The Biggest Sacrifice

It's a funny thing coming home. Nothing changes. Everything looks the same, feels the same, even smells the same. You realise what's changed is you. - F. Scott Fitzgerald 

Wednesday the 1st of September 1971

Hermione had never been so excited or as sad in her life to stand on Platform 9 ¾, the smell of the smoke from the scarlet train doing much to remind her of her own first year. For years she had missed Hogwarts, longed to see it before the war took it’s hold, to see her home away from her home that she had cherished for so long with the air of death not yet having tainted it’s surroundings.

Yet her heart ached as she stared at the couple that had been her parents for nearly five years, who had taken her in and kept her safe – made their home her home. She didn’t want to leave them, wanted to beg to stay with them like a child, to go home with some hot chocolate and read beside Fleamont or bake with Euphemia.

Things wouldn’t be the same after this. The war was coming to a devastating start...and Merlin, Hermione wished she had asked someone how Harry’s grandparents died because she didn’t ever want to lose them like she had lost so much else – wanted to save them from whatever would happen so much that her throat closed up and her eyes stung with tears.

“Hermione?” Her head snapped up as she looked to the only father figure she had in this life, Fleamont, his eyes watching her with concern until not two seconds later he was bending down to see her eye level. “It will be alright, sweetheart and you know you can write to us anytime.” Her eyes watered more as she wrapped her arms around him, feeling to gentle pressure of him holding her tightly.

“I love you.”

“And we love you, and you will see us at Christmas but for now go and make new friends, and keep an eye on your brother.” He whispered back into her ear, pulling away to tuck a stray curl and giving her a kiss on the forehead.

Hermione nodded her head as she turned to look at Euphemia as she stretched out an arm, a grin so much like James’ on her face when Hermione buried her face there and swallowed the comfort like she would never have it again. She didn’t want to look at James, see the worry etched on every line of his face.

They had spent the past year speaking about this, since Hermione turned eleven last September. Their houses and classes, how excited the pair of them were to be able to use magic, and now Hermione was a second away from breaking down and no one seemed to understand why.

James let out a groan as his mother dragged him into her other arm, ruffling his hair and switching between them to place kisses on their heads and whisper her love. “Ma’, please – I need to go and find Sirius.” He whined, pulling away and sending her a glare that only made the three other Potters chuckle at his baby face.

“I am sure he will meet you on the train...it wouldn’t be wise to interrupt his time with his family.” It was said kindly but they all knew the truth – the family of Black headed aristocrats were to be avoided. “But yes,, you both better get moving – make sure you write at least once a week, and stay out of trouble – I mean it James.” The siblings nodded their heads, James all but pushed Hermione along as her head continued drifting to look over her shoulder at the waving parents.

A frown made it’s way onto her face as she caught sight of Andromeda speaking to her mother, waving hands and fast word that couldn’t quite be made out, her mother saying something with a hand on the teenagers shoulder and her eyes wide in a way that told Hermione it was something serious. She wanted to turn around, to find out what the problem was but she was pulled back by James.

“Andy will tell you later if she wants you to know.” His eyebrows raised and his lips pursed as he hand his trolley and her own to service man before he spoke again. “Come on Mi’, we only get to go to Hogwarts once.”

Hermione couldn’t help the smile that made it’s way to her face. If only that was true.

...

The loud chatter from the compartments almost reminded Hermione of the first time she had walked down the corridor of the train searching for Neville’s toad, her heart seeming to go in time with the steady rhythm of the wheels below and the smile on her face calm as she scanned every person, watching the old friends greet each other and the new ones find common ground despite the fact that half of them would probably never speak again.

A familiar laugh caught her attention, her head turning to watch as an auburn haired girl and a boy with greaser hair than normal storm down the hall and away from the compartment she knew her brother and probably Sirius were sat inside. She shouldn’t have left them alone.

“What did you do?” Hermione asked as she entered, frowning at the two boys. Her brother stared back with an impish expression while Sirius rolled his eyes and shrugged his shoulders like it didn’t even matter to him.

“I know not of what you are referring to.”

Hermione let out a sigh as she beside her brother, turning to face him with a raised eyebrow and ignoring the smirk on his face. “What did you said to make them leave?” His cheeks puffed out and his arms crossed over his chest as he fixed her with a look as though he was about to say something factual that couldn’t be disputed.

