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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 that the break was over. 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?"

"Interesting," Elsie replied with a smirk, but she didn't elaborate. Her gaze flicked over Esmie's shoulder, and with a quick wave, she darted past them. Esmie turned just in time to see Elsie throwing her arms around Theo in a tight embrace. Esmie nudged Pansy, raising an eyebrow.

"Did you see that? The night I came back from Slughorn's Christmas party, I saw Theo returning a jumper to Elsie. He said she left it in his dorm room!" Esmie whispered excitedly.

Pansy smirked, clearly unsurprised. "You didn't know? They've been together since the Gryffindor versus Slytherin Quidditch match."

Esmie gasped. "What? How did I not know this?" She glanced over at Theo and Elsie, who were now deep in conversation at the Slytherin table, looking comfortable and at ease with one another.

Just then, Enzo sauntered into the hall, catching Esmie's eye instantly. He flashed her a lopsided grin before making his way over, casually slipping his arms around her waist and pressing a kiss to her temple.

"What are you two gossiping about?" Enzo asked, his warm breath brushing against Esmie's skin as he rested his chin on her shoulder.

Pansy smirked. "Esmie didn't know Theo and Elsie have been together since the Gryffindor-Slytherin match."

Enzo raised an eyebrow. "They're together?" He glanced over at Theo and Elsie, clearly as surprised as Esmie had been.

"See?" Esmie grinned, giving Pansy a playful nudge. "It's not just me who didn't know."

Pansy crossed her arms, shaking her head. "You two are hopeless."

As they laughed, Esmie's attention drifted back to the entrance of the Great Hall. Her heart stuttered as she saw two familiar figures walking in together — Mattheo and Danielle. She hadn't seen either of them since before Christmas, and the sight of her best friends after all these weeks made her chest swell with emotion. A wide grin spread across her face, and before she could stop herself, she was already rushing toward them.

"Matty!" she exclaimed; her voice filled with excitement as she threw her arms around Mattheo. He let out a chuckle, wrapping her in a tight hug as he lifted her off the ground slightly.

"Emmy! I missed you, too," Mattheo said, squeezing her before setting her back down.

Before Esmie could say anything, Danielle stepped forward with a teasing smile. "What, no hug for me?"

Esmie laughed and pulled Danielle into the hug, the three of them standing there in a tight embrace for a long moment. It felt like everything was right again, like the world had shifted back into place now that they were reunited.

"I missed you both so much," Esmie admitted, her voice a little softer now. "Christmas was nice, but it wasn't the same without you two."

"Same here," Mattheo agreed.

Danielle nodded in agreement, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Plus, who else would Mattheo torment if you weren't around?"

Esmie grinned; her heart full as they made their way back toward their usual spot at the Slytherin table. She glanced over at Enzo, who was watching the reunion with a smile, and felt an overwhelming sense of contentment settle over her.

The chatter in the Great Hall seemed to fade as the three friends caught up, their conversation filled with laughter and stories from their time apart. Esmie's earlier nerves had vanished completely. With Mattheo and Danielle by her side, along with Enzo and her new friendship with Pansy, she felt like she could face anything.

"Feels good to be back, doesn't it?" Mattheo said with a grin, leaning back in his chair as they settled into their usual rhythm.

"Yeah," Esmie replied, smiling at her friends. "It really does."

For the first time in what felt like forever, everything seemed perfect. Esmie sat among her friends in the Great Hall, laughter and conversations flowing as naturally as ever. After a challenging few months, it was a relief to feel so at peace, to have things back to normal — at least for a moment. She leaned into the warmth of Enzo beside her, letting herself believe, just for a second, that maybe, just maybe, everything was going to be alright.

But that illusion shattered the moment she saw Hermione lower her copy of the Daily Prophet. Hermione's expression was tight, her eyes filled with something unreadable, but there was no mistaking the tension in the air. Esmie's heart sank as Hermione stood, making her way across the hall with purposeful strides. Something was wrong — terribly wrong.

Esmie barely had time to process it before Hermione was standing in front of her, holding the newspaper out like an accusation. "Did you know?" Hermione's voice was cold, her words sharp enough to cut.

