The more you care about someone, the more sensitive you become to everything around them.
Hermione had long noticed the subtle changes in the way Draco and Pansy interacted. There was something different, something that made her uneasy.
But.
Although she had her suspicions, her pride would not allow her to ask. She did not even know how to begin. So all she could do was observe quietly from the sidelines.
And sure enough, if nothing unexpected happened, something unexpected was bound to happen soon.
Before they had gone down to the kitchen together, Hermione had witnessed Pansy behaving far more boldly than usual.
It was not unreasonable to think that if she had not interrupted, and if Draco had not already known she would appear, what followed might have been even harder to look at.
Ahem.
In any case.
Perhaps it was that strong, pressing sense of being left behind, perhaps it was that scene itself, but for once, Hermione chose to take the initiative.
The fact that she had held back until now was already impressive.
And it seemed that the moment she stepped out of the kitchen, she finally made up her mind.
Unfortunately, Draco appeared completely unaware of the strange look in her eyes, or of the pale blond reflection filling them.
His thoughts were still occupied with House-elves.
Straightening up and putting a bit of distance between them, Draco spoke thoughtfully.
"It looks like we need to have Dobby make a trip. If I remember correctly, he and that House-elf Winky are on good terms. Friends, even?"
"..."
"As for Millie, we'll need to look into her as well."
"..."
With his arms folded and muttering to himself, Draco failed to notice how quiet the girl beside him had become.
Normally, Hermione would have already begun offering her own analysis, determined as always to keep pace with him.
But tonight, she simply looked at him in silence. In the moonlight, she stood there like a quiet blossom under the night sky.
...
Draco lifted an eyebrow.
Receiving no response at all, he finally sensed something was off.
Yet the moment he turned to look at her, those jewel-like brown eyes shifted away. Hermione took a few steps ahead, as though deliberately avoiding his gaze.
"Hermione?"
"Come with me somewhere."
"..."
"It might be a little early, but the Astronomy Tower should be empty right now."
She walked backward as she spoke, smiling brightly in his direction.
Caught off guard, Draco found his thoughts stalling for a few seconds.
The playful sway of her steps.
The blink filled with youthful charm.
Everything about her tugged at him. Especially those eyes that seemed to speak without words.
Hermione had noticed.
"You..."
"I won't lose so easily. Especially not to Parkinson. I refuse to lose to her."
A lesser man might pretend not to understand such open feelings.
But the one standing before Hermione was Draco Malfoy.
He was greedy in his possessiveness. Once he set his sights on something, he would act.
And Hermione had forgotten one thing.
An awakened dragon is not gentle.
"So... mmph! Draco, are you cra—!"
In the underground corridors of Hogwarts, beneath the flickering candlelight, came a rather suspicious sound.
And a sight that might have made the moon retreat shyly behind the clouds.
In some ways, Hermione was braver than Pansy.
Even if she was the one being pinned against the wall.
...
The Great Hall at Hogwarts.
After dinner that evening, it seemed there was some sort of announcement to be made, so the students remained in their seats.
No. To be precise, only the fifth-years stayed behind.
It was worth noting that, besides the fifth-year students from the four Houses, every professor was present at the staff table. Even Dumbledore, who had been mysteriously busy lately, sat in the Headmaster's seat.
But compared to whatever announcement was coming, Pansy and Astoria were far more interested in the two people who had shown up last.
Or rather, in the unmistakably suspicious expression on Hermione's face.
"You're acting strange."
"Exactly. I can't say what's different, but... something is."
The moment Hermione sat down, she was met with Pansy and Astoria's probing stares and questions that made her heart skip.
If she hadn't known for certain that no one else had been there earlier, she might have suspected they had witnessed everything from beginning to end.
She paused almost imperceptibly.
Instead of answering at once, Hermione shot Draco, who had just pulled out a chair and sat opposite her, a slightly flustered glare. Then she calmly smoothed out her robe, which was not wrinkled in the slightest.
That very action only deepened Pansy and Astoria's suspicion.
Something had definitely happened.
What they did not notice, however, was the way Hermione kept pressing her lips together from time to time, unconsciously revealing more than she intended.
Perhaps her furtive glances were too obvious. Deciding he should intervene, Draco spoke up to change the subject.
"What's going on? I was about to head back to the common room when I received the notice to gather everyone."
The moment Draco asked, Pansy instantly dropped her detective act and leaned forward with a bright smile to explain.
Seeing the attention shift away from herself, Hermione, who had just realized she was touching her mouth again, quietly let out a breath.
Once more, Pansy had missed the clue.
"I don't know," Pansy said. "It sounds like it has something to do with future careers."
"Oh," Draco replied thoughtfully. "Then it should be Hogwarts' annual career consultation. It's about that time."
At his words, Hermione, who had been drifting off in her own thoughts, suddenly snapped back to attention. She lifted her head, her eyes lighting up as though someone had flipped a switch.
Yes.
For fifth-year students facing their O.W.L.s, this was the most important year of all.
The year that would determine the direction they would pursue after graduation.