“The boy, Snivellus, just couldn’t shut up about how great Slytherin would be for him and his little mate, I couldn’t just let that slide.” He explained as Hermione clenched her jaw and looked away while Sirius picked at the seat below him – seeming conflicted. “Sorry Sirius, just you know… Slytherin is where all the dark Witches and Wizards go.”

“You don’t have to tell me, I am related to half of them...and so is your sister.” He pointed out as James cringed and nodded his head in agreement, seeming to eye Hermione up as though he wasn’t sure where she would go, like she hadn’t already thought of it herself.

Her father, her grandmother and her whole grandmothers family had been Slytherin with the rare peppering of Ravenclaw and Gryffindor among them, and whether she wanted to admit it or not, there was a few traits that seemed to have a lot more value than before. Her world had seemed darker and more aware that there was nothing quite so pure or quite so dark any more.

It had been terrifying at first, her world twisting into something she didn’t want to understand, and her brother watching her just made her aware that he knew she could be either too. “You aren’t sorted because of who you are but instead due to the traits you deem more valuable and use everyday – therefore you can chose your house despite what your family will have you believe.”

Her eyes settled on Sirius as he gave her a small smile, seeming to relax more into his seat as James raised his own eyebrows and stared again at Hermione, though this time with a frown. “So...you could be in Slytherin...if you are ambitious?”

“Nothing wrong with having ambition but how you use it.”

“Couldn’t have said that better myself.” The three turned to see Andromeda stood in the door, a grin on her face as her eyes settled on James and a singular eyebrow raised. “Are you worrying about being a Slytherin again, James?” Her face told the look of amusement but there was an anger behind her eyes that caused James to cringe.

“Nothing personal towards you Andy, you’re the best prettiest Slytherin I know.” He grinned awkwardly at her, sending her a half flirty wink from behind his glasses as Sirius guffawed out a laugh and Andromeda rolled her own eyes, moving to grab Crookshanks bag from the seat beside Sirius.

“I’m the only Slytherin you know, now I’m stealing Hermione so remembered to get your robes on after the Trolley Lady comes.” The boys nodded their heads, watching as Hermione was dragged out of the compartment to one of the more quieter part of the train, no one inside, leaving the two cousins to sit down across from each other.

Neither spoke for a second as Andromeda pulled the tight bun out of her hair, shaking the dark waves around her shoulders and letting out a groan. Her just watched with a confused smile on her face, surely she wasn’t dragged here just to watch her cousin rid herself of the Black image her parents had forced onto her.

“Um...Andy?” Her cousin let out a hum but she remained more focused on her next task which seemed to be digging something out of the satchel bag she had had on her shoulder. “I saw you speaking to Mum, is everything ok?” Andromeda finally stopped looking, turning to frown at Hermione, hands falling slack onto her skirt.

“Can I not talk to Aunt Effie?”

“Of course but I just didn’t think you would when your...our family was around.” Hermione whispered the words as someone walked past, a loud laughter ringing throughout the corridor as someone else ran behind them.

“My family have arranged that Bellatrix will be marrying Rodolphus Lestrange in a couple of months." Hermione nodded her, in had been in the papers and she had cringed when she read it. Thinking of Andromeda’s older sister did nothing but make her whole body itch and her mind scream in anger. “And with that...they have all but decided that within the year I finish school I will be sent to marry Lucius Malfoy.”

No, that didn’t make sense. In fact it wasn’t right at all.

Lucius was supposed to marry Narcissa and Andromeda was supposed leave her family and have her own family with a loving husband and a beautiful, if not slightly mad, daughter. Her heart began beating as she tried to search through the memories of Hermione Potter’s education about the common arrangements made between partners.

“You could always marry Ted, I mean you are both of legal age.”

“Like that makes much difference when you have a family like ours but no...I couldn’t ask that of him not when we are both so young and we have no money to even begin a life together.” Andromeda spoke softly, sadness filling her voice but there was something else in her eyes, like she couldn’t help but hope for it.

“Perhaps you could ask him and if not then we can figure something else out – I’m sure Euphemia and Fleamont would love to give you somewhere to stay.” Hermione spoke softly as she reached across to hold her cousins hands as the girl gave her a half shrug and a nod of her head, though they both knew she wouldn’t ask.

...

