You're Universe

They entered Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop in Hogsmeade to the gentle chime of bells. Warm air, filled with the scent of fresh pastries and floral tea, enveloped them instantly. Lace curtains on the windows, porcelain teacups with gilded edges, tables with pink tablecloths – everything here breathed coziness and calm. Hermione carefully surveyed the room, her gaze sliding over the elegant interior details. "It's so..." she began, searching for the word. "Saccharine?" Draco finished for her, his lips twitching in a faint smirk. They took a table by the window. Madam Puddifoot, the proprietor, immediately approached them with a tray holding two steaming teacups and a plate of heart-shaped pastries. "For you, dears, our special tea set," she said with a warm smile. "Made with love." Hermione picked up her cup, feeling the warmth of the drink seep into her fingers. Draco watched her, then unexpectedly reached out and took one of the pastries. "Try it," he said, breaking off a piece and offering it to her. She accepted the treat, biting the morsel held between his thumb and forefinger, and the unexpectedly sweet taste of crumbly pastry and delicate cream brought a smile to her face. She didn't miss how Draco's eyes darkened as he watched her – that gaze, full of desire, she'd been seeing every day lately. Draco raised his own cup, still looking into her brown eyes. "To checking off items on the list," he said quietly. They clinked their teacups, and in that moment, Hermione felt this place, despite all its cloying sweetness, had become a little dearer to her.

***

They appeared at the edge of the school grounds with the soft pop of Apparition. In the distance, beyond the lake, rose the familiar towers with their pointed spires – as majestic as they remembered. Hermione froze. "Nothing's changed," she whispered. Draco was silent, but his eyes scanned the castle's silhouette – from Gryffindor Tower to the Forbidden Forest. He remembered every path, every stone on the bridge. Professor McGonagall, meeting them at the oak doors, merely raised an eyebrow, noticing how Hermione's fingers had unconsciously intertwined with Malfoy's. But she said nothing – only nodded and departed, leaving them alone. Summer holidays weren't over yet. The deserted corridors of Hogwarts, usually filled with the noise of students, now breathed silence. Only the echo of their footsteps disturbed the peace of the ancient walls as they crossed the bridge leading to the main entrance. "Strange to see it so... empty," Hermione murmured. The stone walls remembered everything: their arguments, stolen glances, hundreds of unspoken words. Now they walked side by side, shoulder to shoulder, and every turn evoked new memories. They ascended the moving staircases. The path led through portrait galleries where some of the depicted wizards, awakened by their steps, peered curiously from their frames. They passed several corners where they'd once hidden from Filch, and then before them stood the massive library doors. The smell of parchment and old ink hit her nostrils, and Hermione froze on the threshold, as if transformed back into that girl with a bushy mane of hair and a stack of books in her arms. She darted towards the nearest shelf, her fingers trembling as she flipped pages. "One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi..." she whispered, clutching the tome to her chest. "I thought this edition was lost!" Draco watched her dart between the stacks, touch the spines, read passages aloud. His gaze slid over her profile. He licked his lips. And moved towards her. Hermione barely had time to slam her book shut when his hands planted themselves on the shelf on either side of her head. He didn't say a word – just leaned down and captured her lips with his. This wasn't a gentle kiss. This was something hungry, long-restrained. His fingers dug into her hips, lifting her, seating her on the edge of a table. A stack of books crashed to the floor, but there was no one nearby to hear it. "Draco," she gasped, "we're... in the library..." "You started it," he bit her lower lip. "Standing there, all engrossed in reading, pretending you didn't notice me watching you." Her fingers tangled in his hair, and her lips responded to his every move.

***

A quiet evening. The lake water reflected the last rays of sunset, and the Giant Squid lazily waved a tentacle near the surface. Hermione stood on the shore, hugging herself, when footsteps sounded behind her. Warm arms wrapped around her waist, lips touched her neck. "Well, the squid waved a tentacle at you," Draco whispered, his breath burning her skin. She laughed, leaning her head back against his shoulder. "I never expected this week to be so beautiful for me. Thank you." "Did we finish everything on your list?" he smiled, kissing her temple. "And even a few items from mine." His smile turned predatory. "I mean the amazing sex with Hermione Granger in the library." She blushed but stayed silent. Then he pulled a rolled parchment from his pocket and unfolded it before her. On it was written just one item: `Choose names for our children` "This list," he said, "I want to go through it with you too." Hermione froze. Pain froze in her eyes. "Or add this item to yours. How about Scorpius for a son? And a daughter named Adelaide?" Hermione felt her heart clench so sharply it stole her breath. "I'm sorry, Draco..." her voice broke, tears already streaming down her cheeks. "I should have... but I couldn't. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, please..." He didn't get a chance to ask what was wrong. Draco froze, not understanding, but instinctively pulled her close, stroking her back as she trembled. "What... what happened?" he whispered almost inaudibly, but no answer came. Her body went limp in his arms, her face buried in his shirt. Draco pulled back to see her face – and icy horror gripped his throat. Her eyes, shining with happiness just a second ago, were now wide open, glassy and empty. Her lips, which had just whispered his name, were slightly parted. "Hermione?" He shook her shoulders – no reaction. His fingers dug into her wrist, searching for a pulse – nothing. And then he noticed it: a thin bracelet, not there before, tightly encircling her wrist. A faint flash ran across her skin – and at the same moment, Potter appeared beside them. "Potter?!" Draco's voice cracked into a rasp. "Salazar! How did you... Don't just stand there! She needs help!" But Harry didn't move. His gaze slid from the bracelet to Hermione's face – and only deep sorrow was readable in his eyes. "She's dead, Malfoy." "What are you spouting, you git?! We need to help her..." "She was cursed," Harry interrupted quietly. "Her time ran out. I'm... I'm sorry." Draco froze. He looked into Potter's eyes – and knew he wasn't lying. He couldn't lie. And then something inside him shattered. He clutched Hermione to his chest, burying his face in her hair. "No..." his voice shattered into sobs. "No, no, no..."