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ESMIE'S HEART RACED IN HER CHEST, POUNDING WITH A MIX OF ANXIETY AND FEAR AS SHE STOOD OUTSIDE SNAPE'S OFFICE, THE DIMLY LIT CORRIDOR CASTING SHADOWS THAT SEEMED TO LOOM OVER HER.

She had spent the entire night tossing and turning, rehearsing this confrontation, convincing herself that today was the day she would finally face him. But now, standing before the heavy wooden door, her hand frozen in midair, she wasn't sure if she could do it.

What would she say? How could she even begin to confront the man who had been such an intimidating figure in her life, a professor who seemed to exist in a constant state of stern disapproval, only to now discover that he was her father? It was too much. Her hand trembled as it hovered inches from the door, and she felt her throat tighten with nerves.

Just as she finally gathered the courage to knock, the door creaked open. Esmie's heart nearly stopped as Professor Snape appeared before her, his black robes billowing slightly as he stepped into view. His eyes, cold and calculating, locked onto hers immediately.

"Miss Grisky," Snape said in his usual drawl, his voice like ice. "Why are you lurking outside my office? Have you nothing better to do?"

"I... I was coming to see you, Professor," Esmie stammered, her voice barely a whisper. She swallowed hard, her courage fading fast under his intense, piercing gaze. "I..."

"Well, spit it out," he said sharply, his impatience cutting through the air like a knife.

Esmie opened her mouth to speak, but no words came. She could feel her hands shaking as the flood of emotions that had been brewing inside her threatened to spill over. The confrontation she had imagined—the defiance, the righteous anger—vanished in the wake of her fear and uncertainty.

"I... I can't," she whispered finally, her voice cracking as tears threatened to spill from her eyes. Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel and fled down the hallway, her footsteps echoing loudly in the empty corridor. She didn't dare look back.

Her vision blurred with tears, Esmie kept running until she was sure she was far enough away from Snape's office. Once she felt safe, she stopped, leaning against the cool stone wall, her breath coming in short, ragged bursts. She pressed the heels of her hands to her eyes, willing the tears away. She wasn't going to cry. Not now.

After a few moments, when her breathing had slowed and she felt more composed, Esmie pushed off the wall and made her way through the castle. Her destination was clear. She needed to see Enzo and Mattheo. They were the only ones who could help her calm down, the only ones who wouldn't ask too many questions.

When she reached the Slytherin dormitory, she hesitated for a moment outside the door to the boys' room, her heart still racing. What if they were asleep? What if they didn't want to see her right now? But before she could second-guess herself, she knocked softly.

A few moments later, the door creaked open, and Mattheo stood there, rubbing his eyes and looking groggy. His dark curls were messy from sleep, and his bare chest was exposed, making Esmie blush slightly as she quickly averted her eyes.

"Emmy?" Mattheo asked, his voice thick with sleep, though a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "What are you doing here so early?"

"H-Hi, Matty," she muttered, still avoiding eye contact. "I... I needed to talk to someone. Can I come in?"

Mattheo's smile faded slightly as he noticed the tension in her voice, the way she fidgeted nervously. Without hesitation, he stepped aside and gestured for her to enter. "Of course."

Esmie stepped into the room quietly, her eyes scanning the familiar space. Enzo was still fast asleep in his bed, his blanket pulled up to his chin, his soft snores the only sound in the room. Esmie carefully walked over to his bed, sitting at the very edge, making sure not to disturb him.

"You look like you could use something to drink," Mattheo said, walking over to the table and grabbing a bottle of water. He handed it to her with a teasing smile. "It's Enzo's, so don't worry. I doubt he's touched it."

Esmie hesitated for a moment before taking the bottle. "Thanks, Matty." She unscrewed the cap and took a small sip, feeling the cool liquid soothe her dry throat.

Mattheo sat down on the edge of his bed, his eyes studying her carefully. "You alright? You don't seem like yourself."

Esmie let out a heavy sigh, her fingers playing with the cap of the water bottle as she stared down at her lap. "I don't know. I just... I don't know anymore."

Mattheo raised an eyebrow, his concern deepening. "You know you can talk to me, right? Whatever it is, you don't have to keep it bottled up."

