☞ 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟒𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫, 𝟏𝟗𝟗𝟔

"Why! Why did you change? Why did you become a-" My voice began ripping from the hours I've spent screaming at her. Astoria. She and I stood in a cave, I was sopping wet from the lake that restlessly sat beside us. Astoria was also wet, with a stained knife in one hand and a glowing yellow locket in the other.

"I did this for you! I never wanted to change! I'm still me! I still love books! I still love school! There's so much I want to learn! I never wanted to become who I came!" Astoria screamed back, tears streaming down her blood-stained cheeks. Why is she bleeding? What is she doing? Where are we?

"Come home! I can keep you safe." I desperately pled with my friend, reaching out for her. "Please, Astoria! I need you!" I cried, my hands shaking as I tried to move yet I was paralysed on the spot.

"I did this for you."

I woke in a puddle of lukewarm sweat. The skin on my back was strangely more noticeable than ever before with a newfound dull itch I couldn't quite reach. Glancing around the room I found myself to be, for once, the first awake in the dormitory. The boys lay peacefully in their beds, Draco sleeping like a log, while Blaise had limbs in all directions and his duvet had long been forgotten. Theo was sleeping on his stomach with his head turned away from me, and Mattheo...

As my eyes landed on the brown-haired boy, my face immediately heated and my heart began to race. My eyes darted away from him, my mind focusing on calming down. Ever since the quidditch match, I haven't been able to hold a simple conversation with the boy. I'd begin to stutter, my face turning red and I can't even look him in the eye! I've become such a mess, all for him. How didn't I notice this before? The answer to my question has been right in front of me this entire time!

The only question I have yet to solve is how I kept randomly smelling Mattheo, or at least his cologne, in the most random places?

That's a worry for another time, and I had to attend and run another DA meeting today! I was rather excited for this one, as I'd be introducing a spell that can only be found in the depths of the restricted section! I haven't the foggiest idea why it was there, it's not deadly at all.

"Why are you awake?" A deep voice muttered from beside me. Jumping in my skin I turn to see Mattheo had awoken and was now sitting on the edge of his bed, looking right at me. My body immediately tensed as I quickly looked away, fearing my face would turn into a mess of blush once again.

"Nightmare." I sighed, rubbing my eyes. "I can't seem to remember about what... however my throat hurts." I mumbled, the gravel texture that crushed my vocal cords ripped through my throat as I tried to speak. My hand reached to rub the area, only to double back when a dip in the bed made me lose my balance.

Mattheo was now sitting next to me, using the Auguamenti charm to fill a gauntlet up with water. "I figured. You had been screaming for hours not too long ago, we were all so worried." He tiredly spoke, passing me the cup.

I froze, my face draining. I had been screaming? I had been keeping them awake because I was screaming. I felt tears form in my eyes, feeling utterly embarrassed yet so empty. Why had I been screaming? What was I seeing in my dream?

"Please, Y/n. Take the cup, you need to drink." Mattheo spoke, yet I still couldn't move. My head was spinning the deeper I thought about the situation, the more I began to worry the more my heart ached. Mattheo hummed, before raising the cup to my lips, gently using this thumb to part my jaw.

Shit. That took me out of my mind rather quickly. My face heated, and so did the rest of my body, specifically one spot between my legs. My thighs clenched, and the only place I could look was deeply into his eyes. "There." He smiled, once I had drank the contents of the cup. I had completely forgotten I was drinking.

"T-thank you." I stuttered, making me want to punch myself. I quickly pulled away and turned to face the room, not being able to handle such close proximity.

I heard Mattheo angrily sigh, his fingers running through his hair. Worried, I turned back to face him, asking him what was the matter. "Nothing. It's just... you seem to be so scared of me lately and I'm worried that I've done something wrong. The last thing I want is to have offended you, because you mean so much to me. You never look me in the eyes anymore, you are always so nervous and stuttering your words, and you are always so tense around me." Mattheo ranted in frustration. The more he spoke the more I realised that my fear of him realising I like him would should not have been a worry as he's clearly delusional and oblivious.

