"Beneath the Surface"

I sat beside Theo in the Great Hall, surrounded by the warm glow of candles and the soft murmur of students enjoying their meals. The long tables were laden with an assortment of dishes, and the smell of roast beef and shepherd's pie wafted through the air, making my stomach growl with hunger. It was a special occasion - my 18th birthday - and Theo had insisted on celebrating with a romantic dinner for two in the Great Hall. I felt like a queen, with Theo by my side and the entire Hogwarts community as our backdrop. As we ate, Theo couldn't help but tease me about my age, saying that I was now officially an adult and could make my own decisions. I playfully rolled my eyes and nudged him with my elbow, feeling grateful for the easy camaraderie we shared. Our friends had given me a beautiful birthday gift - a silver necklace with a small crystal pendant - and Theo had written me a sweet poem, which he had read aloud during dessert. But as we finished our meal and I reached for my glass of juice, Theo's eyes landed on my arm. Specifically, on the bandage wrapped around my wrist. His expression changed in an instant, from playful to concerned. "Elodie, what's that?" he asked, his voice low and urgent. I tried to brush it off, not wanting to ruin the celebratory atmosphere. "Oh, it's nothing, Theo. Just a little scratch I got this morning." But Theo wasn't having it. He gently took my arm in his hands, his fingers probing the bandage. "Let me see," he said, his voice firm but gentle. I tried to pull away, but he held fast. "Theo, really, it's fine. I just nicked myself when I was shaving, okay?" But he wasn't listening. His eyes scanned the bandage, and I could see the worry etched on his face. Suddenly, he was on his feet, his chair scraping against the floor. "I need to go," he said, his voice tight with emotion. "Theo, wait!" I called out, feeling a pang of frustration. I didn't want him to leave like this, not on my birthday. But he was already walking away, leaving me sitting alone at the table. I sighed and got up, following him out of the Great Hall. We walked in silence, the only sound being the echo of our footsteps off the stone walls. "Theo, stop," I said, finally catching up to him. "You're not listening to me. It's really not what you think." He turned to face me, his eyes blazing with a mix of anger and worry. "What do I think?" he asked, his voice cold. I took a deep breath and tried to explain, but the words got stuck in my throat. I realized that I had to tread carefully here - Theo's concern was coming from a good place, but I also didn't want him to think that I was in some kind of trouble. "Theo, I promise you, it's nothing," I said, trying to sound calm. "I just had a little accident, that's all. I'm fine, really." But Theo's expression didn't change. He looked at me like he was seeing me for the first time, like he was trying to read between the lines. And I knew that I had to be honest with him, to tell him the truth about what had really happened. But how to do that, without making him even more worried? I was still trying to figure that out, as we stood there in the dimly lit corridor, the tension between us palpable.