Theo Nott finally steps out of the background with a handshake, a stammering confession, and a promise to be a friend first. His easy charm and sharp observations rattle old patterns, and Draco Malfoy’s control snaps, pulling Hermione into a breathless, reckless moment that neither of them can file under biology once the door opens and silence returns. The fallout is quieter and it cuts deeper. Draco retreats behind a mask. Hermione is left with questions she refuses to ignore. Then Hannah Abbott makes an unexpected request that could change the shape of what comes next.