Alexa Carson settled onto the Gryffindor bench in the Great Hall, joining her friends. The air still hummed with the aftermath of their detention. + 

“What did Snape say?” Ginny asked, her voice hushed as everyone leaned in to hear. + 

“He wanted to know why we started fighting,” I explained, starting to eat my dinner. “He made us clean up the mess without magic as punishment.” + 

“That must have been awful,” Harry said. “Malfoy probably didn’t lift a finger. He was probably still arguing.” + 

That was only half true, but I nodded anyway. My gaze drifted across the hall and landed on Draco, seated at the Slytherin table surrounded by his followers. Pansy Parkinson clung to his side, desperately vying for his attention, but it was clear he was thoroughly annoyed by her attempts. A small laugh escaped me. Hermione looked at me curiously. + 

“What are you laughing at?” she asked. + 

“Nothing,” I replied quickly. + 

She caught my arm, her brow furrowing in concern. “Wait, did you hurt your arm? When?” + 

“Oh, when I crashed into the cupboard,” I said, trying to deflect the question. Telling them Draco had helped me would be awkward, and they’d assume he and I were…friends? I was probably overthinking it. “Are you okay? Do you need to go to the infirmary?” Hermione’s worry was palpable. + 

“No, I fixed it up,” I reassured her. + 

--- + 

I walked into the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, taking a seat beside Hermione while Harry sat with Ron. Across the aisle, Draco and Blaise sat together, their usual disdainful expressions fixed in place. Our eyes met briefly, but he quickly looked away, turning back to his entourage. + 

He probably doesn’t have any real friends, I mused. Just followers who cling to him for status and popularity. He must know that. And his parents aren’t supportive at all. His father is the reason he’s so…closed off. It’s sad, really. He needs someone to show him a different path, but no one is there for him. + 

“Alexa? You okay?” Hermione interrupted my thoughts, her voice laced with concern. + 

“What were you thinking about?” she asked. + 

“Nothing,” I muttered, shrugging it off. + 

“You're so weird,” she teased, and I laughed. + 

Professor Lupin entered the classroom, initiating the lesson. The rest of the day passed in a blur, and before I knew it, I was tucked into my bed, drifting off to sleep. + 

--- + 

I ran through the hall, giggling as I heard footsteps behind me. Suddenly, someone caught me off guard, turning me around to face them. My breath hitched as I met the most beautiful eyes I’d ever seen. They were like the ocean – turbulent waves crashing against a shore, frothy seafoam washing up on the sand. They held secrets, hidden depths that refused to be revealed. Pain, denial, insecurity…they were all there, swirling beneath the surface. I found myself lost in their gaze. + 

The person leaned in, and I mirrored their movement. Our lips met, and a firework exploded in my stomach. Sparks ignited across my skin, tingling in my fingertips. It felt like…love. + 

Our lips moved in sync with the rhythm of our heartbeats, drawing us deeper into the kiss. I pulled back, and those mesmerizing eyes met mine again. But they vanished, replaced by a shock of blond hair. + 

I jolted awake in my dorm, heart racing. The moon shone through the window, casting long shadows across the room. Everyone else was asleep. I pressed my hands to my forehead, trying to recall the dream. Who was it? Who had I dreamed of? + 