Belle and Draco were hunched over Hermione's notes, their heads close together as they examined a particularly complex Arithmancy formula. They had been working for hours, and the library was nearly empty.
"I think we're getting close," Draco murmured, his finger tracing a line of calculations. "If we can just figure out how she modified this variable…"
Belle nodded, acutely aware of Draco's proximity. "I wish I could be of more help," she said.
"No worries," Draco said. "Just having someone to bounce ideas off of helps. Surprisingly."
Belle felt gratified by his kindness. She thought that Ginny and the others really should give him another chance.
Draco sat back in his seat. "It's brilliant, really. The way she's interwoven the numerological components with the—"
"Hermione?"
The shocked voice cut through the quiet of the library. Belle's head snapped up to see Ginny standing a few feet away, still in her Quidditch robes, her face a mask of confusion and hurt.
"Ginny!" Belle exclaimed, instinctively pulling away from Draco. "I… what are you doing here?"
Ginny's eyes darted between Belle and Draco, her expression hardening. "I don't need to explain myself coming to the library," she said. "What are you doing here? With him?"
Draco straightened, his face carefully neutral. "Weasley, this isn't—"
"I wasn't asking you, Malfoy," Ginny snapped, her eyes never leaving Belle. "Hermione, what's going on? What are you doing with Malfoy, of all people?"
Belle felt panic rising in her chest. She glanced at Draco, unsure of what to say. "Ginny, I can explain—"
"Can you?" Ginny's voice was sharp with betrayal. "Because I thought we were friends, Hermione. I thought you trusted me. But here you are, sneaking around with Malfoy, and you didn't even tell me?"
"It's not like that," Belle protested weakly. "We're just... working on a project."
"A project?" Ginny repeated incredulously. She lowered her voice. "I thought I made it clear to you that Malfoy is dangerous. That he can't be trusted after everything he's done to us over the years."
Draco flinched at her words but remained silent, his eyes fixed on the table.
Belle stood up, reaching out to Ginny. "Please, let me explain—"
But Ginny took a step back, shaking her head. "I don't understand, Hermione. I thought... I thought I was helping you. I thought we were in this together. But clearly, you didn't think you could trust me with... whatever this is."
With that, Ginny turned on her heel and stormed out of the library, leaving Belle standing there, her hand still outstretched.
Belle slumped back into her chair, her head in her hands. "Oh no," she whispered. "What have I done?"
Draco placed a hesitant hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I didn't mean to cause problems between you and Weasley."
Belle looked up at him, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "It's not your fault. I didn't tell her you offered to help me."
"Ah," Draco said. "And she undoubtedly worries that I'll try to do something to harm you or interfere with bringing Granger back."
"I need to talk to her," Belle said. "Make her understand that you're helping me."
"Don't tell her what I told you about my…reasons for helping," Draco said. "I rather her not go running off to her brother who would come here and cause problems."
Belle suddenly remembered that Hermione was dating Ginny's brother, Ron. Remembering how Ron had reacted to Belle talking to Draco, she said, "Yes, that would not be a good situation. Don't worry, I won't tell her your exact reasons."
As she gathered her things to go after Ginny, Belle couldn't shake the feeling that she had just made everything infinitely more complicated. How could she explain her growing connection with Draco without revealing his feelings for Hermione?
With a heavy heart, Belle left the library, hoping she could find a way to mend the rift she had inadvertently created.