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You made your way through the fat lady’s painting into the lowly lit common room. Night had already begun to fall and the room was seemingly empty; you sank into the comfy armchair next to the fire. You let out a groan as you stretched out in the chair before your eyes began to close on their own before you heard a familiar voice.
“Good quidditch practice?” Hermione asked from across the room. You yawned as you got up and turned around to face her.
“Yeah just-” you began before you saw her. She was cowering over books furiously scribbling like she always was but something was different about her. Her hair was messy in a way it wasn't . There were dark circles in both her eyes as she scanned pages of multiple books and her writing hand moved around sloppily missing its direct attention that usually has. “You alright Hermione?”
Her rampant scribbling continued as she answered. “Yeah Yeah-.” she said as she scanned another page on a book to her side. “Just trying to help with Buckbeak's appeal.”
You took a deep breath for a moment. “It'd be so easy to sleep.” you thought as you stood up and made your way over to the table where she was sitting. “What can I do?” you asked as you took a seat opposite her. Her head raised to see you sitting in front of her before a smile that looked half induced by insanity infected her face.
“Take a look through this.” She began quickly before passing you a book almost the size of his head named ‘Cases Involving Magical Creatures of the 1500’s’.
“Anything I should be looking out for.” you say wearily opening the front page.
“Anything that involves trails that successfully appeased a magic beasts execution.” she responded with a renewed energy as they both began. Hours quickly passed as they poured over the books they shared to no avail.
“We’re not getting anywhere.” Hermione professed slamming a book shut before digging her face into her hands.
“Maybe we should call it for tonight?” you suggested letting out a yawn and closing another book. “Tackle it tomorrow with fresh eyes.”
“Fine.” Hermione said before standing up and letting out a big yawn before you got up and watched as she made her way over to one the couches dragging her feet as she did. You quickly joined in sitting next to her.
“What was that earlier with Trewlawnny?” you asked as Hermione shot you a furious look.
“She’s a fool and divination is foolish, it's not worth my time.” Hermione responded harshly as you laid back against the couch and Hermione followed. “You, Harry and Ron make up all your prophecies and she doesn't seem to notice. Plus-” she began. “Plus she has all these prophecies she seems to pull out of midair that are intentionally vague and won't go anywhere.”
“Alright. Alright.” you responded with a smile letting out a yawn.
“Im just so tired.” Hermione admitted as she leaned back touching shoulders with you. You didn't move looking into the fire for a moment before you felt Hermione slowly lower her head onto your shoulder. Surprised you turned your face to see Hermione had fallen into a deep sleep now resting her head on your shoulder.
The fire lit up her features gently as she breathed quietly, her chest rising and falling slowly. You ,on the other hand, felt his heartbeat quicken as he watched her feeling her head on his shoulder, her bushy hair gently brushing itself against his face. The scent of parchment, dry ink and wood smoke engulfing his sense of smell.
Only Merlin knows how long she was in here trying to appeal Buckbeak's fate but even now she slept so deeply and peacefully and as you watched her a strong sense of protectiveness came over you. Similar to when she was petrified by the basilisk but this was something different. Something deeper as if he wanted no harm to ever come to her and that's when you realised what this feeling was. “Shit.” you whispered under your breath as you looked back into the fire. Your heartbeat did not slow but quickened as time passed with you fastened in place not wanting to disturb her. Hours felt like moments as she slept ever so quietly and ever so still apart from the stairs when she’d bury herself further into your shoulder seeking to be set just right.
But alas seemingly all too soon you felt her stir once more away from you before letting out a big yawn as her dark brown eyes fluttered open lost in the fire before looking up at you.
“Oh… I must have fallen asleep.” she admitted groggily rubbing her eyes.
“Yeah you were.” you admitted as you stretched his back after hours of stillness clicking a few times.
“How long?” she asked absentmindedly as she continued to rub her eyes.
“Three or four hours.” you guessed looking at the clock.
“Three or four hours? You should have woken me up.” she responded.
But you only shrugged his shoulders. “You seem to have needed it.” you said trying to pull away your gaze from Hermione lest she notice a red flush you felt creep on your face.
“Well…” Hermione began as you turned your gaze back, locking eyes. “I best be going to bed.” she said standing up.
“Yeah me too.” you responded to the words having to be forced out his throat before standing up yourself. Without another word they left the common room and went to their dorms but as you lay in bed to sleep your mind was plagued with thoughts of Hermione sleeping peacefully next to you.