[Wednesday, September 28th, 2016]

"Sorry I'm late," Rolf whispered over Hermione's shoulder. This week the application classes were back in the library. As her students busied themselves with their research projects due at the end of the term, she went through the applications for student-aides. She should have announced her selection on Monday but she had a hard time narrowing her choices to three. There were so many great applicants this year.

"No, I'm just going through applications. Could you help me decide?" Without even looking at him, she pushed three of the files toward him while she ciphered through another two. Five was better than eight. After a few minutes of silence she hadn't realised he was still staring at her. It wasn't until he cleared his throat that she turned to look at him.

"Hi," he smiled at her timidly.

"I'm sorry, hi." She put down the files with an apologetic expression. "Everything alright?"

Ever since they started dating, she had known Rolf to be quite open. He often leaned back in his chair to watch the people around them. He even liked to place his arms over his head. Except now he sat on the edge of his seat, hands on his knees and his foot was tapping nervously on the floor. The shift in his demeanour started to make her feel a bit anxious.

"I think we need to talk," he said carefully, and a wave of apprehension coursed through her. She looked around to make sure no one was listening. She preferred not to have another personal conversation during class, but most of her students were either focused on their work or walking through the aisles searching for books. Besides, by the looks of him, it seemed rather important.

"Sure, about what?" They got up from their seats and walked toward a nearby window.

"I think we should talk about what happened Monday."

A chill went up her spine. Monday? That was when she visited the observatory… with Malfoy… alone. How on earth could he have known about that? She supposed that any students who were around might have seen… but Rolf knew she was taking Astronomy. Besides, she didn't do anything wrong.

She stopped herself from going down a mental rabbit hole.

"Listen, Rolf, I can explain."

"No, please, you have nothing to explain, it's just… me," he said, scratching his head. She couldn't watch him beat himself up over a misunderstanding. Perhaps he was jealous of her being alone with another man and he didn't know how to tell her. Suddenly she found him even more endearing.

"Oh Rolf, listen, it was nothing. It's just after all that rain, it was such a clear night. I had to-"

"Clear night? What are you talking about?"

"About Monday? Wait, what are you talking about?"

"Yeah, Monday, in your office? With the… you know," he said as if that was explanation enough. It wasn't. Hermione had no idea what he was talking about.

"Help me out here Rolf, with the 'what'?"

Rolf seemed to hunch in on himself as he looked around them, and not just around the room, but also the walls and ceiling. Hermione became slightly impatient. If he wanted to talk to her about Malfoy he should just get on with it.

"Rolf," she said sternly, calling his attention back to her.

"I'm sorry, I'm just a bit on edge is all," he took a deep breath before finally mustering up enough courage to speak again. "The ghost?"

Hermione didn't want to laugh, she really didn't. She should have pinched herself the moment the tiniest of grins began to betray her. Even as he caught the micro expression she couldn't help the soft chuckle that escaped her.

"I knew I shouldn't have said anything," he moved to leave.

"Oh no, Rolf, I'm sorry," she said grasping his arm, all traces of humour leaving as she could tell his anxiety was building. "My apologies, please don't go. I'm sorry." She gently pulled him to her side. He still wore a look of apprehension.

"You don't like ghosts do you?" she surmised. She had completely forgotten their run-in with Helena on Monday. This had nothing to do with her visit to the observatory afterall.

"Not at all. My aunt was a legilimens, let's just say as she got older she attracted the souls of the weary," he said shuddering in place.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't know. Helena is…" Hermione grimaced slightly because she didn't know how he would take the information, but what else could she say. "Well to be honest, she's my friend. I can ask her to stop popping in like she did?"

She watched him swallow and proceed to scratch his throat.

"I'm sorry Hermione, it's not that simple. When I was young there was an incident with a poltergeist… I thought there were only ghosts at the castle, and I thought that by working in the college I wouldn't interact with any…" Rolf was shifting from one foot to another nervously. Hermione didn't really know what to say, so she opted for patience. "I've asked Headmaster Garth for some time off to visit some family back in the states. I should be back by next term.``

Hermione couldn't hide the utter disbelief from her face as he leaned forward to kiss her on her cheek.

"This has been great. I'll see you around."

And just like that Rolf Scamander left. A part of Hermione wished it was as simple as a minor misunderstanding, or even jealousy. These reasons would have made sense. For the life of her she couldn't wrap her head around what just happened.

Rolf was afraid of ghosts and he had broken up with her.