Her heart had all but stopped when she had seen the castle from the boats, a childlike wonder filling every inch of her body but being back inside, stood outside the Great Hall as McGonagall explained the same thing she had heard all those years ago, had made her realise just how much she had missed the castle.

Even as she moved forward, her brother brushing his arm beside her and seemingly a million different eyes on her from the four tables, nothing could stop the screaming of joy inside her head. Every nook and cranny was how she once remembered it, every line in the stone and even the smell did her memory justice and placed a large smile on her face.

Her eyes scanned the tables, trying to find familiar faces from Gryffindor at the far left to Hufflepuff to far right, even as she walked between Ravenclaw and Slytherin, to the long table of teachers filled with people she had never thought she would see again.

She settled on Dumbledore, the smile dropping an inch as his bright blue eyes scanned her and he gave her a faint nod and turned his eyes onto the hat sat on the stool as it’s fabric mouth opened and a song poured out of it..

"Oh pretty I am not,

But don't judge me,

As I'll bet you'll never find,

A hat quite as smart as me.

There is nothing that I can't see,

In those heads of yours,

I'll tell you where you ought to be,

If you'll surely put me on.

You might belong in Gryffindor,

Where dwell the brave at heart,

Their daring, nerve and chivalry,

Set Gryffindor's apart.

You might belong in Hufflepuff,

Where they are just and loyal,

Those patient Hufflepuff's are true,

And unafraid of toil,

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,

If you've a ready mind,

Where those of wit and learning,

Will always find their kind,

Or perhaps in Slytherin,

You'll make your real friends,

Those cunning folk use any means,

To achieve their ends.

The round of applause broke Hermione from staring at Dumbledore, five years since the last conversation she had had with him and a couple of letters later and here she was, the weight seeming to settle on her shoulders and remind her just why she was sent here again.

His eyes turned to her once again, though they seemed sterner, his mouth tenser and she didn’t hold back the frown and annoyance, even as a younger McGonagall with less grey in her hair but the same green robes climbed her way onto the platform, picking up the hat with delicate fingers and staring down at the first years.

“When I call your name, you will come forward and sit, I will place the hat on your head and you will be sorted.” Her tone left no room for questions and her accent was just as thick as Hermione remembered, embracing her like a warm stern hug from an old friend.

A sigh caught her attention, turning her away from her favourite teacher and to an auburn girl now standing beside her with a look of relief on her face. The girl had a slight fairy look to her, small features and slightly pointy ears, she seemed small despite the fact that she stood at the same height as Hermione – perhaps just the delicacy of her features.

And then her eyes turned to Hermione, and bile burned the back of her throat.

Those green eyes, those were what she had seen every time she had looked at Harry, so full of emotions that he didn’t ever have to tell her how he felt. They had been the eyes that had showed her comfort and sympathy, that had curled up at the edges when he was happy and narrowed when he was annoyed. And she hadn’t realised just how much she had missed seeing them until she was staring at Harry’s mother.

It hadn’t been as bad with James, as much as he was like his son, there were differences and she had grown to love him, to look past them and smile fondly when he grinned like his son or said something equally as stupid as her Harry did. But this...

“Are you okay?” Hermione swallowed the bile as Lily’s soft voice reached her ears, her pinkish hand settling on Hermione’s shoulder and her eyes filling with concern.

“Oh...yes, thank you.” If Lily noticed the wavering in her voice then she didn’t comment but nodded her head and clapped for the boy who had just been sent to Hufflepuff, her eyes turning to find her best friend while Hermione tried to regain her breath and focus on who the stool would call next.

"Black, Sirius."

The Great Hall turned to whispers as the boy in question made his way forward, sitting on the seat and crossing his arms over his chest, face filled with defiance. His eyes found hers after a while and she couldn’t help with small smile that made it’s way to her face nor the thumbs up she gave him as he smirked at her.

"Gryffindor!" James cheered the loudest, knocking into the people around him as he let out a loud whoop and watched his best friend all but run to the cheering table, Sirius looking lighter than he had in a long time and waving to Andromeda as she shook her head with her own grin before he sent a slightly rude gesture further down the Slytherin table.

Hermione followed him with eyes, wincing when she caught the glare of Narcissa Black, pale hair done up like her sisters had been and uniform and robes perfectly placed just like the Prefect badge that gleamed against the candle light. She had forgotten to account for the fact that she would be here.

