"So yeah, I have this impressive rash in my..."

"Ronald, I'm eating right now and I would appreciate it if you did't tell me your awesome story about you and your rash," Hermione scowled at him from across the Gryffindor table.

Ron raised his hands in front of him.

"Hey I wasn't going to be too graphic," he defended.

Harry laughed and Hermione rolled his eyes. Sometimes she really wished she had female friends.

"Oi, Hermione? Would you do me the honor of checking my transfigurations essay?" Harry asked with a smile as he helped himself with some strawberry tart.

"Beware of your charm, Harry, or you might drown in it," Hermione answered sarcastically, "I thought you had it down to a tee."

"Well, yeah," he answered sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck, "But it seems what I achieved is actually ways on how not to turn your arms into fins."

"Nice save, mate," Ron said, eyebrows rose in admiration.

Hermione sighed and gave a bite to her own tart.

"Ok, I will revise it tonight, but first I must go to the library."

"Thanks Hermione, your the best," Harry said, "Promise I'll make it up for you."

Ron emptied his plate and was about to take another piece of tart when the dishes disappeared from the table, signifying the end of dinner. Ron made a disappointed sound.

"I was still hungry," he pouted.

"You're always hungry, Ron" a chorus of people around him said at the same time, and then laughed at his indignant expression.

They stood up and when the trio went out of the Great Hall, Hermione turned to them.

"I'll see you later!" she said, and they said their goodbyes before she headed to the library.


"Monkshood, monkshood, I'm certain I have heard about it somewhere..." Hermione mumbled as she went through the open books she had in front of her. At last, with a large grin, she pointed at a book and started to read, "Monkshood, also known as aconite or wolfsbane..." she stopped reading and rolled her eyes. Of course, how could she forget. Well, at least that was the last thing she had to look for that night.

With a content sigh, she closed all of the books and returned them to their shelves, grabbed her school bag and went out of the library. It wasn't scandalously late, there were still a few students here and there, but the darkness had already engulfed the castle and she had still a long way ahead of her to Gryffindor Tower.

She hurried through the cold hallways, her feet echoing on the stone floor of the deserted corridors. She could never get used to the enormous size of the castle, and she had to stop in front of the archway of a courtyard to catch her breath. When she had recovered, she looked up and gasped in surprise.

What was Malfoy doing in this part of the castle? She had passed the stairs to the dungeons a while ago so she couldn't understand what was he doing so far from his Common Room, and so she stared at him curiously. He was leaning against the archway across from where she was, his green and silver scarf moving lightly with the wind. His wand was between his fingers and a few strays of hair had fallen into his eyes.

Not noticing she had been staring, she jumped when he turned his head and locked eyes with her. Hermione suddenly couldn't look away and so they stayed like that without speaking. Malfoy stared at her, his face expressionless. Not a sneer, nor a smirk, not even a raised eyebrow. It was a full moon that night, and the light made his elegant futures stand out and his blond hair seemed to glow. He just stared at her with his silver gray eyes, and Hermione couldn't help but notice how handsome he was.

Handsome? Since when is Ferret Boy handsome? a little voice in her head screamed, but she ignored it.

Malfoy suddenly, and if Hermione hadn't been observing so intently she would have lost it, smiled. It was just a tiny movement, but she could see perfectly the sly little smile he had sent her.

I smile just for you the little voice in her head said then, and Hermione couldn't do anything but smile back.