"I brought these as well, because I think they would be good alternatives after that one" hermione rambled on about the books she had brought, which were plenty, If only I could read them. She talked on and on about it with grateful smiles here and there because I was listening, intent.
"They sound really great, all of them" I smiled and looked down at them, but the smile quickly faded and was replaced by a gloomy sadness.
"Are you alright? You do not need to read them. Really it's no problem" she said and started arranging the books flustered.
"No, it's not.." I sighed and pushed her hand away from the books calmly and she threw me a sharp confused look.
"I have some focusing problems when reading, no matter how much I'd like to read it just.. well-" I cleared my throat. I was not about to tell her that I can only read in the presence of Malfoy, which is probably in the best interest of everyone.
"Oh, well I think it's normal to have difficulties with focusing" she said with a bop of a shoulder.
"Yeah I suppose it is, it's just-"
"Hermione!"
Both of us twisted our heads in the direction of the voice so abruptly that I think we'll have neck pains for the rest of the week. Harry was smiling at her but with faint uncertainty in his eyes when looking at me as well.
"Harry, hi! I didn't realize you were coming here"Hermione greeted and was clearly nervous, probably by my presence, or rather him seeing me present.
"Yeah well I just thought I'd study here for a bit, it's rather loud at the common room. Fred and George are trying something new" he scratched his head and grabbed a chair which he pulled into our table, I could see from the corner of my eye that Hermione kept shifting awkwardly.
"This is Alice Noire.." she paused "from Slytherin" swallowed
"Nice to eh meet you" Harry smiled politely, but his eyes were flickering between me and Hermione so aggressively that it looked as if she had told him that she was having tea with the The dark lord.
"You too. Don't worry I am not a stereotypical Slytherin as one might think" I said an put a quick fake laugh behind it, it sounded real.
He looked visibly more relaxed after my "joke" and even laughed a bit as well.
"what are you studying for?" Hermione asked calmly while sending me a smile, perhaps a 'thank you'
"potions, Snape has exhausted himself making once again a difficult task" Harry sighed and opened his book
"I know the feeling" I said and lifted up my potions book to show him I could relate.
"do you remember once in potions when he poured Nevilles project on him" hermione said and covered her mouth to not giggle.
"Even I remember that" I said and laughed with her, after a moment so did Harry. And it felt accomplishing. That they both were sitting here laughing with me, a Slytherin. It was more like a fever dream, since I've always watched them laugh together and thought it looked like it would feel so good to sit with them and feel yourself warm up with positivity, and yes I was right it really feels good.
"There you guys are" Ron said and dragged a chair over as well.
"I looked everywhere so I figured you'd be here" he said and dumped down. Both Harry and hermione went quite, as if we were reliving the moment when Harry came but just intenser. I suddenly felt extremely out of place, I've never talked to Harry nor Ron and now I was sitting at the library with them so suddenly, it felt very wrong. They were friends, but they don't see me as a friend or even friendly.
