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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The following days at Hogwarts were a whirlwind of frustration, denial, and suppressed emotions for Emerson, each class more exhausting than the last. She moved through her classes like a ghost, forcing herself to focus on anything but Mattheo's visit to her dormitory. His words echoed in her mind more than she care to admit, especially the way he looked at her, like he actually cared. But she couldn't allow herself to believe it.
The visit to her dormitory weighed heavily on her mind, his words playing on an endless loop.
"This isn't about me. It's about you. It's always been about you."
She hated how those words lingered and how they chipped away at the walls she'd put up. Emerson tried to ignore the part of her that wanted to believe him and believe that he wasn't just manipulating her for some twisted plan of Voldemort's. But the logical side of her, the one that learned the hard way not to trust him, kept her grounded.
No matter what Mattheo claimed, she couldn't afford to believe him.
Hogwarts sixth-year classes were demanding enough without the added stress of Mattheo's persistent presence. To her dismay, she discovered that his O.W.L. results were far better than she anticipated, which made matters worse.
Her frustration only deepened when she realised just how many classes she now shared with Mattheo. Last year, the Ravenclaws only shared Herbology and Potions with the Slytherins. But now, with only students who achieved their O.W.L's getting into certain classes, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Charms, and Transfiguration were all added to the list. It felt like some cruel cosmic joke that he managed to excel in enough O.W.Ls to end up in so many of her classes, as if the universe was playing an awful joke on her. Worse still, he seemed intent on making his presence known in every single one of them.
At first, Emerson thought she could avoid him, sitting with Olivia and keeping her focus entirely on her studies. But Mattheo seemed to have made it his mission to sit near her in every class they shared.
On Tuesday morning, they had Transfiguration with Professor McGonagall who was teaching human transfiguration. She made sure to sit with Olivia again, as far from him as possible. But when she glanced over her shoulder, there he was. He was sitting two rows back, his dark eyes fixed on her like he didn't even care that she could see him staring.
Then came Charms that afternoon. He slid into the seat at the desk directly beside her without so much as asking, ignoring hers and Olivia's glare. Emerson didn't bother speaking to him; she'd perfected the art of icy silence. When Flitwick began the lesson, she was determined to act as though Mattheo didn't exist, but halfway through, a folded note landed on her desk.
Her fingers twitched around her wand as she unfolded it, but she didn't read a word. With a flick of her wrist, she incinerated it right there in front of him.
