mickume/harry_potter_tiny · Datasets at Hugging Face

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"Will you be teaching?" He asked. "Heard you and Bella can outperform everyone else in non-verbals."
"It’s a club, so everyone will be helping everyone else," Hermione explained. "It’ll be fun. We’ll be running on Thursday afternoons starting next Thursday."
"Alright, I’ll join...if I can take you out to Hogsmeade this weekend."
Hermione balked at the comment. "Take me out?"
"Yeah, on a date. There’s this place that’s meant to be really good that all the girls like," he said. Hermione felt herself wanting to backpedal past as Cormac explained what could only be Madam Puddifoot's tea shop.
The idea of going on a date with Cormac served zero interest for Hermione, but as she turned to look at Bellatrix and Ginny, the two women gave her an expectant look. They needed to present their sign-up sheet tomorrow, and over the last week, they’d exhausted every other avenue they were willing to engage in. If Hermione refused, Cormac would refuse and then Bellatrix would be angry and upset about not getting her duelling club.
"Sure," she agreed. "This weekend."
"Cool, where do I sign?"
Hermione presented the sign-up sheet and watched as he filled in his details before handing it back. There, she returned and sat down the document on the table.
"You got him to sign?" Ginny asked, running her eyes over the names.
"Yeah, but only if I went out with him to Hogsmeade," Hermione said, biting her lip.
She watched as Ginny and Bellatrix both paused, looking up at her. Slowly, a grin filled Ginny’s face, "You said yes to a date with him?"
Hermione held her tongue, nodding.
"Merlin, that’ll be interesting. All he does is talk Quidditch with anyone. If you want, we can double date?"
"No," Hermione said. "No, that would be even weirder. Besides, he might be sweet."
Bellatrix was quiet as Hermione made a passing glance toward her. She only looked up to raise a brow at Hermione. "What do you want?" She asked, her tone cold. Hermione flinched.
"Nothing," she said. "I thought..." But before she could finish her thought, Bellatrix had returned to her homework as if the conversation was the dullest thing to engage him.
Ginny only cast her a sidelong glance before moving to ask Hermione about what she would be wearing, to which Hermione admitted that she would probably just wear something casual. She’d only dressed up when she’d taken Viktor to Hogsmeade once, back in her fourth year. They had spent the day wandering around Hogsmeade village, discussing the differences between Hogwarts and Durmstrang, which Hermione had found fascinating at the time.
As the evening grew later, Hermione watched as Bellatrix continued to avoid her, as if she was annoyed with her. Hermione wondered if it was out of jealousy that Hermione would be spending time with someone else or if it was because both Ginny and she would be out this Saturday, leaving Bellatrix to attend Hogsmeade herself.
When she went to bed that evening, Hermione recalled that she had promised to spend Hogsmeade with Bellatrix to show her around and see if the witch recognised anything.
A pang of guilt flooded in her chest as she realised that she had basically shafted the witch for some date, even though the only reason she had accepted the date in the first place was for Bellatrix. It didn’t matter, Hermione decided. She would ask Cormac to move it to the next Hogsmeade weekend and take Bellatrix this weekend, as she promised.
"Don’t bother," Bellatrix said the following day as Hermione tried to apologise, promising to move the date. "I have a project for Care of Magical Creatures that I need to work on."
Hermione frowned. "Doing what?" She asked.
"We’re helping the Centaurs with some of their foals," she said. "Apparently, some family of trolls have moved into the area, and they need help to protect their foals while the others go and hunt it. We get to use pups we trained up." Bellatrix looked too excited, and Hermione felt her stomach sink further. Anything that led to bloodshed seemed like something Bellatrix should be avoiding.
"And the centaurs are letting you help?" Hermione asked.
Bellatrix shrugged. "They seem to respect Hagrid enough. We won’t be near the foals. We’re meant to stand watch around where they keep them safe until the men return."
Hermione shifted the food on her plate. "Oh, I didn’t know that."
"You didn’t ask," Bellatrix pointed out. To that, Hermione looked away. No, she hadn’t asked directly about Care of Magical Creatures because, if she was being honest, she had assumed that Hagrid wouldn’t be giving them any projects that required weekend work since their last year.
When it came time for the Hogsmeade weekend, Hermione didn’t see Bellatrix that morning. Ginny offered her a wolf whistle, at least as they entered the great hall for breakfast. "You look nice. Are you, perhaps, up to something today?" Ginny teased.
Hermione blushed, shoving at her friend. "You know perfectly well."
"I certainly do," Ginny smiled. "Are you meeting Cormac here or at the entrance?"
"Entrance," Hermione said, pouring herself a cup of coffee.
"What’s Bella up to you while you’re on your date?" Ginny asked, wagging her eyebrows again.
