Fixation

She was screwed. Hazza crouched behind the stone wall, praying Tommie wouldn’t catch the sound of her breath. But Tommie, she was a freak, she could smell anything from a mile away.

“Come out, Haz. I swear I won’t bite.”

Hazza pressed her hand to her mouth, hoping like hell Tommie wouldn’t hear her heart pounding.

Please, no.

What the hell was Tommie even doing outside of Hogwarts at this time of night? This was Hazza’s thing, not hers.

“Awh, stop being such a baby. I just wanna talk.”

Hazza’s heart raced faster. That voice was getting closer. Merlin, she was dead.

“It’s my duty to help you, you know that,” Tommie’s voice sweetened, all sugary and fake. “I’ll let you off easy if you just come out.”

There it was. That damn sweet act she put on to get whatever she wanted. Hazza swallowed hard. She wasn’t falling for it this time. If only she’d brought her father’s map with her. It felt like Tommie had been waiting for this moment.

Hazza’s fingers trembled against the cold stone, her thoughts racing a mile a minute. She couldn’t think. She had to move. But where? Tommie’s footsteps echoed louder now, too close, too damn close.

“I know you’re here, Haz. Don’t make this harder than it needs to be,” Tommie purred, her voice dripping with that false sweetness Hazza hated. “Come on out. Let’s make this quick.”

Hazza squeezed her eyes shut, willing herself to stay silent, to blend into the shadows like she always did. But Tommie was no fool. She’d find her eventually, and when she did—Hazza shuddered at the thought.

The air grew colder. Hazza could almost feel Tommie’s eyes on her, boring into the darkness. She could hear her breathing now, steady and calm, like she was enjoying this game. Hazza bit her lip hard enough to taste blood, every inch of her body screaming to run, but there was nowhere to run.

The sound of Tommie’s voice, softer now, like she was talking to a wounded animal, slipped through the still night. “I know you’re scared, Haz. But you don’t have to be. You’ve always known I’m the one who can help you. Just trust me.”

Hazza’s chest tightened. Trust? The very last thing she would do was trust Tommie. Every move she made, every word she said, was calculated. Tommie never did anything unless it was for her own gain.

With a sharp breath, Hazza pushed herself up from the stone wall, trying to make as little noise as possible. She crept along the edge of the courtyard, feeling the weight of the cold stone beneath her palms, her muscles tensing, ready to sprint. But then—

A twig snapped underfoot.

Tommie’s head snapped in the direction of the sound, her sharp eyes narrowing.

“There you are, pretty girl,” she said, almost too calm.

Hazza cursed herself. She was running out of time, and if she didn’t make a move now, Tommie would make sure she never got the chance again.

Hazza bolted.

Her feet pounded the ground, each step a desperate prayer that she’d make it out of this alive. She could hear Tommie’s footsteps behind her, faster, sharper, like a predator closing in on its prey. The courtyard stretched out before her, too wide, too open. There was nowhere to hide, no stone wall to crouch behind, no darkened corner to disappear into.

She cursed again, pushing herself harder, faster, ignoring the burn in her legs. Her mind screamed for her to think, to find a way out, but all she could focus on was the sound of Tommie’s pursuit, echoing through the empty night.

A flash of movement to her right made her heart skip a beat.

A figure.

No—someone—standing in the shadows, watching. Hazza’s breath hitched in her throat, her pulse erratic, but she couldn’t stop. She couldn’t stop to see who it was. Not now.

She rounded the corner of the courtyard, her heart thumping like a drum. But her foot slipped on the icy stone, sending her crashing into the ground. The impact knocked the wind out of her, leaving her gasping for air, her palms scraping against the cold stone.

“No!” she hissed through clenched teeth. Her hand shot out, fingers desperately searching for purchase, but before she could push herself back to her feet, Tommie’s voice cut through the night.

“I told you, Haz,” Tommie’s voice was smooth, too smooth, like she was enjoying this. “You should’ve trusted me.”

Trust? Hazza almost laughed. How could she trust Tommie after what she did?

Hazza spun around, panic clawing at her chest. Tommie was standing there, only a few feet away now, her posture relaxed, like she had all the time in the world. Her lips curled into a predatory smile, eyes glinting in the moonlight.

“Not so fast, huh?” Tommie taunted, stepping closer.

Hazza scrambled to her feet, panic rising in her throat. She couldn’t let Tommie get any closer. She couldn’t let her win.

Her eyes darted around, but there was nowhere to go. She was cornered.

