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Hogwarts had always been Esmie's home, but now, after Dumbledore's death, it felt different – eerily empty, like the heart of the castle had been torn away.

The familiar warmth and magic that once flowed through every corner of the school now seemed muted. It almost felt like a nightmare, something unreal that hadn't truly happened, but Esmie knew better. She had been there, watching from the shadows, seeing it all unfold with her own eyes. There was no escaping that truth.

She sighed softly, sitting down on the stone floor of the Astronomy Tower, her back pressed against the cool wall. As she gazed out at the darkened grounds, memories surged to the surface. The moment Snape had killed Dumbledore played on a relentless loop in her mind. She closed her eyes, hoping to block it out, but it was no use. She could still see Draco, his pale face lit only by the moonlight, standing frozen in fear. She could still see the flash of green light that had missed her by mere inches and had ended Dumbledore's life. She had come so close to death that night — too close.

Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring the stars above. This tower had always been a refuge for her, a place of quiet reflection, but now it felt haunted by what she had witnessed. Every stone seemed to hold the memory of that night. The place where Draco had nearly crossed a line he couldn't return from. The place where Snape, of all people, had delivered the final blow. Esmie had never trusted him, but she had never imagined this.

The days following the funeral had been a blur. Classes had been cancelled, and the castle felt hollow without its usual bustle. Most students had already left for the holidays, but Esmie hadn't decided where she would go. Home didn't feel like home anymore, and she wasn't sure if she could face returning to Hogwarts after all that had happened. The idea of walking the same halls, seeing the same faces, felt unbearable.

She was so lost in thought she almost didn't hear the footsteps approaching. Her body tensed, fear gripping her as her mind flashed back to that night. She flinched, quickly wiping the tears from her cheeks. Then, a familiar voice broke through the tension.

"Esmie?"

Her heart settled. It was Harry. She managed a small smile, though her voice came out shaky. "H-Hi."

She stood slowly, turning to face him and Hermione. The sight of them brought a mix of relief and guilt. She had missed them — her two close friends — but since the night Dumbledore died, things had been different. Ron had distanced himself after their fight, and with him around, Esmie had found it difficult to spend time with Harry and Hermione. They had forgiven her for keeping secrets, but the strain between her and Ron lingered like an open wound.

"So, this is where you've been hiding," Hermione said gently, her voice filled with concern. Esmie nodded, looking down at her hands, fidgeting with the hem of her robes.

"Y-Yeah ... just needed some time alone."

Harry and Hermione came closer, standing on either side of her. For a while, none of them spoke, the silence heavy with shared grief and confusion. They all had their own burdens to carry, but right now, just being together was enough.

"Do you think he would've done it?" Hermione asked, her eyes scanning the horizon as if the answer could be found in the sky. "Draco, I mean."

"No," Harry said firmly. Esmie flinched at the name, her heart aching as memories of that night returned. She had stood in front of Draco's wand, feeling his fear, his indecision.

"He was lowering his wand. He wasn't going to do it," Esmie whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. She closed her eyes, picturing Draco's face — pale, terrified, torn between duty and humanity. She had seen the moment he decided he couldn't go through with it, and then Snape had stepped in.

Harry turned to her, his expression softening. "I believe you."

Esmie bit her lip, her heart heavy with the knowledge that, in the end, it hadn't mattered. "But it wasn't him. It was Snape. It was always Snape. And I just stood there ... I didn't do anything."

She looked at Harry, feeling the guilt that had been eating away at her since that night. He was holding something in his hand — a locket, old and worn. She recognised it as the one Dumbledore had been clutching when he died. Esmie's stomach tightened.

"It was fake," Harry muttered, bitterness in his voice as he handed the locket to Hermione. "Open it."

Hermione carefully opened the locket, pulling out a small piece of folded parchment. She read aloud, her voice trembling slightly. "'To the Dark Lord, I know I will be dead long before you read this, but I want you to know that it was I who discovered your secret. I have stolen the real Horcrux and intend to destroy it as soon as I can. I face death in the hope that when you meet your match, you will be mortal once more. R.A.B.'"

"R.A.B.?" Esmie repeated, her brow furrowed. The initials meant nothing to her, but the message sent a chill down her spine.

