"Um, Fay … can I borrow some make-up, please?"

To say that Fay Dunbar was surprised by the request would have been the understatement of the century. Even Lavender and Parvati, who were busy adding orange and purple twists to their already twisty hair stopped and looked over with open mouths.

For Hermione Granger never wore make-up. Not ever.

"Er, of course, Hermione," Fay replied in shock. "What would you like?"

"Oh, I don't really know," Hermione frowned. "A little shading for my eyes, perhaps? Maybe just a hint of blush to my cheeks? I do look rather pale. What would you suggest?"

"Well … who are you looking to impress?" Fay asked in a gentle tease.

"Nobody. This is all for me," Hermione insisted.

"Rubbish!" Parvati cried. "No girl gets made up just for the sake of it. It's too much effort. Who are you looking to look good for, Haitch?"

"Nobody. Honest," Hermione tried in vain.

"I'd do her up in blue, if I were you, Fay," Lavender called over playfully. "Ravenclaw blue, if you know what I mean!"

Parvati hooted out a laugh. "Oh, yes! Royal blue … maybe a little lightening-shaped scar just to complete the look!"

Hermione blushed more scarlet than the hangings of her four-poster. "I'm sure I've got no idea what you are talking about."

"Oh, really?" Lavender cried. "On the one hand we have a witch who barely spoke if it wasn't to tell someone off, on the other we have a witch who tells off her entire House then actually makes an effort to look pretty at the next school social! Only a special wizard could cause such a sea-change in a witch. We're not idiots, Hermione."

"You're doing a good impression of ones," Hermione scowled. "You know what, Fay? Forget it. Forget I asked."

"No, I wont," Fay countered. "You wanted make-up, so I'm going to give you some. Ignore these two bundles of jealousy over here. Actually, I've always been a little envious of your complexion, Hermione. You don't have a single blemish or pimple, you lucky enchantress. This is quite the canvas to work with."

"Oh, well … thank you," Hermione blushed.

"So, what do you want?" Fay asked.

"Nothing elaborate," Hermione replied. "But I'm not an expert when it comes to make-up. I just want to look a bit … nicer."

"I think Harry Potter likes you as you are," Fay whispered in semi-tease, so that the other girls couldn't hear. "He was staring at you so much at breakfast today. Will you ever tell me what's going on?"

"If you do my make-up nicely, maybe I will," Hermione grinned in response. "Just don't go over the top."

"Just a bit on the eyes and cheeks then," Fay announced, picking up her palette. "So, girls … any ideas on dates for the Yule Ball?"

"There's a guy from Durmstrang I'm going to ask," Lavender revealed. "I've had my eye on him since the First Task. But if he turns me down, I've got Ron Weasley on back up. I know … don't look at me like that, Pav … but at least I'll get a snog out of it. That wouldn't be so bad. Who are you going with?"

"Ernie MacMillan," Parvati announced. "Or Terry Boot. They are both quite fit. Fay?"

"I was already asked … by one of the Beauxbatons girls."

All heads snapped in her direction. Parvati spoke up first. "What, you … you like witches?"

"I've never really thought about it before, but she is very pretty," Fay replied simply. "And the French accent really does it for me. So I said yes and I'll just see how it goes."

"Wow," Lavender replied. "Well, good luck to you. But if it all goes … well, tits up … don't come looking to me for a bit of commiseration tongue. My bread is buttered distinctly wizard-side up!"

"Oh, I wont. Anyway, I prefer blondes," Fay grinned.

"What about you, Hermione?" Parvati asked. "Have you got your eye on anyone? And don't give us all nightmares by saying the Giant Squid!"

"Don't be silly, Pav!" Lavender exclaimed. "We all know there's only one wizard for our Hermione. And no, we don't mean the walking enigma that is Harry Potter."

Hermione flipped her eyes to Lavender, drawing a hiss from Fay, who had been trying to shade her left eyelid. "What on Earth are you talking about now?"

Lavender looked over, totally nonplussed. "Did you, or did you not, accept an invitation from that creep Viktor Krum to have a date session at the Feast tonight?"

Hermione gasped aloud. "Where did you hear that? Besides, it isn't a date. He just wants to talk."

"Don't you worry about where I heard it. It's true, then?"

"It's really none of your business," Hermione replied in a lofty voice.

