Facing Hermione's skeptical, disdainful gaze, Draco tugged at the corner of his mouth, the ribbon still in his hand.
He had no idea what was going on in Hermione's head, but he was fairly sure it wasn't anything good.
That said, the ever-dominant Draco showed not the slightest hint of embarrassment, nor any sign of flustered anger. Instead, his calm expression and obvious intent to step closer made irritation flash in Hermione's eyes. She crossed her arms and retreated until her back hit the wall.
Not long ago, she had been the one to take the initiative. Now, she looked like a little white rabbit driven into a corner by a big bad wolf.
Only this adorable little rabbit didn't seem to have much desire to resist at all…
Thud!
Just as Draco was about to do something, a faint crystalline shimmer suddenly entered his vision.
A snowflake had landed on the tip of his nose.
"It's snowing."
"Snow!"
Snowfall at this time of year wasn't anything unusual, but the moment the flakes began to fall, Hermione still couldn't help feeling a rush of delight.
What matters isn't whether the scenery can be preserved, but whether the person watching it with you is by your side.
At that moment, Hermione was living the meaning of those words…
Compared to Hermione's joy and excitement, Draco's attention clearly wasn't on whether this snowfall suited the mood.
Romance was entirely lost on Draco. "Put on your robes. It's about time to head back."
"…Oh." Hermione had wanted to stay a little longer, but when she saw the seriousness in Draco's face, the kind that brooked no refusal, she obediently nodded and took the Gryffindor robes Draco guided toward her with his wand.
It wasn't that Hermione had become weak, nor that she truly wanted to return to her house.
It was that look in his eyes, the one that made her limbs go numb, that made her instinctively unwilling to refuse him…
Draco might have inherited the traditional virtues of an English gentleman, but at heart, he wasn't someone who lavished girls with endless tenderness or constant flattery.
So when he did show a caring side, its impact was overwhelming enough to leave Hermione completely at a loss.
Perhaps this was what people meant by contrast.
...
Snowflakes drifted down.
Watching Draco walk straight toward her, Hermione, who only moments ago had looked ready to demand answers with full force, suddenly didn't know where to put her hands or feet. She could only glare at him with a stubborn, half-fierce look, hoping it might make him stop.
It had to be said that after that kiss, something about how Hermione faced Draco had quietly changed.
Only now did she realize she couldn't quite put on that tough front anymore…
"What are you staring off into space for? Aren't you cold?"
"...."
Staring blankly at Draco as he brushed the snow from her head, Hermione couldn't find a single word. She pressed a hand firmly to her chest, as if afraid that if she didn't, the emotions filling her heart would spill out all at once.
Biting her lip and doing her best to keep her mouth from curling upward, Hermione gave Draco's calf a light, guilty kick.
"Who's spacing out? I was just… just thinking the snow looks nice, so I wanted to watch it a bit longer, that's all."
"You make it sound like it never snows in England…"
"...."
Hermione didn't stop him from brushing at her again. She only flushed red and shot him a sideways glare, a little annoyed at herself for not saying what she was really thinking.
Wasn't it just that she wanted to stay with this bastard a bit longer…
The very next second, just as Hermione was about to pull on her Gryffindor robes again, she noticed Draco's movement.
Her pale face darkened immediately.
"…You jerk, where do you think your hand is going?!"
"You're too slow. I'm helping."
"Bastard, give me the ribbon. I'll do it myself…"
"I think we could dance one last dance tonight."
"I won't! …Let go of me..."
Astronomy Tower.
As the wind and snow grew stronger, the sounds coming from the tower were swallowed up.
Only faintly could one hear… a girl's startled gasps.
And the scorching warmth that seemed capable of melting snow itself….
...
Midnight at Hogwarts Castle.
Under normal circumstances, the only ones still awake and wandering the castle at this hour would be that especially "dedicated" caretaker, for personal reasons, and the ghosts who didn't need sleep at all.
But ever since Draco took in Crookshanks, and a pet cat craze quietly spread as a result, Hogwarts Castle at midnight gained a new dark force.
With Crookshanks as the leader, the caretaker's beloved cat as second-in-command, and the rest of the castle's cats as their core members, this team began appearing throughout the nights of Hogwarts.
Now, whenever evening hours rolled around, one could see Crookshanks leading all the cats of Hogwarts through the corridors, as if patrolling their territory…
As Hermione and Draco walked through the castle in a slightly awkward silence, Hermione suddenly seemed to notice something and let out a delighted gasp.
"Crookshanks!"
"Meow~~"
On the corridor leading to Gryffindor, Hermione happily spotted Crookshanks with his tail held high. This clever, spirited cat padded over step by step and rubbed affectionately against her calf.
It looked like this wasn't the first time he'd done that…
Walking behind them, Draco, unaware of the history between them, glanced over in mild surprise at the familiar scene.
What Draco didn't know was that because of the Astronomy Tower plan, Hermione had been sneaking out of Gryffindor every night. It was through this that she'd grown familiar with Crookshanks.
More than once, when she'd nearly been caught by the caretaker, it was Crookshanks who helped her out, keeping her from being discovered…
All in all.
After safely reaching Gryffindor, no matter how reluctant she felt, Hermione had to part ways with Draco here.
She withdrew her hand from Crookshanks' head, stole a quick glance in Draco's direction, then let out a soft huff before slipping straight through the Gryffindor common room entrance.
That subtle huff and her soft, almost spoiled tone made the clever Crookshanks cast a sidelong look at his owner.
Draco said nothing. He simply bent down and scooped Crookshanks up from the floor, feeling it was necessary to make this cat understand exactly who his master was…
...
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