It started with a chuckle, and more laughs until I was quickly finding it hard to breathe with laughter. Mattheo's eyes narrowed, and he seemed offended. Through my laughter, I tried to explain that I wasn't laughing at him, but it wasn't very believable. I quickly forced my laughter to stop as the anger in his eyes was rising. I quickly realised that if I had any chance to save our friendship, I needed to tell him the truth. I cannot risk losing another friend. I do not want to repeat what happened with Astoria.

"I'm going to be utterly vulnerable and honest with you, Riddle. Don't you dare be a twat about it." I spoke, trying to sound intimidating but my nerves got the best of me. Mattheo's eyes softened as he leaned in, confused yet intrigued. "I can't look you in the eyes because they're too beautiful and kind and I always feel like you can see right into my soul. I tense when I'm around you because I become hyper-aware of my actions as I do not wish to make a fool of myself around you. And I can't seem to face you because when I do my heart becomes an uncontrollable rapidly beating mess." I apprehensively spoke, picking at my fingernails as I spoke.

With each word, I felt a weight being lifted, and Mattheo's breath growing heavy. Was I making him uncomfortable? Is telling him the truth worse than lying and saying something else? Will I lose him this way? I never thought of it as a possibility... but now I'm knees deep into this shameless half-confession and there's no turning back.

I took a deep breath, squeezing my eyes shut to embrace myself for what I was about to say. "What I mean to say is, I believe you are the one I smelt in my Amortentia. And I'm telling you all of this as I do not want to lose you..." I sighed, my hands shaking. I slowly opened my eyes and found Mattheo silently watching me, his eyes blown out and his jaw slack.

"What..." He breathlessly said, his eyes never leaving mine. My heart dropped. I've ruined our friendship, I'll have to leave this room, and possibly this house as I could never show my face around the Slytherin common room ever again!

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything! I didn't think- I thought if I was honest then you might not hate me because then would realise that I don't hate you but now I've made you uncomfortable." I rambled, slowly turning away from the boy as my hands found the sides of my face, shielding my face. I was so utterly embarrassed I wished a dementor would appear in the window and suck out my soul!

"No, I'm not uncomfortable! Y/n, I'll be honest too... I-" Mattheo began, his cheeks glowing red. I felt nauseous as the words flew out of his mouth. I couldn't take it, I didn't want to know what he had to say. It was too soon, too early, I just discovered these feelings and I'm still not certain what they are! I can't handle a rejection at this point in my life.

"No!" I interrupted him. Mattheo jumped slightly, confused. He was about to speak again, but I threw my hands around frantically, panicking. "Please, say no more. I am not asking for an answer, I understand that you do not feel the same way." I calmed myself, slumping into my seat as I quickly gathered my uniform I left on the end of my bed.

"Wait, but I-" Mattheo tried to speak, reaching for my arm as I stood up. I quickly pulled myself away, putting on my shoes and stuffing my uniform into my bag.

"Seriously Mattheo, please don't say anything. I understand, I just don't want to lose your friendship, that's why I told you, to be honest about who I am and my feelings. I owe you that, transparency." I smiled, although it showed on my face that it wasn't a smile of happiness. Mattheo paused, taken aback by what I said.

"I'll see you later today at dinner, I've got quite a busy day." I laughed, before quickly fleeing the scene, not taking a moment to look around at the rest of my friends. I hope I didn't disturb them. After contemplating my next moves, I decided to head to the prefect's bathroom to get changed into my uniform, then head to the Great Hall for breakfast.

As I walked, I glanced outside of the window, quickly reminding myself of how much time has passed. The oranges and browns of autumn began to be blanketed with white as snowfall increasingly became more regular over the past week. With the drastic change in temperature, it was mandatory for students to wear their winter clothing otherwise you may as well freeze to death!

Since the battle at Hogwarts, life here had quickly readjusted back to normal, so quickly that I hadn't really given it a second thought. Lessons proceeded as usual, more students stayed inside to escape the cold winds and the DA was back in full swing. The boys and I had been getting along well, even when I spent three days profusely apologising to them for insulting their parents just because they were death-eaters. They said not to worry, and my words are fairly true. Besides that, and this morning, we've had great fun, running in the snow, having a war with snowballs, building snowmen.