"Oh it is," Lavender insisted. "Especially if a boy of nearly eighteen is showing an interest in a girl that, for all he knows, is only fourteen. A girl who is a friend and dorm-mate of ours. Then it most definitely is our business."

"Since when are we friends?" Hermione fired back, shifting awkwardly at the shocked look this drew from Lavender and Parvati. "Don't look at me like that … all you ever do is tease me. You don't even like me."

"Of course we do," Parvati corrected. "You just make it really hard. Trying to be friends with you is like trying to be friends with a brick wall … almost impossible to get through to."

"And it isn't like we haven't tried," Lavender added. "You just shut us down all the time."

"I do not," Hermione protested. "We are just different people … we like different things."

"That doesn't mean we can't be friends," Lavender fired back. "You just close yourself off. But we wont let you do that now … not with a brute like Krum hovering around you."

"Yeah," Parvati nodded, vehemently. "I heard he was trying to cosy up to that Sally-Anne Perks from Hufflepuff. But she fancies Harry Potter, and she warned Krum that she'd have a word with Harry, make him get Krum to back off. Then he did."

"Yeah, no-one wants to mess with Potter," Lavender nodded keenly. "I mean, we've all heard about his temper and he did kill You-Know-Who. So, if this thing with you and Krum is true, I'm going to tell Harry, myself, make him get Krum to leave you alone."

"That really isn't necessary," Hermione replied, blushing with her flusteredness. "Krum just wants to talk about Hogwarts."

"I bet," Fay scoffed. "Probably wants to find the shadiest alcoves to drag you to. I'm with the others, Hermione. You are solitary and vulnerable … we wont let Krum flatter you and convince you to do things that you aren't comfortable with."

"He won't do that … will he?" Hermione asked in a little voice.

"He might," Parvati warned. "That's how predators work. They flatter their way into your confidence … and the next thing you know is that you're pulling up your knickers behind one of the hydrangea bushes while they run off to crow their victory to their friends."

"Which is why, if I even see Krum look at you tonight, I'm going to send Harry Potter to sort him out," Lavender added seriously. "You can thank me later."

Hermione flushed deeper. "What makes you think Harry would even do that?"

"The fact that you are both about as subtle as a nuclear detonation!" Fay laughed. "You may think that no-one has noticed that something is going on with the pair of you, but that's because you are too inexperienced … you don't know how to hide it very well."

"Precisely," Parvati took over. "Everyone in Gryffindor saw how you only watched Harry during the recent Quidditch match, and we are sure that he only flew past our stand seven times so that a certain Gryffindor witch could see him."

"I … well …" Hermione puffed out in weak protest.

"And we've all taken it in turns to time how long Harry looks at you during meal times lately," Lavender continued. "Who's go is it to skip breakfast next to watch?"

"That would be me," Fay grinned to Hermione, as she added some sparkles to Hermione's dense hair.

"Exactly," said Lavender. "So, you may not want to tell us, Hermione, but we know something is going on with you and Potter. And that's actually a good thing right now, as he can protect you from that Bulgarian brute, Krum."

"I can look after myself," Hermione protested.

"Perhaps. But what girl doesn't want a knight in shining armour to come to her rescue?" Parvati asked. Fay coughed pointedly, and Parvati frowned at her. "Yeah, well, apart for the new lezzers in the dorm. No offence."

"None taken, this is new to me too," Fay replied. "But thanks for breaking me in with regards to the bigotry I can expect."

"It was a term of endearment," Parvati smirked. "You lez away, tell us what it's like. Gossip is gossip, after all!"

Fay laughed at that. "Alright, I'll give you all the gory details. I'll tell you what French Kissing is really like, if I get that far!"

The four of them erupted in laughter. Hermione actually enjoyed the experience. She hadn't really laughed with the other girls of her dorm before. They generally seemed to be laughing at her or about her, if she was involved at all. This actually made a pleasant change to things. She decided to take advantage of it.

"So … do you really think Krum is a threat to me?" Hermione asked.

"Absolutely," Lavender replied. "We don't mean it as a dig … as though the idea that someone like Krum might be interested in you for honourable reasons is a ridiculous one … but honestly? Eww! He's older and creepier … he knows what he's doing … he's preying on younger girls."