Confused, Esmie hesitated, her hands trembling as she took the Daily Prophet from Hermione. Her eyes skimmed the headline, and the blood drained from her face. The words blurred, but the meaning hit her with full force: an attack, a brutal raid on the Weasley's family home over Christmas. Her stomach churned.

"I ... no," Esmie stammered, shaking her head, her voice barely a whisper. "I swear, Hermione, I knew nothing about this. I'm not one of them. I didn't — I would never ..." She looked up at Hermione, her eyes wide with hurt. "Is that what you think of me now?"

For a moment, Hermione's face softened with hesitation, but the flash of distrust returned just as quickly. She snatched the paper back without another word and returned to the Gryffindor table, her posture stiff. Esmie watched her go, her chest tightening with the realisation that her friend — someone she thought she could trust — believed she might be capable of something so terrible.

"They think I'm some kind of monster now," Esmie whispered, her voice breaking as she turned to Pansy and Enzo. "I didn't know. I swear I didn't know."

"You're not a monster, darling," Enzo said, his voice soothing as he reached for her hand, squeezing it gently. "Don't let them make you believe that."

Esmie tried to hold onto the comfort in his words, but her thoughts were spinning too fast, her heart too heavy with the weight of Hermione's accusations. She nodded numbly, her hand slipping out of Enzo's as she stood, her eyes drifting to the Gryffindor table where Hermione sat with Harry, Ron, and the others. Every fibre of her being screamed for her to make it right, to clear her name, to explain that she wasn't part of whatever they thought she was.

"You should go talk to her," Pansy urged softly, watching Esmie's inner turmoil.

Enzo nodded in agreement, starting to follow her, but stopped in his tracks when he saw Ron storming over, his face flushed with anger.

"They burnt my family home down, Esmeralda!" Ron's voice rang out through the hall, drawing the attention of several students nearby. Esmie flinched at the harshness of his words, her heart pounding in her chest. Ron's eyes were filled with fury, and he didn't care that people were watching. "They destroyed everything! And you — you were just here, probably sitting around with them!"

"I didn't know!" Esmie cried, her voice breaking as she shook her head frantically, trying to make him understand.

"Bullshit!" Ron spat, his face twisting in rage. "You probably helped them! You probably told them where my home was, that Harry was staying with us over Christmas!"

Tears stung Esmie's eyes as she shook her head again, her voice pleading. "No, Ron, I didn't! I would never do that. I didn't even know Harry was with you. I was here, at Hogwarts, for Christmas. I had nowhere else to go!"

"Really? You expect me to believe that?" Ron's eyes narrowed, his voice dripping with suspicion. "You have the mark, Esmeralda. You're one of them."

The accusation hit Esmie like a punch to the gut. Her breath caught in her throat as she shoved her sleeve up, revealing her forearm. "Look at it, Ronald," she said, her voice trembling with a mix of fury and despair. "It's a partial mark. They tortured me, forced me to take it. I didn't want it! I fought them!" Her arm shook as she held it out toward him. "I'm not a Death Eater. I'm not the person you're trying to make me out to be. I'm still the same girl you've known since we were eleven."

But Ron's face remained cold, unmoved. "No, you're not," he said quietly, his words like ice.

Esmie's heart dropped, her voice barely above a whisper now. "W-What do you mean?"

"You're not the same," Ron said, his voice rising in anger again. "You never would've been hanging around with Slytherins when we were eleven. You're one of them now, whether you admit it or not."

Esmie's jaw clenched, her body shaking with anger and hurt. "Screw you, Ronald Weasley!" she snapped. "If you'd paid any attention at all, you'd know I've been friends with Enzo, Mattheo, Dani, Delilah, and Theo since our first year! And Elsie is Harry's sister! And just because you have some ridiculous bias against Slytherins doesn't mean I do!" Her eyes burned with unshed tears as she took a step towards him. "And for the record, I am sorry about your family home, but don't you dare act like I'm some kind of traitor just because I don't fit into your narrow idea of who I should be."

