The library was mostly deserted that Friday evening, save for a few diligent students hunched over their books, the occasional whisper of turning pages the only sound disturbing the quiet. Hermione arrived first, settling into their usual secluded corner. Her nose was buried in yet another book – The Accursed Almanac: Reactions, Cures, and Containment –hoping to find some insight into the strange reaction she'd had to Malfoy's touch. She was no closer to making a decision about whether or not to tell Theo about it – still unsure if it was actually relevant to their research or just some strange fluke.

"You're early."

Hermione looked up to find Theo standing across from her, a smirk playing at his lips. He slid into the seat beside her and placed the green book he'd borrowed from her on the desk in front of them. His hair was slightly ruffled, as if he had just run a hand through it multiple times, and his ever-present air of easy confidence was undisturbed.

"I wanted to get a head start," she replied, closing the unhelpful read and setting it aside. "So, what did you want to show me?"

Theo exhaled, his demeanour shifting. He opened the book to a dog-eared page and pushed it towards Hermione. "This is the part I wanted you to see."

Hermione leaned in, looking carefully over the script Theo had circled. The text, written in an elegant yet ominous scrip, detailed the nature of blood curses.

Blood curses are often hereditary, passed down through generations, their effects varying in severity. Though commonly afflicting the descendants of the original cursed individual, they can manifest in others should their blood be unwillingly tied to the curse itself.

"You think I have a blood curse?" Hermione questioned, looking up from the text.

Theo shrugged and lend back in his chair, stretching his arms behind his head. "I hope not," he said, sounding almost defeated. "But it makes sense. It's very possible that Bellatrix's dagger was imbued with some kind of blood curse causing dark magic." He flipped the page and pointed to a subheading that read; Symptoms may include.

Hermione gulped and read through the list.

Pain

Burning

Stinging

Reopening of the wound

Nausea

Headache

Anxiety

Excessive and/or uncontrollable bleeding

Hallucinations

A sense of impending doom

Death

Hermione stopped reading, a knot forming in her stomach. Her fingers instinctively pressed against the scar on her forearm, as though testing its presence. It began to throb, as though aware that it was the topic of conversation.

"It gets worse," Theo said, his voice low. He pointed over the page to another circled passage of text. "Apparently some curses are bound to react under specific conditions – physical contact, emotional distress, even proximity to certain individuals." Hermione inhaled sharply a wave of nausea rushing over her while her thoughts raced. "So that would explain why it always gets worse when you're overwhelmed or anxious."

Hermione knew that Theo had focused on the emotional distress part of the passage. And given what he knew of her condition, he was right to do so. But Hermione found herself stuck on the other elements. If physical contact and proximity to certain individuals played a role, she needed to tell Theo about her reaction to Malfoy. While it still didn't make any sense, it could be a vital piece to a currently unfinishable puzzle.

"Does the book say anything about whether the physical contact or proximity to certain individuals is always… negative?" Hermione questioned, her voice shaking.

Theo furrowed his brow, his eyes narrowing in confusion. "I'm… not following."

Hermione sighed. "I need to tell you something."

Theo glared at her, a wave of concern sweeping across his face, "what?"

"I don't know if this means anything," she began, hesitantly. "But I can't stop think about how strange it was. It just doesn't make any sense and it's probably nothing but I –"

"Hermione," Theo interrupted. "What is it?"

Hermione huffed. She was stalling and he knew it. "A few weeks ago," she began carefully. "I had a panic attack." Theo nodded understandingly. "Malfoy saw it happen and… he… well… he helped me through it."

"Really?" Theo questioned. His tone wasn't unsurprised, just interested.

Hermione nodded. "I'd had an argument with Ginny, and my arm was hurting… really, really badly." She dug her nail into the scar, willing it not to react to the memory. "Malfoy didn't realise… but he touched my wrist, right where the pain was worst. And it… I swear I… it felt… nice."

"Nice?" Theo echoed. His eyes illustrated as much confusion as Hermione's had when the incident had happened.

"I know, it doesn't make any sense," Hermione acknowledged.

"No… no it doesn't," Theo shook his head. "Are you sure it was connected to him? It wasn't just a coincident. Maybe, you were starting to feel better?"

"I don't think so," Hermione admitted. "It was so instantaneous. The second he touched me it was like someone pressed a piece of ice to my skin. It was cool… pleasant even."

"How strange," Theo responded, his voice barely above a whisper. He turned his attention back to the book, flipping through the pages and scanning the information quickly as though he was looking for something specific. "Hermione, there's nothing in here that talks about positive reactions to physical touch."

Hermione sighed dejectedly. "Maybe I'm overthinking… Maybe it was nothing."

"No," Theo rejected. "It doesn't make sense. But I don't think it's nothing."

"So, where should we go from here?" Hermione questioned. A great sense of relief washed over her at the knowledge that Theo now knew. But she was more confused than ever by this new revelation.

"You're not going to like what I'm about to say," Theo said cautiously.

Hermione hesitated before responding, "what?"

"We need to tell Draco," Theo admitted.

"No," Hermione said immediately. "Not happening. I'm not bringing him in on this."