"Yeah, he gives me the shivers … and not in a good way," Parvati added. "You stick to Potter, Haitch … he'll look after you."

"He will, especially after this job I've done with your make-up," Fay nodded. "I have to say this … you look very pretty, Hermione."

"Steady on, Fay … you're barking up the wrong tree there. Hermione prefers wizards. Especially ones with scars over their eyes!" Lavender teased.

"Oh, be quiet, you!" Hermione cried, though she laughed as she did so.

Even so, Hermione couldn't help but be on her guard as she attended the Feast that night. Though almost as soon as she entered the Great Hall she felt her annoyance rise, and it wasn't an auspicious way to start the evening. For a start, the four House tables had been replaced by numerous little circular ones for communal socialising. Now, ever since the first day of term - when the representatives of the other schools had arrived for the Tournament - Hermione had felt that the Hall felt uncomfortably full, but at least it retained a sense of familiar order.

But this new layout was simply chaos … and it afflicted Hermione's orderly mind.

Not quite knowing where to go, Hermione wandered aimlessly around for a bit, gravitating towards the buffet tables laid out where the teacher's table usually sat. She helped herself to some pumpkin pasties, skeleton-embossed sandwiches and mummy marshmallow treats then looked for somewhere to sit down. Spotting a lone witch nearby, with bright red radishes for earrings, Hermione hurried over to join her.

"Hi, Luna. Mind if I join you?" Hermione asked.

"Not at all," Luna beamed. "Have a seat."

"I like your dress," Hermione commented. "It's very nice. But bits are coming off at the back, do you know?"

"I'm supposed to be a zombie," Luna explained. "So I have to look a bit ragged. In the Muggle world, kids dress up in scary costumes on Halloween. That's what I'm doing now."

"Oh, do you mean when they go trick or treating?"

"Yes, that's right. I never went, obviously, but it sounds like ever so much fun."

"Oh, it was," Hermione told her happily. "My Mum and Dad took it in turns to go around with me when I was little. Imagine if I went now? The tricks would be so much better, that's for sure."

"Like the exploding egg with Harry?" Luna grinned. "That was a good one. He really liked that."

"Did he? I'm glad," Hermione beamed. Then she looked around with a frown. "I don't see Harry here tonight. Is he not coming? I was hoping I might get to chat with him."

"Oh, no, Harry wont be here tonight," Luna replied sadly.

"Why not?" Hermione demanded. She felt a bit cross that she had gotten all made up for nothing, accepting now that Harry had been the sole reason for it and that he wouldn't be here to appreciate her efforts.

Then Luna made her feel like a slug for thinking that. "Why do you think Harry isn't here? You know what happened on this night to him. Would you want to celebrate it?"

Hermione felt so ashamed of herself that she wanted the ground to open up and swallow her, or for it to open all the way to the Chamber of Secrets where Harry's basilisk could eat her alive. She felt she deserved such a fate for her self-centeredness.

"Oh my … I didn't think … his parents' murder?" Hermione mumbled. "Poor Harry. Is he okay?"

"No, he isn't … this night always really upsets him," Luna replied bluntly, which cut to Hermione's heart like a knife. "The entire of Ravenclaw knows to ignore Harry tonight … even people like me and Lisa and Mandy wont go near him if we see him. He is more likely to lose his temper with you tonight than any other. He goes off somewhere private, none of us know where, to be on his own. I think he holds a sort of vigil for his Mum and Dad … but he does it way out of sight where no-one can see … where no-one can see him cry. But we know he does … his eyes are always really puffy when he comes back. It's the saddest thing."

Hermione was sure her heart broke as she listened on. She became a slave to her imagination, focusing on that part of the school that Harry might be at that moment. She didn't know where it was … it could even be in the Chamber of Secrets for all she knew … but she sent all the positive thoughts she could in that direction, wherever it was. She just hoped Harry could get them.

And then, an unwelcome interruption.

"Excuse me, Miss Hermy-Own-Ninny? May I borrow you now?"

"No, you may not!" Hermione snapped, flicking her head to face Viktor Krum who had arrived at her shoulder and was looming over her. "I'm sorry, Mr Krum, but now isn't a good time. I've just heard some distressing news about my friend, Harry Potter, and I don't feel like talking to anyone but him at the moment."

"Maybe later then," Krum suggested, backing away. "When you are feeling better. I hope that time will be soon."