"A project for Care of Magical Creatures, apparently," she explained, setting her cup down. "I think I hurt her feelings. I was meant to take her to Hogsmeade and show her around, but I blanked on it when Cormac asked me out. I’d been so surprised at the time that all I could think about was how important it was that I got his name for the sign-up sheet."
Ginny made an odd noise during the conversation as if swallowing something scalding.
"Are you okay?"
"You were going to take Bella out this weekend?"
"To show her Hogsmeade," Hermione said, annoyed at having to repeat herself.
Ginny offered her a look. "I think you should ask her out. Properly."
Hermione choked, staring at her friend. "Why would you even suggest that—what would possess you to suggest that?" Hermione felt thousands of thoughts fly through her head, wondering if she was noticeable and if she was obvious, how many people knew and if Bellatrix knew or if––
"Because she’s fit," Ginny shrugged. "And I think you two suit each other. Don’t get me wrong, I get that you’re into my brother but have you seen him and Lavender recently?"
Hermione looked up at the table to where Ginny was gesturing. There, Lavender’s head was tilted back in loud ringing laughter as Ron grinned at her, looking pleased with himself. Across the table, Harry gave an incredulous look.
"He’s an idiot. He couldn’t even manage to ask you out for Yule in the fourth year."
Hermione flushed. "I know he cares," she murmured. And she did know that he cared. He’d snapped back at Snape on her behalf, something no one else had ever done for her when Snape made petty remarks. He’d tried to curse Draco when he’d called her mudblood, and sure it’d backfired, but it’d been charming at the time because she hadn’t realised how horrible the word was. Ron could have just let it slide, but he hadn’t.
"Of course, he cares, but...hey, remember when you told me to stop chasing Harry?" Ginny asked. "It’s okay to go out and enjoy yourself. If you want Ron in the end, that’s fine. He’ll come to you when he’s ready, and you can decide then, but why should you miss out while he’s still an idiot who doesn’t realise that the only reason he’s on the Quittich team is you?"
"You know about that?"
"Bella told me."
Hermione felt herself get warm, softening as she looked at Ginny. "You’re a good friend," she said. "But it sounds like you’re saying I should play my chance with Bella until Ron gets priorities out."
Ginny shrugged. "Honestly, I think she’s better for you than my brother, but I’m also kinda hoping you marry into the family, so you get to be my sister for real," she said, shrugging. "I can be selfish too."
Hermione laughed. "No amount of legal work will stop us from being friends, you know. We’ve been through too much together. Especially after the Department."
Ginny nodded, picking at her breakfast. "So...what are you going to do?"
Hermione shrugged, trying to ignore the warm flush that went through her. There, Ginny paused as she stopped to take a moment and actually look at Hermione. "Holy fucking shit, do you actually like her?"
"No!" Hermione said, way too loud. "No, no. I like her, but I don’t like-like. She’s just one of the few people I’ve met who actually...."
"Is as smart as you?" Ginny offered.
Hermione gave an embarrassed shrug.
"So maybe you should date."
"Firstly, that’s not a good enough reason to date someone. Secondly, you can’t force yourself to romantically like someone just because you think you’d be a good fit. It has to work. Bella is...so smart and clever, but she’s also...."
"Assertive?" Ginny teased.
"Besides, she could have anyone she wants. Why would she look at me?"
"Plenty of reasons," Ginny said. "You’re not ugly."
No, Hermione knew she wasn’t. But she was under no illusion that she was beautiful in a way that someone like Bellatrix or Fleur or Ginny was. Hermione knew she had plain features and bushy brown hair that she mostly kept pulled back from her face. She was ordinary in appearance, and why would ordinary be sought after by someone as beautiful and intelligent as Bellatrix?
Hermione knew where she stood, and she was comfortable with that.
She checked her watch and looked at the time before finishing her breakfast and heading out to the Entrance Hall.
There, Cormac was waiting for her and offered a smile. The date overall wasn’t terrible. As Ginny predicted, Cormac spent most of the date talking about Quidditch. He spoke about his family, but he also asked about Hermione’s family and what it was like growing up with dentists for parents (something he was somewhat aware of, given that his mother's father was a muggle-born, too).
Madam Pudditfoot's tea shop was fine. Even after Hermione had tried to insist that she could pay, Cormac bought her her meal and walked her back to the Common Room, ending the date with a brief kiss on her cheek. Cormac went on about himself for a while, but nonetheless, her appreciation for him had improved. Otherwise, the date was...ordinary.
When they returned, however, Hermione saw people clustered together, muttering something sharp. Looking around the room, she spotted Harry and Ron and headed toward them.
"What’s going on?"
Harry gave her a grim look. "Katie was cursed," he said.
"Katie Bell? Cursed?"
Harry gave a grave nod. "Her and Leanne were arguing over some package, and when it ripped, the necklace from Bourgin and Bourkes fell out. Malfoy imperio’d her in the girls" bathroom of the Three Broomsticks."