Harry sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. "Whoever they are, they've got the real Horcrux. Which means everything we did ... everything Dumbledore did ... it was all for nothing."

Esmie felt the weight of his words settling over her. It had all been a waste. Dumbledore had died for nothing. She leaned against the railing, the cool metal pressing into her back, grounding her in the overwhelming grief of it all.

"I'm not coming back," Harry said suddenly, his voice low but resolute. "I have to finish what Dumbledore started. I don't know where it'll lead me, but I'll send word when I can — to you, Ron, Elsie ... all of you."

Hermione's eyes widened in shock. "Harry, you can't be serious. You're not going to find all those Horcruxes by yourself. That's impossible."

Esmie nodded in agreement. "She's right, Harry. You need us."

Harry looked at both, his eyes filled with determination and doubt, but eventually, he nodded, silently acknowledging their support. They stood together, a united front, even in the face of so much uncertainty.

"I never realised how beautiful this place was," Harry murmured, breaking the silence. Esmie followed his gaze out across the grounds, the distant lights of Hogsmeade twinkling like stars. Despite everything, Hogwarts was still beautiful.

Esmie leaned her head against Harry's shoulder, a small smile tugging at her lips as Fawkes, Dumbledore's loyal phoenix, flew past them, his red and gold feathers glowing in the night.

For a few moments, the world felt peaceful. But Esmie knew this peace wouldn't last. Soon, everything would change, but for now, she allowed herself to savour the stillness, standing with her friends, before saying goodbye and heading back to the Slytherin common room, where darkness still lingered.

When Esmie entered the Slytherin common room, a familiar scene greeted her — Theo, Danielle, Mattheo, Josie, Pansy, Elsie, and Enzo gathered around a table, laughing softly as they shared stories from the past few days. Despite the thick tension that had permeated the castle since Dumbledore's death, there was a comforting warmth in the air. This group, her closest friends, had become her anchor in these difficult times. Esmie couldn't help but smile as she made her way over to them, slipping into the seat beside Enzo, who immediately wrapped his arm around her shoulders in a gesture of quiet affection. She leaned into him, resting her head against his shoulder, letting his presence soothe the storm of emotions inside her.

"Where have you been hiding, Esmie?" Elsie asked, her tone teasing but her eyes full of concern. Esmie had been disappearing a lot lately, and Elsie had picked up on it.

Esmie shrugged, her gaze dropping to her hands, fidgeting with her sleeve. "Just talking to Harry and Hermione," she said softly, feeling the familiar knot of sadness tighten in her chest. "Actually ... saying goodbye to them."

Enzo squeezed her shoulder gently, his fingers brushing her skin in a way that made her feel like he knew exactly what she had been thinking. He probably did. Enzo had found her at the Astronomy Tower so many nights since Dumbledore's death, sitting alone beneath the stars, her knees hugged to her chest as if she were trying to shield herself from the world. That first night, when he had found her fast asleep in the cold, he had carried her back to the dormitory, refusing to leave her side until morning.

"Has Harry spoken to you yet, Els?" Esmie asked, her voice a little steadier as she turned her attention to Elsie.

"Yeah," Elsie nodded. "We said our goodbyes last night. I'm staying with Theo for the first two weeks of the holidays, then I'll spend some time with Harry before joining Grace and Hope for the last two weeks."

Theo, who was sprawled out lazily beside Elsie, grinned. "I get my favourite girl for two whole weeks," he said, giving Elsie an affectionate nudge.

Esmie raised her eyebrows in mock indignation, placing a hand over her heart as if wounded. "I'm sorry, did I hear that right? I thought I was your favourite girl, Theo."

Theo scrunched his nose at her with a dramatic eye roll, his lips curving into a smirk. "Oh, sorry, Grisky. I meant to tell you earlier — you've been officially replaced."

The entire table burst into laughter, and Esmie gasped, leaning forward with exaggerated offence. "Replaced? Me? After everything we've been through. I'm heartbroken."

Danielle, never one to miss a beat, leaned in with her usual brand of sarcasm. "Wow, Theo, I'm hurt, and here I thought I was your favourite girl." She gave him a pointed look, folding her arms across her chest, her dark eyes glinting with mischief.

