Hope ur okay~ Olivia Rodrigo

When I woke up the world felt unreal for a few seconds. It was the kind of sleep that makes you question your name for a minute. Sunlight was violating the dorm room. An indication that it's at least almost noon. When I tried to move, stretching my sore muscles, Sarah's head fell off my shoulder and onto her pillow.

The memories of last night sprouted back in my head, Hogsmeade, the ball, Sarah's mini breakdown. We had stayed till very late talking, and I guess we dozed off still on her bed. I did manage to make her feel better, which is something easy for someone as naturally cheery as Sarah, but I'm still taking the win.
I shook her awake gently, she groaned, for such a sunshine personality, she was so not a morning person…or a noon one.

"Is Ginny back?" she groaned, reminding me that we had waited for her for long last night. Which almost ruined everything I did with Sarah because she kept thinking that she was probably late because she kept thinking that Ginny and Neville were still together this late.

I looked around and Ginny was fast asleep in her bed, I threw Sarah's alarm clock at her (it had a charm on it to protect it from breaking because Sarah throws it at walls daily).

Ginny groaned in pain. "What!"

"Why did you stay so late last night?"

"You're seriously waking me up for that?"

"We were…worried" I glanced at Sarah, she had her face buried in her pillow, but I could tell from her tense fingers around the pillow that she was wide awake and listening.

"I was…with someone…"

"We know, but why did you and Neville stay so la—"

"Not Neville…" she cut me off, sitting up in bed with a half guilty expression.

Suddenly, Sarah's limp body next to me was revived. She sat up, "someone else?" she asked, eagerly.

"mhm.." started Ginny, biting her lip, "Neville left early anyway, he had a couple of drinks and got sick"

I exchanged a look with Sarah. Seeing her giddy smile back on her face was a huge relief.

"He's a fourth year Ravenclaw…I don't know if you know him…Corner, Michael Corner"

I shook my head, but Sarah nodded, "yes, I know him, a bit tall? Friends with Terry Boot?"

Ginny nodded, she got off her bed and forced herself between Sarah and I so that all three of us were cramped on Sarah's four-poster.

"Don't look at me like that you two..." started Ginny, "it's nothing, alright? It's not a big deal, we just had fun last night…talked, danced a couple of times…he's…nice"

"Of course it's a big deal!" said Sarah, "his name is neither Harry nor Potter!"

I chuckled loudly at that, "she has a point" I shrugged.

"You know what? I'm not telling you anything else" said Ginny, she tried to get up, but we stopped her, she struggled halfheartedly.

"Alright, alright, we'll stop, just tell us about your new…friend" said Sarah, half giggling already.

Every time she talked, we both turned into a fit of giggles, Ginny's ears would turn red and shove both of us away.
"Just shut up both of you…it's nothing, I told you it's nothing"

Sarah, having gotten her peace of mind, decided to lay off her on my account, "what about you, Emma? Was last night alsonothing?"

That obviously led to another two hours of fighting in Sarah's bed until they laid off. I couldn't stop smiling though, it's like my face got stuck that way. In thirteen years, my face never betrayed me that way before, but it seems I have completely lost control.

Soon, too soon, the holidays were over. Which felt like the shadow of the tournament had restated its place above our heads. But this time, for some reason, Harry seemed far calmer. Every time anyone asks him if he cracked the egg's puzzle, he just says he's working on it. I fear he might've gotten cocky after his success with the dragon. I greatly wish I'm wrong.

We were back in classes, which made me wonder, for someone who-according to Ginny-took not one but two girls to the Yule ball, he sure seems like he'd spent the entire holidays inhaling text books. Diaz was getting so much ahead of me all of a sudden. And with me being extra distracted with Conan, it was easy for him to pass me in almost all classes.

Needless to say, I was fuming. I had two goals right now, one was to humiliate Diaz, and two was not to scare Conan away with my complete lash of fury that was hiding just inches beneath in my skin.

Problem with being back in classes, is the fact that Ginny and I came face to face with Professor Moody once again. After successfully avoiding him for the entirety of the holidays. We were back in class. And despite what I told Ginny in order to reassure her, I had a feeling in my gut that he knew about our little detour to his office before the holidays.

Every time either of his eyes fell on me, I found the deadly feeling in me increasing immensely. His looks always disturbed me, but I could see something terrifying in them now. I could see hidden anger, the kind mad people hold in them, the kind I hold in me.
It scared me to the core.