"Well," Ron said, giving Harry a side-long look. "Malfoy was in detention with Professor McGonagall today, actually."
Hermione gave a slow look at Harry as his face grew dark. "It was the necklace he was looking at," Harry assured. "Remember! He purchased something from there."
"We don’t know what he purchased, mate," Ron said. "Look, I get it, you think Malfoy’s a...." there he cast a wary look, lowering his voice, "a Death Eater, but I don’t think he’d curse Katie, no matter how much of a tosser he is. That was dark magic. I don’t even think Pomfrey will be able to help her."
Hermione felt her stomach twist, looking at Harry. "What was the curse?"
"Don’t know," Harry said. "Wait...where was Bella today?" He asked, sneering over her name.
"With Hagrid," Hermione said. "She has a Care of Magical Creatures project."
"Wasn’t with Hagrid when we saw him," Harry said. "Maybe it finished early, and she went and gave Katie the necklace."
"Harry, Draco doesn’t even know who she is," Hermione said. "If he was the person behind the attack, when would he have the time to talk to her? I see all the time and the only interactions they have is..." she paused there, not wanting to admit that Bellatrix spent most of her time hexing Draco whenever he laughed or insulted her in class. "I know you don’t believe her, but Dumbledore does, and he’s powerful enough to know if she was lying."
Harry grimaced, believing that at least. "Well, he must have got some Death Eater to do it, then."
Hermione bit her cheek, sharing a look with Ron. If she was being honest, Harry was beginning to sound...paranoid. "Is Katie going to be okay?" She asked.
"I don’t know," Ron admitted. "It was a nasty curse. She was screaming mad; I think Hagrid got her to Hogwarts in time, but..." he trailed off. "Dad’s dealt with cursed objects like that, and many people are never the same after. Like they’ve been hollowed out."
The rest of the evening, Hermione tried to distract herself with homework before completing her Prefect duties and heading to bed. It was late when she arrived in the dormitory. She changed into her pyjamas and brushed her hair and teeth before moving to bed when she noticed a light coming from Bellatrix's bed curtains. The witch was quietly reading.
Catching the witch’s eye through the parted slit in the curtains, Hermione stepped closer. "How was your evening?" She asked, quiet enough that she wouldn’t wake the others.
"Fine," Bellatrix said. "One of the trolls came pretty close, but we took it done before it got anywhere dangerous. The centaurs seemed to think that Mars shines brightly above me or some griffin shit...whatever that means." Hermione didn't comment. She hadn't cared for divination.
"Did you hear about Katie?" Hermione asked.
"I did," Bellatrix said. "I was heading to the library when Hagrid ran past with her." She shifted on the bed, closing her book. "Overheard someone say she was cursed."
"Do you know much about cursed objects?"
"Enough to know that recovery will be difficult if she survives. She won’t be able to play Quidditch anytime soon, if ever again."
Hermione shivered. She couldn’t imagine your whole life being derailed so suddenly without a single moment’s notice. All Katie had done was go to the bathroom, and someone had found her and handed her some cursed object, bespelling her to provide it to someone else. She probably wouldn’t finish this year of Hogwarts.
Hermione didn’t want to think about it anymore.
"Was she a friend of yours?" Bellatrix asked.
"No," Hermione said. "But she was nice." Taking a breath, she blinked away the prickling tears and smiled at Bellatrix. "I’m sorry again. About today. It would have been nice to have you there."
"Third-wheeling your date?" Bellatrix asked sourly.
"No, instead of him," she said before realising how that sounded. "It would have been nice to do what I promised instead. Next time we’ll go, and I’ll buy you whatever you want from the Joke store."
"Even if it’s against the school rules?" She teased.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Within reason," she promised. "But I did get you some Honeydukes chocolate," she said before retrieving the chocolate from her bedside table. Handing it over, she smiled at Bellatrix. "It’s meant to be one of the best chocolates. Maybe it’ll be familiar?" She said.
Bellatrix smiled as she took it, unwrapping it from its packaging before taking a bite. There, she closed her eyes, seeming to savour the chocolate taste as she gave a short moan.
Hermione paused, feeling her chest tighten at the sound as she looked away. That morning, it had been an absolute lie when she’d informed Ginny that she didn’t like Bellatrix in that way. The truth was, those feelings were being to scare her. Bellatrix was becoming more and more central in her mind, and Hermione was terrified that if she allowed her heart to be passed to the witch, the woman would smash it in an instant, taking great pleasure in Hermione’s pain.
But as she looked at the witch, the fear of that Dark Witch returning seemed to pale. Bellatrix was just...Bella. A friend. "What do you think?"
"Apparently, I have a sweet tooth, so that’s something new I get to know about myself. Thank you."

