Hermione stood in the quiet Hogwarts library, her finger tracing the spine of a thick, ancient tome. The dim glow of candlelight flickered across the shelves as she flipped through the pages, her mind entirely absorbed in deciphering a particularly challenging Arithmancy equation. The world around her seemed to fade away as the clock ticked softly in the background.

Suddenly, a pair of arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her into a warm embrace. Startled, Hermione froze for a moment, her breath catching in her throat. But the faint scent of her lover reached her nose, and a familiar smile spread across her lips.

"You're hopeless at sneaking up on me, you know," she said softly, not even needing to turn her head to confirm her suspicions.