pushes through the large double doors and into the corridor beyond, her chest tightening with every step.

Her breaths come faster now, shallow and uneven. She knows exactly what the letter says—questions about her grades, reminders to write to her fiancé, endless expectations spelled out in neat, suffocating lines.

Constant reminders, as if she doesn't already know. As if it even matters anymore.

Not if she plans to get poison before she leaves.

Not if she plans to... die.

Does she?

It seems like the only plausible option. There's no way she's going to get married—

"Alina?"

The familiar voice startles her, breaking the storm of her thoughts. She's barely taken a few steps out of the Great Hall when she turns to see James standing there.

His expression is nervous, his glossy brown eyes flickering toward her bag.

"James," she says, her voice cold and steady, though a slight tremor betrays her. She doubts he'll notice. He looks unusually put together today, his uniform neatly worn for once.

"Are you alright?" James asks, stepping closer.

He's seen it—the letter. He must've watched her stuff it into her bag before bolting from the Great Hall.

"Yes, I'm fine." Alina's voice is clipped as she folds her arms, sunlight catching on James's glasses, leaving a faint glare.

His brows furrow, concern clouding his features. "You sure?" he asks softly, his head tilting just slightly, dark brown hair shifting.

Alina rolls her eyes. "I'm fine," she says, her tone sharper now. "Stop asking me that."

James hesitates, his frown deepening. "I'm sorry," he says, his voice heavy with something she doesn't want to name. "I really am sorry, Alina."

"I don't care," she snaps, though the words taste bitter. A lie. Because she does care. Too much. She hates that she cares, hates how much emotion he can stir in her.

"But you did," James presses, taking another step closer. His hands twitch at his sides, almost as if he wants to reach for her. "You cared, and I messed up. Terribly. And I'm sorry."

Alina steps back, retreating from the warmth in his voice, the vulnerability in his gaze. A flicker of hurt crosses his face, his dark eyes falling slightly as if her withdrawal physically strikes him.

"It doesn't matter," she says coldly, narrowing her eyes. She opens her mouth to add more, but—

"Alina!"

Lily's voice rings out, and both of them turn as the red-haired girl strides briskly out of the Great Hall. Her glare pins James in place before she reaches Alina's side.

"Lily," Alina mutters, stepping further back as if retreating into the other girl's presence.

"Come on," Lily says brightly, her green eyes glinting. "We're going to be late for class." She shoots James one last sharp look before turning to Alina with a smile.

Alina nods mutely, letting Lily guide her away. They walk in silence through the corridor, the tension melting with each step.

"Thank you," Alina finally says, forcing the words out as she glances at Lily.

Lily turns to her with a warm smile. "No problem, Lina."

They continue on, their footsteps echoing in sync. Their classrooms aren't the same that morning, but they're close enough to share the walk. The silence between them feels companionable, an unspoken understanding settling over the two girls as they move through the halls.