Ten Questions (Harry Potter x Slytherin reader)

Chapter 15

"Anything useful?"

I shake my head as I snap my book shut, setting it next to the other several stacks of books on the table as I look up at Granger.

"Nope." I run a hand through my (y/h/c) as I lean back in my seat. "I'm beginning to think that nobody knows anything about dragons."

Granger lets out a long sigh as she sets down a book of her own down, pacing around the room nervously as she turns to face me. Her bushy hair is a mess- sticking out from odd angles and her black robes set to the side, revealing her golden-red Gryffindor tie. It had been approximately three hours since we had entered the library, and we still haven't found anything. What started out as a team of four (that team of four being me, Granger, Potter, and Ginny Weasley) had now shortened to just Granger and I, Potter having to finish his potions homework and Weasley mysteriously and suddenly leaving for no apparent reason. We had gone through book after book and still hadn't found anything. It didn't help that I didn't know shit about dragons. Granger collapses onto the chair across me, sighing.

"I don't understand," she says, her voice slightly exasperated, "we've tried everything. Why haven't we found anything useful?"

I stand up and tap my chin thoughtfully as I begin to pace around the room. "There has to be something," I murmur, more to myself than anything. "They wouldn't have dragons be the test if they were indestructible."

"Maybe we're not supposed to defeat them," Granger suddenly says. "Maybe we just have to find a way to temporarily stop them from doing... something..." I roll my eyes as I sit down. Granger gives me a pointed look. "I mean, they can't expect a bunch of teenagers to take down full grown dragons."

"Then what do you suggest, if you're so smart?" I snap. "How do you think we should stop them? Because I'm open to any ideas."

Granger crosses her arms, glaring at me.

"Look, Y/n, I want to help Harry as much as you do, but we're going to get nowhere if you keep stressing about it-"

"I'm not stressed!" I say, my voice slightly exasperated.

"Yes, you are," Granger says. She sighs. "I mean, look at you, Y/n. It's only been three hours and you're already a mess." I avert my gaze, ashamed as I stare at a point in the floor. Her features soften when she sees this. "What's wrong, Y/n?" She asks softly. She puts a hand on mine and I look down, furrowing my eyebrows at the sudden gesture. "You can tell me, you know."

I pause, hesitant as I slowly pull my hand away from hers.

"I'm... just worried about him," I blurt, the words spilling out of my mouth like a river. "I don't want Potter to die. A year ago, I wouldn't have given a shit if something bad were to have happened to him, but now... if something happened during the tournament, I don't think I could ever live with myself. It's like my fate is bound to his, you know? It's like, if he dies, it's my fault, in a way. I'm supposed to be the one helping him so he can survive. I mean, those are dragons, Granger!" I say, throwing my arms up into the air. "Does he even have a chance?"

"Of course he does," Granger says, wrapping me into a hug. "Y/n, of course he does," she goes on. "You know, he may act like an idiot, but he's smarter than you think he is. You just got to... I don't know, trust him." A small smile spreads across her features, as if recalling a happy memory of some sort. "He'll be fine."

"Right." I pull away from the hug and we both simultaneously shift uncomfortably. I brush the dust off of my shirt, taking a deep breath. "Right. Well, I suppose we got to keep at it, then, yeah?"

Granger smiles.

"Absolutely."

...

Five days. That's how many days we had until the first task. After about four and a half hours of studying with Granger, we both decided to give it a rest and try again the next day after classes. I had contemplated bring Theodore Nott along, who was one of the brighter students in our year, until I realized that he probably had no interest in helping Potter, so I waved the thought away and decided to just focus on making it to potions on time. Not that it really mattered, anyway, since Snape would never deduct points from his own house.