“You know,” Tommie continued, almost conversational, as if they were having a casual chat, “this could’ve been easy. You and me, working together. But you always make things difficult, don’t you?”

Hazza’s breath was coming in ragged gasps now, her mind racing, her options running out. She had to do something. Anything.

And then, like a flash of lightning in the dark, it hit her.

She had no choice.

Her hand shot to the back of her waistband, fingers wrapping around the cold metal of her wand. She pulled it free in one smooth motion, pointing it directly at Tommie.

“Don’t move,” Hazza growled, her voice barely a whisper but full of threat.

Tommie’s eyes glimmered, amusement flickering across her face, but she didn’t step back. “You’re really going to fight me, Haz?” she asked, her voice dripping with mockery. “You know you can’t win.”

“I don’t need to win,” Hazza said, her grip tightening on her wand. “I just need to survive.”

With that, she aimed her wand at the stone wall next to Tommie and muttered a spell under her breath. The wall exploded with a deafening crack, debris scattering in every direction.

Tommie gasped, but before she could react, Hazza was already moving. She ducked behind the cloud of dust and stone, her heart hammering in her chest as she sprinted toward the nearest exit.

Tommie would catch up. She always did.

But not today.

Hazza wasn’t ready to die. Not yet.

Hazza’s legs burned with every desperate stride, the sound of her breath ragged in her ears. She didn’t dare look behind her, not with Tommie so close. The dust from the explosion still hung in the air, making it hard to see where she was going, but she didn’t care. She just needed distance. She needed time.

Her eyes locked on the gate ahead—the only way out of the courtyard, the only chance she had to escape. It was tall, iron, and old, the kind of gate that creaked in protest when you pushed it open. If she could just get through it, she might have a chance.

But of course, nothing ever went the way she hoped.

As she reached the gate, her fingers barely grazing the cold iron bars, she heard it: the unmistakable click of heels on stone. Tommie’s footsteps. Closing in.

Hazza’s heart skipped a beat.

“You’re not getting away that easy, Haz,” Tommie’s voice sang out from the shadows, mocking, sing-song, like she was already savoring her victory. “I told you. You can’t outrun me.”

Hazza’s hand tightened around the gate. Just a little further, she begged herself. She wasn’t going to let Tommie win. Not now.

With one powerful yank, she shoved the gate open, the rusted hinges screeching in protest, but she didn’t care. She was already slipping through, just as Tommie’s voice rang out again, sharp and commanding.

“Impedimenta!”

The curse shot out with precision, but Hazza was already moving, already leaping to the side. The spell grazed her arm, a sting of cold that sent a shock through her, but she barely registered the pain.

She kept running.

The courtyard was behind her now, but the night felt endless, stretching out before her like some dark maze she couldn’t navigate fast enough. She had no plan, no map, no idea where she was going. Just the instinct to put as much distance between her and Tommie as possible.

She could still hear her footsteps, faster now, getting closer. Every second that passed felt like a countdown to her inevitable capture. Hazza’s lungs burned, her legs felt like lead, but she didn’t stop. She couldn’t stop.

There were no more corners to turn, no more places to hide. The path ahead was clear—too clear. The darkness closed in around her, thick and suffocating, but she could still feel Tommie’s presence behind her, like a shadow that refused to let go.

Hazza glanced over her shoulder, just a split second, just enough to see the flicker of moonlight on Tommie’s determined face. And that’s when she saw it.

An old, crumbling building on the edge of the path.

Hazza didn’t hesitate. Without thinking, she veered left, sprinting toward the structure. If she could get inside, maybe—just maybe—she could lose Tommie in the maze of Hogwarts' abandoned rooms.

The door was ajar, and Hazza threw herself through it, the old wood groaning in protest. The space inside was pitch black, the scent of mildew and rot thick in the air. She didn’t pause. She ran deeper into the building, her breath ragged, her pulse a constant drumbeat in her ears.

There was a hallway ahead, narrow and winding, leading deeper into the heart of the building. She had no clue where it went, but it didn’t matter. She just needed to keep moving.

Behind her, the door slammed open with a bang, followed by Tommie’s voice, cruel and triumphant.

“You can’t hide forever, Haz. I’ll find you. I always do.”

Hazza’s heart thudded painfully in her chest. She couldn’t think about that now. She had to focus. Keep going. Keep running.

She rounded a corner, ducking low, her feet skidding on the damp floor. The building was old, falling apart in places, but it had one advantage: it was unfamiliar. And Tommie? She had no idea where Hazza had gone.

At least, Hazza hoped not.

