Ron watched Malfoy leave the Great Hall. Without a word, he got up and went after him. Something was going on with Hermione and he was more than willing to believe that Malfoy has something to do with it. He probably put a hex on her. Why else would Hermione be going out with a Slytherin.
His hand was on his wand when he left the Great Hall. "Hold it Malfoy."
Draco turned, looking at Ron. He didn't even bother to sneer or glare at him. When he spoke, his voice held no distaste. "What do you want Weasley?"
"What did you do to Hermione?" His voice was laced with hate and contempt.
He sighed, impatiently. "What are you talking about?"
Ron took a few steps towards him. "What did you do? Something isn't right. Why is she going out with Zabini? Did you hex her?"
Draco was in his face in an instant. "You listen to me, Weasley. I did not hex her! I didn't do a damn thing to her! Granger is going out with Zabini because she wants to, not because I hexed her." He was breathing hard when he finished. He mumbled something under his breath.
Ron caught the words "my fault" and his wand was out in an instant. "What was that bit you mumbled, Malfoy? I think you'd better start explaining."
Draco's head snapped up again. He stared at him for a moment before deciding that a fight in his condition was not the best idea. "Fine. Come with me Weasley. I'll tell you what happened and you can be on your way." He turned and walked to the stairs. The made their way to the portrait on the fourth floor.
Draco gave the password and the portrait swung open. He let Ron go ahead of him then stepped through behind him.
"What is this?" Ron asked, looking around.
He walked to the couch and sank onto it with a sigh of relief. "These are the rooms I shave with Granger."
He could see the shock on his face even as he spoke. "This is where you guys live? Here? Together?"
"Yes, Weasley. Now did you come to stare or are you going to sit down and let me talk?" Ron walked to a chair and sat down. "Good." he continued, "Now here's the deal. Blaise saw Hermione and started talking about getting her into his bed. I warned him. When I saw them together in Potions, I knew Blaise wasn't going to listen. So after class, I waited for him and pulled him into a classroom. I pulled my wand on him. I demanded to know what was going on. He wanted to be a smartass so I threatened him again. He made me back off and told me that they were just talking." Draco paused, looking Ron directly in the eye. "Then he said that I pulled him away before he could ask her out. I snapped and pressed my wand to his chest. Unfortunately, he was ready for me. He pulled out his own wand and attacked me. Before I could recover, he was gone. I came up here just as Hermione was preparing to leave. She saw me and demanded to know what happened. I told her to ask Blaise. She did, and I guess Zabini told her about me threatening him first. Then she told me that he asked her out and that she wasn't going to say yes but had changed her mind. She ran out to find him. When she came back, she said that she had a date with him on Friday. I got pissed. She yelled, I yelled. Then I went to my room and she left." Draco finished his story. Shrugging, he added, "That's all I've got for you Weasley."
Ron stared at him for a long time, digesting what he had been told. There was something wrong here. Something Malfoy wasn't telling him. "Why were you threatening Zabini, Malfoy? He's a Slytherin."
"Yes, Weasley. Zabini is a Slytherin. And Granger is a Gryffindor. Our houses don't mix."
That was it! It had to be! "I'll bet you said that to Hermione too, didn't you?" Ron could see the answer before he spoke.
"Yeah, I told her. So what?"
"You idiot, Malfoy! This is all your fault!" He was on his feet now.
Draco jumped to his feet as well, coming face to face with him. "How is this all my fault?"
"You told her that you didn't want her t go out with that idiot, Zabini, because she's not a Slytherin! Now she's gone and done it, all because you had to try to tell her she couldn't do it!" Ron turned and stalked to the door. He pushed it open and left.
Draco fell back to the couch. His head fell into his hands. Oh gods, Weasley was right. It was all his fault.