The Unspoken Pull

The late afternoon sun filtered through the tall windows of Ravenclaw Tower, casting golden hues over the common room. Ezekiel sat in his usual spot near the fireplace, a book open on his lap, though he hadn't turned a page in minutes. His mind was restless.

Ever since his return from France, something felt… off. Not in a bad way, but in a way that left a lingering sensation he couldn't quite explain. It was as if a thread had connected him to something—or someone—and it refused to break. Fleur.

Their brief time together in France had been enjoyable, but ever since, he had caught her glancing at him in ways that weren't just casual. He wasn't blind to attraction, but this felt different. And if he was being honest, he felt the same thing. A pull. An awareness of her presence even when she wasn't near.

The quiet atmosphere was interrupted by a soft knock. It wasn't coming from the main entrance of the common room—no, it was coming from the private study chambers reserved for him as the heir of Ravenclaw.

Ezekiel stood, a frown creasing his brow as he walked over and pulled the door open.

There stood Fleur Delacour, her silver-blonde hair catching the light in a way that made it almost glow. Her blue eyes, usually filled with playful confidence, held uncertainty.

"Fleur?" He stepped aside, allowing her to enter.

She hesitated only for a moment before stepping inside, the door closing behind her. She turned to face him, hands clasped in front of her, as if searching for the right words.

"You 'ave felt it too, non?" she asked finally, her voice quieter than usual.

Ezekiel exhaled through his nose, crossing his arms. "If you're talking about the strange… connection, then yes. I've noticed it."

She bit her lip, an unusual display of vulnerability. "I did not want to believe it at first, but it 'as been growing stronger ever since I arrived at 'Ogwarts. Every time you are near, I feel—" she cut herself off, shaking her head. "It is not normal."

Ezekiel studied her, taking in her tense posture, the way she was actively trying to suppress whatever this was. He wasn't sure how Veela bonds worked, but this didn't feel like mere attraction. It was something deeper, something instinctual.

"Do you think it's a Veela thing?" he asked, his voice measured.

Fleur inhaled sharply. "I do not know. My mère explained ze bond to me when I was younger, but it was always described as something zat took years to form—if it ever did." She met his gaze, her expression conflicted. "But this… zis is too soon. Too sudden."

Ezekiel nodded, running a hand through his hair. "And yet, we both feel it."

There was silence between them for a moment, the weight of their realization settling in.

Fleur stepped closer, her gaze searching his as if looking for an answer he didn't yet have. "Do you feel… drawn to me?" she asked carefully.

Ezekiel didn't look away. "Yes."

A shiver ran through her, but she masked it quickly. "I do not want zis bond to control us," she said, voice firmer now. "I want to understand it first."

Ezekiel smirked slightly. "Agreed. No rushing into anything blindly."

Fleur exhaled, some of the tension leaving her shoulders. "Bon. We will figure it out together, oui?"

"Yeah," he said, offering her a rare, reassuring smile. "Together."

For now, that was enough. But deep down, they both knew that whatever was between them—it wasn't going away.

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