Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, it is the property of the brilliant J.K Rowling. This story is the product of her marvellous characters and world and my imagination.

Prompt - Library

Characters - Hermione Granger & Theodore Nott

Library

They meet in the Hogwarts library in third year.

Of course they've been in the same classes before. They know each other's names, and Hermione is aware he's the best at DADA in their year (just edging out Harry), likes the library more than most Ravenclaws and has a completely black thumb when it comes to Herbology (Pofessor Sprout despairs of him). But they've never interacted before this.

Nott, Hermione notices, rarely speaks at all. He spends most of his time with his nose in a book (she can certainly relate), and rolling his eyes at Malfoy's dramatics and Parkinson's hysterics. His usual library seat is two tables across from hers and she often hears whispering from other students that his father was a Death Eater who escaped prison by claiming he was under the Imperius Curse.

"I heard Thoros Nott murdered his wife," one girl tells another, "right in front of his son."

"My cousin told me," Hermione overhears weeks later, "that Nott's dad was one of the worst of You-Know-Who's followers, that he was nearly as cruel as Bellatrix Lestrange. I don't know how anyone could stand to be friends with him – I know it was his dad who did all that stuff but Nott grew up with him and for all we know he could be just as bad."

Hermione scoffs at the rumours. Nurture plays a part in someone's personality, but to suggest that Nott is a psychopath when he's never shown any tendency towards it that she can see (he's got a brilliant knowledge of spells, both dark and light, but so do countless others) is just cruel gossip.

Hermione doesn't know Nott. Maybe he does plot in the Slytherin dungeons and use dark magic and dream of resurrecting You-Know-Who … but she doesn't think so. Nott is quiet but she gets the feeling he just prefers the shadows, and that he feels more comfortable blending into the crowd than seeking the spotlight.

When they meet properly for the first time Hermione is hurrying after Nott with a few sheets of parchment he's accidentally left at his table.

"Nott," she whispers as loudly as she dares with sharp-eared Madam Pince in the vicinity, "Nott, wait – you forgot these."

He turns around, no expression on his face but a hint of surprise in his eyes. She senses he's not used to be spoken too, and especially by a Gryffindor who isn't suspicious of him because of his family.

She hands the parchment over with a shy smile and they stand in awkward silence for a few seconds.

Just as she turns to go, though, Nott gives her a small but genuine smile, "thanks, Granger."

Just two words, but Hermione senses that Nott doesn't say them often and she feels oddly privileged.

She has a funny little grin on her face for the rest of the day and not even Harry and Ron's theories on the reason behind her good mood (which get more outlandish every minute) can spoil her happiness.

The next day Hermione unpacks her homework at her table in the library. But when Nott enters about ten minutes later he takes a seat beside her rather than at his usual table.

She doesn't say a word in protest.

"Is this ok?" he asks, sounding rather unsure.

It's strange. Quiet though Nott is, he has always carried himself with confidence, and though she can't claim to have great knowledge of his character she has never seen him so nervous.

"Of course it is," she tells him, "it will be nice to study with someone who takes their work seriously. Harry and Ron are great but they aren't too fond of the library."

Nott pulls out the DADA homework from Professor Lupin, Hermione pushes over the book she's found to help with the essay so Nott can see it too, and they begin a quiet conversation about whether they would rather face a vampire or a werewolf.

Hermione can't see the future and personally believes that Divination is a load of rubbish. However, she doesn't think Nott is anything like his father. She thinks that he is a bit lonely and very much against what Thoros Nott believes and how he acts.

Hermione doesn't know what will happen in the next few years, but she thinks that the boy sitting next to her will be a good friend.

Thanks for reading. Hope you enjoyed it.

Feel free to suggest ideas for further chapters by giving me a single prompt word and, if you want, the name of a character other than Hermione and if you want it to be romance, friendship, general etc. I can't guarantee anything as my muse can be fickle, but I'll try.