Chapter 11: First Shift
Ron and Hermione stood huddled together under harrys invisibility cloak sitting on a bench watching the corridor, their wands at the ready, though it was deathly quiet. Faint shadows flickered in the torchlight, stretching and twisting against the cold stone walls. Ron leaned against the wall, fidgeting with his wand.
"She's up to something. I just know it. Slytherins don't do anything unless there's something in it for them," Ron muttered, breaking the silence.
Hermione sighed. "Oh, give it a rest, Ron. Daphne hasn't done anything suspicious, and you've been saying the same thing for days now."
Ron scowled, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "Hasn't done anything suspicious? Hermione, she's practically glued to Harry's side! They're always sneaking off together, and he's telling her things he wouldn't even tell us!"
Hermione closed her book with a sharp snap. "Maybe that's because you keep acting like she's a Death Eater in training. You've barely said a word to her that wasn't dripping with suspicion, Ron. Can you blame Harry for not bringing her around us more?"
Ron's ears turned red. "I'm not suspicious! I'm just… cautious. Someone has to be. You know what they're like—those Slytherins—and she's no different. Come on, Hermione! Greengrass! That name doesn't exactly scream trustworthy, does it?"
Hermione softened her tone but kept her gaze firm. "And your last name doesn't exactly scream subtlety, but I've given you a chance, haven't I?" She crossed her arms. "Look, I don't trust her completely either. But Harry does. And he's not an idiot, Ron. He wouldn't let someone manipulate him."
Ron's voice rose in protest. "Yeah, well, I'm not so sure about that. You've seen how he looks at her, haven't you? It's like she's got him under some kind of spell or something."
"Oh, please." Hermione rolled her eyes. "Harry's not under any spell. He's just… different with her. Haven't you noticed? He's more focused. More determined."
"Or maybe she's the reason he's sneaking around, skipping Quidditch, and getting into trouble," Ron retorted.
Hermione shook her head, a touch of sadness in her expression. "Ron, Harry's always been sneaking around and getting into trouble. He's been like this since the moment we met him. This is just… who he is. And honestly, isn't it better that he has someone who seems to understand him? Even if it's Daphne?"
Ron huffed, muttering, "Yeah, well, I still don't like it. She's too… calm. Too collected. It's creepy."
"I get it, Ron. You're worried. So am I," Hermione admitted, her voice softening further. "But if Harry trusts her, then maybe we need to trust him. And maybe—just maybe—we should give Daphne a chance."
Ron's expression darkened, his grip on his wand tightening. "I just… don't want to see him get hurt, Hermione." His voice dropped, and for a moment, he looked far older than his eleven years.
Hermione hesitated, her own memories of their adventures—of Harry's struggles and quiet pain—flashing through her mind. "Neither do I," she said softly. "But if we keep treating Daphne like she's the enemy, we might end up hurting him ourselves."
Ron shifted uncomfortably, avoiding her gaze. "Fine. But if she so much as looks at Harry the wrong way, I'm hexing her."
Hermione allowed herself a small smile. "Let's hope it doesn't come to that." She glanced down the corridor, her expression hardening. "Now, can we please focus? We're supposed to be watching for Snape, not arguing about Daphne."
Ron nodded reluctantly, though his jaw remained set. "Yeah, fine. But I'm still keeping an eye on her."
The two lapsed into silence, their thoughts heavy. The faint creak of the castle settling filled the air, mingling with the distant rustle of moving staircases. Hermione stared into the dim corridor, her mind swirling with thoughts of Daphne and Harry.
Ron, meanwhile, tightened his grip on his wand, past adventures flashing through his mind. He'd stood by Harry through a troll, three-headed dogs, and sneaking through the castle. But this—watching his best mate draw closer to someone he didn't trust—felt like a battle he wasn't sure he could win.
The torchlight flickered as if sensing the tension, casting long shadows on the walls as the two stood watch. Yet even as they tried to focus on the task at hand, they couldn't shake the feeling that their time at Hogwarts was only going to get more complicated.