She offered him a weak smile. "I know. It's just... complicated."

"Is this about Snape?" Mattheo asked gently, though his tone was direct.

Esmie flinched slightly at the mention of Snape's name. "Yeah. I tried to talk to him today. I was going to confront him... about everything. But I couldn't do it. I froze. And now I feel..."

"Like a failure?" Mattheo finished for her, his voice soft.

Esmie nodded, tears stinging her eyes once more. "Yeah. I feel like I'll never be able to say what I need to say to him. Like I'll never get the answers I want."

"You're not a failure, Esmie," Mattheo said firmly, his tone full of conviction. "This is a lot to process. It's not going to happen overnight. But you'll get there when you're ready."

Esmie looked up at him, her vision still blurred with tears. "Thank you, Matty. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Mattheo smiled warmly, ruffling her hair affectionately. "You'd probably be fine, But I'm glad I can help."

He stood up, stretching before glancing at the door. "I've got to meet Dani in a bit, but if you need me later, you know where to find me."

Esmie nodded as Mattheo left, the room falling into a comfortable silence. She sat there for a while, staring at her hands, lost in thought, until she felt Enzo stir beside her. His arm brushed against hers as he shifted, blinking awake.

"Mie?" Enzo's voice was groggy as he sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see you," she replied softly, offering a small smile. "But you were asleep, so I didn't want to wake you."

He chuckled softly, pushing his hair out of his face. "You've woken me up plenty of times before. You know I don't mind."

Esmie laughed lightly, but her expression soon turned serious again. "I... I tried to talk to Snape again."

Enzo frowned, immediately more alert. "And? How did it go?"

"It didn't," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I couldn't do it. I froze. I just... ran away."

Enzo's expression softened, and he reached over to take her hand in his, giving it a gentle squeeze. "You don't have to force yourself to talk to him, Mie. Not until you're ready."

"But what if I'm never ready?" she asked, her voice breaking slightly. "What if I never get the answers I need?"

Enzo's thumb traced small circles on the back of her hand as he spoke softly. "You will. It might take time, but you will. And no matter what, your blood status doesn't change who you are. You're still the same Esmie I've always known."

Esmie smiled weakly at him, the warmth of his words easing some of the tension in her chest. "Thanks, Sweets."

He smiled back, though something unspoken lingered between them. For a moment, it felt like the air around them shifted, as if the weight of their bond hung delicately in the space between their hands. But before either of them could address it, Esmie stood up, her heart still heavy.

"I'm going to head to the library," she said, her voice soft. "I'll see you later, okay?"

Enzo nodded, watching her as she left, his eyes lingering on her retreating form with a look of quiet concern.

Esmie wandered the halls, her mind swirling with thoughts, when she suddenly collided with someone. Strong hands grabbed her arms, steadying her, and she looked up to see Draco Malfoy standing in front of her, his signature smirk already forming on his lips.

"Six years at Hogwarts, and you're still running into people, Esmeralda," he teased, his voice dripping with amusement.

"Sorry," Esmie mumbled, feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over her. "I wasn't paying attention."

Draco's smirk softened slightly as he tilted his head, his silver eyes studying her intently. "You alright? You've been wandering around the Slytherin corridors a lot lately."

Esmie tugged at her sleeves instinctively, pulling them down to cover the partial Dark Mark on her arm. "I'm fine."

Draco raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "You don't seem fine. What's going on?"

Esmie hesitated, unsure of how to respond. She wasn't ready to tell him the truth, not about Snape, not about the mark on her arm. "It's nothing," she said quickly, forcing a smile. "Really."

Draco's smirk returned, but there was a hint of something softer in his expression. "If you say so. I was actually looking for you. Wanted to ask if you'd come to Hogsmeade with me."

Esmie blinked, caught off guard by the invitation. "You... you want me to go to Hogsmeade with you?"

Draco rolled his eyes. "Obviously. Unless you've got something better to do?"

She shook her head quickly. "No, I'd like that."

"Good," Draco said, nodding toward the castle gates. "Let's go."

The two of them made their way to Hogsmeade in relative silence, though the tension between them seemed to ease as they neared the village. When they arrived at the Three Broomsticks, Esmie offered to find a table while Draco went to order their drinks. She sat down at a small table near the window, watching the bustling crowd outside.

