Chapter 5

Endora lay in bed and stared at the roof of the four-post bed. Surprisingly, the time out with Wyatt wasn't bad. She kicked her legs out and tried not to think about what happened after lunch between them. She rolled from one side to the other to get more comfortable, but she could still feel his lips near her ear and his arm around her waist. Damn it, damn it, damn it! I can't believe I let him in that get that close. She let out a long, drawn-out breath into her pillows before pushing them under her chin and squeezing one under her. Her eyes stared into the dark while her scum bag brain wandered back to the experience.

The two had roamed Hogsmeade idly chattering about class when Wyatt spotted a bench they could sit on. He motioned toward it, "Let's take that picture over there."

"There? Are you sure?"

Quickly nodding, he took her hand, not allowing her to protest. He sat first and pulled her to sit with him. "Right here." He grinned a bit at her, his hazel eyes sparkling with mischievousness.

In hindsight, Endora should have known he was up to something with that look he was giving her, but she just shrugged it off.

He pulled out the phone and opened the app. "Okay, so… you said you'd take it, right?"

"Mmhm." She took the phone from him and held it up, trying to get a good angle.

Wyatt watched her as she struggled to get them both into the picture. The corner of his lip twitched a bit. His arm snaked around her waist without warning, pulling her just a bit closer to him. He brushed his lips against her right ear. "Is this better?" he whispered.

She felt her face heat up at the sudden contact. "What are you doing?"

"We're taking a picture together. Shouldn't we be closer?" He reached his other arm out to hers and helped steady her hand. "This button, right?"

"Y-yes." She managed as she tried to wrap her mind around what he was doing.

He smirked and took the picture before turning his head to her, "Look at me."

Endora obeyed and let her eyes make contact with his. She felt like he'd devour her if she let him.

He leaned closer and snapped a second picture before bringing their arms down. He pocketed the phone to reduce the risk of her taking it and deleting what he did. He looked so damn satisfied with himself, a smug smirk on his face as he let himself fall into the storm of her eyes. "Your face is so red." He brushed his fingers against her cheek, "are you expecting me to kiss you?" Wyatt had not expected Endora to punch him in a panicked response. But instead of being angry as she jumped off the bench and stomped off, he laughed loudly and rubbed at his jaw. He got up and quickly ran off after her. "Hey, wait for me!" He put his arm around her shoulders with a grin.

She smashed her face into the pillow. I punched him. And he laughed. What the fuck is his deal!? The vibration of her phone snapped her out of her thoughts, and she slowly dragged it over to look; the glow of the screen hitting her eyes made her wince, but she fought through it and checked the message. It was from Wyatt with an attachment. She wanted to hurt him, but she shook it off and looked at it to see the picture from earlier.

Wyatt: You're adorable.

Her face went horribly red as another message rolled through.

Wyatt: I'm going to enjoy being able to look at you when I want. It's not the same as looking at you directly, though.

Oh god, is this how he flirts? Girls fall for this, too, I bet. She smashed her face into the pillow several more times, regretting all her life choices. She let out a shaky breath and raised her head to respond to him.

Endora: Don't forget you're still on probation, you know.

Wyatt: Oh, I know, but consider what happened payback for putting me on my knees earlier.

Endora: You looked like you liked being on your knees, though.

Wyatt coughed as he read the text. He was already confused as to why he had reacted that way. It had to be a fluke. He wasn't like that with anyone else, or maybe it was just with her. After all, no one had ever dared to put him in that situation.

Wyatt: We'll see if that's true if you get me to do it again.

Endora: Are you challenging me, Silverthorn?

Wyatt: Maybe. A part of me wants to see what you'd do if you had all the control.

Endora stared at the message, her heart racing as she thought of him kneeling before her again. Just where the fuck was her head going? What are you doing? Endora studies come first. She sighed.

Endora: Keep dreaming, Wyatt.

Wyatt: Only if you dream about me, too.

Endora: Whatever. Good night, Silverthorn.

Wyatt: That wasn't a denial. 😋

Endora: I see you learned emojis. Good job. Now go to bed you idiot.

Wyatt: Idiot? I don't think anyone has ever had the guts to call me that.

Endora: Get used to it. GOOD NIGHT.

Wyatt found himself chuckling over their back and forth. Was she going to bed, or was she just trying to brush him off to escape embarrassment? He brushed his lips with his thumb as he thought on the afternoon. He imagined her in bed, all flustered as she had been earlier. He smirked and messaged her one last time.

Wyatt: Good night, starlight. I'll take your advice and dream about you.