“Evans, Lily."

Lily stood as still as a Muggle at the end of a end, her hands clenched tightly in fists and her eyes scanning the stool and McGonagall. Hermione didn’t think twice, reaching out to take the girls hand and lead her forward. “You’ll be fine, trust me.”

Her eyes settled on Hermione, the tears all but vanishing as she nodded her head and stormed towards the seat, sitting herself down rather clumsily and tilting her chin upwards as the hat was placed on her head, seeming only to rest there for a few seconds and then it was shouting for everyone to hear. "Gryffindor!"

Hermione couldn’t contain her grin, clapping her own hands together and avoiding James’ watching eye and instead looking to Snape as he seemed to deflate, unable to stop himself from watching as Lily carefully sat across from Sirius with narrowed eyes.

Before she would have been next, or close, but now she was forced to watch as more and more students found their tables, slowly dwindling the crowd until a few of them remained, shifting from foot to foot and letting their nerves get the best of them. James was practically sweating next to her and staring with longing eyes at the Gryffindor table.

“Who are you more eager to sit beside, Sirius or Lily?” Hermione whispered, chuckling out a laugh when his elbow knocked into her stomach and his cheeks turned a rosy red.

"Lupin, Remus." Her smile dropped and her head span around to focus on Remus, lanky even at eleven though his sandy hair had yet to turn grey and his face wasn’t as scared as it should have been, though it was incredibly pale which most could chalk down to nerves but Hermione knew better.

It was a habit now, checking and looking over when the moon would full, staring out of her window and wondering if little Remus was struggling as much as he had done before. She had missed him more than she knew, her other favourite teacher and on some ways her friend, more of her friend than Sirius had been and sometimes in the dead of night she had wished they had been able to bring him along.

But that didn’t matter now, because he was here and he was about to meet his future best friends, and she would make sure nothing was going to happen to him. Not if she could help it.

A sigh left her mouth as James poked her again, pointing to where Remus was now sitting himself beside Sirius, the Black heir speaking to him as though they had been friends for years. She couldn’t help but watch them, not even as a pretty golden blond girl with icy eyes, tan skin and a smirk to revival Sirius’ sat down beside Lily and started a conversation.

"That’s Marlene McKinnon, her dad used to work with ours.” James informed her lowly, eyeing the blond as well before his eyes drifted up the table and settled on two other boys with similar hair and skin to the girls. “Those are her brothers, I heard they are on the Quidditch team – do you think they can get me a tryout?” His eyes turned eager and a grin lit up his mouth as another student walked to their table.

“Do you and Sirius just gossip like a pair of old ladies?” Hermione asked with a raised eyebrow as James rolled his eyes and Hermione clapped for the next student. “First years aren’t allowed and you aren’t even in Gryffindor yet.” She point back to the front, her mouth falling open as she spotted the person sat there with the hat on his head.

He was chubby and smaller than she remembered, in a way he kind of reminded her of Neville, watery eyes staring at everyone, those dirty strands of blond hair tickling his forehead, practically twitching in his seat but he wasn’t Neville. No, Neville had been brave, he had been loyal to his friends to the very end and someone like Peter Pettigrew did not even compare.

She didn’t have to see where he would go but she did glare at Sirius when the boy made space for Peter to sit down on his other side, eyes staring at Sirius as though he was some kind of hero and it made her feel sick and her hand twitch for her wand.

"Potter, Hermione."

If anyone was making noise then she couldn’t hear it over the thumping of her heart and the voices in her own head. For a moment, she thought she understood how Harry had felt to have eyes on you, the whispers that would probably follow, filled with rumours about her life though she refused to meet her prying eyes when she sat on the stool.

The hat felt like a dead weight, making her scrunch her shoulders and curl more into herself. It’s voice ringing in her ears as it spoke so only she could hear.

"I don’t remember you, though it seems we have met before...what a peculiar complex mind you have. How lucky you are to come and fix their mistakes… very noble and brave of you…”

Her eyes closed as it managed to make it’s words sound taunting, she half expected it to laugh afterwards, to be more cruel in the face of everyone else...to make her job even harder by placing her in a place where she would be forced to watch and looked at with distrust.

“Slytherin isn’t that bad, you know, many a great minds have come from there and you would do well with your ambition, it is a talent to be so cunning and to do what you have to do even to save the ones you care for.”

