February 1996
Hermione's hand tightened around the jar she clutched, watching the small flames flicker as they sent warmth through her body. The bitter February wind pinched her cheeks, turning them a soft shade of pink but otherwise, she couldn't complain. The jar kept her warm as she waited for Lilith.
She didn't have to wait long before she heard the door creek and two arms wrapped themselves around her waist, covering her hands over the jar.
"I have to hand it to you, this charm is brilliant." Lilith sighed contently as she rested her chin on Hermione's shoulder
"Thank you." Lilith planted a small kiss on her cheek.
"You're welcome." Hermione bit her lip as she turned around in her arms, facing Lilith.
"So, did you take care of it?" Lilith sighed and her eyes flickered from Hermione's to the jar.
"I did." Hermione watched as her shoulders straightened. "She will be at Three Broomsticks tomorrow at noon." Hermione smiled.
"Thank you." Lilith returned her smile but it didn't quite reach her eyes.
"What's wrong?"
"You know exactly what's wrong. I don't like this." Hermione sighed.
"Lilith,"
"That woman tormented you the whole year, Hermione. You being in the same room as her..." Lilith shook her head. "I just don't like it."
"You have to trust me on this."
"Of course I trust you. It's her I don't trust."
"Harry will be there too. And Luna," Lilith's eyes snapped up, locking with Hermione's. She could see the familiar fire burning in them.
"Luna? Luna Lovegood?" Hermione nodded and Lilith frowned.
"Why do you need Luna there?"
"She's a part of my plan."
"She's not a part of anything, she's fourteen Hermione!" Hermione blinked in surprise at the defensiveness in her tone.
"You're friends with her?" Lilith shook her head.
"Not particularly, but she's a good kid, and I like her. Why do you need her in your plan?" Hermione bit her lip.
"I can't tell you, I don't want to jinx it." She watched as Lilith's gaze hardened and could feel the hair on the back of her neck stand up at the sight. Lilith could be terrifying even if she didn't realise it.
"Well that's it, I'm gonna be there." Hermione's eyes widened.
"What? No!"
"Yes."
"Lili, no!" Lilith took the jar from Hermione's hands, putting it on the ground before turning back towards her, gently pulling her chin up to meet her eyes. Hermione almost flinched when she saw the look Lilith gave her.
"Hermione, let me make this clear to you. It will be you, the hot-headed Harry Potter, Luna and Rita fucking Skeeter in one place at the same time. If you think, for a one second, that I'd leave her alone with you three, you're sorely mistaken." It was all new to Hermione. The tone, the look, the words. Sure, Lilith was as gentle as possible but everything else was uncharacteristic of the Lilith she learnt to know. It was that side of Lilith that made half of the school scared of her. And by Hermione's expression, Lilith realised that she let that side of her seep through because her look immediately softened, and her thumb gently caressed Hermione's cheek.
"I'm sorry." she whispered. "But I stand by what I said. That woman is a vile, back-stabbing hag that will just wait for an opening. What she did to you is unforgivable and there is no guarantee she won't try it again so I need to be there, whether you like it or not because nobody hurts someone I love and gets away with it. Nobody." That was one of the reasons she loved Lilith. Even though she could be scary, almost terrifying when she wanted, she was fiercely loyal, even overprotective at times but Hermione didn't mind it. It melted her heart because nobody was ever as protective of her as Lilith was. It felt good. Harry and Ron had her back, her parents had her back but none of them were as capable and powerful as Lilith to not only have her back but shield her at the same time.
She covered Lilith's hand on her cheek with her own, giving her a small smile.
"Alright." she knew there was no point in arguing with her.
"Good." she leaned up and kissed Hermione's forehead, making the younger girl blush. "I mean it, nobody hurts you and gets away with it. Not on my watch." she whispered against Hermione's forehead.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Lilith didn't have to be careful on the way back to Ravenclaw Tower. She was the Head Girl. She had the authority to walk freely around Hogwarts and could always put the blame on her duties. It was rather freeing.
"Lady Farrow?" she stopped in her tracks as the portrait of an old witch with a fox tail on her hat called on her. As Lilith looked closer, she recognized the witch. Wilhemina Shortwood. She used her Animagus abilities to spy on the Goblins during the second rebellion.
"Yes?" the witch looked around before facing Lilith.