A couple of weeks into the term, I was sitting in the common room…the Hufflepuff one.

"No offense, but if any of you ever stepped foot into our common room there's a good possibility you won't come out with all of your limps attached to you" I said to Val. He was one of Conan's closest friends, but we were never on talking terms before now. Conan's friends had gotten used to me being around way too quickly. I had always felt a bit uneasy with them because of how much time he would spend with them instead of with Sarah and me. But it turns out they're one of the friendliest groups I've ever met. All were nice to me except for Diane. She apparently still hadn't gotten over Harry turning her down, but all she did was keep her distance a bit when I'm around, which suits me perfectly. But right now, she was sitting there with all of us. Staring at me, I tried to ignore it but the longer I did the more uncomfortable I got.

Conan's arm was around my shoulders as I looked around the common room. It was all shades of warm yellow, brown and black. It felt like it's always sunny in here no matter the time of the day. It was cozy, welcoming, but nothing like home.

"Well, we're a tad less barbaric than Gryffindors" joked Val. "we have people from other houses here all the time"

"I bet they're a tad more welcome here than I am though" I said, looking around. It didn't miss my notice the fact that some people were still eyeing me dirtily, I even saw a couple flashes of 'potter stinks' through the room when I came in. For some of them, I was still the enemy. Thinking I want my brother to win over Cedric. They have no idea that all I want out of this tournament is to still have a family at the end of it. A semi- family that was half broken and not that bright, but a family, nonetheless.

"That's nonsense" said Conan, squeezing my shoulder, "besides, Cedric told us to lay off Harry, he said he believed him even"

"Seriously?" I asked, surprised.

"Yes, after the first task he stopped the whole celebration party for long enough to give a whole speech about how it's not his fault and he's still a Hogwarts champion and we shouldn't be bringing him down" said Finn, another one of Conan's friends.

I glanced at where Cedric and his friends were sitting by the fire, he had a concentrated look on his face as he stared into his textbook. He might be excused from exams this year but next year was his NEWTs and he probably still needs to pull his weight.

"Did he figure out the next task?" I asked Conan, still not taking my eyes off Cedric.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" said Diane, addressing me directly for the first time.

I turned to look at her, stayed silent for a few seconds, observing her, my smile fading.

"I was just asking" I said coldly.

"You shouldn't, we let you in our common room but that doesn't mean you can spy on our champion"

"I wasn't spying!" I said sharply.

"You still asked, you can't jus—"

"We don't know!" interrupted Val, glaring at Diane subtly, "Cedric didn't tell anyone about it...maybe his friends, but we know nothing about it"

"You see, Cedric actually takes the rules seriously" added Diane, ignoring Val's glare.

I started to retort, clenching my fist but Conan took my hand and unclenched them. He keeps doing that and I don't think he has any idea how much effect this act has on me. I bit my lip and held back my tongue, not wanting to get mad because of her. Or rather not wanting to get mad in front of everyone.

"Anyway…" I said, giving her a side glance before looking back at Conan, "I have to get going, it's almost curfew"

"you're right, do you want me to walk back with you?" said Conan.

"No, I'm alright, also, no offense, but you're not very good at sneaking out anyway"

"Shut up" he muttered and kissed me.

"See you later, everyone" I said, getting up, "and yes, Val, you can have my transfiguration notes" I said when he opened his mouth.

"Cheers, Potter"

I had to run a bit to make it all the way up to the Gryffindor tower, seeing that it was very close to curfew and that I had too many close calls recently. As I was running towards the next staircase to try and make it before curfew, I bumped into some.

"Ow...look in front of you, you...oh well of course" I said as I realized it was Diaz I had bumped into. He rolled his eyes, exasperated.

"What are you, following me?!" He asked.

"Sure, that's exactly how I like to pass my time, following self-centered pricks"

"You know what? I don't have time for you right now" he said and went around me.

"What?! Wait, where are you going it's almost curfew"

He stopped again, "why don't you keep your nose out of my life, it'd really help you"

But I didn't want to keep out of his life, I wanted to poke in and annoy him as much as I can. I wanted him to lose it. Always so composed, always winning without seeming to even try, I wanted to see him low, to see him mad and irritated. Just anything but his confident smirk that makes me feel like I'm lacking in every aspect of my life. If I can't punch that smirk off, I'm going to bully it off his face.

