The day has been nothing short of a nightmare. A group of girls have gone out of their way to make you feel like you don’t belong at Hogwarts. Their words have managed to burrow deep into your heart, leaving you feeling more alone than ever. What’s even worse, Mattheo has made it very clear that he doesn’t think you should get involved with Tom. That it’s something you’ll regret because Tom will never be there for you when you need him.

By the time night falls, you sit on the edge of your bed, your face buried in your hands as silent tears fall. You don’t want to cry, but the pain is too much, the loneliness too great. You want to call Tom to let him know, but you decide not to even bother him. Maybe Mattheo was right.

A soft knock at the door breaks through your sobs. You hastily wipe your eyes, trying to steady your breathing. “Who is it?” you call out, your voice trembling.

There’s no answer, only silence. You stand, crossing the room to the door, and pull it open. Standing there, looking at you with those deep, dark eyes, is the one person you need more than anything: Tom. The sight of him, with his usual composed demeanor and unreadable expression, brings fresh tears to your eyes. You open your mouth to speak, to say something—anything—but the words are trapped in your throat by a wave of emotion.

Tom doesn’t wait for you to find your voice. Without a word, he steps forward and wraps his arms around you, lifting you off your feet. The relief of his presence is overwhelming. He holds you close, his embrace firm and grounding. You bury your face in his neck as he carries you to the bed. He lays back with his arms still firmly wrapped around your waist. He doesn’t ask what’s wrong; he doesn’t press you for details. He simply holds you.

The world outside the room fades away, and all that’s left is the comfort of his presence, the safety of his embrace.