One thing was missing this year. One person. My father's words played on my mind, haunted me as I tried to sleep. The winter season felt empty without her dragging me outside, our hair getting soaked with snow, our cheeks reddening to fend off the cold. Astoria. Astoria! She was in my dream... but why? What happened? Why was I screaming?

Now fully adored in my warm uniform, I entered the Great Hall. My eyes landed on Mattheo. Our eyes met, his wide with an awkward smile. Glancing between Draco, Blaise and Theo, they all seemed to have the same awkward smile. Did Mattheo tell them about what happened? Are my friendships with them over?

I gave a small wave which just added to the awkward feeling, I swiftly walked towards my Gryffindor family. "Y/n!" Hermione smiled, greeting me as I took a seat beside Ron. "Good morning, how are you." She asked, beginning to pile my favourite foods onto the plate. Hermione is such a mother, and she doesn't even notice.

I smile warmly at the girl. "Good morning! Thank you 'Mione!" I took a bite of my food, the warm taste filling my mind with pure euphoria. "My morning was... strange, to say the least." I grumbled, wishing to obliviate myself to permanently erase that moment from my mind.

"Oh go on then. Tell us what happened." Ron egged me on, his mouth half stuffed with toast. I shook my head with a laugh, saying that I might tell them after the DA meeting before we open a new book. Might. Although I highly doubt it.

"Should we get going then? To... whatever lesson is first." Harry spoke once we had all eaten, looking at Hermione to know which lesson was first. Hermione tutted the boy, scolding him for still now knowing which lesson was first, before answering. Defence Against the Dark Arts.

We file into the room, Hermione and myself in front of Harry and Ron. "Over here." Hermione guides us through the classroom, to sit towards the front of the classroom. As we walked between the desks, my eyes locked with Riddle's, who was sitting in the middle of the room. He started at me with a look I cannot begin to describe. I looked deeply into his eyes, wishing I could run up to him and take it all back.

As quickly as we locked eyes, I looked away again, focusing my attention on following Hermione. We both took a seat at the desk closest to the front, while Harry and Ron took the desk behind. "Are you alright, Y/n?" Hermione muttered as she pulled out her books. I hummed, snapping out of my blank stare. "You just seem, out of it." She commented, deciding to drop the matter.

"So, Y/n." Harry spoke from behind. I span in my chair and found a grinning Harry and Ron, leaning forward like eager little children. "What have you got planned for the DA today?" He anxiously asked. I laughed, leaning forward to entertain their childish wonder.

As I did, my eyes landed on Mattheo, Draco, Blaise and Theo. Mattheo was still looking at me with that same solum indescribable expression as he did a few moments ago while Draco, Blaise and Theo whispered amongst themselves.

Slam!

"My classroom is not an open invitation for you to chatter like a Jobberknoll, Mr Potter." My father's sluggishly deep voice boomed across the classroom, nabbing the attention of everyone occupying the room. Once silent and facing the front of the room, my father began today's lesson.

As he began to drone on about some creature or another, I found myself spacing out, unable to hear my father, or anyone else for that matter. My mind kept going back to him. The more I thought the more desperate I was to peel my own skin off, the harder it became to think rationally. I live with him, so I'll have to face him sooner or later... what if I-

"That's all for today." My father droned, followed by the thunderous claps of chairs being thrown back as pupils quickly stood to escape the dead atmosphere. Slowly, I stood and collected my things, as I did a felt a presence slowly approach me from behind. "Tell me what's wrong." My father mumbled, looking down at me with worry glazing his black eyes.

"Nothing is wrong. I'm just tired." I smiled, hoping to fool him. He gave me an odd look, I knew he didn't believe me, but I could also tell he didn't want to force me to talk about things if I did not feel like doing so.

"Very well, make sure you get some sleep. You don't look well." He commented before retiring to his desk. I didn't think much of his comment as Hermione and I made our way through the classroom to the exit. Suddenly Theo 'fell' off his chair and began to tie his shoelace, preventing me from walking past. I looked to my right and found Mattheo looking up at me from his seat, Theo had been sitting behind him.

I smiled warmly at the boy, his eyes glimmering with joy and relief. Did he think I hated him after this morning? I was rather rude just running off like that... but that doesn't mean I have something against him. No, I hate myself for making such a fool of myself.

