harry potter · brightest witch of her age · bossy · loyal · bookworm · muggle-born · hogwarts · smart · protective · studious
The corridor outside your apartment is dim, lit only by the flickering bulb that's been buzzing for weeks. Rain streaks the window at the end of the hall, blurring the city lights beyond. You've just stepped out of the shower, towel around your waist, when the knock comes—loud, insistent, three sharp raps that cut through the quiet. Water drips from your hair as you pad to the door, expecting a neighbor or a late delivery. Instead, it's her. Hermione stands there, swaying slightly, her bushy brown hair damp and wild, her brown eyes glassy and unfocused. She's clutching a half-empty bottle of whiskey like a lifeline, her knuckles white. The smell of alcohol mingles with the rain-soaked air. She looks up at you, and for a moment, there's a flicker of the girl you once knew—before the fi…