"Don't hold your breath," Hermione seethed as Krum moved away with another courteous bow. "Oh, Luna … I feel so awful."

"Why?" Luna asked. "Because you snapped at that Krum person?"

"Oh, no, this is nothing to do with him," Hermione riled. "He can go boil his stupid head for all I care. No, I just didn't think about what this time of year meant to Harry. And I played silly a joke on him this morning, too. Of all days! I couldn't have been more insensitive if I'd tried!"

"Do you want to know what I think?" Luna asked. Hermione nodded enthusiastically that she did. "You cheered Harry up. This is a difficult day for him, but you brought a smile to his face. That's more powerful than any sort of magic you might have learned in any classes this week, I can guarantee you that. Keep casting that sort of spell on him and Harry will be a happier wizard for it, I think.

"Do you know that he hasn't shouted at a single person this week? Well, apart from telling someone off for calling me 'Loony' again. And that must be because of how your letters are making him feel. He's too good to me. I don't deserve it."

"Of course you do," Hermione cried vehemently. "Harry thinks you do … and so do I for that matter."

"Thank you. I like you a lot too, Hermione Granger," Luna smiled brightly. "But my point is that I've noticed a change in Harry this last fortnight. He's not happy, as such, but he's certainly a lot less cross and angry than usual. And believe me, I speak on behalf of every Ravenclaw when I say that's an improvement. And we have you to thank for it."

"Is he that bad normally then?" Hermione pressed in her concern

Luna nodded sadly. "Harry's default position is angry with the world. And who can blame him? But this last week he has laughed and smiled a lot more than I'm used to. He has made jokes and told funny stories and been far more friendly than I've known him to be. He's been protective before, but not exactly friendly with me. This change has been quite lovely, actually. And I have to think that it's your fault, Hermione. He wasn't this calm and at ease before he started writing to you.

"So, whatever you are doing, please keep doing it. Harry is better for having you in his life already. I think you make him a better boy."

Hermione had no idea what she was supposed to say to that. But it warmed her heart nonetheless. She felt a real confusing sense of angst just then, frustrated that Harry wasn't here with her tonight, but also frustrated that she couldn't be with him wherever he was. The sensible part of her brain knew that it was ludicrous to expect Harry to invite her to share in such a personal night as this, after such a limited new intimacy, but she couldn't help but feel that he might have liked her to be there with him.

After all, it was the only place in the world she wanted to be tonight. And they had found so much in common already, why wouldn't this be another of those.

So, as it was, Hermione found she would get no pleasure from the rest of the Halloween Feast and left after barely an hour, despite Fay protesting that all her hard work doing Hermione's make-up would go down the drain once she had taken a shower, with barely anyone seeing how good a job Fay had done.

But Hermione didn't care. She made her way solemnly up the silent staircases towards Gryffindor Tower, entered the empty Common Room and crossed to the equally unpopulated girls' dormitory. Unpopulated … except for her cat, who was sat on her pillow with a letter attached to his collar.

"What's that you've got there!" Hermione cried, crossing the room in three strides and taking the letter when Crookshanks angled his head for better access. Hermione tore it open at once.

Evening Hermione.

Sorry, this isn't as elaborate a way to deliver a letter as yours was this morning. But I promise I'll better that in the future, you just wait.

I'm only writing tonight because your friend, Fay, told me about Viktor Krum's interest in you and she was concerned. But I told her you agreed to meet him by consent and that you know what you're doing. I overheard you talking to him in the library earlier (I wasn't eavesdropping, honest) and I could tell how keen you were to meet him tonight. You're getting your wish of inter-schools collaboration after all, so I hope you enjoyed it and that it went well!

Just be careful with him in the future, please … the girls in your dorm are worried about Krum and that makes me nervous too. I don't like him, I wont pretend any different, but it isn't my place to dictate to you. Just keep your wits about you … please? I don't want to wake up to any horror stories about this night.

Anyway, this isn't a proper letter. I just couldn't leave without writing to you after what Fay told me. I've been given permission to go home for a couple of days, you see. It's the first anniversary of my parents' death that I get to spend with my Godfather, so we're going to do something special to commemorate it. If you know any spells to honour the dead, feel free to cast them. I'm sure Mum and Dad will hear them.

