(The Potters and the Prisoner of Azkaban, act three, chapter ten)

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Nora was pretty sure she felt her heart break. Actually, no—she was sure of it. It even felt like she heard it crack, like some part of her just gave out.

Her face went cold, her breath stuck in her throat, and everything around her faded. She didn't hear the glasses clinking or people moving underneath them anymore.

It was like the whole world froze right in front of her, leaving her stuck with the one thing she didn't want anymore: the truth. The one thing she could remember wanting for such a long time and now the only thing she felt like was ignoring it. She didn't want to believe it. She couldn't. She wouldn't.

Her chest felt tight, like she couldn't breathe, and her eyes darted around the room, searching for something—anything—to grab onto. Everything felt wrong, like the walls were closing in.

"No." She softly whispered, only being heard by Harry, who was standing quite as shocked as her underneath the cloak with her. Nora's voice was barely there, shaking her head. Maybe if she said it, maybe if she refused to accept it, it wouldn't be real. Maybe it would all just go away.

Before she could even process what was happening, Harry took charge, his hand grabbing hers as he pushed them out of the room. He yanked the door open, their hurried escape confusing the three adults inside as the door seemed to open and close on its own. But Harry didn't care. He didn't stop to think about what they'd just seen or what anyone would say.

His face was set, his jaw tight with anger. Whatever he'd just learned had hit him hard—so hard that nothing else mattered, except for getting out of that room, in that moment.

This explained why everyone was so careful when speaking about Sirius Black in their presence. This was why Mr. Weasley had pulled Harry and Nora aside the day before school started, his voice low but serious, warning them to stay out of trouble this year. It all made sense now—too much sense, really.

When they got to the front door, Harry pushed it open again, ignoring the heads yelling behind them for someone to close the door, since they hadn't seen the Potters underneath James and Jasmine's cloak.

But as they stepped into the cold night air, Nora froze. She couldn't go any further-not like this.

Her chest felt heavy, her hands trembling as she tugged at Harry's sleeve to make him stop.

"I can't." she whispered, her voice cracking. She didn't look at him; she couldn't.

Harry turned to her, his face still tight with anger, but he stopped when he saw the tears building in her eyes. "Nory-" he started, but she shook her head sharply, cutting him off.

"Don't, Harry. Please." Her voice was barely audible, but it was enough to silence him. She didn't wait for him to argue or try to stop her. Without another word, she slipped out from under the cloak, her movements quick and quiet, and disappeared into another alley.

Harry stood there for a moment, stunned. He thought about calling after her, about chasing her down, but something told him she needed space just like he himself needed. So, gripping the cloak tightly around himself, he turned and disappeared into the woods, anger at Sirius still burning in his chest.

It was a quiet alley she had ran into. Nobody was around when the girl stopped all her movements when her legs gave out and when she slid down to the ground, on a piece of wood. It was the only spot not covered in snow, shielded by the overhang of a rusted metal awning above.

Her back was leaning against a stone wall. Ahead of her was a small shop. It didn't look busy-maybe it wasn't even open—but it stood there, still and unbothered.

Nora pulled her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around them as her breath . The reality of what she'd heard still clung to her, suffocating and inescapable. She lowered her head, trying to block out the world, even if just for a moment.

Nora sat there, trembling, as the weight of everything crashed down on her all at once. Her chest felt tighter with every passing second, her breaths shallow and quick, like no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't get enough air. Her hands shook uncontrollably, gripping her knees, and her whole body felt cold. Her thoughts raced too fast for her to catch even one. The walls around her seemed to close in, the dim light of the alley doing nothing to comfort her.

She pressed her back harder against the wall, trying to ground herself, but it was no use. Her vision blurred, her heart pounding so loudly she thought it might burst. The air felt thinner, like she was suffocating, and her hands flew to her chest, as though holding herself tighter might fix it.

Breathe. Just breathe. The words repeated in her head, desperate and useless. She couldn't. She couldn't think, couldn't focus, couldn't do anything but feel the panic clawing at her, dragging her deeper.

"Is she having a-" Jeremy's question was cut off.

"Panic attack." Both Elijah and Sirius answered.

"Is she gonna be all right?" Stefan asked the spirits, who had already seen it happen before.

