Between Two Worlds

017

The next morning, the atmosphere in Hogwarts was buzzing with anticipation. It was the day of the EPQ presentations, and students were hurrying through the corridors, finalizing their notes and mentally preparing for their speeches.

Hermione was in the Gryffindor common room, meticulously going over her presentation notes. Ron and Harry were with her, offering moral support even though their EPQ topics were different. Ron glanced at the clock, then at Hermione, who was mumbling parts of her speech to herself.

"You've got this, 'Mione," Ron said, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You're the best prepared out of anyone."

Hermione managed a small smile. "Thanks, Ron. I just want everything to go perfectly."

Harry nodded. "It will. We've all worked hard on this. Now, let's get going. We don't want to be late."

As they made their way to the Great Hall, where the presentations were to be held, Hermione's nerves began to settle. She took deep breaths, reminding herself that she had prepared thoroughly and that she could handle this.

In the Slytherin common room, Draco was also preparing, though with less enthusiasm. He glanced at his notes, feeling a mixture of apprehension and annoyance. Blaise and Tiberius were with him, providing last-minute encouragement.

"Remember, Draco," Blaise said, "you've got this. Just focus on the project and ignore any distractions."

Tiberius grinned. "Yeah, and if all else fails, just imagine everyone's in their underwear."

Draco rolled his eyes but couldn't help a small smirk. "Thanks, guys. I'll do my best."

As they entered the Great Hall, the students from all houses gathered, their voices creating a low hum of excitement. The professors were seated at a long table at the front, ready to evaluate the presentations.

The presentations began, and one by one, students showcased their projects.

Finally, it was Hermione and Draco's turn. They stood up, moving to the front of the hall. Hermione's heart raced, but she steadied herself, glancing at Draco. To her surprise, he gave her a small nod, as if to say, "We've got this."

Hermione started the presentation, her voice clear and confident. She explained the theoretical aspects of their project, detailing the intricacies of the Protego spell and its various applications. Draco followed, demonstrating the practical elements, including their creative addition of summoning a wand with a beam the color of the Protego spell.

As they spoke, the audience was captivated. Even Ron, who had been skeptical about Draco, couldn't deny the quality of their work. The presentation ended with a round of applause, and Hermione felt a wave of relief wash over her.

After the presentations, the students mingled, discussing their projects and congratulating each other. Hermione and Draco stood to the side, receiving compliments from their peers and professors.

Meanwhile, in an empty spot in the corridors, Tiberius and Blaise were deep in discussion. They had already completed their EPQ presentations earlier in the day and were now contemplating their next move. With the stress of the project lifted, they thought it might be the perfect time to break through Draco's defenses and get him to open up.

"You know," Tiberius said, leaning against the cold stone wall, "now that the EPQ is out of the way, Draco might be more relaxed. This could be our chance to get him to finally tell the truth."

Blaise nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, he's been so closed off lately. Ever since that incident with the potion, he's been acting even weirder. If we don't push now, we might never get another chance."