YELLOW

6. the chosen one

It was almost time for dinner and Nessie still hadn't come down from her room. Hermione nibbled on her lower lip out of habit and after Ron mentioned he was hungry, she just shooed them to go eat.

"I'll come down soon after, I'll just check up on Nessie first." She said, making Harry and Ron nod. The girl watched her friends leave and sighed, stood up from her seat, and walked to the dorms. She hesitated for a bit before she knocked on Nessie's door, worried that she was sleeping and this might wake her up.

Instead, the said girl opened the door and let the younger in, closing the door after her. Hermione took one look at her friend and immediately threw her arms around her. She looked so exhausted, so drained. Her face was pale, but her cheeks, nose, and eyes were the brightest shade of red Hermione's ever seen.

She could only assume Nessie has been crying since she got here, which made her heart tighten. After a few moments of Hermione hugging Nessie, the older couldn't hold it in anymore. She let out a loud sob, bringing her arms around Hermione tightly.

She felt so at fault, so she just cried in her friend's hair for a few moments, before deciding it was enough. She pulled away and harshly wiped her tears with the sleeves of her robes, which she still hasn't changed out of, and sat on her bed.

She felt numb, she didn't know what to do, think, or say. "You should rest," Hermione said, making the older lookup. It was as if their roles were reversed. "I'll sneak up some dinner for you, but for now just rest." She continued, making Nessie nod and sniffle quietly. Hermione patted her friend's shoulder, before leaving.

Nessie fell on her bed, looking up at the ceiling. Sighing, she looked around. Her roommates still haven't come up, which she was quite thankful for, but sooner or later, they will. Nessie stood up and went to their bathroom, splashing some cold water onto her face to calm herself down.

Just as Hermione had promised, she brought some food up for her friend. She couldn't bear to see her so sad. Nessie had always been the person Hermione Granger looked up to.

The bushy-haired girl left a plate of vegetables and some chicken on Nessie's bedside table. The older girl heard her come in, thankfully her roommates still didn't come up.

Nessie sat up in bed, her hair lightly tangled from all the turning around for the past half an hour, and brought the plate of food towards her. Just as she was about to take a bite from the still-warm meat, she felt her eyes water.

Hermione noticed and immediately sat down next to her and grabbed the plate from the older girl's hands. Nessie brought her hands up to her face, sobbing lightly.

"I'm sorry, 'Mione. You can leave if you're uncomfortable. I'll see you tomorrow." Nessie whispered; She felt horrible for the young girl. She didn't need to see her in this state, over-dramatically crying over something as stupid as a tournament.

Hermione shook her head and left the plate back on the bedside table. Granger threw her arms around Nessie's shoulders, bringing her into a tight hug. After a while, the two pulled apart, Nessie quietly sniffling.

"Harry and Ron are asking about how you're feeling," Hermione said after a short silence, making Nessie sigh.

"Just tell them I'm fine... They don't need to worry like you." The older mumbled. "You should go to bed." She said quickly after that, making Hermione's brows furrow.

"Are you sure? I can stay with you-"

"Completely sure. Go rest. I promise to come out tomorrow." And with that, and one last hug, Hermione left the room, letting Nessie fall back on the bed, eyes glued onto the ceiling.