Without waiting for his response, Esmie spun around and stormed out of the Great Hall, her heart pounding in her ears. The eyes of countless students followed her as she left, but she didn't care. She couldn't stay there. She needed to get away — away from the accusations, the betrayal, the hurt. Tears blurred her vision as she hurried down the corridor, her breath coming in short, ragged bursts.

She didn't make it far before she collided with someone, her shoulder crashing into theirs with enough force to make her stumble back.

"S-Sorry," she mumbled, wiping at her eyes, barely registering who it was, but when she looked up, her heart sank further.

"Esmeralda," Draco's voice was soft, uncharacteristically so. His usual sharp demeanour faltered when he noticed her tears. His expression softened, something almost like concern flickering in his eyes. "Are you alright?"

Esmie let out a bitter laugh, the irony of it all crashing down on her. "Why do you care?" she spat, her voice thick with tears and frustration. "You made it pretty clear what you think of me."

"Esmeralda, that's not — "

"Don't, Draco," she cut him off, her voice shaking. "You accused me of sleeping with half of Hogwarts." Her words were laced with hurt, her emotions spilling out uncontrollably. "I know you were upset and angry when you found out I slept with Lorenzo, but that doesn't give you the right to treat me like garbage. And for the record, it was fifth year when we'd even slept together for the first time."

Draco opened his mouth to speak, but Esmie didn't give him the chance. "I'm sorry if I hurt you, Draco. I really am, but you hurt me, too. You accused me of things that aren't true, and I'm not going to stand here and let you pretend it didn't happen."

Draco's face softened further, but Esmie couldn't bear to stay there any longer. She pushed past him, her heart heavy as she continued down the corridor, searching for a place where she could be alone. Somewhere she could breathe, away from all the accusations and pain.

The tears she had been holding back finally spilled over, streaming down her face as she walked aimlessly, her chest tight with a storm of emotions she couldn't contain any longer. The world felt like it was crashing down around her, and all she wanted was to escape from it all.

~*~

Esmie took a deep, steadying breath as she stood outside the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom, her hand lingering on the door handle. Every part of her wanted to skip class and find somewhere — anywhere — to hide from the mess her life had become. The events of the morning weighed heavily on her: Hermione's accusations, Ron's rage, and her argument with Draco. The last thing she wanted was to face anyone right now, but skipping Snape's class would only make things worse.

With a resigned sigh, she pushed the door open and stepped inside, the familiar sound of chairs scraping and whispered conversations filling the air. She quickly scanned the room for an empty seat and felt her stomach drop when she saw the only available chair was right next to Draco.

"Fantastic," she muttered under her breath, her mood darkening further. Of all the people she had to sit next to, why did it have to be him?

Reluctantly, Esmie made her way over to the empty seat, keeping her gaze low as she settled in beside Draco. She could feel the tension radiating off him, but she refused to acknowledge it. She wasn't in the mood for another confrontation. She pulled out her parchment and quill, focusing intently on her notes, hoping he'd leave her alone.

But, of course, Draco never knew how to leave well enough alone. She felt a gentle nudge on her arm, and her temper flared.

"What do you want from me, Draco?" she snapped, turning to glare at him. She was exhausted — emotionally, physically, mentally — and the last thing she needed was for him to start another argument.

Draco's expression was unreadable. He hesitated for a moment, his grey eyes searching her face before he spoke. "What is your problem?"

Esmie's heart pounded, a mix of frustration and pain bubbling to the surface. "Just leave me alone, Draco. Please," she said, her voice quieter this time, tinged with desperation. She had no energy left for this.

But to her surprise, Draco didn't snap back with some sarcastic remark or cutting insult. Instead, his voice softened, and for the first time in what felt like ages, he looked almost ... genuine.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I was an asshole to you, Esmie. I'm sorry for calling you a Mudblood and for accusing you of sleeping with half of Hogwarts. I didn't mean any of it." His gaze dropped slightly, and for a moment, he looked almost vulnerable. "You were right — I was hurt."

Esmie blinked, stunned by his words. Draco Malfoy, apologising? For a moment, she didn't know what to say. Part of her wanted to lash out, to tell him that his hurt didn't justify the horrible things he'd said to her, but another part of her — one she didn't want to admit to — felt something like sympathy. She had hurt him, and in his own messed-up way, he was trying to make amends.

