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THE GREAT HALL BUZZED WITH ITS USUAL LUNCHTIME ENERGY AS STUDENTS FROM EVERY HOUSE GATHERED AT THEIR DESIGNATED TABLES, THEIR VOICES MERGING INTO A LIVELY SYMPHONY OF CONVERSATION AND LAUGHTER.

At the Slytherin table, an unusual sight was drawing a few curious glances. Esmie was seated comfortably between Enzo, and her best friend, Danielle. Across from her, Mattheo poked half-heartedly at his food, his usual enthusiasm noticeably absent.

Esmie had become a familiar presence at the Slytherin table since her relationship with Enzo began, but today, there was a palpable shift in the atmosphere. Mattheo seemed quieter than usual, his usually animated demeanour subdued. Esmie and Enzo exchanged a soft, affectionate smile, their contentment evident as they enjoyed their lunch. Danielle, leaning back casually, watched the interaction with a smirk that suggested she was thoroughly entertained by the scene unfolding before her.

"You two are absolutely nauseating, you know that?" Danielle teased, her voice dripping with playful sarcasm. Her eyes danced between Enzo and Esmie, clearly amused by their obvious affection. "If you keep staring at each other like that, Mattheo might actually die from boredom."

Mattheo rolled his eyes, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips despite his annoyance. "Not that I don't get enough of this every day..."

Danielle's smirk widened, clearly enjoying her role as the instigator. "Oh, come on, Matty. Just admit it. You know—"

Before she could finish her sentence, Mattheo's eyes widened with alarm. He had a strong suspicion about where Danielle was going with this and wasn't about to let her embarrass him in front of Esmie.

In a swift, almost theatrical motion, Mattheo shot his hand up and covered Danielle's mouth, effectively cutting her off mid-sentence. Danielle's eyes twinkled with mischief as she squirmed in her seat, clearly relishing the moment. She tried to speak through Mattheo's hand, her words coming out as muffled and indistinct, but her amusement was evident in her eyes.

"Mmmph!" Dani mumbled, her eyes sparkling with defiant pleasure.

Esmie looked up from her plate, her brow furrowed in confusion. "What's going on?"

"Nothing!" Mattheo said quickly, his voice betraying a hint of panic as he tried to maintain a calm facade. "Dani was just—uh—about to say something stupid."

Dani, ever the troublemaker, decided to retaliate by licking Mattheo's palm. The unexpected and rather unsanitary move made Mattheo jerk his hand back in disgust, wiping it hastily on his robes.

"Ugh! Dani!" Mattheo grimaced, clearly both grossed out and exasperated.

Danielle grinned triumphantly. "That's what you get for trying to shut me up."

Enzo watched the sibling rivalry with a chuckle, clearly entertained by the playful banter. Esmie, meanwhile, found the whole situation amusing and couldn't help but giggle at Mattheo's exaggerated expression of betrayal.

"You two are like children," she teased, shaking her head with a smile. "Honestly, what did I miss?"

Danielle's innocent smile barely masked her delight as she replied, "Oh, nothing important. Just Mattheo admiring how happy you and Enzo look together."

Mattheo shot Danielle a sharp look, his jaw clenched tightly. Dani simply winked at him, her eyes gleaming with the satisfaction of having won this round. Esmie, still oblivious to the underlying tension, turned her attention back to Enzo, leaning her head on his shoulder with a contented sigh. "Well, I'm glad you guys are all getting along."

Mattheo let out a quiet sigh, slumping back in his seat as Dani nudged him playfully under the table. A smug grin remained plastered on her face, knowing she had the upper hand.

"You're welcome," Dani whispered to Mattheo, her voice laced with a quiet triumph.

Enzo, having observed the sibling dynamic, chuckled and gave Mattheo a supportive grin before his attention shifted back to Esmie. With a soft sigh, he stood, leaning down to brush a kiss on Esmie's forehead. "I'll see you later, Princess," he murmured, his voice low and affectionate. "I'm heading back to the dorm for a bit." He gave Mattheo and Danielle a quick nod before walking out of the Great Hall, his hands stuffed into his pockets.

Mattheo, still processing Dani's antics, muttered under his breath, "Siblings are a nightmare," already bracing himself for whatever Dani had planned next.

Esmie reached for her bowl of porridge, but her brow furrowed when a light flurry of snow drifted over from the Gryffindor table. Snowflakes gently settled on top of her breakfast. She glanced over, spotting Ron staring off into space, his expression distant and lost in thought.

"Stop it, Ron. You're making it snow," Hermione complained, her voice tinged with exasperation.

