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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"IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, EMMY."
Esmie smiled, wrapping her arms tightly around Mattheo as they hugged. The Great Hall was buzzing with quiet conversations, a mixture of relief and exhaustion. They had all been through so much, and yet here they were, together again, surviving against the odds. As she let go of Mattheo, Esmie glanced around at her friends. Hermione was talking animatedly with Pansy, a rare but welcome sight, while Ron sat a little awkwardly beside Danielle. The two sat in a kind of uneasy silence, both clearly processing the aftermath of the battle.
"Are you alright, darling?" Enzo's soft voice pulled Esmie from her thoughts. He nudged her gently with his elbow, concern flickering in his dark eyes. She turned to him, managing a faint smile, brushing her fingers through her hair as she exhaled slowly.
"I'm okay," Esmie started to say, but before she could finish, a commotion erupted from outside. The noise echoed through the hall, causing everyone to look toward the doors. Esmie's heart sank. Instinctively, she stood up, her feet already moving toward the exit. Enzo, Mattheo, Danielle, and the others followed closely behind her, all drawn to the sounds of chaos once more. The castle doors creaked open as the group stepped outside into the cold dawn.
Daylight had broken, revealing the full scale of the devastation. The grounds of Hogwarts were littered with rubble, broken stone, and ash. Towers that had once stood tall were now reduced to crumbling ruins. The sky was still thick with lingering smoke, and the smell of burning wood and earth filled the air. Esmie looked around, her chest tightening as she took it all in. Hogwarts had been their home for so long, and now it looked as though it had been torn apart, a battlefield in every sense.
As she stood there, frozen, Esmie's attention was drawn to the distant bridge. Death Eaters were marching across it, making their way toward the castle. She felt her heart skip a beat, her stomach turning with dread. She stopped walking, rooted to the spot as her eyes locked onto the approaching figures.
"Who is that... Hagrid's carrying?" Ginny's voice cut through the cold air, filled with worry. "Neville, who is it?"
Esmie followed Ginny's gaze to see Hagrid, struggling under the weight of a limp body in his arms. A gasp escaped her lips as the figure became clearer. Hagrid's giant frame made it look small, but it was unmistakable—it was Harry. Esmie's blood ran cold.