Mattheo, sitting beside his twin, chuckled deeply. "Sorry, Danielle, but I think you've lost that title to me." He draped an arm around Danielle's shoulders, grinning at Theo. "Let's be real. Theo can't live without me."

Danielle snorted, shaking her head. "Oh please, if anyone has a claim to that throne, it's me. The rest of you are just background noise."

"Rude," Esmie teased, but she was smiling, the laughter and playful banter filling the air like a much-needed balm after days of grief and uncertainty.

Theo groaned dramatically, leaning back in his seat. "I can't believe I'm having this conversation. You're all equally terrible in my book."

Esmie pretended to pout, leaning into Enzo a little more for effect. "Well, you've lost me forever now, Theo. Congratulations."

Mattheo grinned. "Don't worry, Esmie, you're better off without him."

Danielle nudged her twin, rolling her eyes. "As if you're any better, Matty."

Mattheo gave her an innocent look. "I'm a saint. Everyone knows that."

Esmie laughed, shaking her head at the two of them. It was moments like this — when Danielle and Mattheo bantered back and forth, effortlessly teasing each other — that reminded her just how close they were. Despite their constant bickering, the bond between them was undeniable, something Esmie admired. She had always felt at home with the two of them, their teasing and sarcasm grounding her in ways few others could.

As the laughter died down, Josie's voice broke through the quiet. "What do you think happens now? After ... everything?"

Esmie sighed, her gaze drifting to the stone floor, her thoughts racing. What did happen now? Hogwarts would never be the same again, not without Dumbledore.

"I guess Hogwarts will have a new headmaster," she said quietly. The words felt hollow, like an answer that didn't explain anything. The future was a vast, unknown expanse, and for the first time, Esmie wasn't sure where she fit into it.

Enzo's eyes remained on her, his brow furrowing slightly as he watched her closely. He knew there was more to what she was feeling, something deeper that she wasn't sharing, but he didn't push her, knowing she'd come to him when she was ready.

"I never thought I'd say this," Pansy suddenly spoke up, her usual snark softened by a rare moment of sincerity, "but I'm going to miss you, Esmie."

Esmie blinked, surprised by the admission. She stood up, walking over to Pansy and pulling her into a tight hug. Pansy stiffened at first, clearly unused to such open displays of affection, but then she laughed and hugged Esmie back.

"Don't go getting all emotional on me, Grisky," Pansy said, her laugh bubbling up despite herself.

"I wouldn't dream of it, Parkinson," Esmie replied, letting go with a grin, but before she could return to her seat, Theo seized the moment, wrapping his arms around her waist and lifting her off the ground, spinning her around in a wide circle.

Esmie squealed in surprise, swatting at his arms. "Put me down, you idiot!"

Theo set her down gently but rubbed his arm with a mock grimace. "Ow! That hurt."

Esmie rolled her eyes, hands on her hips. "Oh please, I barely touched you."

"You're mean to me," Theo pouted, sitting back down beside Elsie, who laughed softly as she patted his leg.

Danielle, still leaning into Mattheo's side, chimed in again with a grin. "You're just sensitive, Theo. Esmie's barely begun to terrorise you."

Mattheo nodded in agreement. "Yeah, consider yourself lucky. You've gotten the gentle version of her."

Esmie crossed her arms, smirking. "I can always fix that."

The laughter filled the room again, and for a moment, the world outside the common room doors didn't seem so daunting. It was just them — friends sharing jokes and teasing each other as if everything were normal.

But, of course, reality always had a way of creeping back in.

"Hey, how about one last game of Monopoly before we leave for the holidays?" Josie suggested, breaking the flow of conversation.

Esmie shrugged, and the group nodded in agreement. Within minutes, the board was set up, and they were all deeply engrossed in the game, the clatter of dice and the exchange of Monopoly money adding a familiar rhythm to the evening. As the game progressed, Theo found himself stuck in jail after a few unlucky rolls, much to his frustration.

"Jail again?" Theo groaned, glaring at the board in disbelief.

Esmie grinned wickedly from across the table. "Get your ass to jail, Theodore."

"You can't tell me what to do, Grisky," Theo shot back, his eyes narrowing in mock defiance.