"Remind me again how I broke up with Lavender?" Ron asked, his tone filled with frustration. Esmie couldn't help but roll her eyes. The breakup had become a hot topic among the Gryffindors, and she felt sympathy for Lavender, who had been hurt by Ron's thoughtless actions. Lavender had been particularly hurt when Ron had inadvertently called out Hermione's name while still dating her. In Esmie's view, Lavender deserved better.

"Well, she came to visit you in the hospital, and you talked. I don't think it was a particularly long conversation," Hermione explained, her voice calm but firm. Esmie glanced over at Lavender, who was sitting at the other end of the table, gripping her spoon tightly and casting a resentful glance in Hermione and Ron's direction.

"Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to be rid of her. It's just that she seems a bit put out," Ron admitted, his voice tinged with guilt.

"Yes, she does, doesn't she? Are you sure you don't remember anything else from that night?" Hermione pressed, clearly concerned for both Ron and Lavender.

"There's something, but it can't be. I was completely boggled, wasn't I?" Ron replied, shaking his head in frustration.

"Right. Boggled," Hermione echoed with a sigh. Esmie shook her head, unable to stifle a small smile at the familiar scene.

As Esmie continued to observe the chaos, her gaze shifted to the entrance of the Great Hall, where Katie Bell was walking in. Hermione nudged Harry, drawing his attention to Katie's arrival.

"Harry, that's Katie Bell," Hermione said, her tone carrying a note of excitement.

"Right," Harry nodded, standing up to make his way over to Katie.

Esmie watched as Harry approached Katie, her attention shifting back to the lively scene at the Slytherin table.

"Draco looks worried that Harry and Katie are talking," Grace's comment sliced through the lunchroom chatter, drawing Esmie's attention. She glanced over where Draco's eyes were locked onto Harry and Katie, who were engaged in a conversation. Draco's typically composed demeanour was replaced with a visible concern, his brows furrowed and his gaze intense. Esmie's thoughts flashed back to the whispered conversations she had overheard during Slughorn's Christmas party, which hinted at rising tensions between Draco and Harry.

Draco suddenly turned on his heel and left the Great Hall with a purposeful stride. His abrupt departure stirred a wave of curiosity among the students, but Esmie's worry for him quickly overshadowed any curiosity. Despite their strained relationship—Draco's recent apology still felt fresh and untested—Esmie couldn't shake her concern. She had been trying to reconcile her feelings about Draco and his past actions, but her instincts told her something was wrong. She decided to follow him, pushing past the clusters of students who lingered in the hallways, chatting and laughing.

Navigating through the bustling corridors, Esmie finally reached the entrance to a nearby bathroom. She paused for a moment, taking a deep breath before pushing open the door. The bathroom was dimly lit and the air was heavy with the scent of damp stone and mildew. Esmie scanned the room and spotted Draco near the sink, his vest discarded on the floor beside him. He was turning on the tap, his hands trembling as he stared at his reflection in the mirror. His face was streaked with tears, and he appeared lost in distress.

"Why are you here, Esmeralda?" Draco's voice was strained, a mixture of surprise and frustration evident in his tone.

Esmie's heart ached at the sight of him. "I know things are awkward between us," she began softly, her voice quivering. "But I was worried about you. I just wanted to make sure you're okay."

Her words were cut short by the sound of footsteps approaching. She turned to see Harry Potter walking into the bathroom. His eyes widened in shock when he saw her standing between Draco and the entrance.

"Esmie? What are you doing here?" Harry asked, his voice carrying a mix of confusion and concern.

Esmie's instincts screamed that something terrible was about to happen. She moved to position herself between Draco and Harry, her wand held defensively in front of her. Although she had no intention of hurting anyone, her protective instincts were on high alert.

"Get out, Harry," Esmie said firmly, her voice unwavering despite the tension in the room.

Harry's gaze flicked between Esmie and Draco, his expression hardening. "I know what you did, Malfoy. You hexed her, didn't you?"

Esmie's heart pounded in her chest as she raised her wand higher. "I said, get out, Harry," she repeated, her voice edged with urgency.

"Expelliarmus!" Harry's spell shot out with blinding speed, disarming Esmie. Her wand flew from her grasp and skidded across the floor, coming to rest several feet away. Shock and disbelief flooded her as she stared at Harry, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

Draco seized the opportunity to protect Esmie. He grabbed her and yanked her out of the line of fire, positioning himself between her and Harry. His face was set in a grimace of resolve as he aimed a spell at Harry. Harry, however, was quick to react, dodging the blast with practiced ease. The bathroom was soon engulfed in chaos, with spells flying back and forth and water from a burst pipe beginning to flood the room.

