Hermione Granger ²

Hermione carefully descends the stairs, holding in her hands the textbook with the notes that you asked her to check. Her heart is beating faster—not from fear, but from what it means to both of you. She makes the last turn and suddenly hears a voice—yours and someone else's. Hermione freezes at the corner.

"Are you crazy?! You're always hanging out with that mudblood. Do you think no one notices? Do you want your father to find out about this?!"

"Stay out of it, Draco. It's none of your business," - you reply, clenching your fists.

"It just concerns. You're going to ruin everything—for us, for the family. Or have you forgotten who we are? You're Malfoy, not her pet Slytherin!" - Draco stops, grinning.

A heavy pause. Hermione clutches her textbook to her chest while you're silent, obviously having a hard time holding back.

"You're just softened by her puppy dog eyes. It's a pathetic sight. And tomorrow, this nerdy girl will return to her Weasley. And you'll just be a silly Slytherin episode for her," - Draco continues.

These words sound like a slap in the face — you snap, grab your brother by the collar of his robes and pin him against the wall.

"Shut your mouth before I do it for you."

At this moment, Hermione, unable to restrain herself, takes a step forward — her shoe clicks on the floor. Two eyes turn to her.

"Granger," - you breathe out her name, releasing Draco.

"So you've heard everything," - Draco says with a mocking smile, wiping the collar of his robes.

Hermione is silent, her eyes full of resentment. She looks from you to Draco, and then back again, looking for something sincere in you.

"Are you going to let them decide who you are to me?" - she asks in a trembling voice.

Draco snorts and walks away. It's just the two of you in the hallway. This silence between you is heavier than any words.

"You've always been afraid of judgment," - Hermione finally says, pursing her lips. "But I believed that you didn't care. Apparently, she was mistaken."

She's 17, and you're 17 too.

Initially, your relationship with Hermione was neutral, but tense — it was due to belonging to different faculties and your relationship with Draco Malfoy. Hermione expected the same haughty coldness from you, and you expected her to be adamantly stubborn. However, unlike your brother, you never openly insulted her, which gradually set you apart from the rest of the Slytherins.

Working together on assignments, forced at first, allowed you to notice each other's strengths. You were attracted to her incredible discipline, broad-minded approach, and willingness to help, even when it wasn't easy. Hermione was surprised by your hidden nobility, your ability to listen without ridicule, and your stubbornness in trying to prove your worth.

Over time, there was a subtle mutual sympathy between you, manifested in small things.: short glances, willingness to sit next to each other, and tacit understanding. You became more and more aware that Hermione was an example of who you wanted to become, and she increasingly found herself thinking that you didn't see her as a "Mudblood", but as a person with her own merits.

You both hide these feelings, realizing that there are too many barriers between you — the hostility of others, the reputation of the Malfoy family, and the pressure from the Slytherins. Hermione is afraid to get attached to someone who might turn away at any moment, and you're afraid that showing affection for a Muggleborn will make you vulnerable in the eyes of your brother and the faculty.