"Hermione–"

"No, Theo," Hermione repeated, even firmer this time. "I don't trust him."

"I get that, Hermione, I do," Theo responded understandingly. "But this is potentially your life we're talking about here. If he can help–"

"Give me some time," Hermione interrupted. "I'll write to the author. Maybe he can give me some insight into my reaction."

Theo looked sceptical but nodded. "Okay, a few weeks. But if nothing comes of it, we need to revisit this conversation."

"Fine," Hermione agreed.


Dear Professor Faulkner,

I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to you regarding your esteemed work, 'Cursed Objects: Identification and Classification'. Your extensive research into blood curses has provided invaluable insight into a matter of great concern for me and I would be immensely grateful for any guidance you could offer.

I recently encountered a passage in your book detailing the nature of blood curses, their hereditary transmission and the various symptoms they may present. Many of these symptoms align with my own experiences, leading me to suspect that I may be afflicted by a similar condition after being wounded with a cursed dagger. However, I have encountered a particular reaction that I have been unable to find reference to in your text.

You mention that certain blood curses can be triggered or worsened by emotional distress, physical contact, or proximity to specific individuals. My concern arises from an anomaly in my case – rather than exacerbating my symptoms, one such encounter seemed to alleviate them. During a moment of heightened distress, someone inadvertently touched the afflicted area of my skin, and instead of experiencing pain or discomfort, I felt an immediate and almost soothing relief. The sensation was akin to a cooling balm, momentarily easing the usual burning and throbbing that accompany my symptoms.

This reaction seems contradictory to the nature of blood curses as described in your book. I have not been able to find any documented cases where physical contact has had a beneficial effect, and I am struggling to understand what this could mean. Is it possible that certain individuals could have a mitigating effect on a blood curse? Could there by instances where a curse, rather than being purely destructive, reacts variably depending on external factors?

I would greatly appreciate any information or theories you might be able to share on this matter. If there are any historical accounts, additional research, or avenues of study you could recommend, I would be deeply grateful for your guidance.

Thank you for your time and for your invaluable contributions to this field. I eagerly await your response.

Sincerely,
Miss Hermione Granger


"Mate, are you kidding me?"

Hermione could hear Theo's incredulous voice echo into the hallway as she returned from the Owlery.

"You have to accept." His tone was insistent as she pressed through the portrait door and entered the common space.

Malfoy sat stiffly on the couch, arms crossed, jaw tight. His usual mask of indifference was gone – his brows were furrowed, his fingers tapped impatiently against his sleeve and his gaze fixed stubbornly on the fire. "I don't have to do anything," he muttered.

Theo groaned, throwing up his hands. "You're impossible. This is an incredible opportunity. How could you even think about turning it down?"

Malfoy shot him a glare but said nothing. A letter sat in front of the pair of Slytherin's, clearly the source of their argument.

Hermione cleared her throat, drawing both of their attention. "What's going on?" she questioned curiously.

"Draco's been invited to attend a potion healing workshop in France," Theo explained. "And he's thinking about turning it down."

Hermione's brows lifted. "A potion healing workshop?"

Malfoy let out a sharp breath, standing abruptly. "It doesn't matter. I'm not going."

"Why not?" Hermione asked, her confusion evident. "That sounds like an incredible opportunity."

"That's what I said," Theo said, pleased by Hermione's validation. He turned back to Malfoy, "you're in a good place with Slughorn, mate. He wouldn't have recommended you if he didn't think you should go."

"It's for four weeks, Theo," Malfoy responded exasperatedly.

"And?" Theo prompted.

"I've already missed too much school," Malfoy responded. "I've barely kept up with my responsibilities as Head Boy as it is. You know that better than anyone," he added, glaring at Hermione.

Hermione blinked at him, caught off guard. He wasn't wrong – he had missed a fair number of duties when he'd been unwell but she'd never held it against him. And yet, judging by his tone, he seemed to think she had.

"I–" She hesitated, uncertain if he even wanted her input but wanting to give it, regardless. "Malfoy, I appreciate you taking your responsibilities seriously, but I don't see how this would make anything worse. If anything, it sounds like something you should–"

"Just forget it, Granger," he cut in, brushing past her and heading for his room.

Hermione stared after him, baffled. She turned back to Theo who sighed heavily. "I don't know what's going on in that head of his," Theo said frustratedly.

"Why is he suddenly so intent on keeping up with his Head Boy duties?" Hermione questioned. She reached for the letter and scanned the words.

Theo shrugged. "The workshop starts early next week which means he wouldn't get back to Hogwarts until the day before the Christmas party."

"And?" Hermione pressed, looking up from the letter.

"He's worried about letting you down," Theo said simply.

"Malfoy said that?" Hermione wondered disbelievingly.

"Well, not in those exact words," Theo admitted. "But that was the gist of it." Hermione rolled her eyes and tucked the letter under her arm as headed back towards the exit. "Where are you going?" Theo called after her.

"Back to the Owlery," she responded. "Tell Malfoy I'm replying to this letter with a gracious acceptance."

Theo chuckled, clearly impressed. Hermione slammed the door behind her with purpose, unwilling to be the reason Draco Malfoy didn't at least try to do something good with his life for once.