Between Two Worlds

015

Later that night, as the fire in the common room dwindled to embers, Ginny stirred from her sleep, alerted by Hermione's restless movements and murmurs. She sat up in bed, squinting through the darkness to see Hermione tossing and turning, her brow furrowed in distress.

"No, Draco, I love Ron," Hermione muttered in her sleep, her words barely audible.

Concern etched on her face, Ginny reached out and gently shook Hermione awake. "Hermione, wake up," she whispered urgently, trying not to startle her.

""Hermione found herself standing in a dimly lit corridor of Hogwarts, the shadows flickering eerily on the stone walls. She could hear faint echoes of voices and footsteps, but the air around her felt heavy and oppressive. Anxiety gnawed at her insides as she navigated the maze-like passages, searching for an escape that seemed just out of reach.

Suddenly, Draco emerged from the shadows ahead, his platinum blond hair catching the dim light. Hermione's heart skipped a beat, her breath catching in her throat at the unexpected encounter. She instinctively took a step back, her hand reaching for her wand out of habit.

Draco's stormy gray eyes locked onto hers, his expression unreadable yet strangely intense. "Hermione," he said softly, his voice sending a shiver down her spine. "I need to tell you something."

Her pulse quickened as Draco approached, his presence commanding yet unsettling. "Malfoy, what is it?" she asked, her voice betraying a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.

He stopped a few paces away, his gaze never leaving hers. "I... I love you, Hermione," Draco confessed, his voice barely above a whisper. "I've always loved you."

Hermione's heart raced, her mind struggling to process his words. "Draco, you don't... you can't," she stammered, her voice trembling. "I love Ron."

Draco's expression faltered for a moment, a flicker of hurt crossing his features. "But Hermione, I..." He reached out tentatively, his hand hovering near her cheek as if seeking reassurance.

She stepped back again, shaking her head firmly. "No, Draco," she insisted, her voice stronger now. "I'm with Ron. I love him.""

....

Hermione blinked groggily, disoriented as she sat up in bed. "Ginny?.. What's wrong?" she asked, rubbing her eyes.

"You were tossing and turning," Ginny explained softly. "You were dreaming."

Hermione's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she realized she had been talking in her sleep. "Yeah," she murmured, running a hand through her hair.

Ginny studied her friend's face, her brow furrowing with concern. "You mentioned Malfoy," she said gently. "Are you okay?"

Hermione hesitated, unsure of how to respond. "It was just a dream, Ginny," she reassured her, though her voice wavered slightly.

Ginny returned to her own bed, casting a concerned glance back at Hermione before settling under the covers. As the Gryffindor common room fell into silence once more, Hermione tried to push the lingering images of her dream from her mind, focusing instead on the comforting warmth of her friendship with Ron and Harry.

The next day, Hermione awoke feeling restless, the remnants of her unsettling dream still echoing in her mind. She got ready for the day, her movements mechanical as she tried to shake off the lingering unease. Ginny, noticing Hermione's distracted demeanor, gave her a sympathetic smile but didn't press the issue. They both headed to the Great Hall for breakfast, joining Harry and Ron at their usual spot.

As Hermione sat down, Ron looked up, his face brightening. "Morning, 'Mione. You okay? You look a bit off."

Hermione forced a smile. "Just didn't sleep well. Weird dreams, that's all."