House/Team: Snakes

Class Subject: Charms

Category: Drabble

Prompt(s): [Setting] Hogwarts Library

Word Count: 571


In This Life of Mine


Books held the very essence that gave humans license to breathe.

Or, so Hermione thought dreamily. She inhaled deeply, validating the very thought that's been perpetrating her mind for quite some time. She flipped to the next page and continued to read. The library was disturbed with the vulturous noise of an evening study period. Yet, hermione found no disturbance in her ability to concentrate on her task of finishing her favorite book, A History of Magic. She'd nestled herself in her favorite armchair which overlooked the Black Lake. From time to time, she peeked over the top of her book to take a break, but she was right back to reading before anyone had the chance to notice the distraction.

"Why do you always read so much," everyone would ask her.

The simple answer was that she loved to read.

Hermione adored the fresh scent of a newly purchased book, but her real passion lay within the decaying pages of a worn book. No one understood the knowledge that she could gather within her texts; they were preoccupied by their own passions to notice the joy a library could bring. It was like going on a treasure hunt every single day and discovering something entirely new with each voyage. It lit a fire in Hermione's soul like nothing ever had; she was truly passionate about the adventures she could embark on with just a book.

"I see you're reading again," Draco sneered as he sat down next to her, looking at her worn book with deteste. They'd come to an understanding a few months ago, but that didn't lessen the impact the tone of his voice held. "Always the know-it-all, I see."

"Malfoy," Hermione began with a sigh, closing her book firmly before looking him in the eye," books are everything. How many times must we have this conversation?"

"Until I get bored and find something more interesting to talk about," he grinned mischievously. "Why don't you take a break? You've read that book a thousand times. Don't you get tired of reading the same passages every day?"

It was hard for her to get through to him that not all books were the same.

There were different writing styles to consider, not to mention the vastly different opinions on the motley of different topics that one could discover. Draco just hasn't found the right books to ignite his own passion in reading. Hermione looked around, studying the large bookshelves. She wondered what book she hadn't read. That would be the one question that would garner interest.

"You're right, I've read this book a thousand times," Hermione told him softly before disengaging her mind with particular determination to peak his interest," but it's my favorite book and there's nothing more satisfying than re-reading and finishing something you've already read."

"What's the point when you know how the books starts and ends?"

"Re-reading something always sparks another interesting thought that you hadn't noticed the last time you read it. It's the same reason you go back and watch all those memories from your Quidditch games. It's the same concept. Your mind was preoccupied by something and you wanted to figure out what was bothering you. You see, we're more alike than you're willing to admit and one day I'll teach you the fundamental joys of opening a book and discovering something new every time you do."