"Will you be teaching?" He asked. "Heard you and Bella can outperform everyone else in non-verbals."

"It’s a club, so everyone will be helping everyone else," Hermione explained. "It’ll be fun. We’ll be running on Thursday afternoons starting next Thursday."

"Alright, I’ll join...if I can take you out to Hogsmeade this weekend."

Hermione balked at the comment. "Take me out?"

"Yeah, on a date. There’s this place that’s meant to be really good that all the girls like," he said. Hermione felt herself wanting to backpedal past as Cormac explained what could only be Madam Puddifoot's tea shop.

The idea of going on a date with Cormac served zero interest for Hermione, but as she turned to look at Bellatrix and Ginny, the two women gave her an expectant look. They needed to present their sign-up sheet tomorrow, and over the last week, they’d exhausted every other avenue they were willing to engage in. If Hermione refused, Cormac would refuse and then Bellatrix would be angry and upset about not getting her duelling club.

"Sure," she agreed. "This weekend."

"Cool, where do I sign?"

Hermione presented the sign-up sheet and watched as he filled in his details before handing it back. There, she returned and sat down the document on the table.

"You got him to sign?" Ginny asked, running her eyes over the names.

"Yeah, but only if I went out with him to Hogsmeade," Hermione said, biting her lip.

She watched as Ginny and Bellatrix both paused, looking up at her. Slowly, a grin filled Ginny’s face, "You said yes to a date with him?"

Hermione held her tongue, nodding.

"Merlin, that’ll be interesting. All he does is talk Quidditch with anyone. If you want, we can double date?"

"No," Hermione said. "No, that would be even weirder. Besides, he might be sweet."

Bellatrix was quiet as Hermione made a passing glance toward her. She only looked up to raise a brow at Hermione. "What do you want?" She asked, her tone cold. Hermione flinched.

"Nothing," she said. "I thought..." But before she could finish her thought, Bellatrix had returned to her homework as if the conversation was the dullest thing to engage him.

