Relaxing and soothing.

Hermione reached for the lantern and adjusted the wick, allowing a soft glow to illuminate the bathroom. The flickering light cast long shadows against the tiled walls, making the space feel both intimate and slightly eerie in the quiet of the early morning.

Shaking off the thought, she untied the belt of her dressing gown and slipped it from her shoulders, folding it neatly before hanging it on the back of the door. The cool air prickled against her skin, but she paid it no mind as she reached for the buttons of her nightshirt.

One by one, she undid them, shrugging off the fabric before letting it slip to the floor. Her pajama bottoms and undergarments followed, discarded without a second thought. She remembered what Sirius had mentioned about the mansion’s bathrooms—how their floors were enchanted to transport any soiled garments straight to the laundry room. It was an unusual bit of magic, but she supposed it made sense in a house of this size. No point in wasting effort when the floor could do the work for you.

Now completely naked, she stepped toward the shower, reaching for the aged brass knobs. The pipes groaned in protest before releasing a steady stream of water, the temperature slowly rising as she tested it with her fingers. Satisfied, she stepped under the stream, allowing the warmth to chase away the lingering chill from the drafty house.

For the first time that morning, she felt a small sense of ease, the steady patter of water against tile drowning out the silence of the house beyond.