"Oh, but I can," Esmie retorted, crossing her arms with a satisfied smirk. "I'm the ruler of the jail now, and I'm ordering you to join me."

Theo handed the dice over to Elsie, who laughed as she rolled them, only to land on one of Esmie's properties.

"I hate this game," Elsie muttered, handing over her dwindling pile of money to Esmie.

"Don't worry, Esmie lost when we played a few days ago," Pansy teased, flashing Esmie a grin.

Esmie rolled her eyes as she picked up the dice again, groaning when she didn't roll a double. "Alright, screw it. I'm just paying the fine."

She slapped $50 into the centre of the board, rolling the dice again and landing — once again — on one of Enzo's properties.

"You charmed the board, didn't you?" Esmie accused, narrowing her eyes at Enzo.

Enzo chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Now why would I do that?"

The game continued, and one by one, the others fell into bankruptcy, leaving Enzo as the inevitable winner. Theo groaned, tossing his fake money onto the board in frustration.

"How is Enzo so good at this game?" Theo asked, shaking his head as they began packing up.

Mattheo raised an eyebrow, smirking at Esmie. "I'm pretty sure Esmie's been training him in secret."

Enzo grinned, his eyes finding Esmie's. "She taught me well."

As the night wound down and the game was packed away, the group exchanged hugs, their laughter slowly fading as they said their goodbyes. Promises to meet again before the start of the next school year were made, and one by one, they parted ways, leaving the common room quiet once more. Esmie lingered in the common room for a long moment, watching her friends slowly disperse, the echo of their laughter still hanging in the air. The warmth of their time together, despite the lingering shadow of recent events, filled her with a bittersweet ache. In the face of everything — the loss, the uncertainty — she was reminded of one simple truth: they still had each other. That small flicker of joy was enough to carry her through the darkness, at least for now.

With the common room empty and the fireplace casting flickering shadows on the stone walls, Esmie followed Enzo down the quiet hallways to his dormitory. The tension in her shoulders eased as they reached the door, and she felt the warmth of his presence beside her. There was something about Enzo that had always made her feel grounded, like no matter how chaotic the world became, he was her constant, her anchor.

As soon as they were inside, Esmie crossed the room to sit down on his bed, feeling the familiar comfort of the soft duvet beneath her. Enzo closed the door behind them with a quiet click, turning toward her with a gentle, knowing look in his eyes.

"You went to the Astronomy Tower again, didn't you, darling?" he asked, his voice soft but laced with concern.

Esmie's shoulders slumped slightly as she nodded. "Y-Yeah, I did." She sighed. "Harry and Hermione found me up there. They ... they were saying goodbye."

Enzo walked over and sat beside her, his hand finding hers, their fingers intertwining in a gesture that felt natural, comforting. The warmth of his skin against hers soothed some of the rawness that lingered in her heart. She turned to him, offering a small, sad smile. "I keep thinking about it, Enzo, about how I came so close to dying that night."

Her voice faltered as the memory replayed itself in her mind — Draco standing before her, his wand raised, his face twisted in fear and doubt.

Enzo's face tightened with a brief flash of pain, and his grip on her hand tightened just a little. "Please, Mie ... don't remind me," he said, his voice strained. He had heard the story before, in every painful detail — how close Esmie had been to the brink of death and, how Draco had confessed feelings that had remained hidden for so long. The thought of losing her that night still haunted Enzo.

Esmie shook her head slightly, her fingers toying with the edge of her sleeve as she stared at their joined hands. "If it wasn't for Draco, I wouldn't be here," she murmured. "I-I tried to save him, Enzo, I really did, but I couldn't. I couldn't stop him from leaving with them."

Enzo sighed deeply, pulling her closer to him as if he needed to feel her right there, to know that she was safe now. "I know, baby. I know, but Draco made his choice, and you've got to stop blaming yourself for not stopping him from leaving."

Esmie swallowed, her throat tight. "But he lowered his wand, Enzo," she whispered, her voice cracking. "He didn't have to do that. He chose to save my life, and I don't believe for a second that he's one of them. I just ... I can't believe it."