Esmie, caught in the crossfire, tried to stay low. As she dove to the floor, her body collided painfully with the tiles. She gasped in pain but forced herself to crawl towards the back corner of the bathroom, where she spotted her wand amidst the scattered debris. She reached for it, her fingers closing around the familiar wood just as Harry and Draco continued their fierce duel.

Desperation clawed at her as she stood up, preparing to defend herself, but before she could react, Harry's spell struck her with a violent force, sending her crashing backwards. Her vision blurred, and she felt a sharp pain as her body slammed into the ground. She lay there, motionless and disoriented, a short distance away from Draco, who was now consumed with horror.

Draco's heart shattered at the sight of Esmie crumpled on the floor. His breath came in ragged gasps as he rushed to her side. He gently cradled her head in his lap, his hands trembling as he pushed her blonde hair away from her face. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he struggled to keep his composure. "Esmie, come on, please get up, darling," he pleaded softly, his voice breaking with anguish.

His eyes shot toward Harry, now filled with a fierce, newly kindled anger. Draco stood up, his face a mask of rage and sorrow, and prepared to confront Harry once more.

"Sectumsempra!" Harry's spell roared through the bathroom, cutting through the water-soaked chaos. The dark magic struck Draco, and blood began to pool on the already sodden floor. Draco's sobs filled the room as Harry's attention shifted back to Esmie, who lay unconscious on the floor. His face was pale with guilt and regret as he crouched beside her, his hands shaking as he checked her breathing.

"Oh, God. What have I done?" he muttered, his voice cracking with remorse. He could see that her chest was still rising and falling, but she remained unconscious, and the weight of his actions hit him with full force.

Just then, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the bathroom. Severus Snape appeared in the doorway, his expression stern and forbidding.

"Leave, Mr. Potter," Snape ordered, his voice brooking no argument.

Harry opened his mouth to protest, but the cold, hard look in Snape's eyes silenced him. He nodded and turned to leave, his heart heavy with guilt and fear. As he walked away, he silently prayed that Esmie would recover, knowing that the chances of her ever forgiving him for what had transpired were slim. The echoes of the confrontation hung in the air as Snape moved to assess the situation, his gaze shifting between the injured students.

~*~

Neither Enzo nor Pansy had been near the Great Hall when Draco left or when Esmie followed him. As they walked into their first class of the day, Enzo glanced around, hoping to spot familiar faces. When he realised neither Esmie nor Draco had arrived, a sense of unease settled over him. Harry soon entered the room, his face etched with a look of distress that only heightened Enzo's concern.

"Have you seen Esmie?" Enzo asked Mattheo, who shrugged nonchalantly.

"Last I saw, she was leaving the Great Hall during breakfast," Mattheo replied, his tone indifferent.

Enzo nodded but couldn't shake the worry gnawing at him. As Harry took his seat, he noticed the boy was whispering urgently to his friends. The room was abuzz with the usual chatter, but Enzo's mind was elsewhere, fixated on the absence of his girlfriend and her friend.

As the class continued, Enzo's concern grew. Esmie and Draco were still missing, and by the end of the lesson, Enzo was increasingly anxious. When lunchtime arrived, he headed to the Great Hall with Pansy. The usual lively atmosphere was punctuated by hushed conversations and a flurry of rumors. Enzo slid into a seat beside Pansy, trying to make sense of the frantic energy around them.

"What's going on?" Enzo asked, his voice laced with concern.

Pansy's face was grave, her usual composure slipping. "It could be just a rumour," she said quietly.

"What could be just a rumour?" Enzo pressed, a knot forming in his stomach.

"The rumour is that Esmie's in the hospital wing. Apparently, she got hit by some curse—" Pansy's voice trailed off as Enzo's eyes widened in shock.

"And I'm only hearing this now?" Enzo's voice was a mix of frustration and fear as he stood up abruptly.

"I only just heard it myself," Pansy said, her tone apologetic.

Without another word, Enzo bolted from the Great Hall, his heart pounding as he raced to the hospital wing. He pushed through the doors, breathless and panicked. Madam Pomfrey looked up from her desk, her expression shifting from surprise to concern.

"Mr. Berkshire?" she asked, her gaze taking in his disheveled appearance. "Are you injured or ill?"

"No, I'm looking for Esmeralda Grisky," Enzo replied urgently.

"She's over here," Madam Pomfrey said, leading him to a bed on the far side of the room. Esmie lay there, her usually vibrant blonde hair splayed out on the pillow, her skin pale and her eyes closed. Enzo's heart ached as he approached her, gently brushing the hair from her face. He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead and then took a seat in the chair beside her bed.

