Sofia's view

My heart skips a beat when I see her sleeping figure. Her hair spreads around her like a jet black puddle. The dark strap of her black nightgown runs over her shoulders. Just one move, and I would have her snow-white, kissable skin in front of me. My lips could touch her skin…I shake my head, I shouldn't even think about that. She has already someone, and I have to respect it.

Yet she attracts me like a moth to a candle flame. My hands shake above her. What would it be like to wake her up in the morning with kisses? Sure wonderful. I gently pull the blanket over her uncovered shoulders, and I begin to run away on tiptoe. – Sof – she calls me in a voice loaded with drowsiness. – Sofia, Sofia – she repeats my name again and again, but I don't listen to her. I just go out of the room, and start to run. I run down corridors, sometimes mumbling an apology. But no point seems far enough away from her.

As I stirred from restless slumber, the remnants of her dream clung to me like fog, enveloping me in a haze of confusion and longing. Pansy's voice echoed in my mind, calling my name. Panic washed over me as I realized the empty space beside me, a stark reminder that Pansy was gone, likely wrapped up in the company of that Ravenclaw boy. The knot in my stomach tightened; the sight of them together from yesterday was burned into her memory. With each breath, I felt the weight of my feelings crash over me, leaving me to grapple with the ache of longing for Pansy, my heart torn between jealousy and affection.

As the sunlight crept through my window, I dragged myself out of bed, got dressed, and ran a brush through my hair. My stomach growled as I headed downstairs, eager for breakfast. But the second I walked into the dining room, I spotted Pansy and Draco deep in conversation. My chest tightened, and I quickly lost any appetite for company. Grabbing a plate and piling it with whatever was nearby, I turned on my heel and found a quieter corner to eat, away from Pansy.

Settling into my new spot, I took a deep breath and tried to shake off the tension that had knotted in my shoulders the moment I saw Pansy. It wasn't Draco—just the mere presence of her, sitting so casually and venting about me to him, that made my stomach twist. I couldn't hear what they were saying, but I could guess. The aftermath of our last argument still hung between us like a storm cloud. I forced myself to take a few bites of food, focusing on the quiet around me, hoping it would drown out the reminder of how fractured things had become.

I tried to ignore the bitter taste in my mouth as I ate, forcing myself to stay focused on anything but them. Part of me wanted to go back and confront Pansy, to finally put an end to this silent tension that had crept between us since that last argument. But another part of me was just... tired. Tired of the hopeless anticipation, the unspoken accusations, and the way every little thing seemed to turn into a reason for her to shut me out. Maybe it was easier this way, I thought, letting the distance grow between us, even if it meant losing someone who had once felt so close.

I couldn't take another bite, so I pushed away my plate, and I pulled my knees up. Just as I was about to retreat further into my thoughts, I heard footsteps approaching. I looked up to see Elara sliding into the seat across from me, her expression a mix of concern and curiosity. – Are you okay? – she asked, glancing subtly toward Pansy and Draco before meeting my gaze again. Elara always seemed to know when something was off. I forced a small smile, shrugging as if it didn't matter.

- Just needed a little space – I said, hoping she wouldn't press for more. But Elara was persistent, her eyes searching mine, and I could tell she wasn't buying my attempt to brush it all off.

As I sat there, trying to come up with a quick excuse to escape Elara's worried gaze, a shadow fell over the table. I looked up to find Professor Snape standing beside us, his dark eyes sharp and assessing. – Miss Miller – he said in his usual low, measured tone. – A word. Now.

My stomach flipped, and I shot Elara a quick, uncertain glance before getting up to follow him. Snape's gaze was intense, like he already knew exactly what was going on—almost as if he'd been watching. We walked in silence until we reached an empty classroom, where he turned to face me, his expression unreadable. – Yes, Professor – I said and started to follow him.

Lastly he was proud, and didn't give detention to us. But now? He is somehow…different. Snape had always seemed distant, strict but fair in his way, sometimes even looking oddly pleased when one of his students held their ground in class. It wasn't like him to intervene in personal matters, and that made his sudden attention unsettling. I braced myself for the usual cold reprimand or a biting remark about 'students wasting their time on frivolous dramas,' but he didn't say a word as we walked. Instead, his silence carried a weight, as if he'd glimpsed something beneath the surface. It was almost... human.

He opens the door of his office and let meg go ahead. – What's wrong? – he simply asks, then sits down.

- Nothing – I say, while watching the floor.

- No, there is something wrong between the two of you – he doesn't say her name, but both of us know who are we talking about.

- Pansy and I…we…had argument.

- About what?

- We almost kissed, but Professor McGonagall entered, and send us to classes. After the first class, I wanted to talk to Pansy, but when I find her, she… - my voice crackles and tears trickle down my cheeks.

- What did she do? – his voice is distant, like usually, but there is something in his facial expression. I'm surprised, when I find it out, it's sadness.

- She kissed with a Ravenclaw boy – I bury my head in my hands.

The world around me suddenly faded, the colors dimming as if my entire life had come to a standstill. The weight of betrayal pressed heavily on my shoulders, a bitter sensation spreading through my chest. My heart raced, but the emotions constricting my throat took their time in asserting themselves. In the corner of the room, shadows deepened, as if the very walls were mirroring my pain. I struggled to react, memories flashing through my mind—the first glances, the laughter, and the promises that now seemed to have shattered in an instant. Desperately, I tried to recall the words that had once lightened my heart, but each thought only deepened my despair.

Amidst the turmoil, I felt a presence beside me, cool and steady. Professor Snape's voice cut through the haze, low and soothing. – You needn't bear this alone – he said, his dark eyes studying me intently. He reached out, placing a hand on my shoulder, grounding me in that moment of chaos. Though I had never expected comfort from him, his unexpected support made the heaviness in my heart feel slightly more bearable, if only for a fleeting moment.