"Fine, go, I can already hear Filch, let me just go tell him" I said, turning around to leave. He grabbed my arm, but I had already anticipated it and withdrew my wand instantly with the other arm.

I pointed it right at him, feeling the anger surge through me again, sometimes it's the greatest kind of pleasure to feel it again. Oh how I missed letting it out. He stared at me for second, like he was wondering if I had the guts to curse him. Then he let go of my arm.

I didn't lower my wand. "What are you hiding?" I pressed on.

"That's none of your fucking business" he spat out. I smiled, I liked getting under people's skin, most of all his. But before I could press further, something stopped me. He was looking at me with actual panic. Like I was holding his life hostage in the palm of my hand right now. This is the first time in three years that I have seen Diaz's confidence crack, I was determined to wipe his stupid smirk off his face right now. Not realizing that it wasn't even there tonight. He looked terrified, like all he wanted to do was run.

"I need to go…I helped you last year, didn't I?" he said, his normal steady cocky tone was gone. I felt a chill go through me. For the first time he's not absolutely unbearable with arrogance…and I hate it. What could possibly happen to him to be like that? How bad could it be?

Against my better judgment, I lowered my wand.

"Don't tell on me, you owe me" his tone was almost like an order. All traces of sympathy faded off me, I started to retort that I'll do whatever I bloody hell want, but he stopped me.

"Please" he said in a whisper. That's when it hit me, this was not simple nor normal. Something was going on, something huge, something terrible. My mind went into a whole different route the moment that word was uttered out of his lips.

"If you go that way you'll get caught" I said, it came out colder than I intended.

"I don't care, I don't have much time, just don't tell" he said and went around me, starting to go down the hallway in almost a run.

"Wait!" I called after him, "you're being an idiot, wherever you're going, you'll get caught!"

"I don't have a choice!" he snapped, his voice loudly echoing through the almost deserted halls. He instantly regretted it, looking around him in panic. I grabbed his arm and pulled him into the closest empty hallway. He didn't resist.

"I can help, alright? Where do you want to go"

"For heaven's sake, potter just leave me alone!" He was begging, his tone was pleading desperately. I felt my heart ache for absolutely no reason.

"Tell me" I said firmly. Staring into his eyes, he looked close to tears.

"Hogsmeade…just outside it…a bit of a walk" he mumbled.

My brain went on full planning mode. We could go through the shrieking shack but then we'd have to get out on the grounds and that wasn't particularly easy now that we're back in classes. At least one staff member would be waiting there. I could distract them and let Diaz go but then how would he know how to get through the Whomping willow. Our other option was the tunnel connecting to Honeydukes. But then how would we get out of Honey dukes' basement without getting caught?

I ran the possibilities in my head and knew there's only one way to get him there.

"Listen…can you wait for me here? Just stay still, I'll be back"

"You think I'm that stupid? I'd let you go get Filch and sit here peacefully for him to come and get me?"

"I'm not going to get him!" I snapped back exasperatedly. "I do owe you, I'm not going to do it, and even if I did, there's still about twelve minutes till curfew, you're not doing anything, he can't get you in trouble"

He stared at me, his eyes pleading, holding on to hope that was strangely in the form of his worst enemy. "I don't have much time…"

"Go towards the grand staircase, there's the one eyed witch statue, stay there and I'll be back in less than ten minutes" I said firmly, he opened his mouth to argue so I pressed on, "it's better than getting caught and not going at all, right?"

That seemed to reason with him, he took a deep breath, I could almost hear his heart beating fast from just the look on his face, he was terrified, and it chilled me. I started to leave but he grabbed my arm again.

"I swear, if this is a joke to you…if you mess it up for a chance to get back at me…I'll hurt you in ways you can't even imagine…I'll destroy you" he whispered, his voice raspy and cold. I could see his eyes lighting up. He meant it.

It took every shred of self-control in me not to punch him in the face. But even as he said it, I could see the threat, no matter if it's real or not, it's actually more of a plea. I slapped his hand away from my arm and ran out of the corridor and towards the Gryffindor tower without sparing him a second glance.

It didn't take long for me to get to the common room. I took a second to catch my breath as I gasped out the password to the fat lady. When I got in, my eyes scanned the room quickly. I found him, Harry, sitting on one of the sofas with Ron and Hermione, arguing about something like always.