"She needs to focus on her breathing." Elijah worriedly spoke out, not having heard the youngest Salvatore's question. He was watching how her whole body shook and he couldn't help but feel his heart break even more for her.

"But she will be okay, right?" Rebekah repeated Stefan's question as she looked at her niece on the screen. Nora looked even more little than she normally did. The girl was clenching her whole body together as tears streamed over her face.

Jeremy shifted in his seat with nervousness. "She's not—she's not dying or anything, right?"

"No, Jeremy." Regulus said firmly, glancing at the Gilbert . "This will pass. She just needs time and support."

"I think they will be the next ones to have a panic attack." James spoke to Lily as he pointed at his sister, best friend and Elijah, who were all begging for the girl to start breathinh normally again.

"I don't think you were far away from having one the first time you saw it." Lily replied, holding her husband's hand tightly. Already thinking about her son of goddaughter having a panic attack, literally shattered her heart into a thousand pieces.

Her surroundings blurred into nothingness, a mess of shadows and muffled sounds. She didn't notice the footsteps echoing down the alley or the faint voice calling her name.

"Nora?" The voice was soft, cautious, but steady. She didn't react at first, lost in the overwhelming spiral.

"Nora, hey—" the voice came closer, more urgent now, and a shadow fell over her.

"Oh, thank goodness." Finn breathed out when he saw someone was there to help her.

"Took them a long time." Klaus tapped his feet with impatience, but his eyes were filled with worry for his niece. A worry you would only see if you really knew him, because to the Scooby-Doo gang it looked like he really was annoyed with whoever has taken to make sure Nora was okay.

Theo crouched down in front of her, his brow furrowed in worry. She was huddled against the wall, her knees pulled to her chest, her entire body trembling. Her tear-streaked face was pale, her wide eyes darting around like she was looking for a way out but couldn't find one.

"Nora." He said again, his voice quieter now but still firm. "What's wrong? What's going on?"

Her lips parted, but no sound came out. She shook her head weakly, her breathing ragged and uneven.

Theo's eyes scanned her, taking in the way her hands trembled, the way she clutched herself so tightly. He recognized the signs instantly—a panic attack. His expression softened, but his movements remained calm, deliberate.

"Nora, listen to me." He said gently, his voice unwavering. "You're having a panic attack. It's okay. You're safe with me. Just look at me, alright?"

She blinked at him, her eyes unfocused, her breaths coming even faster now. Her chest heaved, and she shook her head again, tears spilling down her cheeks.

"I can't—" she gasped, barely managing the words.

"Yes, you can do it, sweetheart." Elijah and Sirius spoke, and many people in the room surprised with their in unison reactions.

"Yes, you can," Theo insisted, his voice steady. He moved a little closer, his hand grabbing a hold of hers. "Just focus on me. Forget everything else. Just me."

But she couldn't. The panic was too strong, too overwhelming. Her breaths came in sharp, shallow gasps, her body trembling harder as if she might break apart.

Theo hesitated for only a second, his mind racing for a way to pull her out of it. He knew he had to act fast.

"I'm sorry about this." He muttered under his breath.

And then, without giving her a chance to react, he leaned in and kissed her.

The world seemed to stop for Nora Potter.

His lips pressed firmly against hers, steady and grounding. His hands moved up to cup her face, his touch warm and deliberate, not demanding but certain. The kiss wasn't hurried or intense—it was slow, purposeful, like he was anchoring her, pulling her back from the edge.

Nora froze, her mind going blank as every thought, every overwhelming feeling was replaced by the sensation of his lips on hers. The suffocating panic began to unravel, her frantic breaths slowing as she focused entirely on him—the warmth of his touch, the way he held her like she wouldn't break.

When Theo finally pulled back, his face still close to hers, his hands stayed on her cheeks, his thumbs brushing gently against her skin.

"Nora ." He said softly, his voice low but firm. "Breathe. Just breathe. You're okay. I'm here."

Her wide, tear-filled eyes stared at him, stunned and speechless, but her chest started to rise and fall more evenly. The tightness in her lungs began to ease, the spinning world slowly coming back into focus.

She let out a shaky breath, her lips trembling as she tried to speak. "I... I don't..."

"Shh." Theo said gently, shaking his head. "You don't have to say anything. Just keep breathing, alright? That's all that matters right now."

