Trouville {H.G}

Secret Studying

A big thanks to my bestie for helping me out with this chapter! I really appreciate it <3 She is a great writer and an even better friend. You should check out her page, I'll see if I can link it in the comments because for some reason its not saving. She's the reason this is an extra long chapter (3163 words if you were curious). Without further adieu, the story continues...

- gus <3

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Cassie entered the library, with its doorway, and the books, and the wood. She was looking for someone, that Granger girl. Hermione was her name?

She spied Madam Pince, a fairly tall woman dressed in head to toe in a silky black dress with wide billowing sleeves and wearing a long pointy feathered hat, at the librarians station. She had reminded Cassie of Professor Snape with her cold and calculated demeanor. Cassie didn't want to make what she was doing obvious. So she went to the biography section, and roamed around, trying to look busy.

The library at Hogwarts was vastly different than the one at her last school. It was darker, being lit only by the few windows and candles that floated above the shelves. Yet somehow it was still bright enough that her eyes didn't hurt when she read.

There weren't as many students as she had expected. She had assumed that most people would be in their common rooms, but the library was practically empty. With the exception of a small group of 3rd year Hufflepuff's studying together in the corner.

Considering that the library was huge and famous for containing all of the academic texts one could ever need. And that they bought the latest books every year. There should have been at least a few more students.

She went over to Madam Pince and quietly handed over a (forged) note for the restricted section. The woman waved her toward a small gate that was snug between two large bookshelves. That's it. A measly gate? She wasn't sure what she had expected, but this was not it.

She had wondered why Hermione had wanted to meet in the off limits section of the library, but it was probably for the best. Why would she want to be seen with a Malfoy? A family that is notorious for hating Muggleborns.

It was only reasonable, and it played to her advantage as well. She couldn't allow her brother to find out who she was meeting. That could be potentially dangerous...

She strutted past the threshold into the restricted section. It didn't look a whole lot different from the regular section. Perhaps it had more books.

She heard a soft giggle come around a corner. It was Granger, curled up in a dark leather chair reading a book on apparition. A book that was years ahead of what they were learning now? Weren't they meant to learn that in sixth or seventh year?

Granger was so engrossed, with her nose so deep in the book it was almost touching the pages. She clearly hadn't noticed Cassie yet. Cassie was mesmerized by the girl. It was clear she had a burning passion for learning.

She stood there, a few feet away from Hermione. Casually leaning against the bookshelf with her arms crossed, perfectly content with watching the girl study. It was so peaceful. She was almost scared to startle her, and break her out of her trance.

But it was inevitable. The scuffling sound of Cassie's boots on the hard floor of the library awakened the girl.

Hermione let out a small yelp, and jumped out of her seat. She twirled violently towards Cassie.

"Are you alright?" Asked Cassie, almost catching the girl in her arms. She held out a hand to help Hermione off of the floor, and waited patiently for the girl to accept help. However she did not. Instead she shoved Cassie's hand away, getting up on her own.