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 Hogwarts kitchens were warm; a stark contrast to the air outside when the group returned to the castle. The scent of melted chocolate, cinnamon and freshly baked pastries lingered in the air as House Elves darted around them, carrying out any of their requests with effortless precision and eagerness.
Emerson stood near the long wooden counter, fingers curled around a warm mug of hot chocolate. The heat of the drink seeped through the ceramic and into her hands, warming her body from head to toe.
Across from her, Theo was still slightly unsteady but visibly better than he was before. His face wasn't as pale, his eyes weren't as glassy, and the deep sadness that weighed on him earlier had lessened, if only a little.
He stood between Olivia and Enzo, both of whom were watching him closely, though they tried not to make it too obvious. Enzo, as usual, was taking on the role of the amusing storyteller, animatedly retelling some ridiculous moment from their third year when he convinced a Seventh-Year Hufflepuff that he was the same year as her, just for a makeout session. His hands were waving in exaggerated gestures as he reenacted the scene. Olivia, who still hadn't left Theo's side, occasionally interjected to tease Enzo about exaggerating the details.
But the most important part was that Theo was smiling.
It wasn't forced. It wasn't distant. It wasn't exhausted.
It was real.
It felt normal.
It was the first moment all night where things actually felt light.
Emerson stood quietly beside Mattheo, the two of them not speaking, but listening to the conversation. She exhaled softly, a small smile tugging at her lips as she watched the other three standing in front of them. The Theo from earlier tonight, broken and barely holding himself together, felt like a ghost of the boy who now stood beside his friends, shaking his head in amusement at Enzo's dramatics. He was still there, somewhere beneath the surface, but for now, for this moment, he was okay.
Emerson took a slow sip of her hot chocolate, glancing beside her. Mattheo was standing closer than she expected, but she didn't complain or make a comment. She didn't want to ruin this comfortable moment between them with awkwardness.
Neither of them had spoken since leaving the Quidditch stands. They walked side by side in silence back to the castle, neither daring to acknowledge the weight of what just happened between them. The whole time, Emerson was thinking about what he said to her, and it consumed her thoughts.
"You have no idea how fucking glad I am that you're still here."
She could feel his presence now, solid and familiar beside her, even as he said nothing. His fingers were curled around his own mug, his gaze focused on the others, unreadable.
