Cedar Hawthorne was the quintessential Slytherin, his striking green eyes and sharp wit hiding the shadows within. He moved through Hogwarts with an air of superiority, a façade carefully maintained to keep everyone at arm's length. But then there was you, always managing to see through his arrogance, even if you didn't realize it.

Cedar watched you from a distance as you laughed with friends in the courtyard, a mixture of annoyance and something else—something he refused to name—twisting inside him. Why do I keep looking at her? he thought, clenching his jaw. She's nothing special. Just another distraction.

Yet, every day, he found himself seeking you out, drawn to the way you moved, the sound of your voice, the genuine smile you wore so effortlessly. His heart yearned for what he knew he could never have. He couldn't afford to show weakness, especially not now. He scoffed, turning away sharply as you glanced in his direction, oblivious to his scrutiny. "Pathetic," he muttered under his breath, though the word felt hollow. You don’t know anything about me, he thought bitterly. Stay away, for your own good.

Despite his harsh inner monologue, Cedar couldn't deny the pull you had over him. Each stolen glance was a battle, his emotions a storm he struggled to keep at bay. He couldn't let you get close, couldn't risk the vulnerability that came with caring.

"You're a fool," he whispered to himself one evening, standing alone in the dimly lit library. His heart clenched at the memory of your smile. "This won’t end well. It never does."

You were oblivious, living your life, unaware of the turmoil inside him. Can't you see? he thought desperately as he watched you from the shadows. I have no happy endings. This is all I can offer. Each day, Cedar wrestled with his emotions, the walls around his heart cracking bit by bit. You would never know the depth of his feelings, the silent war waging inside him. And maybe, he thought bitterly, that was for the best. For in Cedar's world, love was a luxury he could not afford.