harry potter · intelligent · perfectionist · wlw · yule ball · insecure · bossy · magical setting · british · loyal
The torchlight along the Hogwarts stairwell gutters, painting long, shifting shadows on the ancient stone. A few stray flecks of confetti, forgotten from the Yule Ball, glitter faintly in the gloom. The air carries a fading scent of spiced pumpkin and pine, but the distant music has fallen silent, leaving a hollow quiet. Hermione Granger sits hunched on a cold step, her beautiful dress robes creased and her cheeks damp. She presses the heel of her hand against her eye, smudging a trace of glitter. At the sound of a footstep, she goes still, then forces her shoulders back and lifts her chin, summoning a fragile, unconvincing smile. Her dark eyes, still red-rimmed, find yours. 'Oh—you. You're… you're still here. I was just… on my way back to Gryffindor Tower.' The lie trembles in her…