Only after Draco and Hermione disappeared around the corner did Pansy, still standing by the entrance of the Room of Requirement, finally let out a long, heavy breath. It was as if, had she not done so, she might have lost control and followed them after all.
Seeing Pansy's conflicted expression, Astoria leaned casually against the nearby wall, her gaze curious and amused as her almond-shaped eyes quietly observed Pansy's every move.
As for Goyle and Crabbe, they had sensed trouble long ago and made a quick escape. It was obvious to them that Pansy was in a very bad mood right now.
But what exactly had made her willing to give Draco and Hermione a chance to be alone, even while feeling this upset?
That was precisely why Astoria hadn't left immediately…
She bit her lower lip.
Whether it was to convince herself that nothing was wrong, or to avoid imagining what might happen once Hermione and Draco were together, Pansy turned her head toward the spot where the Room of Requirement had just vanished.
"It really disappeared… how did they do that?"
Moments ago, there had been a wooden door covered in patterns. Now, all that met her hand was a cold, solid wall.
With one hand pressed against the wall and her mind clearly elsewhere, Astoria didn't think Pansy was speaking to her at all.
She shook her head.
Unable to watch any longer, Astoria interrupted Pansy's muttering.
"So, what kind of deal did you two make this time?"
"It's you! Why are you still here?"
Only then did Pansy realize someone was beside her. She jumped slightly, and the moment she recognized Astoria, she hurriedly waved her hands, trying to cover things up.
"…It's nothing."
Even though she knew perfectly well that excuse wouldn't fool the other girl, Pansy's instincts kept her on guard. She had no intention of revealing the agreement she'd made with Hermione.
"Instead of worrying about me," Pansy said after a pause, "you seem a little too familiar with everything about the Room of Requirement, don't you?"
"Oh? Do I?" Astoria smiled lightly.
"..."
Astoria, for her part, had no intention of sharing her own secrets either.
Besides, even if Pansy said nothing, Astoria could more or less guess what this was about.
'It's just the Yule Ball. You really think I can't figure that out?'
Thinking of it made Astoria's mood sink slightly. Being a full two years younger than Pansy and Hermione, she simply didn't have much of an advantage.
Whether it was height or other aspects, she still had plenty of room to grow. That was why she had taken a much more laid-back attitude toward the question of who would become Draco's dance partner.
Not to mention, she had a status neither of those two could compare to.
Still…
Watching someone else become Draco's dance partner would make any girl feel frustrated, wouldn't it?
Astoria was no exception…
…
If one were to ask where the highest point in Hogwarts was, it would undoubtedly be the three towers that pierced the clouds. Those towers were the Astronomy Tower, the Gryffindor Tower, and the Ravenclaw Tower.
Among them, the Astronomy Tower, used for astronomy lessons, usually opened around midnight, when the stars were at their clearest. According to the normal schedule, Draco and the others had not yet reached the year when they would attend that class.
What was surprising was that Hermione already seemed familiar with this place. Judging by how easily she led the way, this clearly wasn't her first time coming here…
After using an Unlocking Charm to open the door in a perfectly reasonable manner, Draco and Hermione climbed the spiraling stairs and arrived at the open tower top, where the entire night view of Hogwarts lay spread out below them.
The high-hanging moon illuminated the tower so brightly that even without any lights, Draco and Hermione could clearly see each other's expressions.
Perhaps because she was nervous, Hermione, who had led Draco here without saying a word the whole way, now looked unexpectedly endearing. Her cheeks were lightly flushed, and even after reaching their destination, she seemed at a loss as to what to do next.
Seeing this, the gentlemanly Draco didn't rush to question her. Instead, he walked over to the low wall and looked out over the Hogwarts castle below.
"So this is… Hogwarts."
Compared to the mysterious atmosphere of the Slytherin dungeons, the commanding view that took everything in at once carried a different kind of charm. Without realizing it, Draco stretched his arms wide…
Behind him.
Hermione watched his figure bathed in moonlight, and the tension in her chest slowly eased.
She gently pressed her lips together, then walked over to stand beside Draco. The moonlight stretched their shadows long across the ground.
Hermione spoke softly.
"What do you think of this place?"
"How did you find it? Astronomy class isn't until next year."
The moment he mentioned it, the tips of Hermione's ears turned a faint shade of red.
Was she supposed to say that she'd been wandering Hogwarts alone in the middle of the night lately, just for this moment? That she'd spent time figuring out when no one would come up here?
With her proud, stubborn streak, Hermione naturally wouldn't admit that all of this had been for today, or that she'd broken who knew how many school rules in the process…
"Ahem… I read about this place in a book."
"…Is that so? Then lend me that book sometime. I'd like to see what it says."
"..."
Those words made Hermione's eye twitch slightly. She didn't have any book she could hand over to him.
Noticing her awkwardness, Draco smiled silently.
"So then, you brought me here on purpose. Is there something you wanted to say to me?"
Looking at the girl whose height reached just under his chin, catching the faint scent of ink clinging to her, and feeling the atmosphere slowly grow more delicate, Draco found himself momentarily distracted.
Meeting his intense gaze and feeling her heartbeat quicken, Hermione shot him a flustered, annoyed look.
"Teach me…"
"Teach you what?"
"Dancing, of course!"
Hermione's request made Draco freeze for a moment.
Dancing?
Here?
As Draco stood there in a daze, Hermione, her cheeks flushed red, took a step back, tugged lightly at her robes, and imitated the invitation to dance she remembered from the books.
It wasn't very proper, but it was precisely that awkwardness that struck Draco as breathtaking.
Bathed in the moonlight, Hermione looked as though she were wrapped in a thin veil of white.
Beautiful.
And utterly captivating…
...
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