Draco returned a few minutes later, setting a butterbeer in front of her before sitting across from her. "Here. You looked like you needed it."

Esmie smiled softly, wrapping her hands around the warm glass. "Thanks, Draco."

They sat in silence for a while, sipping their drinks, until Draco finally broke the quiet. "You're being awfully quiet. That's not like you."

Esmie shrugged, her eyes fixed on her butterbeer. "Just... thinking, I guess."

Draco raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "About what?"

Esmie shrugged without saying anything, and Draco nodded as he stood up. "I have to run an errand, but I'll be back soon, alright?"

"Alright," Esmie replied with a nod. Draco gave her a final glance before leaving the pub, leaving her by herself. Moments later, a waitress approached Esmie's table with a friendly smile. "Can I get you another butterbeer, dear?"

Before Esmie could respond, the door to the pub swung open, and a familiar group walked in—Theo, Delilah, and Pansy. They spotted Esmie almost immediately and made their way over to her table, Theo smiling warmly at her.

"You're here alone?" Theo asked, his voice full of surprise. "You could've invited me."

Before Esmie could answer, Pansy scoffed loudly, cutting in with a sneer. "Stop pretending like she's your friend, Theo. She doesn't care about you."

Esmie's heart sank, the weight of Pansy's words hitting her like a punch to the stomach. "What are you talking about?"

Pansy crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing. "She's using you to get close to Draco. Just like she's using everyone else. She's not your friend."

Esmie's voice trembled as she spoke, her heart aching at the accusation. "That's not true, Theo. I care about you—all of you. I'd never use any of you."

Theo opened his mouth to respond, but Pansy wasn't finished. "Do you really think Draco wants to be seen with someone like you?"

Esmie felt her stomach twist into knots. "Why are you so threatened by me, Pansy? I've tried to be your friend, but you've made it clear you want nothing to do with me."

Pansy's eyes glinted with malice as she leaned in closer. "You're pathetic, Esmeralda. You don't belong with us."

Esmie could feel the tears welling up again, but she refused to let them fall. She refused to give Pansy the satisfaction. "I belong wherever I choose to be."

Before Pansy could retort, Theo stepped in, his voice calm but firm. "That's enough, Pansy. Let's go."

"You must be completely delusional if you think Draco or any of us would actually be friends with you," Pansy sneered, ignoring Theo, her voice dripping with venom as she crossed her arms, glaring at Esmie with cold, dark eyes. "Do you even know what Draco says about you behind your back?" Her tone was cruel, relishing the moment. "He calls you a clingy little Mudblood who doesn't know when to mind her own business."

Esmie felt her world collapse with those words. A sharp, icy pain shot through her chest, and she struggled to keep her composure. Her heart raced, her mind spiralling with disbelief and hurt. She didn't want to believe Pansy, but the sneering smirks on the others' faces—the ones who had been standing silently by, complicit in this cruel game—made her stomach drop. As she looked at them, Theo's downcast eyes, Delilah's awkward glance away, and even Blaise's stoic expression, it was clear. They all knew.

Draco had talked about her like that. The boy who had invited her to Hogsmeade only hours ago. Tears stung at the corners of her eyes, but she blinked them back fiercely, refusing to give Pansy the satisfaction of seeing her cry. Not here. Not now.

Pansy's smile widened, satisfied by the silence that followed. "Oh, what? You thought you were one of us? That you belonged here?" She stepped closer, her words like knives, sharp and pointed. "You're just a little Mudblood playing pretend. It's time you realised that."

Esmie's throat tightened, but she swallowed hard, forcing herself to stand taller, even as her heart shattered. "Fine," she whispered, her voice barely steady. "You've got your wish, Pansy. I'll stay away from Draco. From all of you."

Without waiting for a response, Esmie turned on her heel and pushed past the group, her breath coming in shallow, shaky gasps. She heard Delilah's voice call after her, weak and hesitant. "Esmie, wait—" But Esmie didn't stop. She couldn't.