"Esmie, I don't know what happened or why you're here, but please wake up, darling. Please come back to me," Enzo's voice trembled as he clasped her hand in his, squeezing it gently. He stayed by her side, whispering reassurances and recounting the events of his day, though he knew she couldn't respond. After some time, Madam Pomfrey came by to check on other students, and though she was stern about enforcing visiting hours, she allowed Enzo to stay a bit longer.

Eventually, Enzo was asked to leave. He kissed Esmie's forehead once more, his heart heavy with the promise to return as soon as he could. Reluctantly, he left the hospital wing and headed to his next class. The tension in the corridors was palpable, and the whispers and sidelong glances did little to soothe his anxiety.

As he entered the classroom, Hermione hurried over, her face pale and worried. "Is—is it true?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Is what true, Hermione?" Enzo asked, his voice strained.

"I heard Esmie's in the hospital. Is it really true?" Hermione's concern was evident, her eyes darting nervously toward Harry, who was standing at a distance, his face a mix of guilt and worry.

"What happened to her?" Enzo's voice was edged with desperation.

Hermione glanced at Harry, who seemed to shrink under the weight of the accusation, then back at Enzo. "Something happened in the boys' bathroom between Harry and Draco. Apparently, Esmie got caught in the middle and was hit by a spell from Harry's wand," she explained.

"Harry hurt her?" Enzo's voice was cold, a mixture of anger and disbelief.

"He said he didn't mean to," Hermione continued. "Apparently, Esmie was there when Harry disarmed her. Draco tried to protect her, but as they started fighting, she ended up getting hit by one of Harry's spells."

"Why would Harry disarm her?" Enzo asked, his confusion evident.

"I guess he didn't want her to do something she might regret," Hermione replied. Enzo's mind raced, trying to piece together the fragmented details. Overwhelmed, he sat down beside Mattheo, his thoughts consumed with worry for Esmie.

Throughout the class, Enzo's mind was in turmoil. Every time he tried to focus, his thoughts drifted back to Esmie and the fear of losing her. When the class ended, he hurriedly made his way back to the hospital wing, pushing through the crowd of students with a sense of urgency.

He returned to Esmie's bedside and resumed his place in the chair beside her. As he held her hand and spoke softly about his day, hoping she could somehow hear him, a deep sense of heartache settled over him. Despite the hospital wing's sterile environment and the beeping of various medical instruments, he found solace in being close to her.

Eventually, exhaustion overcame him, and he fell asleep leaning against the edge of her bed. Madam Pomfrey, seeing his distress and recognising his love and concern, decided to make an exception and let him stay the night, understanding the depth of his devotion and the comfort he found in staying by Esmie's side.

~*~

Enzo had spent the entire night in the hospital wing, sitting beside Esmie's bed, watching over her as she lay unconscious. He hadn't slept more than a few minutes here and there, his body aching from the awkward position he had been curled up in, but he refused to leave her side. Every time he glanced at her, his heart clenched with fear. Her stillness terrified him, though the gentle rise and fall of her chest offered some relief. At least she was breathing, but the lack of movement made him grow more anxious with each passing hour.

The night had stretched on endlessly, and by early morning, Enzo's worry had turned into something deeper, a gnawing ache that he couldn't shake. He watched the light from the windows slowly shift as dawn approached, casting soft shadows across Esmie's face. The hospital wing was silent except for the occasional rustle of Madam Pomfrey moving about in her office, and Enzo found himself slipping into the quiet dread that had followed him since he'd heard what happened.

Suddenly, he felt the faintest movement. His heart skipped a beat as he looked down at their entwined hands. Esmie's fingers twitched, then tightened ever so slightly around his.

"Mie?" Enzo whispered, leaning forward, his voice thick with both hope and fear.

Slowly, her eyes fluttered open, blinking against the soft light that filled the room. For a moment, she seemed disoriented, her gaze unfocused as she tried to make sense of her surroundings. "Enzo?" she murmured, her voice weak, barely a whisper. "W-Where am I?"

Enzo exhaled a breath he didn't realise he'd been holding. Relief washed over him as he brushed a strand of hair away from her face, his thumb gently grazing her cheek. "You're in the hospital wing, darling," he said softly, his voice filled with both relief and tenderness. "There was an accident... in the boys' bathroom."

Esmie blinked again, her vision still blurry, and then winced as pain shot through her body. She whimpered softly, instinctively pulling her hand back to her ribs. The memories started to flood back, piece by piece, and her expression twisted in confusion and pain. "I ... I remember now," she whispered, her voice trembling as the events from yesterday came rushing back.