A whispered voice caught her attention, her eyes opening to see the impatient and worried ones of her brother. Someone who she had never thought she would have the ability to know, to save. Five years together, they couldn’t be forced apart now, not without reason or understanding, she didn’t want to be away from him.

“Perhaps he could join you in another house, for your mind is sharper, sharper than most… Ravenclaw would suit you well and a house without it’s problems would make your family proud.” Her head shook and a sigh left her mouth as the hat finally gave a chuckle at her annoyance. “It seems you only have one place in mind...better be...”

"Gryffindor!"

Hermione shoulder slumped as McGonagall pulled the hat from her head, scrambling to get herself off the chair and launch herself into James’ arms for a quick hug as he all but ran to take his place on the seat without even waiting for his name to be called. The pair jumped around for a second, not caring about the eyes on them or the astounding cries from the Gryffindor table.

“Miss Potter if you could take your seat please, Mr James Potter I’m guessing if you would be so kind as to sit down here.” McGonagall spoke, raising her eyebrow as Hermione nodded her head and ran to her table, sliding in beside Lily and high fiving Sirius who was all but jumping in his seat, eyeing James and tapping his foot.

Hermione grinned at Lily, noticing the frown on her face as she looked between the two of them for similarities only to find the hair and perhaps a similar smile. “He’s my brother, I was kind of adopted.” She explained briefly as Gryffindor table let out a loud cheers and James was joining them, pushing between Sirius and Peter with a grin and wave for Remus.

“I thought I recognised you two.” The group looked up to see a familiar looking girl, not much older than them with big blue eyes and a round face, she grinned and held out her hand to Hermione. “I’m Alice Prewett, I’m in third year, our mums are friends.”

There were many things that stood out about her, but it was the grin that told her who this girl was or who she would be until all Hermione could see was her sat in a hospital bed not even recognising her own son, tortured to the point of insanity by her own...well second cousin and yet she looked at Hermione like she didn’t even care who she was.

“Your cousins are Gideon and Fabian, right?” James asked suddenly, looking down the table for the red headed twins like he was looking for his idols, not even caring that the sorting was still happening and he was drawing attention to himself. “I met them once at dads work, they taught this trick…”

“I bet they did.” Alice spoke, rolling her eyes but there was a small smile on her face as she turned back to look at Hermione, softening slightly. “Anyway, if any of you need anything then just ask me or Frank, he’s in forth year but he’s always been good about helping – that’s him over there.” Alice said pointing out the boy who might as well have been Neville reincarnated, before she sat down and began speaking to her friends.

Lily sighed from beside her, a sad smile on her face as she watched Snape make his way to the Slytherin table, looking even more furious when he caught her eye. Hermione took a deep breath, and placed her hand on Lily’s shoulder. “I hear we share a few classes with Slytherin so I’m sure we will see him.”

Her eyes snapped to her brother as he opened his mouth to speak, glaring at him to shut up and feeling happy when he seemed to get the message, whether from her or the soft tears strolling down Lily’s cheeks, it didn’t matter.

“Why is she crying?” A girl asked, sitting beside the other girl, who bared a strong resemblance to Lavender Brown, that had been sorted and made it clear she didn’t want to talk to any of the other seven sat at the table with her. She was pretty, her coppery skin contrasting beautifully with her long dark hair and her deep blue eyes, but there was a sneer on her face as she looked at Lily, enough to make the bitter taste of dislike heavy in Hermione’s mouth.

“Her friend was sorted into another house.” Marlene explained as though it was simply, shrugging her shoulders and offering Lily a thin lipped smile.

“So? This is where you make new friends, better friends.” The girl spoke, resting her hands on the table as she sat herself down and offering out a slender and well manicured hand for Lily to shake. “I’m Emmeline Vance, and this is Jenny Brown.” She introduced the other girl with a wave of her hand and raised an eyebrow as Lily nodded her head and shook her hand.

Hermione cursed herself. One school time with Lavender was enough, the girl had gossiped none stop and spent a year with her lips glued to Ron’s...and then she died but...Hermione didn’t need to deal with her aunt or distant cousin or whoever Jenny was. Judging by the fact she and Emmeline were now talking about the girls brother and friends, then it seemed aunt.