"Some news reached me that I thought you should be aware of." Lilith frowned. She wouldn't trust another portrait with information but Wilhemina was known as the perfect spy with an impeccable record.
"What news?"
"Your sister was sighted just a few minutes ago on the fifth floor by the portrait of Rufus Abernathy." Lilith blinked in surprise. "It seems she's in a bit of trouble."
"What trouble?" Wilhemina shook her head.
"That I don't know but Rufus said she wasn't in the right state." Sirens blasted in Lilith's mind as she quickly reached for her wand.
"Thank you, Wilhemina."
"My pleasure, Lady Farrow." with that Lilith broke into a sprint. She knew where Rufus Abernathy was, she knew it exactly and took every turn and shortcut she could remember to get there as fast as she could. As she jumped through the fake wall and ran down the stairwell, the only thing on her mind was Aveline. If she calculated it correctly, she should reach her just as she jumped through the next fake wall, landing in the corridor of the fifth floor. Then she heard it. Almost silent hiccuping and cries.
"Lumos" she whispered as she ran around the corner and froze almost immediately. Aveline was propped up against the wall, her chin leaning against her chest, her hair covering her face but her arms hung lifelessly, no movement came from her whatsoever. She wasn't the one who made the noise. There was another girl kneeling next to her, trying to shake her awake. The light from Lilith's wand caught her attention as she turned to face her and even from the distance, Lilith could see the tears flowing down the girl's cheeks. She recognized her, they shared the same dormitory for six years. Poppy Deveraux.
"Lilith." a broken whisper came out of her as Lilith quickly crossed the distance and kneeled next to her sister. Lilith could feel the dread and rage brew inside of her as she put the wand on the ground and cupped Aveline's face with her hands, pulling it up to see better. Aveline felt heavy and lifeless. Lilith quickly searched for the pulse on her neck, her own heart missing a beat for a few moments before she let out a breath of relief when she felt her little sister's heartbeat. It was slow but it was there. She picked up her wand once more and gently pulled Aveline's right eyelid open, using the light from her wand to see better. Aveline's normally stormy blue iris was almost invisible as her pupil was blown way out of proportion, not reacting to the light from Lilith's wand. She shut her eyelid back. The rage in her was bubbling dangerously as she turned to teary-eyed Poppy who was watching the interaction.
"Wanna tell me what you're doing here with my very much drugged sister?" she almost growled and watched as Poppy flinched at the tone.
"I didn't do it, I swear. She didn't either." Poppy's voice shook as her eyes went from Aveline to Lilith. "I got her out of there but she just collapsed here and I couldn't move her." Lilith watched as Poppy started to tremble. "Is she gonna be okay?"
"You're going to help me move her, and then you're telling me everything, Poppy." Poppy quickly nodded and Lilith motioned for her to go to Aveline's other side. She threw Aveline's right arm over her shoulder while Poppy took her left, and they both lifted Aveline off the ground. Lilith took the lead as she started walking towards the secret stairwell. Poppy followed and except for a few hiccups that still escaped her from time to time, she remained quiet until they reached the Ravenclaw dormitory. Lilith caught how her gaze lingered on the 5th year door but she shook her head.
"No, they can't see her like that." she whispered and continued up the stairs. Aveline wasn't heavy but after dragging her up the two floors, Lilith was glad when they finally reached her door.
She didn't miss the wondering look in Poppy's eyes when they entered her private dorm, she couldn't blame her. Not many have seen it. But it wasn't her main concern at the moment. They carefully put Aveline on Lilith's bed, propping her up on the pillow so she was half laying, half sitting. Lilith didn't spare Poppy a look as she lit the lamp beside her nightstand and walked towards her trunk. She was glad she kept her potions with her at all times as she came back with two vials.
"What is that?" Poppy asked as she eyed her hand.
"Wideye Potion, and Dreamless Sleep." she muttered as she sat down next to Aveline, propping her mouth open as she poured Wideye Potion into her mouth and gently massaged her throat for her to swallow. She eyed her sister worriedly, hoping the potion would work. When she finally saw motion behind her eyelids, she let out the breath she was holding. It took a few moments before Aveline's eyes shot open, her breathing grew rapid and she started trashing around, looking around the room widely in panic. Lilith quickly pushed her back down, grabbing her cheeks and turning her sister to face her.
"Sh, sh, sh, hey, eyes on me. It's me. Calm down." It broke her heart when she saw the panic and terror in Aveline's eyes that were starting to water.