"I'll see you around," she choked out, her voice wavering as she stepped out into the cold, brisk air of Hogsmeade. The sharp wind hit her face, but it did nothing to numb the burning sting of humiliation or the deep ache of betrayal in her chest. She hurried away from the Three Broomsticks, barely able to see through the blur of tears that welled in her eyes. Each step felt heavier than the last, her legs trembling beneath her as she tried to make her way back to Hogwarts, but the pain was too much.

It wasn't until she collided with someone, her body jolting from the impact, that she realised she hadn't been paying attention to where she was going. "I'm so sorry—" she began to mumble an apology, but when she looked up, she froze. "Oh... hi, Sweets," she whispered, blinking up at Enzo, her voice fragile and broken.

"Mie? What's wrong?" Enzo asked, concern flooding his features as he took in her tear-streaked face. His brow furrowed, and he reached out, gently placing a hand on her arm. "Why are you crying?"

Esmie sniffled, trying to hold herself together, but the pain was too raw, too fresh. "Do... do people really think I'm just an annoying, clingy Mu-Mud—" She couldn't even finish the word, her voice breaking.

"Don't say that," Enzo interrupted, his voice firm but soft, cringing as the word left her lips. His eyes darkened with anger, but it wasn't directed at her. "Don't call yourself that. Don't even think it." He stepped closer, his arms gently wrapping around her as he pulled her into a tight embrace. "You're not that, Mie. You're so much more. Who said that to you?" His voice was low, protective.

Esmie shook her head, her face buried in his chest, the warmth of his embrace calming her slightly. "It doesn't matter," she mumbled, her voice muffled against his shirt.

"It does matter," Enzo said firmly, pulling back just enough to tilt her chin up, forcing her to meet his eyes. His expression softened as he saw the pain in her eyes, and he wiped away her tears with his thumb, his touch gentle. "Whoever told you those awful things is wrong. None of it is true. Your blood status doesn't define you, Mie. It never has."

Esmie's lip trembled, and despite herself, more tears spilled over. "But Draco—he—"

"Draco doesn't know anything about you," Enzo said sharply, cutting her off again. "He's an idiot if he can't see how amazing you are."

She let out a shaky breath, leaning back into his embrace as he hugged her close once more, his arms secure around her. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice small and vulnerable. She didn't know what she'd do without him. Enzo had always been her rock, her constant, since the day they'd met.

Enzo pressed a soft kiss to the side of her head, his voice a low murmur in her ear. "I mean it, Mie. Don't let them get to you. You're better than they'll ever know."

Esmie smiled weakly, her heart lifting slightly at his words. She gently pulled back, wiping at her face. "I should... I should get back to my common room, but I'm not really ready to face my friends yet."

Enzo frowned slightly, thinking for a moment. "Why don't you come hang out in my dorm for a while? Mattheo and Dani are there. It might help take your mind off things."

She hesitated for a moment, but the idea of being with people she trusted sounded far more appealing than returning to her dorm in this state. "That sounds nice," she agreed softly, nodding.

Enzo smiled, taking her hand and leading her back through the castle to the Slytherin common room. When they stepped inside the dorm, they found Mattheo lounging on his bed, a pile of sweets scattered around him, while Dani sat on the floor, her nose buried in a book. The two were in the middle of one of their usual playful arguments.

"You know, for a Slytherin, you're really terrible at sneaking things," Dani teased, glancing up at Mattheo as he ate yet another gummy bear. "Seriously, how many sweets are you planning to eat?"

"As many as I can sneak past you," Mattheo replied with a smirk, popping the sweet into his mouth. "They help me study. Keeps my brain sharp."

Dani rolled her eyes dramatically. "Right. Because nothing says academic excellence like a sugar high."

Mattheo chuckled, tossing a sweet in her direction. "It works for me. Besides, I'm doing you a favour. You should be thanking me."

"Thanking you?" Dani raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at her lips. "For what?"

"For saving you from the temptation of all this sugar, of course," Mattheo grinned, leaning back against his pillows.

Dani scoffed, tossing the sweet back at him. "Oh, you're a real hero, aren't you? Just remember, if you end up with a cavity, you're on your own."

"Deal," Mattheo said, laughing as he caught the sweet. "But if you ever need help with your homework, you know where to find me."

Dani narrowed her eyes. "Only if you promise to share your sweets."