Her hands, still trembling, reached up hesitantly to grip his wrists, as though making sure he was real. "Theo..."

He smiled softly, his eyes still filled with concern. "I told you I'd be here if you needed me." He said quietly.

Her lower lip quivered, but she nodded, unable to form the words. Slowly, her hands loosened their grip on his wrists, and she leaned forward, resting her forehead against his shoulder.

Theo froze for a moment, surprised, but then his arms moved around her, holding her gently. "You're alright." He whispered, his voice soft and reassuring. "You're safe. I've got you."

She didn't speak, didn't move, just stayed there, letting his warmth and steady presence calm the last of her lingering panic. For the first time in what felt like forever, the suffocating weight in her chest began to lift.

Minutes passed in silence, the only sounds their slow, even breaths. Finally, Nora pulled back slightly, just enough to meet his eyes again.

"How did you do that?"

"I once read that holding your breath could stop a panic attack, so when I kissed you, you held your breath." Theo explained.

"I did?"

"You did." Theo confirmed with a soft nod.

"Thank you." She whispered, her voice hoarse but steady.

Theo gave her a small smile, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. "Anytime" He said softly. Then, after a pause, he added. "But maybe next time, kiss me back?"

Nora blinked, her heart doing a weird flip in her chest. The words caught her off guard, and she felt her face heat up. For a second, everything around them seemed to fade away, and it was just the two of them standing there in the quiet alley.

A faint laugh escaped her, weak but genuine, and she shook her head, still trying to process everything that she just had a panic attack after such a long time. "I didn't even know what I was doing." She admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I wasn't thinking."

Theo's smile softened, and he stepped a little closer, his voice light but sincere. "It's okay. I get it." He said. And he didn't really mind that she hadn't kissed him back, he had done it in a way of calming her down, which was more important than getting her to kiss him back, but he wouldn't turn her down if she wanted too kiss him back.

Nora nodded, feeling a little more grounded now.

He gave her a teasing wink, the tension between them easing. "Good. Now, how about we get out of here before we both end up with weird reputations?"

Nora laughed again, her chest feeling lighter than before. "Deal, but I think you already have one."

"Oh?" The Nott raised his eyebrow and Nora felt her stomach did another flip. "And don't worry, the next time it all melts down, I'll be there. I promise. You don't have to tell me what it is about, take your time." Theo said as they walked back out of the alley, side by side,

"Thank you." Nora couldn't help but feel like something had shifted. Maybe she didn't have everything figured out, but even with Theo by her side, the girl was afraid to face her brother. How could she look him in the eyes after they just found out it was her father responsible for her brother's parents and her mother's death? She just knew if she ever came eye to eye with Sirius Black, she wasn't sure if she could keep it together.

She had never bared such hatred before. Not even for the Dursleys. Sirius was the reason Harry and her lost everything. If he hadn't told Voldemort about where James and Lily where, they would still be here.

Nora had already silently admitted to herself: if she ever met him, she would do something she never thought she would be capable of.

Many in the room were relieved that the youngest Potter was doing better now. Well, at least she wasn't having a panic attack anymore.

"She's gonna be so weirded out when she finds out you both saw her first kiss." Jasmine spoke out, trying to lift everyone's mood to a happier one. She hadn't even realised she had grabbed a hold of Elijah's hand and as she watched her daughter's panic.

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This was the second time Nora Potter had snuck out of school at night. The first time had been for her date with Theo, where she'd made a random promise to the scruffy dog she'd seen to bring him some food. She hadn't thought much about it at the time, but now here she was again, sneaking through the dark, quiet grounds of Hogwarts.

It was like he preferred the night, lurking around when everything was still. And, honestly, Nora kind of got that. The night felt quieter, safer—well, mostly.

She made her way to the same spot she'd seen him last, clutching a basket with food that she gotten from the kitchen.

"Alright, doggy." She muttered under her breath, scanning the darkness. "I'm keeping my promise. You better show up."

For a moment, it was just her, the rustling of the wind through the trees, and the distant hoot of an owl. She was starting to think she'd wasted her time when she heard it—a low growl, more curious than hostile.

"There you are." She whispered, turning toward the sound. The dog stepped out of the shadows, his dark fur blending into the night, and Nora could see his sharp, cautious eyes watching her. He stood still, his posture tense but not aggressive, like he was deciding whether or not to trust her.

