Breakfast in the Great Hall is always noisy, but today it feels louder than usual. The clatter of silverware blends with the chatter of students, filling the space with a steady hum. Gryffindors, Slytherins, Ravenclaws, and Hufflepuffs crowd the long oak tables, but today, my attention is consumed by one house.

One person in particular.

"Hi, Ginny."

Her voice cuts through the din, surprised. "Hermione? What are you doing here?!"

"Breakfast," I reply simply, letting the word hang there, heavier than it should be.

Ginny raises an eyebrow, her eyes flicking to Lavender a few seats away. "I mentioned to Lavender this morning-"

"I know. She told me you'd bring breakfast to me," I interrupt, sharper than intended.

"And why are you here?" she repeats, suspicion creeping into her voice.

I hesitate. No use lying to Ginny. I give her the you-know-why look.

Her expression softens, but there's still a flicker of disapproval. "We should sit somewhere else."

"No!" The word comes out louder than I mean it to. Harry and Ron turn, their eyes narrowing.

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

"You two fighting?" Ron adds, his voice tinged with curiosity.

"No, just a small disagreement," I say quickly.

They exchange puzzled looks. Ginny doesn't bother answering. Instead, she grabs my arm and pulls me from the table, her grip firm and insistent.

"Where are you going?" Ron calls after us.

"To Fred," Ginny replies flatly.

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

"It's nothing," she snaps, but even I can hear how unconvincing she sounds.

"If a professor catches you doing weird business with Fred, don't come crying to me," Ron warns, narrowing his eyes.

Ginny glares at him but says nothing. She yanks me forward. "Come on. We need to talk to Fred."

Harry gives me a questioning look. I force a smile and follow Ginny, unable to explain the situation... or what's wrong with me.

As we pass the Slytherin table, my eyes search automatically. Crabbe and Goyle are in their usual spot, but Draco isn't with them. That's… odd. They never leave his side. Is something wrong? Was he held up? Or worse...

Is he with Astoria?

The thought stabs at me.

"Sit here," Ginny says, dragging me to a seat near the window. Now I can't even see if Draco shows up. Perfect.

"Ah, my favorite sister and our dear Hermione. What a delight," Fred greets us with a grin, lounging like he owns the place.

"Cut the crap, Fred. Do you have it?" Ginny demands.

"Business before toast? Rude." He picks up a slice and bites in leisurely.

"Fred, it's the fifth day. Do you know how hard it's been to keep checking on her? She's not herself. How much Amortentia is in it? Why haven't you finished the counter potion?"

Fred raises an eyebrow. "Good guess on the Amortentia. Ten points to Ginny." He grins, but the tension lingers.

He turns to me. "How are you holding up, Hermione?"

Truthfully? I can't stop thinking about Draco. Even now, I'm wondering where he is. If he's okay. If he's with her.

Yesterday, they talked for so long. And Draco… smiled at her. Not the smirk he usually throws at me, but a soft, warm smile. It haunted me through sleep, slipping into a dream where I was the one he smiled at. Where he held my hands, spoke in that quiet, affectionate voice-

And then Crookshanks woke me up with a judgmental meow.

"Hermione?" Fred's voice breaks through.

"Huh?"

"See?" Ginny gestures at me, exasperated. "This is what she's like now. She just drifts off, always thinking about him. She checks on him constantly. I don't know what it feels like, but… she can't control it."

I can't. I told you that, Ginny.

"Hmm… more extreme than we thought," Fred says, tapping his plate. "Last time we tested this-"

"Tested? On a Pygmy Puff?!" Ginny shrieks.

"It was safe! Don't worry."

"Safe?" she scoffs. "I don't trust you and George at all."

"You asked for something stronger than Amortentia," Fred reminds her, eyes glinting. Then he glances sideways… toward Harry.

I follow his gaze, and freeze. Fred's hinting that Ginny wants to use the potion on Harry?

My eyes widen.

"It's not what you think," Ginny blurts. "It's not Harry! I would never give that to him."

But it makes sense. Harry likes Cho Chang. Maybe Ginny-

"By Merlin, Hermione, not Harry!" Ginny hisses, glaring at Fred. "Don't start rumors. We're here about Hermione."

"Alright, alright," Fred concedes with a grin. "Just stirring the cauldron."

"When?" Ginny presses.

"Three days?" Fred offers.

"Three?!" Ginny looks ready to hex him. "Hermione, maybe we should go to Madam Pomfrey."

"No, not Pomfrey!" Fred and I say at the same time. Heads turn.

Fred flashes his grin around the hall, then leans in. "If she finds out… George and I are done for. Expelled. In our last year."

"Expelled? What the hell did you use?" Ginny hisses.

"This and that," Fred says vaguely.

"Fix it tomorrow, Fred. Or-"

"Two days!" he interrupts quickly.

Ginny glares, but relents. "Fine. Two."

Fred gives a dramatic salute. "You won't be disappointed."

Then he looks at me, more serious this time. "Hermione?"

"Yes?"

"He's here."

I whip around. There. Draco. Sitting in his usual seat, perfectly composed. His pale face, silver eyes. Like nothing happened. Like he hadn't been missing moments ago.

Everything else blurs. My world narrows to just him.

Ginny notices instantly. She grabs my shoulder. "Stop. You're practically drooling."

"What? I'm not-"

"Yes, you are." She sounds panicked now. "You're staring at him like you're waiting for a proposal. Look away."

"I-"

Ginny physically turns my face to the window. "There. Outside. Look at that. It's less dangerous."

I stare, but my thoughts are still on him. That warm smile for Astoria. That easy, affectionate look.

"Fred," Ginny says, her voice now urgent. "This is what I've been dealing with."

Fred's watching me now, amused and thoughtful. "Well, well. Hermione Granger. Completely and utterly smitten."

My cheeks burn. "I'm not-"

"Sure you're not." Fred smirks. "You're glowing."

Ginny rolls her eyes. "Not funny, Fred. This isn't her."

Fred sobers just slightly. "I know. But… it is kind of cute. In a tragic, cursed, unrequited-love kind of way."

I stare at the table, silent. I want to deny it. I want to scream that this isn't real. But part of me… wants it to be.

Ginny leans closer. Her voice is soft now. "We'll fix it, Hermione. I promise."

I look once more toward Draco.

And I hope she's right.