"Done," Mattheo said with a cheeky grin. "As long as you stop snooping through my stuff."

"No promises," Dani replied with a smirk, shaking her head.

Mattheo rolled his eyes just as Enzo and Esmie entered the room. "Hey, Emmy," he greeted, his expression softening as he noticed her puffy eyes. "You look like you've been crying. What happened?"

Before Esmie could respond, Dani smacked Mattheo's arm. "You can't just say that!"

"Ow!" Mattheo rubbed his arm, glaring at his sister. "What? I wasn't trying to be rude. I just asked—"

"You don't comment on someone's appearance like that," Dani scolded, crossing her arms. "Especially when they're upset."

Esmie let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "It's fine. Yes, I've been crying, but Enzo cheered me up."

"Oh, he did, did he?" Mattheo asked with a grin, glancing between Esmie and Enzo.

"Yes, he did," Esmie said, smiling as she nudged Enzo affectionately. Enzo grinned back, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and pulling her closer.

Dani watched them with a soft smile. "Where do I find a friendship like yours?"

Mattheo gave her a playful nudge. "You've got me."

"Yeah, and half the time you annoy me," Dani shot back with a smirk.

Mattheo gasped dramatically, placing a hand over his heart. "Me? Annoying? You're the one who snoops through my things!"

"You love it," Dani teased, rolling her eyes.

"Yeah, yeah," Mattheo muttered, though his smile didn't fade.

Esmie laughed softly, watching the two of them bicker. The warmth of the room, the laughter, the comfort of her friends—it all felt like a balm to her wounded heart. For the first time since leaving the Three Broomsticks, she felt like she could breathe again.

"I don't know," Esmie said thoughtfully, glancing at Enzo. "Enzo and I have been close since the day we met. He was my first real friend here, and I think that's why we're so close. I've always adored him."

Enzo smiled at her, his eyes softening with affection. "I adore you too, Mie."

As the two of them exchanged a look, Dani glanced over at Mattheo and noticed the way he was watching them. Her heart twinged with sympathy—she knew Mattheo still had feelings for Esmie, even if he never admitted it out loud. She sent him a small, understanding smile, but Mattheo quickly averted his gaze, pretending to focus on the pile of sweets in front of him.

After a few moments, Esmie stood up, stretching. "I should probably head back to the Gryffindor common room."

Enzo nodded, standing up to give her a tight hug. "Alright. I'll see you later, yeah?"

"Definitely," Esmie smiled, hugging him back before she left the room.

When she returned to the Gryffindor common room, she was greeted by the sight of Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Grace, and Hope sitting together, surrounded by textbooks and parchment. They glanced up at her as she walked in, and she tried to force a casual smile.

"Hey, where's Harry?" she asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

"He's with Maddison and Josie," Hope replied, glancing at her curiously. "Where were you?"

"I was in the library," Esmie lied quickly. "Working on that essay Snape assigned."

Ron raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "Where's your stuff, then?"

"I used the library books," Esmie replied, her voice faltering slightly. "And I handed in the essay on my way back."

Grace gave her a teasing smile. "You're a terrible liar."

Esmie's cheeks flushed, and she quickly brushed past them. "Just drop it, okay?"

She hurried up to her dormitory, throwing herself onto her bed with a frustrated sigh. She grabbed a book, hoping to lose herself in its pages, but her mind was still spinning from everything that had happened.

Not long after, the door creaked open, and Hope and Grace entered the room, their expressions soft with concern. "We didn't mean to upset you," Hope said gently.

"Are you okay?" Grace asked, sitting down beside her.

Before Esmie could respond, Hermione and Ginny joined them, climbing onto the bed with her. Esmie managed a small smile as the girls started chatting, their laughter filling the room. For the first time in hours, she felt a sense of normalcy returning. The warmth of their friendship soothed the ache in her chest, and for a little while, she was able to forget about what had happened at Hogsmeade.

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I can't wait for what I have planned for this book.

Also this rewrite is going to introduce more of Esmie's friendship with other characters - especially Danielle and Mattheo Riddle, plus other details never mentioned in the original version - i.e. Mattheo's crush on Esmie which only Dani knows about.

Enjoy! Xo

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