Breakfast in the Great Hall is always bustling with noise, but today it seems a bit louder than usual. The chatter of students blends with the clatter of plates and silverware as everyone enjoys their morning meal. The long, oak tables are filled with Gryffindors, Slytherins, Ravenclaws, and Hufflepuffs, but today, my focus is entirely consumed by one house—and one person in particular.

"Hi, Ginny."

Her voice cut through the noise, full of surprise. "Hermione? What are you doing here?!"

"Breakfast," I reply simply, feeling the weight of my words sink in a bit too quickly.

Ginny raises an eyebrow, her eyes flicking to the spot where Lavender sits a few seats away. "I mentioned to Lavender this morning—"

"I know, Lavender tells me that you will come bringing breakfast for me," I interject, my tone a little sharper than intended.

"And why are you here?" she asks again, hinting at suspicion.

I hesitate. It is no use offering excuses, especially to Ginny. Instead, I give her the you-know-why look.

Her eyes soften a little, though there is still a flicker of displeasure. "I think we should change our seats."

"No!" The word comes out a little too loudly. Harry and Ron both turn their heads, their eyes narrowing.

"Is there something wrong?" Harry asks, concern etched on his face.

"Are you having a fight?" Ron adds, his voice tinged with curiosity.

"No, it's just a small disagreement," I say quickly.

Harry and Ron exchange confused glances, their curiosity piqued by the strange interaction between Ginny and me. I can feel their eyes on us, but Ginny isn't having it. Without warning, she grabs my arm and pulls me away from the table, her grip firm but urgent.

"Come on, Hermione," she mutters.

"Where are you going?" Ron asks.

"To Fred," Ginny replies, her tone serious.

"Fred? What kind of business do you have with him, Gin?"

"It's nothing," she says hastily, but her tone doesn't fool me.

"If you get caught by a professor doing some funny business with Fred, I won't help you, Gin," Ron narrows his eyes to us.

Ginny shoots me a look, but instead of retorting, she tugs me forward. "Ha, that's rich coming from you," she mutters before pulling me along. "Come, Hermione, we need to ask Fred."

Harry gives me a curious look, but I just force a smile, hoping he won't ask too many questions. There is no way I can explain my current... predicament to him or Ron.

As we walk toward Fred, my gaze shifts toward the Slytherin table. I spot Crabbe and Goyle near Draco's usual spot, but he isn't there yet. That is strange. They never leave Draco's side. Is something wrong? Had he been held up? Or perhaps...

The thought makes a strange pang stir in my chest.

"Sit here," Ginny says, her voice pulling me back to the present as she pats the seat next to her. I sink, facing the window. Great—now I can't see if Draco will arrive anytime soon.

"Aw, my lovely sister Ginny and Hermione, glad to see you," Fred says with his trademark grin, leaning back in his seat.

"Stop the bullshit, Fred. Do you have it?" Ginny cuts straight to the point.

"Talking business first thing in the morning?" Fred chuckles, grabbing a piece of toast. "I haven't even chewed anything yet."

"Fred... it's the fifth day. Fifth day, Hermione's in this state. Do you know how hard it's been to keep checking on her? It's like—" Ginny pauses, her eyes flashing to me with a mix of frustration and concern. "How much Amortentia is in it? Why can't you find the cure quicker?"

Fred raises an eyebrow. "Good guess on Amortentia, ten points for Ginny," he grins. Ginny rolls her eyes at his theatrics, but I can feel the tension in the air. "More importantly, Hermione, how are you holding up?"

The truth is, I can't stop thinking about Draco. Right now, I am trying hard not to wonder why he hasn't shown up yet. Is he okay? Had something happened? Or worse—is he with Astoria? The thought makes an invisible needle of pain jab at my chest.

Yesterday, they had spoken so much. Draco smiled at her, not the usual smug smirk he threw at me, but a softer, warmer smile. It stayed with me even after I fell asleep, slipping into my dreams where instead of Astoria, I was the one he was smiling at. He speaks to me with that affectionate tone, gazes at me with that look of adoration, and kisses my hands. It is a beautiful dream... until Crookshanks wakes me up with an annoyed meow.

"Hey, Hermione?" Fred's voice brings me back to reality.

"Huh?"

"Look, Fred, this is her these days," Ginny says, her voice laced with a touch of exasperation. "Her thoughts just wander to...him and she can't help but check on him from time to time. I don't know how it feels, but she seems like she can't control it."

Yes, I cannot control it. I told you, Gin.

"Hmm... it's a bit more extreme than we anticipated," Fred muses, his fingers tapping the edge of his plate. "Last time George and I tried with one of our pets, but it's not this—"

"You used it to Pygmy Puff?!" Ginny's voice is incredulous.

"It is a safe experiment, Gin. Don't worry," Fred says with a wink, but I can tell Ginny isn't buying it.

"Safe?" Ginny says skeptically. "I don't believe you and George."

"Well, you asked for that potion. Something stronger than Amortentia, I recall," Fred smirks, his eyes glinting as he looks in a certain direction. "I wonder if you want to use it on a certain someone?"

I follow Fred's eye direction and realize that Fred is looking at Harry.

Wait... Ginny wants to give the potion to Harry? She... likes Harry? The thought hit me like a ton of bricks.

"It's not what you think, Hermione," Ginny rushes to explain. "And not Harry, I wouldn't give that potion to him."