The common room was as crowded as it always was, that played into my advantage as I crowded through them, sneaking behind the sofa without them noticing me and running right up the boys' dormitory. I have to give it to myself, that was pretty smooth.

I was out of breath, my head screaming at me to just let it go and let him get caught. But I couldn't shake the way he looked at me, something was wrong, very wrong. And as much as I hate Diaz, it turns out I don't want to see anyone that desperate, not even him.

After a few minutes of going back and forth, I found the room with the five familiar names written right next to its door. I pushed the door open.

"You're not supposed to be here!" Exclaimed Seamus Finnigan the moment I stepped in. He was sitting on his bed, playing exploding snaps with Dean Thomas.

"Exactly, I'm supposed not to be here" I said, out of breath. I looked around the room until I spotted Harry's luggage beside one of the beds. I ran over and opened it. "Which is exactly why I'mnothere" I said as I started emptying his stuff.

Dean got off the bed and towards me like he was about to stop me. "You shouldn't be doing this…" he said uncertainly.

But I had already gotten hold of the cloak and shoved it into my pocket. I threw everything haphazardly back in the luggage and pushed it back next to the bed. "Doing what? I'm not here, how could I be doing anything?" I said firmly, I didn't give them time to retort, I ran out of the dorm, checking my clock to see how late I was. I know if I take too long, he wouldn't wait for me. He could be already caught right now.

I existed the portrait just as the clock hit ten. Which means I'm breaking curfew for the third time in one month. That must be a record.

I draped the cloak over me and started going as fast as I could without making too much noise. Matteo was standing next to the statue of the one eyed witch, not even trying to hide, I can't believe this idiot is getting better grades than me right now.

I approached him and took off the cloak, "don't just stand there like an idiot! You'll get in trouble"

He jumped, "Don't scare me like that! Where did you come from?"

"Shut up!" I said and draped the cloak on both of us, he shoved me away in confused panic. "Stop! Stop! Calm down!" I said sharply.
"What are you doing?!"
"it's an invisibility cloak!"
He stopped for a second, looking around through the cloak. He calmly pulled the cloak off himself, checking around him as I disappeared from his sight. His eyes widened, he reached and pulled it off me.

"This. Is. Brilliant!" he said, his eyes sparkling as he inspected the cloak in his hands. "Where did you get one? They're very rare! Did you steal it?"
I pulled it from his grip roughly. "I didn't steal it, it's mine…" I said, half lying, "and I thought you were in a rush!"

"Right" he said, his expression falling right back to the concerned half losing it look. I draped the cloak on both of us once again.

"Squat a little so your shoes aren't exposed" I told him, he didn't argue. I reached for my wand and tapped the one eyed witch.

"Dissendium" I whispered. At once, the statue's hump opened wide enough to admit a fairly thin person.

"Stay behind me" I whispered. We started squeezing in silently. I was surprised at how quietly he does what I'm saying. When the passageway was closed behind us, I pulled the cloak off so we could breathe better. I shoved it back into my pocket.

We silently slid a considerable way down what felt like a stone slide, then landed on cold, damp earth. We stood up, looking around. It was pitch dark. I held up my wand. "Lumos!" I muttered and saw that we were in a very narrow, low, earthy passageway.

"Where are we?" he whispered.

"I'm not sure bu-" I started, still distracted.

"Not sure?! What do you mean you're not sure? Are you playing some kind of game with me, Potter? I knew it, I knew I can't trust you, I knew I-"

"SHUT UP!" I bellowed. My voice echoing through the passageway. I was getting fed up by him, I'm trying to help and he's acting terribly. I pointed my lit wand in his direction. "I'm not the one keeping whatever your bloody hell keeping right now! I'm trying to help you, so shut your mouth or I could get you back and you can spend your night in detention"

"Stop pointing your fucking wand at me" he said sourly, but his voice was quieter, more like he regretted his earlier outburst"No" I said but then lowered it. "Now, this place presumably leads to Honeydukes' cell, that's why we need the cloak"

"Honeydukes? That's right in the middle of Hogsmeade, are you sure of that?"

"Yes, I am" I said, looking through the passageway, at least it wasn't dark or as narrow as the first one. "Stay close, alright?" I said quietly and with heart beating fast with apprehension, I started going through it.

