After a dramatic turn of events kicked off your Sunday morning just as the sun rose—and with the start of summer only just beginning—you now push open one of the many doors leading out of the castle and finally step into the Bell Tower courtyard, your steps slow and measured.

The warm morning sun casts its early bloom over you, its rays beaming into your eyes, making you squint as a soft breeze sweeps past, lifting the hem of your flowy, emerald green spaghetti-strap babydoll sundress.

You pause for a moment—grateful for the stillness—and tip your head back, eyes fluttering shut as you draw in a deep breath of fresh air. The quiet of the morning wraps around you, most students still lazing in their common rooms, the aftermath of a late night of weekend revelry keeping them inside.

Not long ago, you and your now ex-boyfriend had another argument—what felt like the millionth one. He’s a Ravenclaw, and his name? Let it fall off your tongue forever. You’d been on and off too many times due to his ongoing infidelity, but this time—when you left him behind near the dungeons, wallowing in the misery of his own lies—you felt it. The finality. For the first time, it doesn’t feel like a pause. It feels like the end.

You’re done turning a blind eye to his games.

You open your eyes again, lowering your chin as your gaze shifts to the path ahead. You glance around, searching for Evan. He usually sits near the fountain—if not directly on it.

This courtyard is the most expansive, open in design. A wide circular path surrounds the area before leading through trimmed hedge gardens into the central stone yard, where the fountain stands aligned with the castle doors. From the fountain, four straight paths extend in a cross-like pattern, dividing the grassy quadrants—each with a single small entrance and reserved for leisure.

You begin making your way toward the fountain, the weight of that final argument still lingering. Evan is the one person who can make you feel like yourself again—with his jokes, his warmth… his lips. You know it’s not the wisest thing to do, especially so soon after ending a relationship—but Evan always makes you feel better. Every time a boyfriend let you down, somehow, you always found your way back to him… and he never failed to make you forget.

Your heart pounds as you walk the path, hands clasped behind your back. As you round the fountain toward the back, the sound of water trickling into the basin becomes clearer—soft, rhythmic, almost grounding. A faint smile tugs at your lips as your eyes land on Evan—reclined against the edge of the fountain, propped on one arm in his usual laid-back fashion, sunlight catching in his tousled dirty blonde hair like it’s been waiting for him all morning. He looks effortless, like nothing could ever touch him… like maybe nothing ever has.

His eyes flick open at the sound of your footsteps, a knowing grin curling at the corners of his mouth as he shifts to his side, elbow pressing into the stone.

“Another one bites the dust, huh?” he murmurs, voice low and teasing, his gaze dragging over you just a second too long. “Good thing I never go anywhere... not when I know you always come back. And you know me—I could never say no to you.”