I'd rather not go, if I'm honest. I'd rather go to this feast just to keep a look-out for you … or for Krum, you know what I mean. I've asked Hedwig to hang around on your dorm windowsill until you get in. I know it's silly, but when you find this can you please just send a brief note with her, just so that I know you're okay? I'll be worrying until I hear from you.

Oh, and I've also asked Marici to keep an eye on you while I'm gone. Not a literal eye, obviously … as if she stares at you she'll probably kill you … but if you hear a slithering and sliding through the pipework don't worry, it's just my pet basilisk watching over you. She has strict instructions to Petrify Viktor Krum if he oversteps the mark, so if he bothers you just give her a shout and she'll do the rest.

I didn't actually name her, she told me that her name was Marici when I found her. She'd been living in that Chamber all alone for fifty years, poor thing. I think she was as glad to finally have a friend as I was. She told me someone else was trying to control her that year, but she recognised me as a superior master and simply ignored them. I never did find out who that was, or what Marici means, but I think it's an old Buddhist name. Maybe you can find out for me, tell me about it in your next letter.

I have to go, my Godfather is waiting in Professor Snape's office, as it's the only one connected to the Floo Network … and they do NOT get on. I'll have to find out why. Then again, who does get on with Snape?

Oh, and by the way, we will definitely be having that flight! I had a feeling you were fibbing to me about being good on a broom, but I forgive you for it. You can use my Firebolt when we go out, it's so superior to the battered school brooms, it's like a Rolls Royce versus a Ford Anglia. The Firebolt practically flies itself, so you'll have no problems on it. And if you fall off, I'll do my best to try and catch you … if I can stop laughing long enough, of course!

Anyway, I have to go. I hope you had a good night, and I'll write you a proper letter next time, I promise.

From Harry.

Hermione just looked at the brief letter for the longest time, her heart swelling as she did so. Harry was so concerned about her … he needn't have been, but the sentiment touched Hermione somewhere very deep inside. No-one had ever been this interested in her, this invested in her well-being … and she could barely believe that Harry was now. Two weeks ago, she had barely known him …

But now he wouldn't sleep until he knew she was okay.

Hermione had never swooned before, but she did then. Her heart and her head almost lost coherency at the very same time. How had this happened? And in such a ridiculously short space of time? Yes, they had grown closer, but this close? Hermione could scarce believe it. This was fairy-tale stuff.

Then she allowed that it wasn't just the letters. It was the waiting time between them, too. Hermione realised that she spent almost all of her time thinking about Harry's letters, analysing to death every word that he had written so far, speculating on what he might write the next time. And for her own scribblings, too. How had Harry responded to what she had told him? How might he respond in the future, and how much more did she still have to say?

But had Harry done the same? Had he pored over her words, absorbed them in, thought extensively about the girl who had written them.

By Merlin, Hermione thought that he might have.

And that was an insanely sweet thought. A saccharine one, one that might rot the teeth if not kept in check. It might lead Hermione to think something very silly … that Harry Potter might have actually started to care for her. That after only two weeks of letter-writing Hermione Granger now had value in Harry Potter's world. And that was something that even Hermione's insanely powerful brain found difficult to process.

So she pushed it aside, she had to keep things simple. Hermione looked up then, and was startled to see the wide, amber eyes of Harry's owl, Hedwig, staring pointedly at her through the window. Her heart soaring again at the reason for that, Hermione grabbed a quill from her bag, scribbled a quick, barely legible note on a scrap of parchment, then tied it to a pouch around Hedwig's leg. The snowy owl barked a thanks, gave Hermione a gentle, affection nip on her fingers, then took off into the dark of the night.

Hermione fell back down onto her pillows, made fists into her blankets and curled her toes, as more of those silly thoughts about Harry began chasing each other through her mind. But how silly were they, really? How could she deny the validity of them? Her rational brain wouldn't allow her to cast the truth away so easily. And there was a truth there, one so fundamentally earth-shattering that Hermione doubted her buoyancy would drop long enough to sleep tonight.

After all, she knew one truth for absolute sure … wherever Harry Potter was tonight, whatever he was doing, Hermione knew this one thing … that he was thinking about her.

Enjoying this story? Check out some of the others in my portfolio and don't forget my crossovers! They're worth a go, honest! Thanks for reading, and stay safe in these wacky times!