For as long as she could remember, Esmeralda Grisky and Lorenzo Berkshire had been inseparable best friends. But in their sixth year at Hogwarts, something shifted between them, drawing them closer than ever. Esmeralda begins to realize that her fee...
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THE HOLIDAYS SOON CAME TO AN END.
Though Esmie had enjoyed every moment of the break, a small part of her couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment as she returned to the familiar halls of Hogwarts. Since Christmas, she had spent nearly every waking moment with Pansy and Enzo. Over the course of the holiday, the three of them had grown unexpectedly close. Esmie was especially pleased that she and Pansy had finally become friends—something she hadn't thought possible before the break, but more than anything, her heart fluttered at the memory of the time she'd spent with Enzo. They'd shared quiet moments, stolen kisses, and whispered conversations that felt like they existed in a world separate from everyone else.
They'd decided, however, to keep their relationship on the down-low for now. Esmie still felt the sting of what had happened before the holidays—the rumours, the whispers—and she wasn't ready for their new happiness to become a target for gossip.
"I'm nervous," Esmie admitted quietly as she and Pansy made their way down the corridors to the Great Hall for breakfast on their first morning back at Hogwarts. The castle felt alive again, with students filling every space after the holidays, their voices buzzing with excitement about what they had done during the break.
"Come on, Es, I promise you, everyone's probably already forgotten about it," Pansy said reassuringly, shooting her a knowing smile. "Besides, it's a new term, fresh start, right?"
Esmie nodded, though her stomach still fluttered with nerves. She couldn't shake the feeling that all eyes would be on her as soon as they walked into the Great Hall.
As they entered, the familiar sight of long tables filled with students greeted them. The scent of freshly baked bread and eggs filled the air, but Esmie's eyes immediately scanned the room. She caught sight of Elsie, who looked up and beamed before hurrying over, practically bouncing on her feet.
"Esmie! Pansy! Since when were you two so friendly?" Elsie asked, glancing between them with a playful grin.
Esmie chuckled, feeling some of her nerves ease away at the sight of her younger friend. "Since the start of the Christmas holidays. How were your holidays, Els?"
