Hermione sat alone in the back of the library, trying to be comfortable in her favorite chair. As hard as she tried, she just couldn't stop thinking about how she lied. As frustrating and as thick as Ron could be, he was still one of her best friends. She didn't know why she lied… except, she did. Hermione did not want her relationship with Ron to be changed or hurt if things ended badly between them. On top of that was something that Hermione didn't even want to admit to herself.
Malfoy. Draco had become the center of her thoughts since she first encountered him as Moaning Myrtle. 'Not that it's anything serious, of course!' Hermione thought quickly. 'I just don't want a complicated friendship right now with Ron… and I am only thinking about Malfoy because I caught him with interesting information and I am taking an appropriate amount of time processing it. That is all! Right?'
Hermione, unable to control her thoughts, packed her bag and exited the library. She walked through the corridors aimlessly as she let her thoughts wildly take over her attention. As she past suits of armor after suits of armor, Hermione thought, 'Really, what is with me recently? I hear unfortunate news from someone that I have never cared for before and- boom! Suddenly I care? How is that possible? I just can't think of a logical explanation.
'I mean, unless this is some charm… but no one would do that! There is no motive and no one has been acting strangely. Oh, I don't know!' Hermione paused, slightly startled that she had made her way out of the castle without realizing it sooner. She had already made it to the outskirts of the quidditch pitch.
'Wow, I really am off-kilter. How is it-' Hermione's thoughts were interrupted again by a noise that seemed to originate from the field. Unable to place it, she crept around the side entrance, hiding behind one of the several coarse wood beams holding up the stands. What she saw surprised her.
Draco was pacing up and down the field to Hermione's right, sending jinxes and curses at some invisible target and speaking angrily with himself. Not knowing what to do, she just remained where she was, hoping that Draco would speak a little louder so that she would be able to hear better.
As he paced, Draco sent out spells every third word. Hermione whispered a spell to help her hear exactly what he was saying.
"I don't know- confringo!- what I did- expulso! I don't know- incendio!- how I could've- reducto!- WHY?" Draco stopped, breathing heavily. He allowed himself some time to calm down. With only a quiet "reparo," Draco left the field.
Hermione, having gained no understandable information, was at a loss for words. After a quick walk around the field to make sure Draco hadn't left any ruins, she followed the blonde back to the castle.