𝑬𝑻𝑯𝑬𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑳 || 𝘋𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘰 𝘔𝘢𝘭𝘧𝘰𝘺 𝘹 𝘺/𝘯'•°

𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑇𝑤𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑦-𝑠𝑖𝑥

°'~𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑻𝒐𝒐 𝑫𝒆𝒆𝒑~'°

After a long day of classes and hanging out with Fred and George, I retreated to the common room to wind down for a few hours before bed. I made my way to the living room on the couch near the fireplace. I noticed that it was unusually quiet and empty. There were only a few people coming and going, but other than that, the room was deserted.

I settled myself down in front of the fireplace, picking up a book I had found earlier before Fred and George's wild ride. It was about a guide to shapeshifting written by an actual Luminhood, which had me intrigued. But as I started reading, I realized that the book was not as informative as I had hoped.

I closed it with a sigh and placed it beside me, gazing into the flames of the fireplace. The warm glow and crackling sound of the fire calmed my mind, and I found myself drifting into thoughts. Suddenly, the flames reminded me of the fire in the cauldron I had to redo in Potions class earlier today. I had been stuck with Draco Malfoy by Professor Snape because of the accident Ron caused to my potion.

But as I remembered him smiling to himself instead of that awful sneer of his whenever there's something that annoys or displeases him, I wondered if there was more to him than his cold and arrogant persona. Is he really different from the rest of the Slytherins, or was he just pretending to be someone he's not to win a bet so I can owe him something?

Despite my dislike for him and not wanting him around me, I couldn't deny that I enjoyed the time I had after class. I remembered how genuine his smile lit up that replaced his usual sneering expression the moment I said he owed an apology for Buckbeak and Pix, a different kind of smile in a way that didn't concern him bullying Harry or anyone else, making him look almost friendly.

Even when we had to glare at each other in the library over my locket, I didn't notice that he had striking light blue eyes after all these years until today. I couldn't deny that I found myself drawn to them. But at the same time, they seemed so soulless and empty, like a beautiful ocean with no life beneath its surface. Maybe that's why I said that his pretty face didn't match a sneerful grin like that.

Shaking my head, I scolded myself for even thinking about him like that. I shouldn't bother myself with such useless nonsense. It is jus a silly bet, nothing more. I shifted my position and lay down on my side, facing the fireplace, curling the front strands of my hair. I hoped that this bet wouldn't come between my friendship with Harry, or worse, push him away.

And I definitely didn't want to get in between Draco and Pansy, who seemed to be vying for his attention. Why is she this crazy, clingy, and most of all, protective over him? Suddenly, a foggy voice comes in.

' 卩✩~ꪊ~✩ነ✩ '

Feeling overwhelmed with thoughts.

I am too sleepy to care who's calling me ...yet again why would she threaten me this much.

It was an exhausting day after all. I then fall fast asleep.

°'~ ✩~☆~✩ነ✩ " ~'°

'°~✩☽︎~°'

I jolt awake, opening my eyes to a figure in front of me, blocking my view of the fireplace. I sit up straight on the couch, looking up, and it was Hermione. It seems it was she who kept calling me, waking me up from my sleep.

"Hermione?"

"You've been asleep here for hours, I've been looking everywhere for you. We didn't notice there was someone on the couch until I heard you sleep talking," she says.