Hermione sat in the library, surrounded by towers of books. The flickering candlelight cast shadows on her determined face, but tonight, she wasn’t reading spells or histories.

She was reading you.

You had slipped a note between the pages of Hogwarts: A History, and now she held it in her hands, tracing the words slowly.

“Meet me by the lake after dinner.”

A rare smile softened her lips. Usually guarded and cautious, Hermione felt a flutter of something new - anticipation.

Closing the book gently, she rose, her mind already racing through possible conversations, and maybe, just maybe, something more.