Not Concerned
Hermione Granger was not concerned with Draco Malfoy anymore. As Harry and Ron ganged up on him she need not help. There were much more important things in her life.
Nor was Draco concerned with any of the three. Let them do what they want. There were much more important things in his life.
"Hey, Malfoy." called Harry.
Draco didn't bother to turn around; Crabbe did that for him.
"Hello Pothead!" said Crabbe.
"Tell me...how do you three idiots feel?" said Ron.
"Better than you, I'm sure." said Goyle.
"What is it with you two talking so much?" asked Harry.
"Are you scared that they can talk back better then you, Potter?" Draco said finally.
Hermione looked up from starring at the ground in sorrow.
"You wish." said Ron.
"No, as a matter in fact I don't feel like wishing right now about anything." Draco said.
"I have a feeling we will beat you at Quidittich this year. A great feeling." said Harry.
"Even if Weasley got any better, you would still lose." replied Draco.
Hermione couldn't stand this, how could she possibly think straight if Ron and Harry kept arguing like this with Draco. Ron started to head towards Draco to punch him but she pulled him back.
"I have some work to finish, let's go to the common room." Hermione said.
"But Herm..." started Ron.
"NOW." said Hermione angrily.
She pushed Ron and Harry to hurry up. She looked at Draco, he wasn't flashing his evil smirk; in fact he hadn't this whole time. What was wrong? He had always been the one who was criticizing and who had been the first to come up to them.
Ron and Harry started to walk with confused looks. Hermione looked at Draco and he turned his head towards her. She looked at his eyes; they weren't so dark and hollow...so vulgar. She started to walk leaving Draco and his friends there.
Something had changed him. Something had happened that had changed him.
Then she realized something had happened to her as well.
Something that had changed her.
Draco sat in the common room staring at his hands as they laid in his lap. Everyone was laughing and having fun.
Everyone except him.
He got up.
"Where are you goin..." started Crabbe.
"Somewhere." snapped Draco.
Draco could tell that his sudden snapping had surprised both Crabbe and Goyle; had they not just made cowards of Potter and Weasley?
He didn't care, all he wanted was to be alone without having people around him be so happy.
Hermione rushed to a seat by the Gryffindor Common room fire and quickly opened the first book she could find in her bag.
Ron and Harry exchanged puzzled looks.
"Uh...Hermione?" asked Ron.
She made no sign to have heard him but he continued anyway.
"I noticed...Harry and I noticed that you've been acting kind of... strange."
Ron nodded towards Harry and made a face that said "I did my part, now you do yours."
"Uhh...yes Hermione it's true. Lately you've been so hidden...so apart from us. You don't really communicate with us anymore." said Harry.
She stopped reading about an old witch who had discovered a potion to heal petunias and focused on the blank of the page, listening carefully.
"What's wrong?" asked Ron with caution.
She put her book down.
"Nothing."
Ron and Harry didn't seem to believe her.
"Really. Nothing. I'm just...in a phase...just gathering thoughts."
She tried to smile and rushed to the stairs leading to the girl's dormitory.
As she climbed she heard Ron say "Gathering her thoughts? What's that supposed to mean?"
She couldn't keep this up for long.