Enzo looked at her, admiration and sorrow mingling in his eyes. "One of the things I love most about you, Mie, is that you always see the best in people, even when no one else can." He smiled gently, his thumb brushing over the back of her hand in a soft, comforting motion. "You've got this heart that refuses to see the darkness in people. That's rare."

Esmie scrunched her nose at him playfully, the sadness lifting for just a moment as she met his gaze. "You're going to make me blush," she said, her tone teasing, though a faint blush was already creeping up her cheeks.

Enzo chuckled, leaning forward to press a soft kiss to her lips. Esmie melted into the kiss, her heart fluttering as she smiled against his mouth. For a few blissful moments, everything felt right. The outside world faded away, leaving just the two of them in their quiet, shared space.

When they pulled apart, Esmie lay down on the bed, tugging Enzo with her. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close as she nestled into the familiar curve of his body. She rested her head on his chest, listening to the steady, reassuring rhythm of his heartbeat.

"I'm going to miss everyone over the holidays," Esmie murmured, her voice soft and distant as she thought of the friends, they had just said goodbye to.

"Yeah," Enzo replied, his voice low as he rubbed her back gently. "Me too."

There was a quiet understanding between them, a shared sense of loss for the closeness they all shared. Though they would see each other again soon, the holiday break felt like a looming emptiness they weren't quite ready for.

After a long pause, Esmie sighed softly, pressing her face into the crook of Enzo's neck. "But I think I'm going to miss you the most, Sweets."

Enzo's heart swelled at her words, a soft smile tugging at his lips, but then, he shifted slightly, his tone becoming more serious. "Actually, that's what I wanted to talk to you about."

Esmie sat up slightly, her eyes widening with sudden panic as she looked at him. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice laced with worry. "What's wrong?"

Enzo chuckled, though there was a warmth in his eyes as he reached out to place a hand on her leg. "You look worried, darling. It's nothing bad, I promise."

Esmie let out a shaky breath, her heart still racing. "It's just ... when people say they have something to talk about, it's usually never good."

Enzo shook his head, his thumb brushing over her leg in a soothing motion. He tilted her chin up so their eyes met, his expression soft and full of affection. "Mie, I was going to ask if ... if you'd like to come stay with me for the holidays."

Esmie blinked, her heart skipping a beat as her lips parted in surprise. "Wait ... really?"

"Yes, really," Enzo said with a wide grin. "I'd love for you to come stay with me. If you want to, that is."

A surge of warmth flooded Esmie's chest, and she smiled, the tension melting away as she realised what he was asking. "But ... your parents — won't they mind?"

As soon as the question left her lips, Esmie realised how little she knew about Enzo's family. Despite their closeness, he had never spoken much about them, and now she found herself wondering what his home life was like.

Enzo's expression shifted slightly, a guarded look crossing his face. "I usually spend the holidays with the Malfoys. My dad ... well, he's hardly ever home. It's just him and me."

Esmie's heart ached at the emptiness in his voice, and she reached out to gently place her hand on his arm. "I'm so sorry, Enzo."

"Don't be, Mie," he said softly, his smile returning. "It's been like that for a long time. I'm used to it." He hesitated for a moment, searching her eyes before speaking again. "So ... what do you think? Would you like to spend the holidays with me?"

Esmie's smile widened as she nodded, her heart swelling with joy at the thought of spending more time with him. "I'd love to. I'd love that more than anything."

Relief washed over Enzo's face, and he gently pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her as he kissed her passionately. Esmie smiled into the kiss, her hands sliding up to cup his face as she kissed him back with equal warmth. The connection between them was electric, their shared feelings deepening with every moment they spent together.

When they finally pulled away, they settled back into the bed, the room falling into a peaceful, comfortable silence. Esmie nestled against Enzo's chest, her body fitting perfectly against his as if they had been made for each other. The steady rise and fall of his breathing lulled her into a state of contentment, her worries drifting away like the fading embers of a fire.

Before long, the soft rhythm of their breathing became the only sound in the dormitory, and both drifted off into a peaceful sleep, wrapped in each other's warmth. For the first time in days, Esmie felt truly safe, knowing that no matter what happened next, she wouldn't be facing it alone.

