A simple letter at the start of the year caused my like to spiral in the course of two months. The realization of who my new sister was shook me to my core to be perfectly honest.

Of all people to be vaguely familiar with, it had to be her. Any other muggle raised witch would not have surprised me half as much. And for months I have been fighting myself to accept this as the truth.

September I shut down the conversation that happened that night when the realization dawned on myself, along with Blaise and Draco. It is impossible is what I told myself. This is some sort of ruse the golden trio concocked to get under my skin and to just cause drama.

But as the weeks passed, I found myself watching every movement and straining my ears to hear every word. She was smart, there was no doubt about that, and she was as transparent as they come. Every emotion she had was clearly visible on her face, and in the odd times I caught her staring back; the confusion and fear was almost as visible as her bushy hair.

The day I resolved myself to look over the last letter she sent was around mid October: we were in the middle of a DADA class, and I was not paying attention to what transpired prior, but the moment I heard the scrapping of the wooden chair against the stone floor, I couldn't help but watch.

There was this bushy haired girl gripping the table hard enough to turn her knuckles white, her hair got even more frizzy and she was actively challenging Umbridge in the middle of the class. She didn't flinch when detention was given to her, and she didn't return to her seat, instead she collected her bag and stormed out of the room.

It was a week later till we had another double DADA class, but my eyes were trained on her from the moment she entered the class. She walked past her normal spot at the front and walked right past me. I managed to catch a glimpse of a healing wound on her hand; raised and red, but clean edges of her elegant script I have come to recognize as her handwriting.

"Disgrace"

I felt my face twitch at how legible that cut was.

When she sat down, she left her books in her bag and just sat forward with her eyes narrowed and arms crossed against her chest.

That night was the night I owled for potion supplies.

The potion was simple to brew, and the ingredients were easy to inquire; the hard part was getting her alone. Since that incident in DADA, finding her outside classes was almost impossible; it might have to go with the new inquisitorial squad roaming the hallways for anyone who even looks at them funny.

But as the final day of the potions viability I was able to somehow managed to get Granger on her own; not whispering to fellow classmates, or nose buried in some paper or the other.

Just her and her orange monstrosity of a familiar.

Tucked into a small alcove in the back of the library, I have come to realize her spot, her books were open to various pages and whatever she was using to write with was rolled halfway across the table. Her hair was rolling off the edge of the table, and her body moving with the steady rhythm of her breathing, it was safe to assume she was fast asleep, in that hunched over position. Her cat, laying as a lion, on her desk; as if watching over her.

I cast a DISSOLUTION charm quickly and made my way to her table. Her cat's golden eyes watched my every movement but didn't make a move.

With hesitant hands I reached out for one of her books she had left open and the cat meowed and moved into what could only be described as a loaf like posture, and continued to stare me down. Intimidating little beast.

I crossed one leg over the other and leaned back, figuring I would get a couple pages in before she woke up.

POV shift* / Hermione

My lower back and my neck were in utter agony, screaming at my every move as I came to. I will definitely need to soak before bed tonight.

Clearing the sleep from my eyes, I can tell that it is significantly later on in the day from the point that I closed my eyes for a quick power nap; the sun is almost out of reach from my window; I wasted a whole afternoon of study time. I sign and turn my attention to my table-my books have been moved.

It was like a jolt to the heart, I sat up straighter and took a proper look at my table, everything was still here, but not as I had left it. Then a flick of Crook's tail drawed my eyes over to him, and I felt my body turn to ice.

There was my loyal familiar curled up like a kitten on none other than Theo Notts lap. Theo looked like he had a couple of my books stacked in front of him-meaning he had to have been waiting here for some time.

He must have worked it out.

My voice was dry, and it cracked when I spoke, "Sorry to have kept you waiting-"

His finger went up as his other hand flipped the page; I almost had to giggle. Who would have thought reading was something we both enjoyed. Eyeing the cover, I nearly lost the restraint to not laugh; Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

I smile and shake my head, deciding to let him read the last few pages to himself, while I packed myself up.

"What a load of shite."

I look up and see him setting the book down on the table before giving my familiar a scratch between the ears.

"I take it you weren't a fan?"

"I was hoping for a little more dramatics than that-seems a little anticlimactic to go for someone who not but ten chapters beforehand, they were arguing why they are a horrible choice for one another."

I shake my head, "You have to read into it, not just the words. Beliefs can change when they are challenged."

Our eyes meet and the silence couldn't be louder. I could feel my heart beating against my chest. My mouth went dry. And I could feel myself breaking out in a cold sweat.

Having never been this close to him, I was finally able to observe him in detail.

His eyes had a flex of green.

His hair was neatly styled, but you could see the ringlets of his natural curl under the layer of product.

His skin was warm and had a slight dusting of freckles over the ridge of his nose.

And as I observed him, I could feel the burn of his eyes right back on me.

I felt my cheeks burn.

"I didn't know how to tell you directly…how long have you known?"