"So, what is it?"
Harry was also somewhat puzzled as he turned around. After the tension subsided, he realized that being anxious wouldn't help right now, so he too was curious—why Hermione was fully dressed in the common room at five in the morning, even having specially used magic on her hair—
The softener was simply too ineffective. Hermione admitted she even considered using a Transfiguration Spell on her hair.
"Ahem, I'm just... having trouble sleeping."
Hermione subconsciously reached up to touch her hair, then, under the silent gaze of two boys, ran back to the dormitory in embarrassment and frustration.
"Whatever it is, it's definitely related to Senior Richard."
Seeing Hermione display such behavior, Ron spoke with complete certainty, and Harry nodded, approving his reasoning.
"Then, we should talk—"
"Talk about what?"
"Tell me, what method did Sirius suggest for you to get Ginny—"
"Wait, Ron, it's not like that—"
...
Harry has never felt the sunshine in the Hogwarts Great Hall to be so deceptive.
Golden plates clinked, and sizzling bacon filled the air.
But Harry didn't move; he still clutched his fork tightly, his gaze fixed on Ron, who was flipping through the latest issue of the Prophet Daily. Ron had read the newspaper several times before concluding—"Harry, is it possible—that it was just your nightmare?"
"...Impossible."
Though Harry shook his head, his voice was no longer as certain as before.
"But, there's no news on it, and no parents have sent letters saying the outside world is in chaos—it's been several hours, and if those Black Wizards really had broken out, there would already be fighting now—"
Ron, feeling a bit helpless, folded the newspaper and put it in his pocket, deciding to discuss while handling the baked buns on his plate with Harry.
"What are you guys talking about?"
Neville came over, curious to find out what the whispering duo was discussing, "And where's Hermione?"
...
"Senior! The sun's already up—"
In the Room of Requirement, Hermione vigorously knocked on the wooden door in front of her, trying to wake up a certain person who had inverted their day and night.
But the next moment, with a crisp snap of fingers, the fake sun in the Room of Requirement plummeted, pulling the freshly "off-duty" moon back up again. Looking at the tranquil night outside the window, the girl found herself speechless for a moment, "Even if you conjure up the moon, it doesn't change the fact that..." Hermione raised her wrist—
"William! Don't change my watch!"
Hermione instinctively twisted the doorknob, surprisingly finding the door hadn't been locked from inside—the girl instinctively caught her breath, briefly hesitated (confirmed), and immediately pushed the door open, then, as expected, caught a Niffler from the door handle inside.
"I'll get you something tasty later!"
Hermione placed Kabuda on her shoulder, happily promising the Niffler with grand promises.
"Squeak squeak."
Kabuda nodded, clearly pleased with the arrangement.
Then, one person and the Niffler stealthily avoided the cabinet and entered the inner bedroom.
"..."
Hermione was certain the person lying on the bed had just opened their eyes, but after briefly waking up, evidently, William had fallen asleep again. Though a bit inappropriately timed, the girl genuinely envied this quality of being able to fall asleep anytime—
She quietly crouched by the head of William's bed, looked around, then grabbed the Niffler on her shoulder ("Squeak?"), pinching Kabuda's pink paws aimed at someone's nostrils, "Mind the hygiene—" Before she could succeed, the Niffler in her hand was grabbed and tossed away (Kabuda: ?)—
Next, before the girl could turn and flee, the raised blanket swiftly enveloped her.
"Wait..." In the darkness, the girl blushingly tried to escape.
"Let me sleep a while longer, don't disturb—I was exhausted last night."
So, the struggle stopped, and after who knew how long had passed, the room filled with two steady breaths.
...and the protest of a Niffler just climbing down from the curtain.
...
"...So, what did you do last night?"
In front of the mirror, the girl frustratedly used her magic wand to tease the strands on her head, trying to tame these unruly sleepers after a nap.
"Some preparations."
William stirred the ice cola in his cup; normally, upon waking, people go for black coffee, but—he's a wizard. "Those guys are all hidden now, and... ah, I even ran into an old acquaintance, your former idol—"
"...Lockhart?"
Finishing her hair, the girl rested her chin on her hand in thought for a moment, then hesitantly gave an answer.
"Ah, I wonder if that brings back vivid memories—"
William's tone was evidently a bit sour, but before he could finish, Hermione pinched his cheeks, forcing him to make a funny face.
"Don't talk nonsense. I only liked the content of his books back then—"
Hermione loudly countered.
"So, what you actually liked was that Armenian old wizard."
William asserted confidently.
"...Is that an acceptable interpretation?"
The girl was a bit stunned.
"I think I should be slightly more charming than an old man who hasn't bathed in three months?"
The joke should appropriately allow a graceful retreat, especially since William knew very well Hermione tends to take jokes seriously—
"Of course!"
"So, today, your rush to find me was simply because you missed me..."
"And another thing, I almost forgot!"
Hermione dramatically widened her mouth, then began rummaging through her small leather bag. Soon, she extracted a pink gift box wrapped in intertwining gold and silver ribbons, "Happy Birthday—"
"..."
"What kind of expression is that?"
"I completely forgot about this."
"No worries, as long as I remember—it doesn't hurt to take a look at your gift, right?"
Seeing William instinctively putting the gift away, Hermione squinted her eyes and reminded, "And you know, today is also my birthday—"
"How's that possible? Isn't it in September—"
"But, I used the Time Turner to specifically change today into my sixteenth birthday—I mentioned it to you last year on my birthday."
Hermione deliberately lowered her head, and her tone carried a slight hint of mockery, "It seems someone has already forgotten about it—No problem, it's no problem at all, I wouldn't care about such matters, it's just a forgotten birthday, not a big deal... ouch—too harsh!"
The girl clutched her head, forced out of her act.
"Don't mess with time—"
William said fiercely, then looked down at the silver pocket watch nestled in the gift box, his expression softening quite a bit, "Thank you, I really like it—"