Ginny only cast her a sidelong glance before moving to ask Hermione about what she would be wearing, to which Hermione admitted that she would probably just wear something casual. She’d only dressed up when she’d taken Viktor to Hogsmeade once, back in her fourth year. They had spent the day wandering around Hogsmeade village, discussing the differences between Hogwarts and Durmstrang, which Hermione had found fascinating at the time.

As the evening grew later, Hermione watched as Bellatrix continued to avoid her, as if she was annoyed with her. Hermione wondered if it was out of jealousy that Hermione would be spending time with someone else or if it was because both Ginny and she would be out this Saturday, leaving Bellatrix to attend Hogsmeade herself.

When she went to bed that evening, Hermione recalled that she had promised to spend Hogsmeade with Bellatrix to show her around and see if the witch recognised anything.

A pang of guilt flooded in her chest as she realised that she had basically shafted the witch for some date, even though the only reason she had accepted the date in the first place was for Bellatrix. It didn’t matter, Hermione decided. She would ask Cormac to move it to the next Hogsmeade weekend and take Bellatrix this weekend, as she promised.

"Don’t bother," Bellatrix said the following day as Hermione tried to apologise, promising to move the date. "I have a project for Care of Magical Creatures that I need to work on."

Hermione frowned. "Doing what?" She asked.

"We’re helping the Centaurs with some of their foals," she said. "Apparently, some family of trolls have moved into the area, and they need help to protect their foals while the others go and hunt it. We get to use pups we trained up." Bellatrix looked too excited, and Hermione felt her stomach sink further. Anything that led to bloodshed seemed like something Bellatrix should be avoiding.

"And the centaurs are letting you help?" Hermione asked.

Bellatrix shrugged. "They seem to respect Hagrid enough. We won’t be near the foals. We’re meant to stand watch around where they keep them safe until the men return."

Hermione shifted the food on her plate. "Oh, I didn’t know that."

"You didn’t ask," Bellatrix pointed out. To that, Hermione looked away. No, she hadn’t asked directly about Care of Magical Creatures because, if she was being honest, she had assumed that Hagrid wouldn’t be giving them any projects that required weekend work since their last year.

When it came time for the Hogsmeade weekend, Hermione didn’t see Bellatrix that morning. Ginny offered her a wolf whistle, at least as they entered the great hall for breakfast. "You look nice. Are you, perhaps, up to something today?" Ginny teased.

Hermione blushed, shoving at her friend. "You know perfectly well."

"I certainly do," Ginny smiled. "Are you meeting Cormac here or at the entrance?"

"Entrance," Hermione said, pouring herself a cup of coffee.

"What’s Bella up to you while you’re on your date?" Ginny asked, wagging her eyebrows again.

"A project for Care of Magical Creatures, apparently," she explained, setting her cup down. "I think I hurt her feelings. I was meant to take her to Hogsmeade and show her around, but I blanked on it when Cormac asked me out. I’d been so surprised at the time that all I could think about was how important it was that I got his name for the sign-up sheet."

Ginny made an odd noise during the conversation as if swallowing something scalding.

"Are you okay?"

"You were going to take Bella out this weekend?"

"To show her Hogsmeade," Hermione said, annoyed at having to repeat herself.

Ginny offered her a look. "I think you should ask her out. Properly."

Hermione choked, staring at her friend. "Why would you even suggest that—what would possess you to suggest that?" Hermione felt thousands of thoughts fly through her head, wondering if she was noticeable and if she was obvious, how many people knew and if Bellatrix knew or if––

"Because she’s fit," Ginny shrugged. "And I think you two suit each other. Don’t get me wrong, I get that you’re into my brother but have you seen him and Lavender recently?"

Hermione looked up at the table to where Ginny was gesturing. There, Lavender’s head was tilted back in loud ringing laughter as Ron grinned at her, looking pleased with himself. Across the table, Harry gave an incredulous look.

"He’s an idiot. He couldn’t even manage to ask you out for Yule in the fourth year."

Hermione flushed. "I know he cares," she murmured. And she did know that he cared. He’d snapped back at Snape on her behalf, something no one else had ever done for her when Snape made petty remarks. He’d tried to curse Draco when he’d called her mudblood, and sure it’d backfired, but it’d been charming at the time because she hadn’t realised how horrible the word was. Ron could have just let it slide, but he hadn’t.