"Being hurt is no excuse for saying such awful things," she finally said, her voice quiet but steady. "I'm sorry I hurt you, I really am, but — "

"Miss Grisky!" Snape's sharp voice cut through the room like a knife, startling her mid-sentence. Esmie's head snapped up, her heart sinking when she saw Professor Snape glaring at her from the front of the room, his dark eyes narrowed in irritation.

"P-Professor?" she stammered, feeling a wave of panic wash over her.

"Do you find it impossible to refrain from speaking to your peers during my class?" Snape's voice dripped with disdain, and the entire class turned to watch the scene unfold.

Esmie's face flushed with embarrassment as she tried to explain. "Professor, I — "

"I do not want excuses, Miss Grisky," Snape interrupted, his tone icy. "I think it would be wise if you went to see Professor McGonagall."

Esmie felt her heart drop into her stomach. Of course, this would happen. Of course, her day would get worse. Her chest tightened as she stood up from her seat, every eye in the room on her. Her hands shook as she gathered her books and parchment, trying to fight back the tears that were threatening to spill.

But then, something inside her snapped. All the frustration, all the pain and anger she'd been holding in for so long boiled over, and before she could stop herself, the words flew out of her mouth.

"You know what?" she said, her voice shaking with fury. "More than anything, I really wish you weren't my biological father."

The entire room fell into a stunned silence. No one moved. No one spoke. Every head in the classroom turned, wide-eyed, as they stared at Esmie, unable to believe what they had just heard.

Snape's face remained unreadable; his expression frozen in place as Esmie's words echoed in the still air. For the first time in her life, she had spoken the truth — a truth she had buried deep inside for so long. She hated him. She hated that he was her father, that he had never acted like one, that he had always treated her with nothing but cold indifference or sharp criticism.

Esmie stood there, trembling, her fists clenched at her sides, her chest heaving with the weight of what she'd just said. For a moment, she felt lighter, as though a massive burden had been lifted off her shoulders, but the relief was fleeting, quickly replaced by the overwhelming realisation of what she'd just done.

Without waiting for Snape's response, Esmie grabbed her things and stormed out of the classroom, her footsteps echoing in the stone corridor as she left the stunned silence behind her. The door slammed shut, and she didn't look back.

Tears blurred her vision as she walked down the hallway, her breath coming in short, ragged bursts. The weight of everything — the morning's events, the argument with Ron, the confrontation with Draco, and now this — pressed down on her like a crushing force. She had never felt so alone.

She kept walking, not knowing where she was going, just needing to get away. Away from the judgmental eyes, away from the accusations, away from the people who seemed determined to make her life miserable.

She soon reached the Astronomy Tower and finally stopped, leaning against the cold stone wall as the tears flowed freely, and she slid down to the floor, hugging her knees to her chest, her heart aching in ways she hadn't known were possible.

~*~

Whispers filled the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom, growing louder as the shock of Esmie's outburst rippled through her classmates. She had stormed out, leaving behind a stunned silence, and now her revelation — Snape was her father — hung in the air like a storm cloud. Enzo glanced around, seeing how everyone exchanged glances, their faces reflecting disbelief and curiosity, but one face remained calm, unfazed by the news: Pansy.

Snape, who had been visibly irritated by Esmie's departure, was now trying to regain control of the class. His sharp voice cut through the noise, but Enzo wasn't listening. His mind was on Esmie, and the pain she had to be feeling. His heart pounded with the need to find her, to be there for her. Without hesitation, he stood up from his seat, ignoring the curious stares and whispers, and headed straight for Pansy's desk.

"You don't look surprised by what Esmie just said," he said in a low voice, keeping an eye on Snape to make sure he didn't draw any more attention.

Pansy gave him a knowing look, her lips pressing into a thin line. "She told me over Christmas," she replied with a shrug, her voice soft but filled with understanding. "She's been holding onto that secret for a long time."

Enzo sighed, glancing at the door. "I need to find her."

Pansy nodded in agreement, already sensing his resolve. "Want me to distract Snape? Give you a head start?"

