Emerson Wilmore was an exemplary Ravenclaw student, known for her unwavering dedication to academics and an unyielding moral compass. However, things took a twisted and deviated turn in her life after her boyfriend, Cedric Diggory, was murdered by L...
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Emerson's breath caught in her chest the moment her eyes fell on Mattheo on the Hogwarts Express. It had been months since she had last seen him when he tore her trust apart with his betrayal, his lies and his manipulation. And yet, there he was, standing in the corridor, his dark hair messy, his sharp features set into the same stoic mask she once found enigmatic but now saw for what it truly was: a wall to hide the chaos underneath.
His expression was unreadable, cold as ever, but something in his eyes faltered, just briefly. Her heart lurched painfully, memories of his touch, his words, his rare smiles and his kisses crashing into her like a tidal wave. But then, as quickly as the feelings surfaced, they were crushed beneath the weight of Draco's cruel voice from the last train ride.
"You were a stupid fucking order by the Dark Lord."
The words echoed in her mind, each one slicing deeper than the last. A lump formed in her throat, but she swallowed it down with practiced precision. She couldn't let herself break here, not in front of him.
Instead, Emerson kept walking, her expression carefully schooled into one of blank indifference. She refused to let him see how much he still affected her, how much it still hurt. When Olivia turned to her with a questioning look, Emerson forced a tight smile and whispered something in Italian about needing to find an empty compartment. Olivia nodded, smiling softly, and followed without pressing further, but Emerson's stomach twisted as she caught the faint scent of wood burning lingering in the air.
She didn't look back.
The moment they found an empty compartment, Emerson slid the door shut and sank into the seat, releasing a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. She leaned her head back against the window, her fingers gripping the edge of the seat as though it might anchor her.
"Are you okay?" Olivia asked softly, settling across from her.
"I'm fine," Emerson lied, closing her eyes. "Just... Tired."
As they settled, the reality of the encounter hit Emerson like a storm. She stared out the window, her mind drifting despite Olivia's attempts to chat. The fields blurred past, but all she could see was Mattheo's face, the way his eyes seemed to darken when they met hers. She hated that she still noticed him, still felt anything for him after what he had done.