"Of course, he cares, but...hey, remember when you told me to stop chasing Harry?" Ginny asked. "It’s okay to go out and enjoy yourself. If you want Ron in the end, that’s fine. He’ll come to you when he’s ready, and you can decide then, but why should you miss out while he’s still an idiot who doesn’t realise that the only reason he’s on the Quittich team is you?"

"You know about that?"

"Bella told me."

Hermione felt herself get warm, softening as she looked at Ginny. "You’re a good friend," she said. "But it sounds like you’re saying I should play my chance with Bella until Ron gets priorities out."

Ginny shrugged. "Honestly, I think she’s better for you than my brother, but I’m also kinda hoping you marry into the family, so you get to be my sister for real," she said, shrugging. "I can be selfish too."

Hermione laughed. "No amount of legal work will stop us from being friends, you know. We’ve been through too much together. Especially after the Department."

Ginny nodded, picking at her breakfast. "So...what are you going to do?"

Hermione shrugged, trying to ignore the warm flush that went through her. There, Ginny paused as she stopped to take a moment and actually look at Hermione. "Holy fucking shit, do you actually like her?"

"No!" Hermione said, way too loud. "No, no. I like her, but I don’t like-like. She’s just one of the few people I’ve met who actually...."

"Is as smart as you?" Ginny offered.

Hermione gave an embarrassed shrug.

"So maybe you should date."

"Firstly, that’s not a good enough reason to date someone. Secondly, you can’t force yourself to romantically like someone just because you think you’d be a good fit. It has to work. Bella is...so smart and clever, but she’s also...."

"Assertive?" Ginny teased.

"Besides, she could have anyone she wants. Why would she look at me?"

"Plenty of reasons," Ginny said. "You’re not ugly."

No, Hermione knew she wasn’t. But she was under no illusion that she was beautiful in a way that someone like Bellatrix or Fleur or Ginny was. Hermione knew she had plain features and bushy brown hair that she mostly kept pulled back from her face. She was ordinary in appearance, and why would ordinary be sought after by someone as beautiful and intelligent as Bellatrix?

Hermione knew where she stood, and she was comfortable with that.

She checked her watch and looked at the time before finishing her breakfast and heading out to the Entrance Hall.

There, Cormac was waiting for her and offered a smile. The date overall wasn’t terrible. As Ginny predicted, Cormac spent most of the date talking about Quidditch. He spoke about his family, but he also asked about Hermione’s family and what it was like growing up with dentists for parents (something he was somewhat aware of, given that his mother's father was a muggle-born, too).

Madam Pudditfoot's tea shop was fine. Even after Hermione had tried to insist that she could pay, Cormac bought her her meal and walked her back to the Common Room, ending the date with a brief kiss on her cheek. Cormac went on about himself for a while, but nonetheless, her appreciation for him had improved. Otherwise, the date was...ordinary.

When they returned, however, Hermione saw people clustered together, muttering something sharp. Looking around the room, she spotted Harry and Ron and headed toward them.

"What’s going on?"

Harry gave her a grim look. "Katie was cursed," he said.

"Katie Bell? Cursed?"

Harry gave a grave nod. "Her and Leanne were arguing over some package, and when it ripped, the necklace from Bourgin and Bourkes fell out. Malfoy imperio’d her in the girls" bathroom of the Three Broomsticks."

"Well," Ron said, giving Harry a side-long look. "Malfoy was in detention with Professor McGonagall today, actually."

Hermione gave a slow look at Harry as his face grew dark. "It was the necklace he was looking at," Harry assured. "Remember! He purchased something from there."

"We don’t know what he purchased, mate," Ron said. "Look, I get it, you think Malfoy’s a...." there he cast a wary look, lowering his voice, "a Death Eater, but I don’t think he’d curse Katie, no matter how much of a tosser he is. That was dark magic. I don’t even think Pomfrey will be able to help her."

Hermione felt her stomach twist, looking at Harry. "What was the curse?"

