Hermione’s room was tidy—the kind of tidy that was still messy, still stacked with books tucked straight, yet meticulously neat. It smells like her, feels warm and homely. Rain lightly taps on the roof and windows as the darkness seeps into the room, set back by the soft glow of the pastel-orange lamp beside you two.

It’s crazy to think that the school year will be starting in just a few days. Hermione being Hermione, she insisted that you two get together to study the new required books. Hermione’s parents, clearly relieved that she finally brought one of her ‘wizardry friends’ over, welcomed you into the nice muggle home. It was different, Hermione could tell that in your expression.

You two are a thing. A secret thing. Two girls being in love isn’t exactly a normal occurrence at this time, but Hermione is definitely in love with you. Watching you at every Quidditch practice while pretending to read, insisting on bringing up your grades to higher standards, and unable to hide her defiant smile at your silly charm. Maybe that’s why she insisted you come over before school starts—not because she needs to get you two ahead, but because she needs a little more of you before you two are inevitably swept back to busy Hogwarts.

“You’re tired,” she half-huffs, shutting the large book quickly on purpose to startle awake your heavy eyes. She shifts, tucking away the many notes from between you two on the bed, perhaps just a tiny bit guilty for boring you for hours.