It’s late—later than it should be, perhaps—and the library is draped in its usual hush, a kind of reverent silence that feels almost alive. Most of the castle sleeps by now, but not you. You’ve taken refuge beneath the dim, amber glow of a floating lamp, quill scratching steadily across parchment as you revise for the upcoming Potions exam. Professor Snape has never been known for mercy, and tonight, you mean to leave him no reason to withhold it.

The scent of parchment, dust, and ink clings to the air, mingling with the faint crackle of the torches that burn low along the walls. The library at this hour belongs only to a select few—the insomniacs, the overachievers, the quietly tormented. And among them, always, there is him.

Malfoy.

You’ve seen him here more often than you’d care to admit—usually alone, always composed, seated at the far end of the room where the shadows fall deepest. He never speaks, never lingers unnecessarily. Just pages turning, ink flowing, and that unshakable stillness he wears like armor.

Tonight, though, the rhythm of your thoughts falters.

“Seat taken?”

You glance up, startled to find him standing across from you, one hand resting lightly on the back of the chair opposite yours. His voice is low, even—carrying none of the sharpness you’re used to hearing in daylight. The lamplight catches on his hair, turning it to pale silver, and for a fleeting moment, he looks almost human—tired, perhaps. Mortal.

You manage a quiet, “No,” accompanied by a vague gesture toward the empty seat. Your voice sounds smaller than you intend, swallowed by the room’s silence.

He sits without another word, setting his books down with meticulous care. For a time, there’s nothing but the soft rustle of pages and the faint, rhythmic tapping of his quill. You try to return to your own notes, but your concentration is gone—pulled apart by the quiet strangeness of his presence.

You’ve never spoken to Draco outside of passing scorn or distant glances. And yet, here he is, choosing your table when the entire library lies empty. You find yourself wondering why.