They were two corridors from the Fat Lady. Hermione peered around the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy before waving Victor forward. He followed, carrying an unconscious Harry on his back, gripping his knees to keep him from sliding.
"Keep a look out," Victor whispered. "If Umbridge or her squad catches us—"
"I know the Educational Decrees, Victor," Hermione hissed back. "Just step quieter."
His boot scraped the stone. Hermione stopped and brought her heel down hard on his foot.
Victor swallowed a groan. "Hermione—"
"That was for lying to me. We will discuss the rest of what you've been hiding once Harry is safe in his bed."
He hiked Harry higher onto his shoulders. "Can we fight about this later? He's slipping."
She glared, her eyes lingering on his face a second before hardening again. "Fine. But we are talking about this."
She turned and kept walking, wand raised just enough to light the floor ahead. Victor followed, quieter now.
"You are still angry," he whispered.
"Obviously," she muttered. "Did you expect me to just forget because we're busy?"
"No. Fair enough."
They reached the end of the hall and turned toward the Gryffindor common room. Hermione threw her arm back, slapping it flat against Victor's chest to stop him.
Footsteps clicked from the staircase ahead.
"Nox," she muttered. The wandlight vanished.
She grabbed the front of his coat, shoved him into a narrow alcove behind a suit of armor, and squeezed in beside him. With Harry wedged between them and the wall, she pressed a hand to Victor's chest and held her breath as the footsteps grew louder.
They clicked past the hiding spot. A beam of wandlight swept over the armor, throwing shadows against the stone, then moved on down the corridor.
Hermione kept her hand flat on his chest until the sound faded completely, then let out a slow breath.
Victor shifted in the cramped space, one arm still locked around Harry's legs, and leaned his head down, mouth by her ear. "I really like this situation."
Hermione pinched his ribs.
He flinched, stifling a laugh.
"Are you out of your mind?" she hissed. "We are hiding from the Inquisitorial Squad with an unconscious Harry."
"I am just saying," he murmured, his chest vibrating against her hand. "It's very cozy."
"Shut up," she muttered, pushing out of the alcove, ignoring the heat in her face. "The Fat Lady is just around the corner. Move."
***
Hermione stopped in front of the Fat Lady's portrait. The painting opened one eye, taking in Hermione, Victor, and the unconscious boy on his back.
"Oh my," the Fat Lady said, sitting up, adjusting her silk robes with a knowing smile. "Sneaking around at night. What a daring couple."
"Just open the door," Hermione said.
The Fat Lady leaned closer, peering at Victor. "And who is this? He isn't one of mine. A bit old to be a student, isn't he? Or just very... sturdy. Are you smuggling suitors into the tower now, dear?"
"I am just carrying Potter," Victor said.
"I can see that. Quite the romantic evening. A midnight stroll and a heavy lifting session. Usually the boys just try to sneak in a bottle of butterbeer."
Hermione glared at her. "I am not doing this with you right now. Abstinence."
"No sense of fun," the Fat Lady sniffed, but the portrait swung forward.
Hermione climbed through and reached back to guide Victor as he ducked awkwardly through the frame, turning sideways to fit Harry through.
The common room was quiet, lit only by the fading fire. The moment Victor's boots hit the floor, a figure stood up from the sofa.
"So," Ron said, arms crossed. "You three sneaked out in the night to do something, leaving me behind, huh?" He scowled at Victor, then noticed how Harry was slumped over his shoulders. His arms dropped, expression shifting instantly. "What happened to him?"
"Keep your voice down," Hermione said, brushing past him. "And we didn't leave you behind. You were snoring so loudly I couldn't wake you."
Victor adjusted his grip on Harry's legs. "Can we do this upstairs? My back is cramping."
"Right," Ron muttered, pointing at the dormitories. "Bring him up. But you're explaining everything."
"I will," Hermione said. "Just go make sure the stairs are clear."
***
The next morning, Harry woke slowly. Since it was the weekend, the dormitory was quiet, no rush to get to classes.
"So, Harry," Ron said the moment Harry reached for his glasses. He was sitting on the edge of his own bed, like he'd been waiting a while. "Are you going to explain what you, Hermione, and Victor were doing last night?"
Harry put his glasses on, rubbing his pounding forehead. "They didn't tell you?"
"No. Hermione just said you would explain."
Harry sighed and sat up against the headboard, going through the events of the previous night — though he left out the heavier details, like seeing Voldemort in his head and the odd way he'd been acting right before passing out.
Ron listened, frowning deeper. When Harry finished, Ron shook his head.
"I knew Victor was strange," he muttered, "but I didn't expect him to be this creepy."
*****
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