The further she moved into the darkness, the more the building seemed to close in on her, the walls pressing in on her as if it were swallowing her whole. The sound of her footsteps echoed in the empty space, too loud, too harsh in the stillness.

She had to stop. She couldn’t keep running forever.

Her eyes darted around, landing on a narrow staircase leading upward.

A way up.

Hazza didn’t think. She just climbed.

Her hands shook as she gripped the rusted railing, the stairs creaking beneath her weight. Every step felt like an eternity, but she didn’t stop until she reached the top. When she finally pulled herself over the last step, she found herself in a dark, dusty attic. There were piles of old furniture, crates, and forgotten relics scattered about. Perfect.

She crouched behind a stack of crates, her breath coming in jagged bursts, her heart still racing. She had a moment. Just a moment to think.

She clutched her wand tighter, the metal cold and reassuring in her hand. It was the only thing standing between her and Tommie.

But she knew it wouldn’t be enough forever.

Tommie would come for her. She always did.

Hazza’s mind raced. The building, the attic, it was a trap. And Tommie was always one step ahead.

She needed to outsmart her. She needed a way out, a way to escape.

But how?

Hazza’s pulse thudded in her ears, the silence of the attic pressing in around her like a suffocating weight. She crouched low, trying to steady her breath, but every inhale felt like it might give her away. Her hands trembled, still gripping her wand like it was the only thing tethering her to reality.

Think. Think. Think.

Her eyes scanned the attic, the dusty air swirling with every shallow breath she took. Old furniture and forgotten relics loomed in the shadows, but none of it would help her. She had no illusions of out-waiting Tommie. Tommie never stopped. She would never tire. The only thing Hazza could count on was the element of surprise.

Her mind raced, but it was a blur of fragmented thoughts. She couldn’t stay here. The longer she did, the less chance she had of escaping. Tommie would find her eventually. She always did.

There had to be another way out.

Her eyes darted to the window. It was small, narrow, and covered with grime, but it was a way out. A tiny sliver of hope. But there was no way she could fit through that—at least, not without making enough noise to alert Tommie.

Her gaze shifted again, landing on a pile of old crates and barrels stacked haphazardly in the far corner. They might not be a means of escape, but they might give her the one thing she needed: time.

She didn’t hesitate. Hazza darted from her hiding spot, slipping behind the pile of crates. Her breath was a shallow, frantic thing as she crouched low, her heart pounding so hard it felt like it might break through her ribs. The wooden beams above creaked in protest as the building groaned, and Hazza couldn’t shake the feeling that everything was about to come crashing down on her.

There. She heard it. Tommie’s footsteps.

A slow, measured approach. No rush. No panic. She was playing with her, toying with her. As if Hazza’s fear was nothing more than a game.

Hazza’s grip on her wand tightened. She had to make her move now.

A creak of floorboards, louder this time.

Tommie was inside.

Crazy idiot.

Hazza’s eyes darted to the window once more. It was now or never.

With a sharp exhale, she launched herself to her feet and bolted for the window, ignoring the burn in her legs. She shoved her wand into the waistband of her trousers, freeing both hands to grip the edge of the window frame. Focus. Don’t think. Move.

The glass cracked under the pressure of her hands, and a shard fell to the ground, shattering with a sickeningly loud noise. Hazza froze, heart in her throat.

Too late.

“I knew you couldn’t resist, Haz.”

The voice, smooth and dangerous, slid into the room like a serpent. Tommie was right behind her. She could feel it, hear it in every step that came closer, that air of certainty that wrapped around her like a noose.

Hazza’s breath was ragged, but she didn’t turn around. She couldn’t. If she did, if she gave Tommie the satisfaction of seeing her fear, it was over. She had to focus. She had to do this, no matter what.

Her hands found the latch of the window, fingers slippery with sweat.

“Don’t make me drag you out, Haz,” Tommie purred, the sound of her voice too close, too unsettling. “It’ll be easier for both of us if you just come quietly.”

Hazza swallowed, her throat dry. Her pulse hammered in her ears.

Keep moving.

She twisted the latch with a desperate yank, the window squealing in protest. It opened just wide enough for her to fit through. She didn’t hesitate.

She had to do this.

With one final glance over her shoulder, she pushed herself up onto the windowsill, her body trembling with exertion. Tommie’s voice echoed in the room, too calm, too sure. “You can’t outrun me, Haz. You never could.”

But Hazza didn’t listen. She didn’t care.

She leapt.