"Hey, it's just me." She said softly, crouching down and setting the basket in front of her. She pulled out a few pieces of meat and held one out to him, her hand steady despite the flutter of nerves in her chest. "See? I didn't forget about you."

The dog hesitated, his gaze darting between her and the food. After a few moments, he took a cautious step forward, then another, until he was close enough to sniff the food in her hand.

"That's it." She murmured, her voice low and calm but filed with worry, because he was still so thin. "I'm not going to hurt you. Promise."

Finally, the dog leaned forward and gently took the food from her hand. Nora let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding and smiled. "See? Told you I'd be back." As he ate, he stayed close, his body language less guarded now. Nora saw something softer in his eyes, like he was starting to trust her.

"There's more." She said, pulling out another piece and setting it on the ground. "But only if you promise not to growl at me next time."

The dog let out a soft huff—almost like a laugh, if dogs could laugh—and settled down to eat the rest of the food she'd brought.

Nora sat back, watching him under the starry sky, a strange sense of calm washing over her. Somehow, in the quiet of the night, with just her and the dog, she felt at ease. It was strange how something so simple could make her forget the chaos swirling in her mind.

She sighed, her gaze shifting from the dog to the stars. "You kno." She started softly, her voice barely more than a whisper, "I learned something today. Something that changes everything."

The dog's ears perked up slightly at the sound of her voice, but he kept eating, his tail giving a small, almost comforting wag.

Nora pulled her knees to her chest, resting her chin on them. "Sirius Black." She said quietly. "He betrayed my brother's, Harry's, parents. And my mother. She was with his parents. Fudge said he is the reason they're dead." The dog stopped eating, lifting his head to look at her. His dark eyes seemed sharper now, almost too focused, like he was really listening.

Her fingers tightened around the fabric of her robes as she spoke. "He's my father. I don't even know what to do with that. How do you even process something like that? And how will I face Harry? My father is responsible for the death of three of our family members. He killed my mom. How can someone just do that? Did he hate us so much?" She paused, swallowing hard."

"Did he hate me so much? Was I such a bad daughter? I know I'm not always the best person to everyone but this hurts so much. I haven't even returned back to the common room because what would Harry, Ron and Hermione say?" The dog tilted his head, his gaze unwavering, and Nora let out a shaky laugh. "Sorry, I probably sound insane to you, talking about all this. You're just a dog, right?"

For a moment, the dog didn't move, didn't blink, and Nora could've sworn there was something almost human in his eyes. But then he huffed again, lowering his head back to his paws, and she shook her head, brushing the thought away.

"Anyway." She murmured, reaching into the basket for one last piece of food. "Thanks for listening." She held the piece out to him, her smile small but genuine. "Here. For not running off while I rambled." The dog took the food gently, his tail wagging again, and Nora leaned back, closing her eyes for a moment. Even if the weight of everything hadn't lifted completely, she felt a little lighter knowing she didn't have to be alone in this right now—even if her only company was a scruffy dog under the stars late in the night.

"Dogs can be good company." Caroline nodded as she looked at the screen where the dog laid down next to Nora.

"Yes, especially this one." James spoke and again he and Sirius were snickering.

"I am glad she is doing fine." Elijah spoke, he knew that she wasn't doing mentally better, because you don't just process that your father is a wanted serial killer in a few hours.

"I hope she'll be okay for a while now." Finn spoke and his younger brother in a suit nodded with agreement.

Rebekah, Jasmine and Lily had placed themselves with the other girls again as they were discussing Nora's first kiss, and how despite what caused it, was really romantic.

"I really hope they become a thing." Elena spoke and Bonnie nodded.

"Yes, I feel like he would be good to her." Caroline spoke.

"I really think he means a lot to her. She already lost so many people in her life." Rebekah said.

"Yes, I hope he stays." Bonnie spoke.

"He better." Caroline responded. "Or, I'll make him."

"I have a feeling that it's not going to be that easy." Jasmine threw a look over her shoulder at Elijah and his brothers.

"They can say whatever they want." Rebekah spoke. "But they can't deny that he helped her calm down."

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Words: 3557

Written: FRIDAY 21/02/2025

Posted: ?

Posted again: 21/02/2025

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mwah Katherine