Enzo shook his head. "It doesn't matter if he gives me detention. I need to make sure she's okay."

Without waiting for Pansy's response, Enzo left the classroom, letting the door close softly behind him. He moved quickly through the familiar halls, his mind racing. He knew exactly where Esmie would go — the Astronomy Tower, her favourite spot when she needed to escape. The place where she could see the sky and feel like she was far away from everything.

When he reached the tower, he found her sitting in her usual spot, legs pulled up to her chest, chin resting on her knees. Her hair blew gently in the wind, and her face, illuminated by the fading light, was a mixture of sadness and exhaustion. Enzo's heart ached at the sight of her, so small and fragile against the vastness of the sky. He approached quietly, sitting down beside her without saying a word at first. The silence stretched between them, but it wasn't uncomfortable. He wanted her to know that he was there, that she didn't have to be alone.

After a few moments, he gently draped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer. "Are you alright, darling?" he asked softly, his voice filled with concern.

Esmie shrugged; her eyes still focused on the horizon. "I guess," she mumbled, her voice heavy with exhaustion. She didn't look up, and for a moment, it seemed like she was somewhere else entirely, lost in her own thoughts.

Enzo's heart clenched, knowing she was carrying more than she let on. "You just told the entire class that Snape is your father," he said gently, trying to give her an opening to talk.

Esmie scrunched up her nose, frustration flickering across her face. "It doesn't matter anymore," she muttered. "Everyone already thinks I'm a monster. They think I'm responsible for what happened at the Weasleys' over Christmas."

Enzo's brow furrowed, and he tightened his grip on her shoulder, offering her silent support. "You're not a monster, Mie. You had nothing to do with that."

She sighed, finally glancing up at him, her eyes red and tired. "The Death Eaters attacked the Burrow on Christmas Day. They burned it to the ground." Her voice trembled as she spoke. "I get why Ron's so angry. It was his family's home, but he thinks I told the Death Eaters where it was. He thinks I betrayed them." She looked down at her hands, her fingers trembling. "I didn't even know Harry was staying there."

Enzo felt a surge of anger on her behalf. "That's complete bullshit, Mie," he said, his voice hardening. "You would never do something like that."

Esmie nodded, but her expression remained conflicted. "I know ... but it still hurts. It's like ... no matter what I do, people see me as something I'm not."

Enzo reached out, gently lifting her chin so their eyes met. "Listen to me," he said, his voice soft but firm. "You are still the sweet, kind, brave Gryffindor we all know and love. That hasn't changed. You didn't do anything wrong."

Esmie smiled faintly, though doubt still lingered in her eyes. "Right now, it feels like you're the only one who believes that" she murmured, her voice barely audible.

Enzo shook his head, his gaze unwavering. "That's not true, Mie. Pansy believes in you, and so do your friends — Elsie, Mattheo, Dani, Theo, Josie. They care about you."

As Enzo finished speaking, the sound of footsteps echoed closer. He turned, and Esmie followed his gaze to see Mattheo and Danielle approaching, their faces full of concern.

"Esmie," Danielle called gently as they reached the tower. "We've been looking for you."

Esmie met their eyes, her heart heavy but not surprised. She knew they already understood. She hadn't hidden it from them — how could she? They were her closest friends, and Enzo ... he was everything. "You didn't have to come," she murmured, her voice trembling slightly. "You already know."

Enzo shifted closer, his arm resting around her shoulders in quiet support. "We're all in this together," he added softly, his voice steady as he glanced at Mattheo and Danielle.

Mattheo crouched beside Esmie, his expression serious but full of care. "You're not in this alone, Emmy," he said, using the nickname reserved for their closest circle. "We've known, and we're here for you. You don't have to carry this on your own."

Danielle knelt next to Mattheo, her hand reaching out to gently touch Esmie's. "You've always been honest with us, and we've always had your back."

Esmie blinked back tears, her throat tightening. "But I didn't want to burden you all with this. I thought ... I thought I could handle it, but Ron, Hermione ... they think I'm responsible for the attack. They'll never see past it."

Enzo's grip tightened slightly, his voice calm but firm. "They don't know the full story, Esmie. You don't have to prove anything to them."