The fall wasn’t as long as it felt, but it was enough. Enough to make her stomach lurch and her heart drop into her feet. The ground below was cold and unforgiving, and Hazza rolled the moment her feet hit the dirt, her knees scraping against the rough earth.

She was out.

For now.

She didn’t stop to catch her breath, didn’t pause to think. Every instinct in her screamed to keep moving, to get as far from Tommie as possible. Her feet pounded against the stone path that ran through the overgrown garden, her body urging her forward, faster, harder.

Behind her, the door to the building slammed open, but Hazza didn’t dare look back.

She had no plan, no direction. The night was endless and suffocating, the darkness swallowing her whole. She just ran. Ran until her lungs burned and her legs ached, her breath a steady rasp in her ears. The sound of her footfalls was the only thing she could hear, the rhythm of her survival.

The landscape blurred around her. Old trees. Faded stone statues. The labyrinth of the Hogwarts grounds stretching out before her. She had to move fast. She had to keep moving until she could find some kind of cover, some way to stay hidden. She couldn’t afford to stop. Not now.

A distant shout cut through the air, sharp and demanding. Tommie.

Hazza’s heart hammered in her chest as she veered off the path and into a dense thicket of trees. The underbrush scraped at her legs, but she barely noticed. Her eyes locked on a small rise ahead—an old stone archway, a forgotten corner of the grounds. She had to get there.

It was her only chance.

The arch loomed closer, and for the briefest moment, Hazza thought she might make it. The shadows seemed to welcome her, promise her shelter. She could feel the cold of the stone, the whisper of hidden things that had been left to time.

And then, in a heartbeat, everything changed.

A flare of light, bright, sharp, blinding, erupted behind her.

“Tommie-” Hazza whispered, her throat tight.

The curse whizzed past her, the force of it blowing her hair back. It wasn’t the Impediment Jinx this time. No, it was something worse.

"There you are, pretty."

Hazza stumbled to a halt, her chest heaving as she whipped around to face the direction of the light. Her heart pounded in her ears, the adrenaline still rushing through her veins, but now, it was different. Now, Tommie had caught up. And she wasn’t running anymore.

The flare of light dimmed, the glow fading as Tommie stepped into the clearing. Her eyes gleamed, that same smirk stretching across her face like she had all the power in the world. Her robes fluttered in the breeze, and for a moment, the world felt still, the weight of the night pressing down around them.

Hazza didn’t move. Didn’t speak.

“You’re not as fast as you think you are,” Tommie said, her voice low and smooth, like honey dripping from her tongue. She was savoring this. Enjoying it.

Hazza’s hand tightened around her wand, but she kept it pointed at the ground, her finger twitching, waiting.

Tommie took a step closer, her heels clicking softly against the ground. “You know, I’m getting really tired of chasing you, Haz,” she mused, almost sympathetically. “It’s exhausting. And you’re making this more difficult than it needs to be.”

Hazza swallowed, her throat dry, her voice raw when she finally spoke. “You always make things difficult,” she spat. “You always twist everything to your advantage. But I’m not playing your game anymore.”

Tommie’s lips quirked into a smile, but there was something cold in her eyes now, something that made the air between them feel even heavier. “I never said you had a choice.”

Hazza felt the sting of the words, the sharp reminder of just how trapped she really was. There was no way out. No escape. Not this time.

“So,” Tommie continued, her tone shifting, becoming softer, almost coaxing. “What do you say, Haz? We could do this the easy way or the hard way. I’ve given you so many chances to come around. To trust me.”

“Trust you?” Hazza laughed bitterly, shaking her head. “You’ve done nothing but lie, manipulate, and play with me. You think I’m stupid enough to trust you now?”

Tommie tilted her head, her expression mockingly sympathetic. “You’re not stupid. Far from it. That’s what makes this so difficult.” She stepped forward again, closing the gap, her voice dropping to a near whisper. “You’ve always known I’m the one who can help you. But you don’t want to accept it. You don’t want to see that I’m the only one who can make everything easier for you.”

Hazza’s breath hitched. She wanted to believe her, wanted to. But everything inside her screamed not to. Not after all the lies. Not after everything Tommie had done.

“You don’t get it,” Hazza said, her voice hardening. “I don’t need your help. I never have. I’ve always been fine on my own.”

Tommie stopped in front of her now, so close that Hazza could feel the heat radiating off her. The smirk never left her face, but there was something darker in her gaze. “Is that what you really believe?” she asked softly, almost pityingly. “Because I think you’re lying to yourself.”

