The room was stuffy, way to stuffy. She rubbed a hand across her brow to wipe away the beads of sweat that were collecting there, only to discover that her hand was covered in the same sweat. She needed to get out of there, to get away from the people that were continually asking if she was alright. She was tired of lying to them, they were just trying to be nice. Glancing towards the window, watching as the light from the room illuminated a few snowflakes falling past the window on their way to the ground from the roof where they had rested from the night before. Outside it was cold, the perfect place to cool down.
Rising from her four poster bed, she reached out for her traveling cloak. She didn't feel like she needed it at that moment, but she was sure that by the time she reached the Entrance Hall and stepped outside into the slow flurries that were beginning to fill the air as snow fell from the rooftops, that she would have cooled down enough to need it. Especially since there were no clouds to keep any heat that might be lingering close to the ground where people could feel it.
Waving to people who called out her name and ignoring her two best friends that invited her to join them by the fire. Normally, she would have joined them, but she was not in the mood to watch Harry and Ron play wizard's chess or listen to them discuss Quidditch tactics. She had a goal of reaching the outdoors, and she was determined to meet that goal just like she was any other.
Finally, after what seemed like and eternity though it had been no more than a few minutes, she reached the large oak doors that would let her escape out into the dark. Glancing around, she looked to see if there was anyone that would try to stop her. Satisfied that no one lingering in the Entrance Hall had any interest in her, she sighed and reached to pull open the doors, slipping out into the dark, cool night. Instantly her eyes were drawn to the frozen lake. Without really telling herself to go there, she began walking down the snow-covered path, suddenly very eager to reach her destination that it was hard to keep herself from running. But soon enough she was walking through the trees that bordered the bank of the lake where all the students used as a beach during good weather in the spring and early summer.
A small sigh left her lips as she could see the moon's dim light reflecting off ice that covered the lake through the trunks of the trees. But just as she was about to step out from behind the trees, she saw someone sitting, their back pressed against the trunk of a tree not fifteen feet away. Figuring this person wanted to be alone just as much as she did, she turned to leave. As she did, however, her foot found a twig, snapping it in half, announcing her presence. Pausing, a wince crossed her feature. Now she was going to have to say something to whoever it was, because from the sound of their movements, whoever it was seemed paranoid.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you. I tried to turn and leave quietly," she said, turning once more to face in the general direction of the person she had just disturbed.
"Looks like that didn't quite go as you planned, did it Granger," said a familiar voice, a sneering tone to it like it always seemed to have whenever he talked to her. "Does that happen to you much, your plans not going as expected?"
Sighing, Hermione moved to lean against the trunk of the nearest tree. One of her arms wrapped around herself, like she was trying to hold herself together. With the other hand she covered her face, trying to calm her sudden anger that flared at his words. She could just snap at him, like she tended to do, but just like with Harry and Ron, she wasn't in the mood.
"Again, I'm sorry I bothered you, Malfoy," Hermione said, turning to leave. "I'll just let you be to your thoughts."
"Granger, wait," his voice rang back out, calling her back. Hermione stopped once more, her jaw dropping as she turned to face him.
"What is it, Malfoy?"