Chapter Text
The morning began the way it always did, with doors opening and closing along the corridor, voices carrying from one room to the next and footsteps moving back and forth without pause.
Harry’s curtains had already been pulled open by the time he turned over.
“Master Harry,” a small voice said near his ear, “it is time to wake.”
He groaned and buried his face deeper into the pillow.
“I am awake,” he mumbled.
“You are not, Master Harry.”
“I am.”
The blanket was pulled back anyway.
Harry blinked up at the ceiling for a moment before sitting up, pushing his hair out of his eyes.
The corridor outside was already loud.
“—it isn’t even,” Hermione’s voice carried sharply from across the hall.
A pause.
“It isn’t. Look at it.”
Harry swung his legs off the bed, already awake enough now to listen.
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Across the corridor, Hermione stood in front of the mirror while a house-elf worked quickly behind her, fingers moving through her hair.
“It’s straight, miss,” the elf said.
“It isn’t,” Hermione snapped, tilting her head. “You’ve done it wrong again.”
The hands stilled, then adjusted it.
Hermione watched closely, then reached up herself, fixing the last bit before stepping away.
“That’s better.”
She didn’t wait for anything else and walked out.
Downstairs, the fireplace in the entrance hall flared green.
Draco stepped out first, brushing soot from his sleeve with a faint frown. Narcissa followed behind him, already moving forward.
“Go on,” she said.
Draco nodded once and moved past her, heading down the corridor without stopping.
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By the time they reached the sunroom, breakfast had already been set out.
Light filtered in through the tall windows, spilling across the table and the floor, the garden just beyond the glass still quiet in the morning.
Harry dropped into his seat and reached across the table without waiting.
“That’s mine,” Hermione said immediately.
“You didn’t even take it.”
“I was going to.”
“You weren’t.”
“I was—”
“You’re always about to.”
Hermione grabbed for it anyway. Harry pulled it back.
“That’s not fair.”
“You should’ve taken it first.”
“That doesn’t make it yours.”
“It does.”
Draco took his seat across from them, glancing once at the plate before looking down at his own.
Harry kept talking through half his food. Hermione argued back just as quickly, pointing out every mistake whether it mattered or not. He pushed back every time.
It didn’t stop either of them.
When they finished, they left the table the way they always did— chairs pushed back, heading toward the parlour without being told.
Harry pushed the door open.
“They’re not here.”
Hermione stepped in beside him. The chairs were still where they had been left, the books stacked neatly on the table.
“They would’ve started by now.”
Draco stopped just behind them, looking into the room.
“They’re late.”
They stayed where they were for a moment.
Then footsteps sounded from further down the corridor.
Narcissa appeared, pausing when she saw them gathered at the door.
“Come with me.”
She turned without waiting.
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They followed her without asking where.
The corridor grew quieter the further they went, the morning noise fading behind them. The room she stopped at wasn’t one they used. The door stood open.
Inside, everything felt new.
Three desks stood in a row, spaced apart. A board had been fixed to the wall. The windows were taller here, the light softer.
Harry slowed near the doorway.
“We don’t sit here.”
Hermione didn’t answer. She was already looking around, taking in the desks, the board, the way everything had been set out.
Draco stepped past them, his hand brushing lightly against the edge of the nearest desk.
“This isn't where we sit.”
Narcissa moved to the front and set the books down.
“Sit.”
Chairs shifted as they pulled them out.
Harry sat first, leaning forward immediately. Hermione followed, straight-backed. Draco adjusted his chair before settling, his hands resting flat on the desk.
Narcissa opened one of the books and turned it toward them.
“We’ll read today.”
She glanced at the page.
“Harry.”
Harry leaned closer.
“Godric’s… Hol—lo—”
He slowed, frowning.
“Hollow,” Hermione said quickly.
“I was saying it.”
“Finish it.”
Harry exhaled and tried again.
“Godric’s Hollow.”
“Good.”
He leaned back slightly.
“Next.”
Hermione didn’t hesitate.
“Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.”
A pause.
“It’s in Scotland.”
Narcissa looked at her.
“Just the name.”
Hermione pressed her lips together and nodded.
“Draco.”
Draco’s eyes moved across the line once before he spoke.
“Ministry… of Magic.”
“Again.”
He frowned slightly.
“The Ministry of Magic.”
“Yes.”
They continued like that.
Harry slowed when he had to. Hermione waited when she remembered. Draco read each line to himself before saying it aloud.
“You always add extra things,” Harry muttered, leaning toward Hermione.
“Because I know them.”
“You don’t have to say them.”
Hermione turned to him.
“You didn’t even know how to say—”
Narcissa closed the book.
“We’ll try something else.”
Harry straightened immediately.
Hermione looked back at the desk. Draco didn’t move, but his attention shifted.
Narcissa held the book loosely in one hand.
“I’m thinking of something.”
She looked between them.
“You can ask questions. I’ll answer yes or no.”
Harry went first.
“Is it in this room?”
“Yes.”
Hermione followed.
“Is it the book?”
“No.”
Draco glanced at her hand, then the desk.
“Is it something you’re holding?”
“Yes.”
“It’s the book,” Harry said.
“No.”
His mouth opened, then shut again.
They kept going.
Hermione guessed quickly, then slowed when she missed. Harry asked whatever came to mind. Draco waited longer, watching before speaking.
After a few rounds, Narcissa lowered the book.
“Now one of you chooses.”
Hermione straightened slightly.
“Harry.”
Harry blinked, then nodded.
“Okay.”
He looked around, choosing something without saying it.
“They’ll ask.”
Draco spoke first.
“Is it near the desks?”
Harry hesitated.
“Yes.”
Hermione leaned forward.
“Is it the chair?”
“No.”
She leaned back, frowning.
Draco didn’t rush.
“Is it something we’re sitting on?”
“No.”
Hermione’s next question came slower.
“Can we move it?”
Harry paused.
“…Yes.”
The guesses continued, quieter now.
When it ended, Narcissa set the book down.
“If you answer too quickly, they learn too much.”
She let that sit.
“And if you guess too quickly, you show them how you think.”
Hermione didn’t look up. Harry glanced at her, then away. Draco stayed still.
“That’s enough.”
Harry frowned.
“That was short.”
“We’ll continue tomorrow.”
They stood, one after the other.
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The corridor felt slower on the way back.
Harry walked ahead, then slowed until Hermione caught up.
“You still guessed wrong.”
“I didn’t guess wrong,” Hermione said. “I just said it too early.”
“That’s the same thing.”
“It isn’t.”
Draco joined them without speaking.
After a moment, Hermione added, quieter this time,
“I would have gotten it.”
Harry didn’t argue.
They kept walking.