IX: WHISPERS IN THE SILENCE

                                    

                                          
It had become increasingly harder to navigate the great stony halls of Hogwarts without hearing a specific name being uttered from every single pair of lips that wandered passed. 
Harry Potter.
Y/n had almost stopped registering it as a name entirely at this point, hearing it as a placeholder for a common greeting or question. She couldn't help but feel bad for the boy. If she had been in that situation herself she was sure she would have slipped herself to sleep until the ordeal had washed away like seashells from a shoreline. That was what had led her to this moment, curiously searching through the various corridors of the castle grounds in search of the raven haired boy who was seemingly nowhere to be found. Her feet carried her across the bridge, cold wind washing across her cheeks with such fury that she snuggled into her scarf further. A small huff escaped her lips as she leaned her body up against the railing of the walkway, facing out towards the expansive grounds. Her eyes had barely begun to graze the scenery when a voice spoke up just behind her. 
"Looking for something?"
Y/n turned to greet the intruding voice, surprised by the fact she hadn't noticed another student sooner on the barren bridge, only to find an all too familiar face. His copy of the three musketeers had now been replaced by a worn book with softly engraved letters which the girl was unable to make out and his sharp face still held the exact same unimpressed stare. His body was slouched over slightly, sitting on a bench next to the railing, in a nook overlooking the castle grounds. Y/n hesitated to answer, simply observing the book he held until he raised an eyebrow, silently restating his earlier question. 
"Just a friend"
She muttered out suddenly feeling a warmth rush to her cheeks as she registered her actions. The boy scoffed slightly, turning a page with his slender fingers.
"Some friend, leaving you out in the cold like this"
Y/n cocked her head to the side, masking her surprise as his words weren't filled with their expected venom.  She glanced across the bridge once more before slowly moving her way towards the bench he was sat on almost as if he were a rabid animal that she was gauging the reaction of. She quietly sat herself down on the opposite side to the boy and slumped over slightly. 
"You haven't seen Potter have you?"
Theodore's fingers gripped the page he was flipping, applying enough pressure the paper to slightly crumple beneath his fingertips. His jaw clenched slightly at the name before he glanced up at the girl before him. She was still faced away from him, simply enjoying the view of the grounds and how her breath fogged up in the air before her. 
"No"
His voice was as sharp as his eyes, slicing through the thick air and leaving a ring in Y/n's ears. Even the mention of Harry Potter managed to leave a sour taste on his tongue and words flowed out of his lips before he could whip them back.
"Off to confess your love then"
A look of surprise washed over the girls face before the words stung into her, dampening the determined glow in her eyes. He hadn't meant to come off so harsh but the jealous sting of past transgressions was yet to wear off, leaving him to lash out at the girl. A string of words echoed throughout his head like a lone bullet in the chamber.
She's just like her.
He creased the corner of his book, slamming it shut before slinging his bag over his shoulder. His body moved to get up until a soft voice broke out.
"You're very rude you know"
It wasn't the words which had made him halt but her tone. It was calm and collected, not an ounce of malicious intent behind them. Simply spoken out like a line of poetry, recited in almost calming tone. It was factual. He couldn't blame her, he hadn't exactly been  friendly to her in their limited interactions.