Endora looked at the text and shook her head. Starlight… w-what kind of nickname is that?! Her face burned up a bit, and it took everything to push down and calm her fluttering heart. She replaced it quickly with annoyance. He's going to be a pain, isn't he? She sighed and leaned over the edge of her bed. Blindly in the dark, her hand fell onto the side table and searched for the sleeping drought that would knock her out and allow her a peaceful sleep. She took a single sip and slipped it back into the drawer carefully. Seconds later, she was on her back, hair splattered across the pillow messily, her hand gripping her phone against her belly as she drifted off, Wyatt lingering on her mind.

Vatera sat on her bed and listened to all the movements from Endora's bed. She grit her teeth a little and hugged her knee as she watched from the slit in the curtains. She saw her hand come out and enter the drawer to pull out that vial. It wasn't anything new to her. Endora had always had trouble sleeping and needed help sometimes. She remembered before Professor Quintell had taught them how to make sleeping aids, she'd see Endora up way past midnight, either playing games on her phone or reading. On the nights that she had managed to get to sleep, she would toss and turn, whimpering as she was assaulted by vivid dreams night after night. She didn't envy her for that at all. She had thought she was pathetic.

Eventually, she approached her and became her friend simply out of pity. Something had happened between the first and second year for her to get that under control. Vatera didn't understand what it was about, but if she had been honest with herself, she didn't care. Endora had been a reliable friend; her only ambition was to be good in class, but she showed no motivation for anything grander. She didn't even have an interest in other people. So maybe that's why Vatera never really felt threatened by the fact that she shared a room with a half-blood witch until now.

Her mind returned to the afternoon she had spent following her and Wyatt. Wyatt was so attentive. And the worst part? The two looked good together. She didn't know what made her angrier; that Wyatt was wasting his time with Endora, or that Endora hadn't picked up on what he was doing. She pressed her face into her pillow and growled into it. She had never cared about the other girls who had hung around him because he never really paid them much attention. But now, all of a sudden, his eyes were glued to Endora, of all people! WHY NOT ME!? She dug her nails into the fabric. She had to do something to come between them somehow. Wyatt was going to be hers. Endora had no right to him. She pulled and tore the case as she played back what she saw that afternoon. Wyatt was hugging her on that bench, being awfully close, and then Endora had the nerve to punch him! But all he did was laugh at it. Vatera would make her pay for touching that immaculate god-like face in such a disrespectful way. She would talk to Tonia about it, but she would likely make some obscure reference to muggle television, and she didn't need that headache. I must find a way to ensure that nothing else happens between them. They can't get closer. I refuse to let that happen. She bit down on her pillow and chewed on it in frustration.

Sunday was a lazy day as usual, with few trying to complete a week's homework in just a few hours. But Endora was lying in bed, staring at the fabric ceiling overhead. Her dreams had been plagued with nothing but Wyatt, and now she was lying there questioning all her life choices. She rolled over and pressed her face into the pillow, trying not to scream out her frustration and draw attention to herself. Her phone alerted her to a message. She leaned up and picked up the phone. Endora found herself staring at the screen for a while.

Wyatt: Morning Starlight. Sleep well?

Endora: As good as I'm going to.

Wyatt: I see. Want to have breakfast?

Endora: I usually go later on Sundays, but I guess I could go now.

Wyatt: I'll see you in the common room in a few then.

Endora: K.

She sat up and wondered how things had gone this way. It took her a bit, but eventually, she got up, took care of her needs, and went to the common room, where he was waiting for her.

"Morning again." He said when she came in, standing over her, his hair brushed to one side, almost like he hadn't bothered with his usual effort.

Endora tilted her head a little, finding she actually liked this more relaxed look on him. Not that she would ever say it out loud, of course. "Morning…"

He took her hand and pulled her along, not even giving her time to utter another word.

"Are you enjoying dragging me about like some rag doll Silverthorn?"

"Honestly, I'd rather you come with me willingly."

"I am coming willingly. You're the one that decided to pull me along like I don't know where we're going."

"Hm, but if I let you go, you might run away." He said simply as he subconsciously linked their fingers together.

Endora felt her heart in her throat, but she pushed it down.

They were just short of the great hall when Wyatt stopped and suddenly tugged her into a dark spot. In a quick movement, Endora was pressed against the wall. The hand Wyatt had been holding was now above her head, while his other hand reached to grasp and pin the other. Her breath caught in her throat as she looked up at him in confusion.

A smirk sprawled across his lips as he looked down at her with a fiery gaze. "Starlight…" He whispered lowly against her ear, his hot breath brushing against her skin, sending a strange sensation through her.