Hazza’s heart skipped a beat, her chest tightening as Tommie’s words hit too close to home. She knew Tommie had always seen through her, had always known how to get under her skin, but this time, it was different. She couldn’t let her win. She couldn’t let Tommie make her doubt herself again.

“I’m not lying,” Hazza said, her voice a little firmer now. “I don’t need you. Not now, not ever.”

Tommie’s smile faded slightly, the amusement in her eyes slipping into something more dangerous, more calculating. She took another step forward, and Hazza instinctively took one back, her hand still clenched around her wand.

“You’ll come around, Haz. You always do,” Tommie said, her tone low and menacing now. “It’s only a matter of time.”

Hazza shook her head, trying to steady her breath. “I’m done. This ends now.”

Tommie let out a soft, mocking laugh. “Oh, you think it ends now?” she asked, her voice dripping with amusement. “You think you can just walk away from this? From me?”

“I’m not walking away,” Hazza snapped. “I’m ending it.”

The air between them crackled with tension, the sound of their breathing loud in the silence that stretched on. Neither of them moved. Neither of them spoke. But in that moment, everything felt poised on the edge of something. Something big. Something inevitable.

Hazza’s grip on her wand tightened again. She was done running, done hiding. It was time to face Tommie head-on.

“I’m not afraid of you,” Hazza said, her voice steady now, her gaze never leaving Tommie’s. “I never was.”

Tommie’s lips curled up into a slow, deliberate smile. “Oh, I know. You’re far too proud for that. But the truth is, Haz…” She took a final, deliberate step forward, her breath warm against Hazza’s skin. “You’re going to need me one day. And when you do, I’ll be right here.”

Hazza swallowed hard, her heart thumping in her chest, but she didn’t back down. She couldn’t.

“I don’t need you,” Hazza repeated, more firmly this time. “I’ll never need you.”

Tommie’s smile didn’t waver. “We’ll see about that, won’t we?”

The silence stretched again, thick and heavy, as the two of them stood there, facing each other. Neither of them moving. Neither of them speaking.

The moonlight spilled down, casting long shadows across the ground between them. Hazza’s fingers tightened around her wand.

Tommie’s fingers lingered on Hazza’s skin, a touch that was both gentle and possessive. Hazza could feel the warmth spreading, but she knew better than to succumb.

“Hazza, please you've been avoiding me for weeks I can't -" Hazza saw Tommie's eyes shut then reopen. "… it wasn’t supposed to happen like this,” Tommie whispered, her voice soft, almost pleading.

Hazza shook her head, her pulse quickening, but not from the touch. “Don’t give me that, Tommie. You promised you’d stop.”

Tommie’s gaze flickered for a moment, uncertain, but she quickly hardened. “It was a mistake. He made me do it. You were mine, Hazza… you were mine.”

Hazza felt a surge of anger, the desire to push Tommie away fighting with the pull of those soft hands. “Mine? You beat a guy senseless because of that? Because a guy brushed against me?”

Tommie scoffed, her eyes narrowing. “And you think you’re some saint? You've tortured a man, Hazza. You tortured a man because he tried to take me.”

“That’s not the same, Tommie!” Hazza spat, stepping back, pulling away from the suffocating closeness. “He was trying to hurt you! Neville did nothing wrong!”

Tommie's mask slipped. A raw, untamed rage twisted Tommie’s features, a violent storm brewing in her eyes. It was a look that promised unspeakable things, a dark intent that threatened to spill into the castle walls and wreak havoc on Neville Longbottom.

"Don't speak his name," Tommie’s voice was a low, dangerous hiss, deceptively calm. "Not in my presence."

"If you truly sought resolution," Hazza spat, her voice laced with defiance, "you'd learn to tolerate the mention of names, you

Tommie's eyes flared, a sudden, brutal intensity. In a swift, predatory motion, she slammed Hazza against the sharp grass. Her knee pressed between Hazza’s legs, a suffocating weight that sent a jolt of fear through her. "T...Tommie!" Hazza gasped, face flushed, her body squirming

in a desperate attempt to break free.
"You belong to me," Tommie hissed, her grip tightening on a fistful of Hazza's hair. "Mine. Mine. Mine."

Hazza struggled to draw a steady breath, a dizzying wave of panic washing over her. Tommie’s touch, Tommie’s voice, the very essence of her presence, seemed to suffocate her. There was no escape. Not now. Not ever. From the moment Tommie, a vision of dark beauty, had set her eyes upon Hazza in the desolate confines of the orphanage, Hazza knew her fate was sealed, an eternity of captivity.