She closed her eyes for a moment, her brows furrowing as she tried to piece together what had happened. "I saw Draco ... he was upset. I—I went to check on him, to see if he was okay. But then Harry showed up ... he followed us. He was angry, saying something about how Draco hexed someone." She trailed off, her mind flashing back to the confrontation in the bathroom, the tension, the spells flying, and the water flooding the floor.

Esmie took a shaky breath before continuing, her voice quieter now. "I hadn't forgiven Draco for the things he said, but ... I didn't want him to get hurt. He looked so upset. Harry... he was so angry. I tried to stop him, I really did. I wasn't going to use my wand—I just wanted to protect Draco."

Enzo's face darkened, his grip tightening slightly around her hand. "I can't believe Harry disarmed you," he said, his voice tight with frustration. "After everything, he didn't trust you?"

Esmie gave a weak shrug, her eyes full of sorrow. "I don't think he does anymore. After he disarmed me, Draco pulled me out of the way and they started duelling—spells flying everywhere. Water was flooding the bathroom. I tried to get out of the way, but I saw my wand on the floor. I went to pick it up, and when I stood to face Harry ..." She swallowed hard, her voice shaking. "He cast the spell. I don't think he saw it was me. I was knocked back, and everything went dark."

"Oh, darling ..." Enzo whispered, his heart breaking for her as he lifted her hand and kissed it gently, pressing it to his lips for a long moment.

"Do you know what happened after that?" Esmie asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "Draco and Harry were still fighting when I got knocked out ..."

"Draco's here," Enzo said, his voice soft. "Madam Pomfrey moved him to a private room. Apparently, there's only one in the entire hospital wing. He's recovering too."

Esmie's brow furrowed in surprise. "I didn't even know the hospital wing had private rooms."

"Neither did I." Enzo shrugged, but there was still a shadow of worry in his eyes. He looked down at her, and Esmie could see the lines of exhaustion on his face, the way his jaw was clenched, and the tension that had settled into his body from the sleepless night.

"You look worried, Sweets," Esmie said softly, her voice tinged with concern.

Enzo sighed, his expression softening as he leaned in closer. "I was scared, Mie," he admitted, his voice shaking slightly. "When I heard what happened, I thought ... I thought I was going to lose you."

Esmie's heart ached as she looked into his eyes, seeing the raw emotion there. She squeezed his hand, offering what little comfort she could. "You're not going to lose me, Enzo," she promised, her voice steady despite the pain she was in. "I'm okay. I promise."

Enzo kissed her hand again, but the worry in his eyes didn't disappear. His hand lingered in hers, holding on as if afraid to let go.

Seeing his unease, Esmie shifted slightly on the bed, wincing from the dull pain that still throbbed in her body. She tapped the empty spot beside her, giving him a small smile. "Come on," she said gently. "Lie down with me."

Enzo hesitated, his eyes widening. "Are you sure? I don't want to hurt you."

"I'm sure," Esmie nodded, her smile growing warmer. "I need you with me."

Enzo looked at her for a moment, his expression softening as he carefully climbed onto the bed beside her. He was careful not to jostle her too much, but once he was settled, Esmie rested her head on his shoulder, cuddling into him with a contented sigh. The warmth of his body, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, brought her a sense of peace she hadn't felt since the chaos in the bathroom.

"I'm right here," she whispered, her fingers lightly tracing the edge of his shirt. "And I'm not going anywhere."

Enzo wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. His lips brushed her forehead, and he closed his eyes for a moment, savouring the feeling of her in his arms. "I don't ever want to lose you, Mie," he murmured against her hair, his voice filled with quiet desperation. "I love you so much."

Esmie's heart swelled, her chest tightening with emotion. She tilted her head up to look at him, her eyes soft and filled with affection. "I love you too, Lorenzo," she whispered before leaning up to kiss him softly. The kiss was gentle but full of unspoken emotion, a silent promise between them.

When they pulled away, Esmie rested her head back on his shoulder, her body relaxing into his embrace. The world outside the hospital wing seemed distant now, the whispers and rumors of the castle fading away. For the first time in what felt like forever, she felt safe.

But as they lay there, wrapped in each other's warmth, neither of them knew that beyond the quiet safety of the hospital wing, Hogwarts was on the brink of change—dark forces brewing beneath the surface, tensions rising, and their world was about to shift in ways they couldn't yet imagine.

Esmie smiled to herself, blissfully unaware of the storm that was coming. For now, all she cared about was that she was here, with Enzo, and that was enough.

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So basically, Esmie was hit by a curse that knocked her unconscious.

Enjoy! Xo

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