Night Whispers

After eleven at night, Albert quietly passed through the portrait hole and returned to Gryffindor Tower. The students had all gone back to their dormitories to rest, leaving the Common Room in deathly darkness, with only a few embers still glimmering faintly in the fireplace.

Just as Albert was about to return to his dormitory, he noticed a dark shadow beside the armchair nearest the passageway. When he moved the light from his wand over, he found Hermione sitting at the table, fast asleep with her head resting on a book.

"Hermione, wake up. Hurry, wake up. Don't sleep here, or you'll catch a cold." Albert gently nudged the girl's shoulder and woke her.

"Ah... I accidentally fell asleep."

After Hermione opened her eyes, she looked around in confusion. When her gaze returned to Albert, she forced herself awake and asked, "Where did you go? I've been looking for you all afternoon."

"What did you need me for?"

Albert took off his cloak and draped it over Hermione, signaling for her to sit with him by the fireplace. He rekindled the fire, and the blazing flames illuminated both their faces.

Hermione gazed at the roaring fire and pulled the cloak tighter around herself. Seeming to recall something, she took a letter from her pocket and handed it to Albert. "Hagrid lost the case. Buckbeak is going to be executed. He sent me this letter."

Albert took the letter but did not open it. He could guess what it said.

"Although he can still appeal, I can barely see any hope. Malfoy's father threatened the committee." Hermione bit her lip. "You were right. Thinking we could save Buckbeak through a lawsuit from the very beginning was nothing but wishful thinking."

"That was to be expected, wasn't it?" Albert corrected her again.