"Lili?" Aveline whispered. Lilith's thumbs gently wiped away tears that started to roll down her cheeks.
"I'm here, babygirl. I'm here. You're safe." her words made Aveline lean forward, hiding herself in Lilith's arms just like when she was a little girl. Lilith could feel her tremble as she soothingly ran her fingers through her hair. "It's gonna be alright. You're safe." she planted a small kiss on the crown of Aveline's hair.
"You had a long night, you need to sleep Avy." Aveline shook her head.
"I can't." Lilith pulled away and gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind Aveline's ear.
"I will give you this." she showed her the last vial in her hand. "It's Dreamless Sleep. You will take it, fall asleep and rest. Nothing's going to hurt you, Avy. You're in my room, nothing will get to you." she explained as gently as possible, rubbing Aveline's hand gently. "Please, for me?" Aveline bit her lip as she wiped the tears from her cheeks with the back of her sleeve but eventually nodded. Lilith uncorked the vial and passed it to Aveline, waiting until she closed her eyes and drank the potion in full before passing the vial back to her sister, empty. Lilith helped her to settle back down on the bed, this time fully laying, and gently tucked her in as she watched Aveline's eyelids shutter close and her breathing once again levelled. Once Aveline was fast asleep, Lilith put the empty vial on her nightstand and turned to Poppy who was watching the whole scene. Lilith's gentle demeanour was gone, she needed answers, quickly.
"Speak. Now." Poppy's eyes widened as noticed Lilith's knuckles going white around her wand.
"There was a party in Slytherin common room." Of course, there was a party. Aveline was a lively people person. Of course, she was at a party.
"Continue."
"I was there with my friends from Hufflepuff, and I saw Aveline talking to some guy from Gryffindor. It looked like they were flirting." Lilith watched as Poppy nervously played with the hem of her robe. "But then she saw some friends and when she turned around, I watched him pour something into her drink." The anger and rage in Lilith once again started brewing dangerously close to the surface. Poppy must've sensed it because her eyes didn't meet hers. "So I watched. She didn't notice it and drank it. And then he started to pull her somewhere out of the crowd so I stepped in and got her out of there." her voice shook. "She started to get sleepy by the second floor and when we got to the fifth she passed out. I didn't know what to do." Lilith gulped as she contemplated everything Poppy said to her.
"Would you recognize him?" Poppy seemed a little taken aback by the question but nodded.
"Good." Lilith said and started walking out of the room. "Let's go."
"It's the middle of the night."
"I don't care. Let's go." she didn't give Poppy time to answer as she marched out of the room. Poppy quickly caught up to her as they walked in silence, Poppy didn't dare to utter another word the whole from Ravenclaw Tower to Gryffindor Tower. Lilith was on the warpath and she didn't want to get caught in the crossfire.
"Lady Farrow, it's a little late, don't you think?" the portrait of Fat Lady eyed them as they approached.
"I'm sorry Great Lady but the matter is urgent. I'm not speaking as Lady Farrow but as Head Girl." Lilith clenched her jaw. "Mimbulus mimbletonia." The Fat Lady waited for a little bit but eventually nodded and the portrait opened, allowing them to step in.
"Lilith?" Lilith's head turned at the voice, noting that the notorious Trio was still in the common room, sitting near the dying fire. Three pairs of curious eyes watched the two Ravenclaws that suddenly appeared in their common room.
"Don't talk to me right now." she nearly growled in the direction of the Trio and turned to Poppy.
"What does he look like? What year is he?" Poppy's eyes widened at the questions.
"It's Andrew Armstrong. Fourth year. Blond, freckles. I think he has a bruised nose. I didn't stick around long enough to find out." Lilith frowned.
"Your work?" Poppy hesitated for a little bit but nodded.
"Good. Wait here." she turned on her heel and matched up the stairs to the boy's dormitory not stopping for a second until she was standing in front of the door with silver 4th year plaque on it.
She opened the door as quietly as possible and to her luck, the boys were all in their beds, fast asleep. She could hear snores coming from two beds on the left as she started her search. It took her three tries to finally find him but there he was. Blond with freckles all over his face and with a fresh bruise forming across his nose. She nudged his throat with her wand a few times and when he finally woke up, she quickly put her hand over his mouth, burying the tip of her wand in his throat as she watched his eyes widen in surprise when he saw someone there.