Diaz stayed close to me. The passage twisted and turned, more like the burrow of a giant rabbit than anything else. We hurried along it, every time I tried to slow down and catch my breath, Diaz would whisper urgently to keep going, we stumbled now and then on the uneven floor, holding our wands out in front of us.

"How long will it take?" he whispered, panting a little after about ten minutes of walking in silence.

"A while" I mumbled, "it's almost the same distance it takes from Hogwarts to Hogsmeade but underground, you can't expect it to take less time"

"How do you know this place? And where did you get that cloak?"

I didn't answer him, just kept walking.

"You have to tell me, I don't trust you, how do I even know we're going to Hogsmeade? maybe you're leading me somewhere completely different" he pressed on

"You're more than welcome to go back" I shrugged.

"Yopu're the most infuriating person alive! Can't you tell this is important?"

"I can…that's why I'm helping you"

"Then why won't you tell me anything? I'm walking with you like this, and I feel like I'm blind and being led to my death"

I looked up at him, I can't tell if I'm enjoying his desperation or despising it yet. It's a pretty close call. "I'm the one following you not knowing where we're even going or why, you don't get to complain"

"You don't have to know, just get me there and go back"

"And how will you get back without the cloak?"

He stayed silent for a second, contemplating it. "Maybe you can leave the cloak and I'll-"

"No" I said firmly, "it's my father's cloak, I don't trust you anymore than you do me, I'm not leaving without it"

"I'm not going to steal your stupid cloak! Also I'm sure your father is not going to ask for it back"

The moment these words came out of his mouth, I turned around and started going the other way without a hint of hesitation. My wand clenched in my fist. I didn't expect any better from Diaz anyway.

He ran after me, grabbing my arm again. "Hey, wait, wait, I'm sorry" he said desperately. "Come on, I need to get there...I didn't mean it, I swear, I'm sorry"

I ignored him, also once again, slapping his hand away. I kept walking back, my head now clouded with anger.

"It's my sister, okay? She sent me a letter, I have to be there!" He called after me. His voice cracking.

I stopped again, cursing myself, this time out loud. I turned around to face him again.
"I hate you" I whispered furiously.

He made a sound close to complete exasperation, he put his hands over his face. Stopping for a second to catch his breath. "If one word about this sneaks out of your lips, I'll-"

"Save your threats" I interrupted him, "I'm not scared of you…I'm also not sneaking anything out, so save your breath before I cut your tongue mid threat"

His jaw clenched, he stared at me up and down. Then sighed, the helplessness actively radiating off him.

"Why do you have to be there?"

"I have to take care of something"

"You have to take care of something so urgent that you're running like a maniac through the castle without a second thought?"

He glared at me, "You know if you keep nosing into other people's business, you'll end up way over your head"

"You mean like half way to Hogsmeade through a secret tunnel?"

"I just need to be there...just keep going...I'm not going to take the cloak, you can come..." he said briefly, his voice hoarse, looking everywhere in the tunnel but my eyes. I swallowed, getting a bit uncomfortable, maybe I shouldn't have forced him to speak. I have no idea what kind of letter could make him panic like this. But I knew one thing, apparently, when he helped me last year, it was a very similar situation. I stayed silent.

Without another word. I went back in my tracks, walking back towards the end of the tunnel. He followed me without another word either. I had no idea how to feel about that or why I kept going. But I did.

We stayed silent for several minutes. I decided to stop pressuring him for information. All I knew was that he had to get there and that it was urgent. That didn't particularly satisfy my curiosity, but I was, as he said, already in over my head.

A few minutes later, we came to the foot of some worn stone steps, which rose out of sight above us.

"Try to make as little noise as possible" I whispered to Matteo. He nodded and we began to climb.

"Tell me the truth, Potter, are we climbing up to heaven?" whispered Matteo after a few minutes of climbing with no end in sight.

"No, you're not allowed in there" I whispered back, he sneakered under his breath. Now this feels more normal for us. But awkward silent relatability, we're not very good at it.

After a few minutes later, I noticed the end of the stairs. I grabbed Matteo's arm suddenly to stop him from bumping his head. It seemed to be a trapdoor.

"Come on, let's wear the cloak" I whispered. Taking the cloak out of my pocket and draping it over us. Matteo squatted down just a little bit. He wasn't that much taller than me. Just a few inches. So, we didn't have to be completely pressed together like I was with Harry and Ron my first year. But we were pretty close. I didn't let go of his arm, anxious he'd do something stupid.

