The Boy Who Wanted to Live

Beethoven's crush

Hermione ducked into the Hufflepuff common room along with some other first years. She sighed as their giggling faded away and paused to look around the warm common room. A window like wall reflected the setting sun outside the room making her stare at the soft glow in awe. Warm light filtered through out the room where the Hufflepuff students gathered in groups for the evening, some helping others with homework or playing quietly with each other. Cats yawned lazily on the plush couches and a giant portrait of Helga Hufflepuff watched over them all over a comforting fire. Unlike the other common rooms, however house elves were commonly entering and exiting, bringing trays of baked goods and making small talk with the relaxed students. Hermione felt as if she stood out like a sore thumb and nervously straightened her robes. Suddenly a prefect appeared by her side and she looked up to see the bluest eyes shes ever seen. Black hair fell into the crystal eyes and she lowered her eyes to see the button nose covered in a sprinkling of freckles across pale skin and a rosebud mouth with a small smile at the corner.
"Welcome, Hermione Granger," the older boy said making her blush and drop her jaw slightly, "to Hufflepuff common room. You may come and go as you please but please refrain from entering the private quarters as they are off limits to the other houses. I assume you are here for Harry, I shall see to it that he comes to meet you shortly,"
Hermione blushed more and opened and closed her mouth a few times before coughing slightly and gathering her senses.
"Yes thank you," she said quietly.
The teenager walked off towards the boys private quarters in search of the young boy, leaving a gobsmacked Hermione in his place. She watched him walk off noticing how tall he was compared to herself and smiling at his slightly chunky figure. He twirled his wand effortlessly in his hand as he walked and she pulled out her own and began to fiddle with it as she waited.
"What are you looking at?" A voice said suddenly at her side.
Hermione jumped slightly turning red with embarrassment and turned to look at the chubby brownish blonde girl.
"Hello, Hannah," she greeted, moving her frizzy hair behind her ear and blushing more.
"What are you looking at?" Hannah repeated.
"Umm nothing," Hermione said softly, glimpsing over at the tall boy who disappeared through a door.
"Uh huh," Hannah said with a knowing smirk. "And that nothing wouldn't happen to play piano and be named Todd would it?"
"He plays piano?" Hermione asked breathlessly looking at the tall teenager reappearing through the door with a small smile.
Suddenly she spotted jet black hair with a familiar green tint to it and straightened herself out as Harry caught sight of her. Hannah laughed lightly and patted Hermione on the back.
"Have fun love birds," she said with a giggle.
"Shut up," Hermione whispered before looking up at Todd, "thank you Todd," she said happily.
He smiled and bowed to her with elegance.
"Any time, Hermione Granger of Gryffindor," he said with a smile.
Hermione blushed and smiled back at the teenager.
Harry looked between the two of them and coughed lightly making Hermione jump slightly.
"So err what's up?" He asked awkwardly.