"Get up, now. And don't you dare make any noise." she hissed quietly and he obeyed with Lilith's wand still pointed at him. She nudged him towards the door and pushed him in front of her until they were out of the dorm and walked down the stairs into the common room. As they entered, Lilith quickly cast Muffliato towards the girl's and boy's dormitory before pointing her wand once again at the boy who was standing in front of her, clearly confused by what was happening, just as the Trio that was now standing up, watching the interaction. She eyed the boy. He was a bit taller than her, his hair was ruffled from sleep and his nightshirt was sloppily buttoned.
"Is this him?" she asked Poppy who looked at the boy for a few moments.
"Yes."
"Excuse me, who the hell are you?" the boy, Andrew, finally spoke up as he looked between Lilith and Poppy. Lilith turned back to him, her eyes murderous as she quickly crossed the distance and pinned the boy against the wall, squeezing his throat tightly and burying her wand into his chest.
"Lilith!" she heard Hermione gasp but she didn't care. Her attention was solely on the boy in her grip.
"I'm your worst nightmare, buddy." she hissed and squeezed Andrew's throat tighter, making him squirm and gasp under her. "You chose the wrong target tonight." she released her grip on his throat but immediately replaced it with her wand. She gripped his shoulder instead, making his knees buckle underneath him. "The girl you drugged was my little sister. Nice to meet you, Andrew. I'm Lilith Farrow, I think you've heard of me." Andrew's eyes widened in terror as she introduced yourself. She grabbed his shoulder and roughly pushed it back, making sure the back of his head hit the wall which made him cry out in pain.
"Look I know you're angry, I'm sorry." he wheezed out but Lilith didn't care as she buried her wand deeper in his throat.
"This is not me being angry, this is me being fucking furious Andrew. And if I had any less constraint, you'd be lying on the ground dead the second I saw you." she growled making him tremble in her grip like a scared child. She leaned closer to his ear so only he was able to hear her. "You don't even know how lucky you are we are at school you little bastard because if we weren't, I'd use every curse I know on you and make you disappear so thoroughly that not even the best Aurors would ever find you." she pulled back to see the terror in his eyes.
"But since we're at school, let's be civil about this." she said calmly and released her grip on Andrew. She watched as he fell to the ground, gasping for air, letting him calm down a little bit before she reached down, gripped his right forearm and brought her foot on it with her whole power until she heard the unpleasant crack, Andrew's cries of pain and yells from other's in the room. She released the hand, letting Andrew cradle it to his chest as she took a handful of his hair, pulling his head up to face her. She felt satisfied with her action as she watched the tears on Andrew's cheeks and terror in his eyes.
"If you ever try to do this to another girl, ever, I will find you Andrew, and I won't be as merciful about this as I was now. Understood?" Andrew nodded furiously.
"Use your words, Andrew." she watched as Andrew gulped.
"I-I u-u-understand."
"Now, if anybody asks, you tripped. What did you do Andrew?" she pulled at his hair.
"I-I t-tripped."
"Good boy." she released her grip on her. "Now scram." she didn't have to say it twice. Andrew was quick on his feet and ran out of the common room as fast as he could.
"What in the bloody hell was that?" she heard behind her and as she turned around, she found four pairs of on her, some surprised, some scared.
"Eye for an eye I would call it. He drugged Aveline at a party and if it wasn't for Poppy here," she motioned towards her classmate who was standing very still in the corner. "Who knows what else he'd do to her?" her eyes caught Hermione's. Her look softened, silently asking for forgiveness. Hermione frowned but eventually gave her a small nod in acknowledgement.
"Now, I'm sorry for disturbing you, but I have a sister to take care of. I would appreciate it if you didn't speak of this to anyone. Good night." she didn't spare anyone another look as she stepped out of the common room, hearing Poppy's footsteps following her. They didn't speak until they reached the Ravenclaw common room.
"Thank you for tonight, Poppy." she turned to face the girl. "I'm sorry you had to see that." Poppy shook her head.
"It's alright. It was... it was kind of badass." Poppy gave her a small smile but she didn't meet her eyes.
"If you ever need anything, just ask me. I owe it to you."
"It was nothing."
"I insist." Poppy nodded in acknowledgement.
"Okay. Good night, Lilith."
