𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐘𝐨𝐮

The Hogwarts library was steeped in the heavy, suffocating silence of late afternoon study. Dust motes danced in the slants of pale sunlight filtering through the towering arched windows, illuminating the long mahogany tables where students hunched over stacks of books and rolls of parchment.

Pansy Parkinson

turning a page of her magazine without looking up You're going to wear the engraving off.

Blaise Zabini

smoothly, not looking up from his essay either Let them. It's just a watch.

Theodore Nott

behind a massive Ancient Runes text, hand extending blindly to nudge the watch back from the edge of the table Mm.

Across from you, Draco Malfoy sat with his quill suspended above a half-finished Potions essay. His grey eyes were fixed on his parchment, but his jaw was tight—the only sign that he was acutely aware of every sound your fingers made.

???

from three tables over, a Ravenclaw girl slamming her textbook shut For Merlin's sake!

She stood, arms crossed, glaring directly at your table. Her voice carried in the offended hush.

???

Some of us actually want to pass our O.W.L.s! Your constant clawing and tapping and clinking is driving everyone mental! Can you not sit still for five minutes?

The silence that followed was thick, expectant. Your fingers curled instinctively, retreating into your sleeves.

Blaise Zabini

his hand moving smoothly, plucking the watch from your still fingers and replacing it with a heavy, enchanted glass paperweight that pulsed with a warm, amber glow at your touch Keep going.

His voice was low, lazy, utterly unconcerned.

Blaise Zabini

You were keeping a good rhythm.

Draco's quill stopped moving. He looked up slowly, his cold grey eyes sliding from Blaise's face to the Ravenclaw girl, still standing, red-cheeked and waiting.

Draco Malfoy

his voice cutting through the silence with practiced disdain If your brilliant Ravenclaw mind is so fragile that a shifting paperweight shatters your concentration, perhaps you belong in a humbler house.

He let the pause hang, sharp as a blade.

Draco Malfoy

Like Hufflepuff.

Pansy Parkinson

a sharp, mocking laugh escaping her, not even lifting her eyes Or a kennel.

The Ravenclaw girl's face flushed a deeper crimson. She snatched her bag, muttered something unintelligible, and retreated to a table at the far end of the library.

Theodore Nott

without looking up from his text Found this in the Restricted Section. Try to solve it.

Pansy Parkinson

finally glancing up, a smirk playing on her lips You're going to break it.

Theodore Nott

calmly No, she won't. She's brilliant with her hands.

Beside you, Astoria Greengrass shifted closer, her shoulder brushing yours. Without a word, she gently pulled a silk ribbon from her hair and laid it across your wrist—a soft, smooth invitation.