But, it makes sense since it's obvious that Harry likes Cho Chang. I can't help but get suspicious of Ginny.

"By Merlin's sake, not Harry, Hermione. I can assure you," Ginny gives a dagger stare to Fred, "Don't spread any rumors! We are here because we want to talk about Hermione's condition."

"Sure...sure..." Fred gives Ginny a teasing smile while taking another piece of toast to his plate.

"So when?" Ginny grumbles.

"Maybe in three days?" Fred suggests, but Ginny is already shaking her head.

"Three days?! Hermione, you should consider going to Madam Pomfrey."

"No, not Madam Pomfrey!" Fred and I both protest at once and some eyes are on us immediately.

Fred throws his usual grin at the people around us. Some people shake their heads and some are back to eat their breakfast. Fred then leans closer, "George and I would be in huge trouble if she found out. We might even get expelled."

"Expelled? What kind of things you are using?" Ginny asks, her voice rising in alarm.

"Well, this and that," Fred says, trying to brush it off.

"Fred, I swear, if you don't fix it tomorrow, I will—"

"Two days then," Fred says quickly, cutting her off.

"No, tomorrow," Ginny insists, her voice steely.

"Please, please, Gin. Just one more day. George isn't even here right now because he's still working on it."

"...Fine," Ginny relents. "Two days."

"Right, we won't let you down, little sis," Fred says with a thumbs-up, ensuring everything is perfectly fine.

"You and George better finish making it," Ginny warns, narrowing her eyes at him.

Fred looks back at me, his grin shifting into something a bit more serious. "And Hermione?"

"Yes?"

"He's here."

I snap my head toward the Slytherin table, my heart leaping in my chest. Draco's already sitting at his spot, as composed as ever, his eyes scanning the room with that signature indifference. But for me, it feels like everything else in the Great Hall fades away. I can't pull my gaze from him, not when his presence seems to wrap itself around me like a thick fog, impossible to ignore.

Ginny notices almost immediately, and she doesn't waste any time. She grabs my shoulder and gives me a firm nudge. "Stop it, Hermione. You're practically drooling," she mutters, a little too loudly.

I blink, startled, but my eyes don't leave Draco. "What? I'm not—"

"Yes, you are," Ginny interrupts, her voice now more urgent. "You're staring at him like you're waiting for him to propose or something. Turn your head."

I look at her, but I can't stop the tug in my chest when I glance back toward Draco. My heart skips a beat, and I feel my cheeks warm. Why is he always so... so... Draco?

Ginny lets out an exasperated sigh and, before I can even respond, she physically turns my head away from the Slytherin table. She practically forces me to face the window instead. "There. Look outside, Hermione. This... this isn't healthy."

I force my eyes to the view of the grounds beyond the window, but all I can picture is Draco—his pale face, those silver eyes, the way he looked at Astoria yesterday. That stupid, warm smile he'd given her. And then my mind betrays me, letting those thoughts slip into a daydream of what could have been, what I wish could be, if only—

"Fred," Ginny says, her voice suddenly sharp. "This is what I am dealing. Now, you understand me?"

I glance toward Fred, who's lounging in his seat with his usual easy grin. His eyes flicker between me and Draco, and then back to me. Fred leans back with an exaggerated stretch. "Well, well, well. Looks like someone's a little too fascinated with someone now."

I feel my face flush even harder, and I try to shake it off. "I'm not—" I start, but Fred interrupts, clearly enjoying the spectacle.

"Come on, Hermione. You've got that look on your face," Fred continues, practically gleaming with amusement. "It's not subtle. You're staring at him like he's the only one in this room who matters."

I snap my head toward Fred, but I can't quite hide the truth in my expression. "I'm not—"

"Yeah, you are." Fred cuts me off, his tone both teasing and oddly observant. "Don't try to deny it. I can see it, right here, in your eyes." He gestures to my face, then leans in closer, lowering his voice. "Hermione Granger, the smartest witch of our age, is completely infatuated with her nemesis. Who would've thought?"

Ginny's not amused. She rolls her eyes, but there's a hint of concern in them now too. "It's not funny, Fred," she says, her voice a little quieter, more serious. "This is not her."

Fred gives me a sympathetic look before turning back to his sister. "Hey, hey. No need to get all serious on me, Gin. At least now, I know the situation. Hermione's practically glowing every time she glances at that ferret. It's kind of impressive, really."

"I'm not glowing," I mumble, but it sounds weak, even to me.

Fred smirks. "No, really. You are." He winks, then sits back with a satisfied look on his face. "It's cute. In a tragic, unrequited-love kind of way."

I feel a sinking sensation in my stomach, but I don't have it in me to argue anymore. Fred's right in some way. It's not just a passing thought anymore. It's more like a constant hum in the background of my mind. I can't stop thinking about Draco. It's like I've been cursed. A part of me wants to get angry, to tell him to shut up, but another part—the part that's tired of feeling this way—just wants him to be right so I can finally admit it.

Ginny, sensing the shift in my mood, looks at me with a touch of sympathy. "We'll fix it, Hermione," she says quietly. "Don't worry."

I glance toward Draco once more, the tension in my chest tightening. He's laughing with Zabini now, looking perfectly content, completely unaware of how much he's affecting me. And I hate it.

But I can't stop.