Mattheo's gaze sharpened. "We know the truth, and we're not leaving you to deal with this alone. Whatever happens, we've got your back."

Danielle's protective tone rang clear. "They're upset, but that doesn't mean they can throw accusations at you. You are nothing like him."

Esmie swallowed hard, her voice breaking. "I just ... I don't want them to look at me like I'm a threat. I can't bear it."

Enzo leaned in, pressing his forehead lightly against hers. "They'll come around, and even if they don't, you have us."

The four of them sat in silence for a moment, the wind brushing against them as Esmie absorbed the words. She leaned her head against Enzo's chest, feeling his warmth, while Mattheo and Danielle remained close, offering their silent support. Together, they made it clear: Esmie was never going to face this alone.

Eventually, they decided to return to the Great Hall for lunch. As they walked in, Esmie could feel people's stares on her, the whispers starting up again. Her heart raced with anxiety, but Enzo kept his hand on her back, grounding her.

"Ignore them," he whispered in her ear. "You're not alone."

As they made their way toward their usual spot, they were approached by Elsie, Theo, and Josie.

"Do you want to sit with us for lunch?" Elsie asked, her voice gentle, a small smile on her face.

Esmie blinked, surprised by the offer. "You're not ... mad at me?" she asked cautiously.

"Of course not," Josie said with a reassuring grin.

"Well —" Theo began, but Elsie shot him a sharp look, and he quickly corrected himself. "No, we're not mad, Es. You had your reasons for not telling us about Snape."

As they sat down, the group fell into easy conversation, their presence a welcome distraction for Esmie. Mattheo and Danielle sat across from her, exchanging quiet glances with Enzo. Pansy soon joined them, sliding into the seat next to Josie, and for a while, it felt like the storm had passed. They talked about trivial things, laughing and teasing each other, and slowly, Esmie began to feel a sense of normalcy return.

"So, your mother really wanted to send you to a Muggle school?" Josie asked during a lull in the conversation, her eyes wide with surprise.

Esmie nodded, poking at her food with her fork. "Yeah. She hates that I'm a witch. She'd do anything to keep me away from this world."

"That's horrible," Danielle said, shaking her head.

"And Snape ... he handed you over to the Death Eaters?" Theo asked, his tone a mixture of shock and anger.

Esmie's throat tightened as she nodded. "Yeah. He did."

"How did you get away?" Elsie asked, leaning forward slightly.

Esmie exchanged a glance with Mattheo, who gave her a small nod. "Mattheo rescued me."

The table fell silent for a moment as her friends processed this. Danielle looked at her brother, admiration in her eyes. "You saved her," she said softly.

Mattheo gave a half-smile, his eyes flickering with warmth. "Of course I did. I wasn't going to let anything happen to her."

Esmie smiled, her heart swelling with gratitude as she glanced between Mattheo and Danielle. They had always been there for her, even when she didn't realise, she needed them.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell any of you sooner," Esmie said, her voice quiet. "I just ... I wanted to get through these last two years without all this chaos."

"You don't have to explain yourself," Josie said, giving her a warm smile. "We're your friends. That's never going to change."

Esmie felt a lump rise in her throat as she smiled back at them, her heart full of relief. For the first time in a long while, she felt a sense of peace. She had her friends, and no matter what happened next, she knew they would stand by her.

"I guess you're not so bad, Grisky," Mattheo teased, breaking the moment with a grin.

Esmie giggled, shaking her head. "You're not so bad yourself, Riddle."

As Enzo placed a comforting hand on her thigh and squeezed it gently, Esmie glanced around at her friends — Mattheo, Danielle, Pansy, Theo, Elsie, Josie — and felt a warmth spread through her. She realised that no matter what accusations or challenges came her way, she wasn't alone. She had people who loved her for who she was, who saw beyond the whispers and rumours.

And as they all sat there, laughing and talking, Esmie knew that with them by her side, she could face whatever came next.

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My favourite friendship group: Enzo, Esmie, Mattheo, Danielle, Theo, Pansy, Elsie and Josie 🥺

Enjoy! Xo

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