"You are the love of my life," Y/N said. "I love you."
"If loving me comes with shame," Hermione breathed in a shaky breath. "I don't want your love."
In a matter of seconds, Y/N's world came tumbling down. Hermione's words hit her...
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It was another mind-numbing ten minutes of wandering the maze, yet Y/N wasn't sure what was worse — running for her life from murderous vines and bewitched Bulgarians or being in Evangeline's presence. The three of them walked in silence, broken only by shallow breaths, occasional coughs, and heavy footsteps that rustled the fallen leaves beneath.
Harry remained silent, whether from sheer nerves or sheer annoyance — Y/N couldn't say. The silence gnawed at Y/N like nails on a chalkboard — she had to say something or else she'd go insane.
"You know," Y/N said, just loud enough for Harry to hear. "If she stares at the back of my head any harder, I'm gonna explode."
Behind them, Evangeline interrupted before Harry could snort out a response. "I can hear you, Crimson."
Y/N didn't bother turning around. "Good."
"If you don't want me here — too bad. I'm staying," Evangeline said, picking up her pace. She side-stepped Y/N, blocked her path, then jabbed her finger against the Ravenclaw's chest to emphasize her point. "You need me here."
Y/N's face contorted with disgust at the physical contact. Scowling, she swatted Evangeline's hand away. She took a step forward — leaving no space between them. "Need you? Please."
Harry sighed, stepping between them before wands — or worse, fists — started flying. "Can we not do this right now?"
The maze groaned around them again, as if sensing the tension — feeding off it. Its sulfuric and pungent odor grew stronger, but neither girl seemed to care. Y/N clenched her jaw so tight; Harry worried she might break a tooth — meanwhile, Evangeline just seemed to enjoy it.
Evangeline didn't move back. If anything, she leaned in closer, as if to push Y/N's buttons. "You'd be Krum's dinner without me. You're the one lighting fires and running every time you get scared. Did you think your puny flame would beat — "
Y/N's fingers twitched, a spark flickering at her knuckles before she snuffed it out. "Oh, I don't need fire to beat your ass, Silverthorn."
"Oh, you wanna bet?"
"Merlin's beard," Harry let out a groan, stepping back and raising his wand. "I swear, if I get killed because you two are having a lover's quarrel in the middle of a death maze — "
"We are not lovers," Y/N and Evangeline said in unison.
"Just casual," Evangeline said with a bite behind her words, each vowel enunciated with sarcasm.
Harry, done with both of them, pinched the bridge of his nose. "Okay, not lovers. Let's focus on the task, okay?"
Y/N didn't blink, only let out a mere scoff. "I'm focused."
