𝐑𝐄𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐒-ℍ𝕒𝕣𝕣𝕪 ℙ𝕠𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕣❥

𝐎𝐎𝐓𝐏 𝟏𝟗

Hermione and Emily plowed through the snow, each step sinking ankle-deep into the thick white blanket covering the grounds. The cold bit through their scarves and gloves, but neither seemed to care. Their breath formed little clouds that disappeared quickly into the crisp Sunday morning air.

Emily's hands were tucked tightly into her coat pockets, and her scarf shifted as she glanced sideways at Hermione. Her voice was quiet at first, almost hesitant.

"So... I trust Harry with... everything, yeah?" she began, shivering slightly from more than just the cold. "And I thought I could trust Cho, too, but every time I'm not around... she goes over to him. I mean, I wouldn't mind normally, but the way she talks to him... it's just—"

"Flirty?" Hermione supplied, her lips twitching into a knowing smile. "Normally, I wouldn't worry about silly arguments like that, but if it's bothering you, I'll tell you straight. I'm about eighty-eight percent sure she likes him. But before you overthink it, believe me—he doesn't like her. Not like that. I'm certain he's... in love with you."

Emily froze mid-step, her mouth opening, then closing again. "What? Phhh! No! What? Huh? Wait... what?" Her eyes darted around, searching Hermione's for confirmation, her heart thumping faster than her legs could carry her through the snow.

Hermione laughed softly, a warm sound cutting through the chilly morning. "Yes, really. You're his person, Emily. Always have been."

Emily exhaled slowly, letting a small laugh escape as she tried to process it. The snow crunched beneath them, their boots leaving neat trails behind them as they continued back to Hagrid's cabin, the worry and confusion in Emily's chest slowly giving way to something warmer, something she couldn't quite name yet.

Hermione and Emily later returned from Hagrid's just before lunch, shivering slightly, their robes damp to the knees.

"So?" said Ron, looking up when they entered. "Got all his lessons planned for him?"

"Well, we tried," Hermione said dully, sinking into a chair beside Harry, Emily stood quite awkwardly and only Hermione knew the reason.

Hermione pulled out her wand and gave it a complicated little wave so that hot air streamed out of the tip; she then pointed this at her robes, which began to steam as they dried out. "He wasn't even there when we arrived, We we're knocking for at least half an hour. And then he came stumping out of the forest-"

Harry groaned. The Forbidden Forest was teeming with the kind of creatures most likely to get Hagrid the sack.

"What's he keeping in there? Did he say?" asked Harry.

"No," said Hermione miserably. "He says he wants them to be a surprise. We both tried to explain about Umbridge, but he just doesn't get it. He kept saying nobody in their right mind would rather study knarls than chimaeras, oh I don't think he's got a chimaera," Hermione added at the appalled look on Harry and Ron's faces, "but that's not for lack of trying from what he said about how hard it is to get eggs. . . . I don't know how many times we told him he'd be better off following Grubbly Plank's plan, I honestly don't think he listened to half of what we said. He's in a bit of a funny mood, you know. He still won't say how he got all those injuries. . . ."