I turned away to face Nott, who was still on the floor. My arms crossed as I began to tap my foot in annoyance. "Move out of the way, Nott." I sighed, my foot gradually tapping against the floor faster and faster. Hermione and I exchanged confused glances as Theo sheepishly looked up at us.

"Oh, sorry, Y/n, Granger." He winked at Hermione, her cheeks softly blushing red. "I didn't see you there." He smirked, slowly standing, taking his sweet time to move. I sighed, shoving him out of my way.

"Yes, you bloody did." I muttered, walking past the group and towards Harry and Ron, who had been awkwardly waiting by the door. "Let's go." I smiled, excited to get to the room of requirement.

It didn't take long for people to file in, the usual students being present, with some absent and some new. More recently we've had more and more students from my own house attend, and it filled me with joy watching them interact with people they otherwise wouldn't.

"Today's lesson will be focused on a less flashy spell. Today we will be learning a rather useful charm, a charm that's saved me from Filch many times." I chuckle to myself. "This charm reveals human presence within the vicinity. Homenum Revelio. I believe this spell will become more useful in time, especially when you don't want to be spotted." I smile, looking around at the small group we grew accustomed to.

Soon the classroom had gathered around, working independently, in pairs or a small groups, hoping to execute the charm. An hour passed, with only a few successful attempts. I suppose that's the next lesson's goal set in stone, I thought with a proud smile at how far they had come. Everyone filed out of the group, thanking me for another great lesson.

Soon it was the golden trio and I left in the room of requirement. "Is it time, then?" Ron anxiously asked, breaking the knowing silence between us. Harry nodded, pulling out a burnt orange leather-bound book, sitting in the centre of the room with the object clutched tightly in his hands. Hermione was the next to sit, pulling out her notebook just like before. She was followed by Ron, who hesitated to sit to Harry's left and Hermione's right. The trio looked to me, waiting.

With a deep and almost regretful sigh, I sit, completing the circle. I braced myself, ready for anything. Harry slowly placed the book between us, looking at everyone in preparation. "Ready?" He breathed, his words jittering out, giving away his nerves despite being able to hide them so well from the outside. We all nodded, somewhat ready to face what we were about to discover.

Quickly, Harry flipped open the book, the cover slapping onto the ground. Instinctively, we each jumped back, not expecting him to just throw it open the way he did. My eyes screwed shut, waiting for something to happen. After a moment or two of utter stillness, I opened my eyes and found the book wide open.

We each inched closer to the paper, leaning over the object to observe the mystery. As we did, we gasped in shock, what we found was most striking and unexpected. The book contained... nothing. Absolutely nothing. It's blank. I snatched the book from its place, anxiously flipping through the book, finding nothing. Strange. Why keep an empty book in a place like that?

A loud pop sounded from the corner of the room. I throw the book towards Ron who stuffed it into his bag. We quickly pulled out our wands only to realise it wasn't anyone to be worried about. "Dobby?" Hermione's jaw dropped at the sight of a confused elf beginning to get a barring of his surroundings.

"Ah! Harry Potter, Y/n Snape, Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley." Dobby greeted us with a joyful smile. The house elf waddled towards us, his smile fading quickly.

"Dobby?" Harry began, his voice laced with caution and scepticism. "How did you get here? Are you here because of the book we opened?" Harry hesitated to ask, but we were all thinking it, so it had to be said.

"A book? No, Mr Potter. Dobby is here with a message. A message for Miss Snape." Dobby looked worried, his eyes shifted from Harry to me. I gave him a worried look, remembering our last encounter.

"I swear to Merlin, Dobby. If you've been poking around Malfoy Manor again..." I sighed, dreading what would come next. "Dobby I told you to stay away for your own safety. I swear you being in places you shouldn't be and not listening to your friends might be the death of you." I mumbled, the house elf looking rather guilty at my words. I told him not to worry, that I know he means well, but to please listen to us.

"Dobby is very sorry, Miss Snape. Dobby couldn't stand by and let them hurt my friends! Dobby needed to know more." I nodded, asking him to tell me why he came here. "Dobby overheard the dark Lord himself. He said that he knew you saved your father from that curse. He is