"Good night."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hermione's leg bounced up and down nervously as she sat at her table at Three Broomsticks. It was still early for Harry to show up and both Rita and Luna were starting to get on her nerves. But then she finally saw her friend sitting right at the table where Hagrid was sitting just a few moments ago which made sense. Hagrid's huge form hid him so well before that she couldn't spot him. She furiously started waving at him, calling his name.
"Harry! Harry, over here!" when he finally spotted her, he made his way through the crowded pub, stopping in his tracks for a little bit when he spotted her companions. Hermione gave him an apologetic smile when she realised what had happened.
"You're early." she moved to make some room for him. "I thought you were with Cho, I wasn't expecting you for another hour at least." she shouldn't have said that because a predatory grin made its way onto Rita's face.
"Cho? A girl?"
"If I were you, Rita, I would leave that quill inside of that hideous bag of yours." Hermione watched as Rita froze on the spot when she heard the voice. Lilith eyed Rita as she pulled up a chair from the table next to them, putting a glass of honey-coloured liquid on their table.
"L-Lady Farrow," Rita gulped. "I didn't know you'd be here." Lilith gave her a tight-lipped smile.
"I had to make sure you'd behave, Rita. So behave, alright?" Rita nodded.
"Hello Lilith." Luna smiled.
"Hello, love." Lilith smiled and leaned down, giving Luna a friendly kiss on the cheek. "How are you?"
"No wrackspurts."
"That's good." she sat down and looked at Hermione and Harry.
"Hello Potter, Hermione." Hermione had to give it to her. Lilith was a very good actress because the way she greeted them was almost cold but Hermione could see the small twinkle in her eyes. Hermione could feel Harry tensing next to her and she wasn't surprised. Lilith's little encounter with the fourth-year boy the previous night shook all three of them. Hermione had never seen Lilith like that, so angry and ruthless as she broke the boy's arm like a twig. But contrary to the boys, Hermione understood because Lilith made it clear to her. 'Nobody hurts someone I love and gets away with it.'
"Please go on, don't mind me. I won't bug you with anything." her eyes locked on Rita and Hermione watched as the ex-reporter squirmed in her seat. Lilith seemed to enjoy Rita's discomfort because she chuckled dryly and took a sip of her drink. Harry turned back to her.
"What are you up to?" his eyes travelled between Hermione, Rita and Luna.
"Little Miss Perfect was just about to tell me when you arrived," said Rita, taking a large slurp of her drink. "I suppose I'm allowed to talk to him, am I?" she shot at Hermione.
"Yes, I suppose you are," said Hermione coldly. She enjoyed the new look on Rita. She was clearly miserable when her only source of income was cut off but it was karma.
"Pretty girl, is she, Harry?"
"I'm still here, Skeeter." Lilith shot Rita another look. "One more word about Potter's love life and whatever deal you two have made is off and that's a promise,"
"What deal?" said Rita, wiping her mouth on the back of her hand and motioning towards Hermione. "Miss Prissy here haven't mentioned a deal yet, you just told me to turn up. Oh, one of these days..." Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Yes, yes, one of these days you'll write more horrible stories about Harry and me," said Hermione indifferently. "Find someone who cares, why don't you?"
In the end, Hermione was glad Lilith ruled that she would be present during the conversation. Her sole glares made Rita back down immediately when she started to go off the rails and by the end of the interview, Rita gave up on her protests altogether. Lilith made good on her promise not to interrupt, she simply sat in her chair the whole time, sipped her drink and occasionally coughed to make sure Rita didn't forget she was also present.
Hermione was a bit saddened when Lilith left the pub along with the ex-reporter but she couldn't do anything about it as she and Harry started walking back towards the castle.
"Does Lilith ever cry about Cedric?" Hermione's head whipped to face him.
"What? What are you on about?" Harry shrugged.
"I mean, he was her best friend. Does she ever cry about him? I don't think I've ever seen her cry." Hermione had no idea why Harry was asking her that.
"Well, Lilith's not exactly one to put her feelings on display, Harry." Hermione sighed. "She was wrecked of course she was. But I think she made her peace with it. Why are you asking?" she watched as Harry kicked the small pile of snow in his way.
"Cho cries all the time. Or makes these remarks." Hermione frowned when she sensed something in his voice.
"What happened on your date?"
"She wanted to go to this Tea Shop in Hogsmeade, Madame...?"