"Welcome to our new students and welcome back to our old." The Hall grew silent, all eyes turning to face the man stood before them with a twinkling grin on his face and eyes seeming to scan every single person. "Before we begin I'd like to remind you that the Forbidden Forest, is, well, Forbidden." His eyes fell on Gideon and Fabian, staring at them over his half moon spectacles. "Also Mr Filch has kindly placed a list outside his door of items he has banned this year should you wish to take a look. But personally I would like to remind you all that while we take this time to learn and grow – it does not do good to forget to live our lives and cherish in the new friends we have made.” His eyes settled on Hermione for a second and her eyes rolled, turning away from him and staring at the plate set before her. “Now, let the feast begin.”

...

Hermione had been lucky in her life to have experienced the fine food people like Molly Weasley and Euphemia Potter made her but nothing would ever compare to the spread that Hogwarts placed before them, especially during the big feasts.

Her stomach felt fit to burst and her legs moved sluggishly as she followed behind the first year crowd and some Prefect whose name she couldn’t even remember. Her little group of rag tag friends she had made walking alongside her in their own sluggish manner and happy little mumbles and comments leaving their mouths.

“Sirius.” A voice called, the group turning to see Narcissa Black strutting towards them, a cold smile on her face as she took in the first years before her hand reached out to grab Sirius’ wrist and pull him away. "Cousin, I think we need to talk."

He didn’t try to stop it, his head hanging low as he followed behind the older girl, James moving to follow only for Hermione to reach out and stop him, leaning closer and away from the four pairs of prying eyes and eager ears. “You can’t go - “ Her eyes settled on Andromeda as she walked out of the Great Hall. “- I’ll grab Andromeda and we will speak to her… we’ll meet you in the Common Room.”

She didn’t wait for his answer but she listened as he ushered their new friends to hurry up and follow before they ended up getting lost. Instead she reached out to grab her cousin and pull her towards where she had seen Sirius and Narcissa disappear to.

“Merlin Hermione!”

“Narcissa dragged Sirius away…” Her cousin didn’t even bat an eye, nodding her head and following along until they heard hushed voices and could Narcissa bending over Sirius like some sort of pale snake, her eyes flashing and her teeth bared for all to see though her words were hushed and unable to be heard.

"Andy! Hermione!" Sirius shouted suddenly, a grin filling his face as he twisted away from his cousin to come and stand beside the two he actually preferred. "Cissy, was just telling me how much of a disappointment I am and honestly I think it’s the nicest thing she has ever said to me." Sirius joked, though his eyes flashed with annoyance as he turned back to look at the young woman.

“It does happen to be one of her milder insults and it grows tamer the more you hear it.” Andromeda commented, speaking as though she was bored but her hands moved to push the younger ones out of Narcissa’s glaring eyes. “Tell me sister, what is so important that you had to drag our cousin away from his friends?”

“Of course you would support the shame he...and she, has brought upon our house by being sorted into Gryffindor.”

“It’s just a house, Narcissa, it does nothing to determine the fact of family but rather what you value as a person.” Hermione explained as though she was talking to a child, a small smirk on her face when Narcissa all but lunged forward and pointed a pale finger at her face.

"As if I would want to hear your opinions when you have being corrupted by the filthy blood traitors - “ Her voice cut off as Hermione raised her wand and glared dangerously. Her hand shook and the candles around them flickered but Narcissa didn’t even seem to notice, pulling out her own wand in return. "How dare you raise your wand to me!"

"Cissy!" Andromeda cried as she moved forward to push her sisters wand down, turning her head to stare at the nearly twelve year olds behind her. "Hermione, Sirius, go to your Common room." Her tone left no room for arguments and so neither child attempted to stay, though they craned their necks to try and her the argument they had left behind.

They didn’t speak as they followed behind some lingering seventh years, a strange tension settling between them as Hermione realised this was the longest they had ever really been alone together without James there.

"Thanks." Sirius spoke suddenly as they stopped outside the portrait of the Fat Lady, waiting for one of the seventh years to finally remember the password they already seemed to have forgotten, his hand rubbed his neck and his mouth craved a strained smile. “Not just for that but… you’re the reason I’m in Gryffindor and I guess the reason me and James are friends.”

"I have a feeling that Gryffindor and James would accept you whether I was here or not." She spoke quietly as they finally entered the Common Room, her heart beating slightly faster and her palms feeling a bit sweaty for a reason she couldn’t even begin to figure out.