An Outdated Map

The Witching Hour - Sunday

A/N: Hello my dearest loves. I'm forever sorry about the long break between this chapter and the next. I don't have a compelling reason other than life got really busy and I lost the drive to finish writing. Rest assured, I'm still here and this story is still going. We aren't done yet! I need to sincerely thank every single one of you who've read this and kept up with me. I promise you will get the ending. All my love!

"Take me back 'cause I wanna stay
Save your tears for another
I realize that I'm much too late
And you deserve someone better
Save your tears for another day"
Save Your Tears – The Weeknd

Hermione felt as if she was spinning upwards against the pull of gravity. The feeling worse than the tunnel of apparition. She clamped her eyes shut during the entire ordeal wishing for it to be over soon. Without any warning, she jerked to a stop with a whoosh and teetered on what appeared to be a spiral staircase.

She flung her arms out to keep herself balanced, pressing the palms of her hands on the opposite stone walls. She kept her head down, staring at her feet while she took several breaths. With every passing second, she felt weightless. A wave of contentment, dare she say even happiness, washed over her. She had no idea where she was, or how she got here, but wherever it was, it was familiar, calling on her nostalgia and comforting her.

She had to blink several more times, in an attempt to try and recognize her surroundings. She glanced over her shoulder at the descending staircase and shook her head. No – she was meant to go up. Why? She couldn't say but there was that youthful yearning of adventure swelling within her. She wanted to seek out where the staircase would lead her.

She stood up straight and keeping her fingertips pressed to the cool wall, she began her ascent. A cool breezed wafted down the column, drifting further down the spiral to wash over her. A welcoming comfort. She paused to take a deep breath in, her eyes fluttering shut as she delighted at the way it filled her lungs. With a content exhale she smiled and continued her way up, circling round and round until she reached a plateau with a wooden door.

There was a single iron ringed handle and without a second thought, she reached for it, pulling the door inward and exposing herself to the circular tower top. The windows spanned from floor to ceiling, arched at the top and with railings running through the opened arcs to stop someone from walking out into oblivion. She could smell the springtime air as it filled the area around her. The scent of life starting anew. Spring had always been her favourite season.

She took another step further through the door, startled to see another person accompanying the same room with her. They were leaned against the furthest most stone alcove. She tilted her head to the side, recognizing his profile in an instant. A warm smile grew in her expression, and she padded across the landing, eager to come to his side. She stopped a few steps short, choosing to stand his opposite. He shifted ever so slightly, indicating that he'd heard her approach, even if he hadn't cast a glance up in her direction.

It wasn't until she was leaned forward, crossing her arms on top of the metal banister, her eyes cast outward, taking in the scenery below them, that he spared a look over to her. She felt his gaze on her and as she looked up, their eyes met without any hesitance and they both offered a grin to one another. Old friends reuniting. Soothed by his presence she took another moment to gaze out into the expanse around them and understood the familiarity she held in her chest. They were at Hogwarts. Her second home. Where all her childhood dreams had come true.

"Which tower is this?" She asked, pushing up to stand straight and glance around the room for any defining points. Anything that would indicate where exactly in the castle they were.