I pointed at the trap door, he reached up and pushed it open as quietly as possible. Then offered his hands, intertwined. I glanced between his face and his hands in a bit of confusion, but he just nodded. Every action he does, every word that comes out of his mouth, makes my heart sink more and more. It's like he's transferring his panic into my heart.

I stepped lightly on his intertwined hands, my head replaying the story of the scorpion and the frog. He lifted me up, I made sure to pull the cloak with me. When I got up, I looked around, sure enough, I was in a storage room. I could hear the voice of a crowd very close behind doors, the sound of chatter and a ringing combined with a door being opened and closed.

"Potter!" whispered Matteo suddenly, startling me.

"Sorry" I whispered back and kneeled down next to the trap door, trying my best to keep the cloak over me as I did so, and extended my hand for him. He grabbed it and I pulled him up, instantly draping the cloak back over us.

"Is this Honeydukes?" he whispered.

"Yes" I whispered back. I started looking around through the boxes stacked all around us. Matteo pushed the trapdoor back in its place, it disappeared into the wooden floor. I've been to Honeydukes not too long ago. It was the same smell, a mix of sugary sweets and plastic. I searched for the door through the dozen rows of stored boxes. Until I heard it open right behind me. I grabbed Matteo's arm to stop him from making any sudden moves. He let me guide him as we turned around very slowly, making sure not to make any sounds. I was holding my breath without even meaning to. My grip subconsciously tightening on his arm. My feet scraped the floor a little too loudly and I bit my lip anxiously. Fortunately, the worker was humming loudly to himself and didn't seem to hear it. He took a couple of boxes and exited without any suspicion. I let out a relieved breath, barely noticing that I was still gripping Matteo's arm tightly.

"it's alright, he's gone" he whispered gently. He didn't complain about my grip or try to remove it.

I sighed and finally removed my hand. "Okay, so we'll stand by the door and wait for the next one to come in, we'll have to slip out the moment the door is open" I whispered.

We stood by the door for barely a few seconds when it was suddenly pushed open aggressively. "I told you to get the recent boxes you idiot" yelled the worker with bright pink hair as she entered the storage room with a huff.

Fortunately, she kept the door open long enough to yell, coincidentally, it was long enough for us to slip out.

It was Matteo's turn to grip my arm as he maneuvered our way through the crowd filling the store. More than twice, I pushed myself against Matteo a second before I bumped into someone. And once I bumped into someone, but Matteo quickly tapped the shoulder of another one next to us, and they just thought they bumped into each other.

Eventually, we managed to make it out of the store without being caught. I breathed the cold air in relief. But before I could take a second to catch my breath, Matteo started walking so fast he was almost running. Dragging me behind him with his hand on my forearm.

"Calm down—" I started saying but he wouldn't listen.

"We've wasted enough time" he answered.

I managed to fall in step with him, fearing the threat of the cloak slipping off us. He noticed that and eventually slowed down a bit, but he still kept taking long strides.

We marched through the village, every minute passing making him more tense. didn't complain, every minute of this, whatever this is, made me more anxious too. I had no idea what was happening with his sister, or who she even was, but somehow, I felt it affect me, I felt scared without knowing anything. Maybe, just maybe, he was right about me nosing into other people's stuff. Because that pit in my stomach visited me enough during my own problems, I didn't really need it to visit me during other people's problems too. That was too much empathy for me, especially with someone I greatly and publicly despise.

We were getting further from the lights as we moved. The scenes changed from rows over rows of shops, pubs and inns, to random houses, every one of them at least a mile away from the other, and almost half of them was as dark as the night, probably deserted.

He calmed his pace a bit. But his grip on my arm tightened. It wasn't painful, so I didn't object. Something in my head compared it to how I always make my hands into fists whenever I'm anxious. Then another thing in my head scolded the first thing for suggesting that Diaz and I are alike in any way.

"What's her name? Your sister" I asked quietly. The question surprised me before it did him. I'm starting to despise myself more every time I open my mouth.

"Lily"

I froze. The cloak slid off me when I stopped walking and he didn't. Matteo looked back at me, he instantly put the cloak back on me. Fortunately, no one was around to see a girl emerge from nothing.

"What's wrong?" asked Matteo in great exasperation.

"I...erm...nothing...nothing is wrong"