CHAPTER TWELVE

Aviana had not anticipated the shocked reaction from Teddy when she confessed her feelings. She was taken aback as his hair transformed into a vibrant pink hue, and his only response was a mumbled "what" before he bolted away.

The onlookers watched, perplexed, as Teddy darted through the corridors at an incredible speed, his once blue locks now a brilliant shade of pink. Whispers of confusion and speculation rippled through the crowd, as no one could fathom what had occurred between Aviana and Teddy to cause this unexpected display.

Undeterred by Teddy's bewildering response, Aviana made the decision to follow him, her determination unwavering. Caught off guard by Aviana's unwavering persistence, Teddy was taken aback once again. He hadn't anticipated her being so relentless in her pursuit of him.

The sequence of surprising events left both Aviana and Teddy on edge, and the surrounding spectators, whether they were busy with their own tasks or not, were left amused. The series of unexpected moments had become an impromptu source of entertainment for all involved.

After all, it was an unusual sight to behold—a Slytherin fiercely chasing a Hufflepuff as if her life depended on it. The onlookers couldn't help but exchange glances and whisper amongst themselves, finding amusement in the unexpected pursuit.

Fate had seemed to conspire against Aviana and Teddy as they found themselves crossing paths with the unfortunate duo of Filch and his loyal companion, Mrs. Norris. This unexpected encounter had the potential to complicate things further.

It appeared that the caretaker, Filch, was reaching his limit. His usual tussles with the mischievous Poltergeist Peeves had already tested his patience. But now, his day was taking another turn for the worse as two fifth years stumbled into his way.

The moment Aviana halted her pursuit behind Teddy, both of them instinctively recoiled as they met Filch's stern, unwavering gaze. The caretaker's intense focus on the two-fifth years was palpable, casting a sudden atmosphere of tension.

Aviana and Teddy had not anticipated that their already eventful day would culminate in both of them being handed their first detentions. It was a first for both of them, as they had never spent a single minute in detention throughout their entire time at Hogwarts before this unexpected encounter with Filch.

To make matters worse, the duo found themselves in a real "detention dilemma." Firstly, being caught by Filch himself was already a nightmare, as he was likely the most dreaded individual to serve detention with.

Aviana and Teddy had mentally prepared themselves for typical detention tasks such as cleaning cauldrons and goblets. However, their luck truly seemed to have run dry as they were assigned an unusually taxing duty: cleaning half the school's windows.

To make matters even more challenging, Hogwarts was a colossal castle, and cleaning half of its windows amounted to well over a hundred of them.

Aviana and Teddy exchanged a collective groan as they grasped the gravity of their situation. Not only were they facing their first detention, but it involved cleaning an astonishing number of windows—over a hundred windows in the vast castle.

But when the day ended with Aviana not having another chance to approach Teddy since he had patrol duties right after finishing his punishment. Although she was disappointed, she knew that he had his responsibilities to attend to as a Hufflepuff prefect.

Despite the disappointment of not being able to approach Teddy further, Aviana's exhaustion was evident. The extensive cleaning task she had to undertake had drained her energy.

Teddy, too, recognized that he couldn't evade this situation indefinitely. He was left with a dilemma: should he continue his attempts at avoidance, or should he face the matter head-on and initiate a proper conversation with Aviana?

"It all makes sense, you know? These feelings... they've been right in front of me!" Her gaze fixed upon him, and she confessed, "I fancy you a lot, Edward Lupin, and I've been feeling this way for quite some time now."

Teddy's mind constantly played back the memory of Aviana's confession, and he knew his hair was a dead giveaway at this point. Nervously nibbling on a piece of chocolate, a habit he unknowingly picked up from his father, he became acutely aware of the rapid beating of his own heart.

Caught in a state of indecision, Teddy found himself caught in a dilemma. He struggled to determine whether this was merely Aviana's way of amusedly playing with his emotions or if she was genuinely serious about her admission.

Teddy grappled with the enigma that was Aviana, and the concept of romance had never once entered his thoughts before. As he continued to wrestle with his thoughts, the uncertainty surrounding her true intentions gnawed at him.

Despite his inner turmoil, Teddy couldn't deny that there was an undeniable feeling inside him that grew stronger in Aviana's presence. He wrestled with his own emotions, battling the confusion and the sense of inexplicable attraction towards her.

Yet, despite the realization of his growing feelings, Teddy had not yet fully confronted them. He found himself grappling with the uncertainty of knowing what to do next, feeling paralyzed by the complexity of his own emotions.

Teddy realized that he needed guidance, but he was stumped. Normally, he would turn to his friends, Skylar or Victorie, for advice. Yet, given their own struggles with confronting their feelings for each other, seeking their counsel felt complicated.

Fortunately, the upcoming holidays provided a glimmer of hope for Teddy. He knew he could turn to his family for advice and support, a valuable resource during this confusing time.

Despite having decided to seek help from his family, Teddy faced the challenge of avoiding Aviana for the next few weeks. He braced himself for the challenge of avoiding Aviana, knowing she had an uncanny knack for finding him no matter the situation. This prospect left him uneasy, as it seemed almost inevitable that their paths would cross again, sooner or later...