~*~

Esmie stepped into the Gryffindor common room, the familiar warmth of the red and gold space wrapping around her like a well-worn blanket. Normally, the room was bustling with life —students chatting, laughing, running up and down the stairs to the dormitories — but today, the room was almost eerily quiet. Only a few students remained, sitting by the fire or lost in their books, their voices hushed as they prepared to leave for the holidays.

Enzo followed her into the room, his footsteps soft on the worn carpet as he looked around with an amused expression. His eyes swept over the red velvet armchairs and the gold accents that adorned every inch of the space, his lips curling into a smirk.

"Wow ... it's really red in here," Enzo remarked, his tone dripping with amusement as he took in the room. He stuffed his hands into his pockets and raised an eyebrow at Esmie, who was watching him with a fond smile.

"Yeah, I know," Esmie replied, shaking her head with a chuckle. "But honestly, I could say the same thing about the Slytherin common room. There's an awful lot of green over there, and I mean a lot."

Enzo laughed, his eyes crinkling with genuine amusement as he leaned against one of the armchairs. "Okay, fair enough," he conceded, rolling his eyes playfully. "Touché, Grisky. You've got me there."

Esmie grinned, feeling a little lighter as they exchanged banter, her heart swelling at the sight of him relaxed and happy. They had packed up the last of Enzo's things the night before, and today they had come to her dorm to finish the task.

As they moved further into the room, Esmie spotted a familiar face standing by the fireplace, poking at the embers with a thoughtful expression on his face. She smiled softly, recognising the young first-year student who had become one of her favourite pupils over the past year.

"Axel?" she called out, her voice soft as she approached the young boy. "I thought you'd already gone home for the holidays."

Axel turned to face her, a smile spreading across his face when he saw her. "I'm leaving today," he explained, his bright eyes flicking toward Enzo with a look of curiosity. The boy hesitated for a moment, shifting on his feet before gesturing toward Enzo. "Is that him?" he asked, his tone filled with innocent curiosity.

Esmie froze for a second, feeling her cheeks flush with heat as she glanced between Axel and Enzo. "Uh —" she stammered, caught off guard by the sudden question. She could feel Enzo's eyes on her, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Axel continued undeterred. "Is that Lorenzo Berkshire?" he asked, his voice louder now as he eyed Enzo with an intrigued expression.

Enzo straightened up, turning to face the boy with a raised eyebrow and an amused smirk. "You know my name?" he asked, clearly entertained by the young Gryffindor's directness.

Axel nodded eagerly, his wide eyes bouncing back and forth between Esmie and Enzo. "Yes! She talks about you all the time!" Axel said, his innocent excitement completely oblivious to the growing blush on Esmie's face.

Enzo's grin widened, his smirk turning into a full-on grin as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Oh, does she now?" he teased, his eyes sparkling with mischief as he glanced at Esmie, whose cheeks were now a vivid shade of pink.

Esmie groaned softly, covering her face with her hands for a moment before looking down at Axel with a rueful smile. "Thanks for that, Axel," she muttered under her breath, her voice tinged with embarrassment.

Axel, still completely unaware of the tension he had just caused, beamed up at her, his smile as innocent as ever. "Will you still tutor us next year?" he asked eagerly, his wide eyes hopeful. "Nova and I really want you to keep tutoring us!"

Esmie's embarrassment melted away at the sight of Axel's hopeful expression, and she knelt to his level, her smile softening. "Of course, Axel," she assured him, giving him a quick hug. "I'll definitely tutor you and Nova next year. I promise."

Axel hugged her back tightly before pulling away and glancing at Enzo one last time with a curious grin. Then, with a wave, he bounded off toward the exit, his small frame disappearing through the portrait hole. The room fell quiet again, leaving Esmie and Enzo standing alone in the centre of the common room.

Once Axel was gone, Esmie stood up, turning to face Enzo with an apologetic smile. "You talk about me to the first years, huh?" Enzo teased, his tone light but filled with affection as he took a step closer to her. His eyes danced with amusement, and he tilted his head slightly as he waited for her response.

Esmie sighed, rolling her eyes but unable to suppress the small smile that tugged at her lips. "It wasn't like that," she said defensively, though her blush gave her away. "I just told them about how we became friends in first year, and ... you know, a little about our relationship over the years."