She opened her mouth to say something, but his lips captured hers quickly. She went cold and then hot all at once. This escalated so quickly. She hadn't expected Wyatt to kiss her, especially not in the middle of the hallway. She turned her eyes down the hall, but no one walking past noticed what was happening. Or maybe they just didn't care about two Slytherins making out on a Sunday before breakfast. She closed her eyes and shifted in her spot. Endora felt Wyatt's tongue pressing softly against hers with the strong taste of mint.

He was surprisingly strong as he easily lifted her off her feet. One of her legs was now at his waist, his hand on her thigh as he kept her pinned to the wall. He pulled away from the kiss and turned his gaze hungrily on her. The flush of her face brought him a sense of devilish satisfaction.

"Hey, Endora?"

"W-Wha?" She blinked and looked around her. They were still in an empty hallway just a few feet from the great hall. Her face was priceless as it grew beet red. It was a damn vision. How dare her power throw her into such a thing! And this early in the morning, too!

Wyatt tilted his head. "Endora, are you ok?" He moved closer to her and placed a hand on her forehead. "You're burning up. Are you not feeling well?"

Her breath hitched as she quickly pulled away and pressed her cold hands to her face. It was undoubtedly splotched with red marks as she grew embarrassed down her neck and up her ears. "I'm fine!" She squeaked out.

He raised a brow and moved back a bit, the confusion written all over him. "Um, ok, let's get to breakfast then." He took her hand, and they finally sat at the table. The whispers from their classmates fell on deaf ears for the moment. He was still concerned about what happened to her. They had been walking to the hall for breakfast when she had suddenly frozen in place; her eyes had gone white as she fell into a strange, sudden trance. It reminded him of when they were first years. He'd often hear her dorm mates complaining about how she had visions, but it had been years since he heard them talk about it. Was what happened just a few moments ago one of them?

Endora was staring at the table. Of all the visions she had ever had, despite how real any of them had felt, none had ever had her feeling like this. Wyatt's soft yet masculine scent had blanketed her in a dangerous sort of warmth that she was unfamiliar with as a girl her age. But looking back at it and the reactions of other people who had passed by, it seemed normal. Just how far into the future had that been?

"Hey, are you sure you're ok?"

She coughed and returned her face to stone. "Yes, I'm fine. I'm just hungry."

"If you say so…"

They ate mostly in silence, but poor Endora kept thinking back to that borderline NC-17 vision she had just a few moments ago. She nearly choked on the sausage at the memory.

"Hey!" He grabbed her cup of juice and held it out to her, "Drink this." He rubbed at her back and watched how she guzzled it all down.

She slammed the cup down and let out a breath. Tears prickled at the corners of her eyes as she rubbed her throat.

"You ok?"

"Yep, just… swallowed wrong."

He frowned deeply. Endora was starting to worry him now. He could tell something was bugging her, but he wasn't sure how to make her feel at ease. He kept rubbing her back, hoping it would help her relax.

A shiver ran through her when she realized he was touching her. "Ah, I completely forgot I have to go do something. I'll see you later." She got up and ran out of the hall.

He stared after her in shock. Did he do something wrong? Five minutes went by and he couldn't take it anymore. He stood up and decided to follow after her. But when he left the great hall and stepped into the hallway, he saw her standing there with James. He instinctively hid as a sensation bubbled up in the pit of his stomach. He felt sick. Just seeing them together was causing his stomach to churn. Was this… was this jealousy? He bit down on his bottom lip. That was stupid. Why should he be jealous of James Potter? As much as he felt something building toward Endora, it wasn't like she was his, and he certainly hadn't confessed to her. He stopped his train of thought. Confess? No, it was supposed to be the other way around; Wyatt was supposed to be the one getting a confession from her! He scrubbed at his mouth, almost angry at himself for how his feelings were all over the place when it came to one Endora Dursley. Letting out a breath, he peeked around the corner at the two. They came to an agreement in hushed tones before heading off together. He slammed his hand into the wall and moved into the dark to hide how much this bothered him. He'd be damned if someone saw his reaction and started spreading rumors.

Wyatt began to contemplate following them. He wanted to know what they were hiding. What were they doing alone together? But what if it was what he thought? What if he was too late and she was already being spoken for? What if Potter was spilling his guts to her about his feelings before he could?! He felt himself grow hot. He was angry and… and jealous. Jealous. The very word seemed so far-fetched for him. He never got jealous! It was always other people envious of him. He pulled at his hair for a moment before slicking it back partway. He made a decision. He would follow them and watch from a distance. Maybe he'd get an answer then. In the worst-case scenario, his fears would be true, but Wyatt had to be an adult and live with it. He'd have to convince himself that the ship had sailed and settle for just being a friend. He sighed deeply and took a step out to follow them.