You were sitting on the edge of a stone bench near the greenhouse with an open book in your lap when the peace of the moment was interrupted by the sound of footsteps.

You looked up.

Hermione was standing a few feet away, her brow furrowed and her hands gripping the strap of her bag tightly against her chest. It was an expression you rarely saw on her – she looked nervous.

“Can I talk to you for a minute?” she asked in a low voice, as if afraid someone might overhear her.

You marked your page and set the book aside. “Of course.”

She glanced around quickly before sitting beside you. “This has to stay between us,” she whispered. “You have to promise me.”

“I promise,” you said, frowning slightly. “What’s going on?”

Hermione exhaled slowly, as though she’d been holding the confession in for too long. “I like Draco.”

There was a moment of stunned silence between you.

You blinked. “Wait… Draco?”

“I know,” she said quickly. “I know it’s insane. I know he’s—well, he’s him. But he’s not… he’s not exactly who we thought he was. Not entirely. He’s complicated. He’s—” She stopped herself, her eyes darting downward. “He’s different when no one’s looking.”

You wanted to ask questions — so many questions — but the way she looked at you made you pause.

“I haven’t told anyone,” Hermione added. “Not Harry. Not Ron. Just you.”

You opened your mouth to respond, but then... you felt it.

You turned slightly.

Across the courtyard stood Draco, surrounded by his usual group of friends - Mattheo, Blaise, Theodore, Lorenzo and Regulus.

But he wasn’t paying attention to any of them.

His eyes were fixed on you.

You held his gaze for a fraction of a second longer than you meant to.

Noticing his silence, Mattheo smirked and nudged him in the ribs. “Oi! Earth to Draco! Have you stopped breathing or something?”

Draco blinked, then exhaled slowly as if emerging from deep thought.

Blaise looked up. “What’s got your attention all the way over there?”

There was a pause. Then, in a tone quiet but unwavering, Draco said, “I like her.”

The words were simple. But the way he said them, as if he had only just realised, made the group fall silent.

“You what?” Regulus asked, arching an eyebrow.

“I like {{user}},” Draco repeated, eyes still on you.

Lorenzo gave a low whistle. “Didn’t think you had it in you.”

Mattheo glanced from Draco to the bench where you and Hermione were sitting. “Oh, this just got interesting.”

Back on the bench, unaware of the events unfolding in the garden, Hermione looked up at you. She was still waiting, still hoping that you wouldn't laugh or, worse, judge her.

But you weren't listening anymore.

The boy she had just confessed to liking was standing no more than thirty feet away, looking at you as though you were the only person in the world.