Enzo's smirk softened into something warmer, more genuine, as he reached out and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Well, I suppose I can't be too upset," he said, his voice dropping to a gentle murmur. "At least I know I'm on your mind."

Esmie's blush deepened, and she bit her lip, looking away for a moment before meeting his gaze again. "You're always on my mind," she admitted softly, her heart fluttering in her chest as she spoke.

Enzo's smile widened at her words, and without another word, he leaned in and kissed her softly, his lips brushing against hers with a tenderness that made her knees weak. Esmie melted into the kiss, her hands resting lightly on his chest as she kissed him back, her heart racing with warmth and affection.

When they finally pulled apart, Esmie took a deep breath, her heart still fluttering as she glanced around the room. "We should finish packing," she said softly, her voice still tinged with the warmth of the kiss.

Enzo nodded, though his hand lingered on hers for a moment longer before he pulled away. "Right. Let's get you packed up."

They made their way to her dorm room, and the moment they walked in, Enzo noticed a small, well-worn book sitting on her bedside table. He picked it up, flipping it open to glance at the familiar pages. "Peter Pan and Wendy?" he asked, raising an eyebrow as he looked over at her.

Esmie glanced over her shoulder, smiling at the sight of the book. "Yeah," she said with a fond smile. "It's my favourite."

Enzo smirked, teasing her as he flipped through the pages. "Do you ever read anything else, or is this the only book you read because I remember you reading this back in first year, and second year."

Esmie laughed, shaking her head as she grabbed a handful of clothes and tossed them into her suitcase. "I read plenty of other books, thank you very much," she replied with a grin. "But this one's special."

Enzo closed the book, his expression softening as he looked at her. "I get it," he said quietly, setting the book down on the table. "Sometimes the things that mean the most are the ones that get us through the hard times."

Esmie paused for a moment, her heart swelling at his words. She gave him a small nod, grateful for how well he understood her. "Yeah," she whispered, turning back to her packing. "That's exactly it."

As she folded the last of her clothes, Enzo leaned back against the desk, his expression turning more serious. "Oh, did you hear about Josie and Draco?"

Esmie frowned, looking up from her packing. "No, what about them?"

"Apparently, Josie confronted Draco in the Slytherin hallways not long after Christmas," Enzo explained, his tone quiet and thoughtful. "She overheard him calling you ... well, you know ... and let him have it. They had a full-blown argument."

Esmie's eyes widened in surprise. "Josie yelled at Draco?" she asked, her voice incredulous. "Why didn't she tell me?"

"Maybe she didn't want to worry you," Enzo replied with a shrug. "But yeah, she tore into him pretty hard. Told him he had no right to talk about you like that."

Esmie blinked, processing this new information. "I had no idea," she murmured, her heart-warming at the thought of Josie defending her.

"Turns out there was more to it than that, though," Enzo continued. "Apparently, Josie also confronted Draco about why they stopped being friends. Draco thought she started a rumour about him in first year, but it wasn't her — it was Delilah. Josie had nothing to do with it."

Esmie's frown deepened. "So, Draco stopped being friends with her over something that wasn't even true?"

"Pretty much," Enzo confirmed. "Elsie told Theo, who told me."

Esmie shook her head, a soft sigh escaping her lips. "That's so sad. Maybe one day they'll work things out and be friends again."

"Maybe," Enzo said with a shrug. "But that's up to them."

With the last of her clothes packed, Esmie zipped up her suitcase and stood up, brushing her hands on her jeans. "Alright, I think I'm ready."

Enzo smiled and reached for her hand, his fingers intertwining with hers as they headed toward the door. "Let's get out of here, then," he said softly.

As they left the Gryffindor common room and made their way through the castle's winding corridors, Esmie couldn't help but glance back at the towering silhouette of Hogwarts against the sky. The castle had been her home for so many years, and now, as she walked away from it, she felt a strange mixture of nostalgia and uncertainty.

She couldn't have known that this would be the last time she would see the castle for months — nor could she predict the trials that lay ahead beyond its familiar walls, but, as her fingers intertwined with Enzo's, one thing was clear: whatever awaited her, she had someone by her side.

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Hello,

This brings us to the end of part one with part two coming soon!

Enjoy! Xo

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