"Don’t know," Harry said. "Wait...where was Bella today?" He asked, sneering over her name.

"With Hagrid," Hermione said. "She has a Care of Magical Creatures project."

"Wasn’t with Hagrid when we saw him," Harry said. "Maybe it finished early, and she went and gave Katie the necklace."

"Harry, Draco doesn’t even know who she is," Hermione said. "If he was the person behind the attack, when would he have the time to talk to her? I see all the time and the only interactions they have is..." she paused there, not wanting to admit that Bellatrix spent most of her time hexing Draco whenever he laughed or insulted her in class. "I know you don’t believe her, but Dumbledore does, and he’s powerful enough to know if she was lying."

Harry grimaced, believing that at least. "Well, he must have got some Death Eater to do it, then."

Hermione bit her cheek, sharing a look with Ron. If she was being honest, Harry was beginning to sound...paranoid. "Is Katie going to be okay?" She asked.

"I don’t know," Ron admitted. "It was a nasty curse. She was screaming mad; I think Hagrid got her to Hogwarts in time, but..." he trailed off. "Dad’s dealt with cursed objects like that, and many people are never the same after. Like they’ve been hollowed out."

The rest of the evening, Hermione tried to distract herself with homework before completing her Prefect duties and heading to bed. It was late when she arrived in the dormitory. She changed into her pyjamas and brushed her hair and teeth before moving to bed when she noticed a light coming from Bellatrix's bed curtains. The witch was quietly reading.

Catching the witch’s eye through the parted slit in the curtains, Hermione stepped closer. "How was your evening?" She asked, quiet enough that she wouldn’t wake the others.

"Fine," Bellatrix said. "One of the trolls came pretty close, but we took it done before it got anywhere dangerous. The centaurs seemed to think that Mars shines brightly above me or some griffin shit...whatever that means." Hermione didn't comment. She hadn't cared for divination.

"Did you hear about Katie?" Hermione asked.

"I did," Bellatrix said. "I was heading to the library when Hagrid ran past with her." She shifted on the bed, closing her book. "Overheard someone say she was cursed."

"Do you know much about cursed objects?"

"Enough to know that recovery will be difficult if she survives. She won’t be able to play Quidditch anytime soon, if ever again."

Hermione shivered. She couldn’t imagine your whole life being derailed so suddenly without a single moment’s notice. All Katie had done was go to the bathroom, and someone had found her and handed her some cursed object, bespelling her to provide it to someone else. She probably wouldn’t finish this year of Hogwarts.

Hermione didn’t want to think about it anymore.

"Was she a friend of yours?" Bellatrix asked.

"No," Hermione said. "But she was nice." Taking a breath, she blinked away the prickling tears and smiled at Bellatrix. "I’m sorry again. About today. It would have been nice to have you there."

"Third-wheeling your date?" Bellatrix asked sourly.

"No, instead of him," she said before realising how that sounded. "It would have been nice to do what I promised instead. Next time we’ll go, and I’ll buy you whatever you want from the Joke store."

"Even if it’s against the school rules?" She teased.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Within reason," she promised. "But I did get you some Honeydukes chocolate," she said before retrieving the chocolate from her bedside table. Handing it over, she smiled at Bellatrix. "It’s meant to be one of the best chocolates. Maybe it’ll be familiar?" She said.

Bellatrix smiled as she took it, unwrapping it from its packaging before taking a bite. There, she closed her eyes, seeming to savour the chocolate taste as she gave a short moan.

Hermione paused, feeling her chest tighten at the sound as she looked away. That morning, it had been an absolute lie when she’d informed Ginny that she didn’t like Bellatrix in that way. The truth was, those feelings were being to scare her. Bellatrix was becoming more and more central in her mind, and Hermione was terrified that if she allowed her heart to be passed to the witch, the woman would smash it in an instant, taking great pleasure in Hermione’s pain.

But as she looked at the witch, the fear of that Dark Witch returning seemed to pale. Bellatrix was just...Bella. A friend. "What do you think?"

"Apparently, I have a sweet tooth, so that’s something new I get to know about myself. Thank you."