"Madam Puddifoot's?"
"Yes, that one. And," Harry got into the explanation of what happened in the tea shop and as he went on Hermione had to shake her head in disbelief at her friend's blindness.
"...and then she jumps up, says 'I'll see you around, Harry,' and runs out of the place! I mean, what was all that about? What was going on?" Hermione sighed. How could he get it all so wrong? She didn't know.
"Oh, Harry. Well, I'm sorry, but you were a bit tactless." his head whipped around.
"Me, tactless? One minute we were getting on fine, the next minute she was telling me that Roger Davies asked her out, and how she used to go and snog Cedric in that stupid tea shop — how was I supposed to feel about that? I didn't even know she used to go out with Cedric until she mentioned it!" Hermione could see the outrage in her friend and was sympathetic to some extent.
"Well, you see, you shouldn't have told her that you wanted to meet me halfway through your date." she tried to explain it as gently and patiently as possible.
"But, but," spluttered Harry, "but — you told me to meet you at twelve and to bring her along, how was I supposed to do that without telling her — ?"
"You should have told her differently," said Hermione, still with that maddeningly patient air. "You should have said it was really annoying, but I'd made you promise to come along to the Three Broomsticks, and you really didn't want to go, you'd much rather spend the whole day with her, but unfortunately you thought you really ought to meet me and would she please, please come along with you, and hopefully you'd be able to get away more quickly? And it might have been a good idea to mention how ugly you think I am too," Hermione added as an afterthought.
"But I don't think you're ugly," said Harry, bemused. Hermione laughed.
"Harry, you're worse than Ron... Well, no, you're not," she sighed. "Look — you upset Cho when you said you were going to meet me, so she tried to make you jealous. It was her way of trying to find out how much you liked her."
"Is that what she was doing?" said Harry. "Well, wouldn't it have been easier if she'd just asked me whether I liked her better than you?"
"Girls don't often ask questions like that," said Hermione.
"Well, they should!" said Harry forcefully. "Then I could've just told her I fancy her, and she wouldn't have had to get herself all worked up again about Cedric dying! Which I still don't get." Hermione shook her head and pulled her coat tighter.
"I'm not saying what she did was sensible. I'm just trying to make you see how she was feeling at the time."
"Did you know Cedric and her were going out?" Harry grumbled and kicked another pile of snow.
"They weren't. Cho's just being overdramatic. From what Lili told me, they went on one date, which she asked him out on, kissed once and that was it."
"Then why is she always wailing like a widow who just lost the love of her life?" Hermione shook her head.
"I don't know. Attention, maybe? Lilith's sick of it too and I'm not surprised." she murmured.
"While we're on the topic of Lilith, let me just say, your girlfriend is scaring the shit out of me." Hermione's cheeks reddened.
"Sorry about that."
"I mean, you've seen her last night, right? She broke Armstrong's arm without a second thought, Hermione." Harry glanced at her and Hermione could see worry in his eyes. "I've heard some rumours from Ron about her and... Hermione, you are alright, right?" Hermione blinked in surprise at his question.
"What are you... Harry!" she exclaimed as she realised the meaning of his question, anger seeping through her voice as she glared at her best friend.
"I'm just worried, Hermione."
"I know you are but that doesn't make it right." she sighed. "Lilith's gentlest person I know. What she did last night, albeit it being a bit terrifying, was justified. That boy drugged her sister and you know how protective Lilith is of her siblings. Ron and the twins would do the same thing if it was Ginny." Hermione too kicked a small pile in front of her.
"Can she be a bit terrifying? Yes. Does she have a little bit of a temper? Yes, but not worse than you or Ron. Is she overprotective? Very much so." she sighed. "But she'd never hurt me, Harry. And she'd never let anything hurt me. Why do you think she sat in that pub the whole time?"
"Alright, it was kind of funny to see Skeeter squirm like that." Harry chuckled.
"Lili has her on a very tight leash because of the things she wrote last year. What she wrote about me." Hermione watched as Harry's lips pulled into silent 'O'.
"See. She would never hurt me, Harry. So please, don't ever ask that again, I'm begging you." Harry leaned towards her and nudged her shoulder with his.
"I'm just looking out for you." Hermione smiled.
"I know you are, and it's sweet but please don't do it again." Harry chuckled.
"Alright, I won't. I hope you're right."
"I'm always right, Harry."