After taking a moment to collect herself, Hermione hurried to the Great Hall, keeping her head down, and her voice low, as she practiced and prepared for the imminent conversation.

"So, Ma-Draco, how was your last class? Er, I mean, you didn't have class did you but um, you enjoyed your time… just existing? Yeah, me too. I mean not me too, because I wasn't doing that-I mean I am, I do exist… or do I? I guess that's the big question isn't it! Probably, too complex for us to discuss over… lunch…"

Hermione pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration. Why was this such a hard task? Part of her thought that it might be the pressure of how easy being around Malfoy had felt so far, and now she had it in her head that any ounce of awkwardness would mess everything up.

Which was just making her more awkward.

The walk from the Greenhouse was at least giving Hermione plenty of time to gear herself up, and she made sure to really focus on every step that she was taking. And every step was taking her closer and closer to Malfoy.

Still uncertain as to what exactly the atmosphere was between them, Hermione wondered whether or not it was even a good call for her to have invited him for lunch. But, upon reflection, it had been her all along pushing for more compassion and kindness amongst students so why was she even allowing caution to creep in?

There was just something in the way Malfoy had interacted with Hermione so far that was making her feel…

Well, that she really couldn't put her finger on.

Pansy's parting words had really done a number on Hermione, and the mental image of the death and desolation that had once graced every inch of the Castle, Hermione was sure, was still influencing everything that she was feeling.

The innocence with which she had approached breakfast with Malfoy in the morning, working with him in Potions, and then him walking her to the Greenhouse, now felt ignorant.

Pausing for just a moment to retie her shoelace, and to take a breath before walking the last few steps that would lead her into the Great Hall, Hermione thought back to the young first year that she had spoken to just last night. Had she been truthful when she told Ella that she had nothing to worry about?

Clearly, Hermione wasn't setting the best example given that she was sat on the ground at this point, retying her shoelace for the third time all because she was trying to stall this lunch date.

Date?

Hermione then decided to make a start on retying her other shoelace, but she was stopped in her tracks by the sight of two well-polished black shoes coming towards her. Taking her eyes off ground-level she sought out the owner of the shoes and jumped up immediately upon recognition.

"Hermione! I didn't expect you to find you here. I thought maybe you were still de-twigging yourself after Herbology and so I was coming to bring you lunch to go. My intention was that we'd sit outside, but if you'd prefer the stone floor then I suppose that could work?"

Malfoy walked over to Hermione, carrying what looked like a brown paper bag in one hand, with other hand clasped around the strap of his satchel. Upon coming to a standstill in front of Hermione, he let that hand relax at his side and extended the paper bag towards the statuesque witch.

"Cornish pasty?" He offered, with hope in his voice.

Hermione took the bag and smiled. "If anyone needed de-twigging, it was Neville. You know he led the class today?"

Leading the way to the courtyard, Malfoy gestured to Hermione that she should continue. It was a short walk, and Hermione took the chance to fill Malfoy in on her last class. All the tension that she had been storing up as she had been rehearsing for this interaction had completely dissipated, and while there were clearly barriers up for them both, Hermione felt… comfortable.

So much so that she completely misjudged her steps and all but tumbled onto the grass. This naturally amused Malfoy, but, and Hermione guessed that this was in the spirit of 'turning over a new leaf', he managed to keep his laughter relatively under control.

Thankfully the Cornish pasty bag was clutched in an iron grip, and hadn't been injured in Hermione's fall, so once Malfoy had collected himself, he settled down opposite Hermione and they both tucked in.

"Thank you, by the way, Draco," Hermione began, holding her pasty up and smiling with appreciation and approval. "There are few things more perfect than a Cornish pasty."

"You mean aside from your O.W.L.s?" Malfoy asked innocently, keeping his eyes off Hermione, and focusing intently on his own pasty.

Hermione coughed abruptly, dislodging a chunk of swede that she had inhaled after Malfoy's comment. Then she began to laugh.

"Ah but you forget, I only got an Exceeds Expectations for Defence Against the Dark Arts."

This seemed to surprise Malfoy, but he didn't press. Watching as he wandlessly cleared away his pastry crumbs, Hermione guessed that Malfoy was holding his tongue because of the rumours around his DADA O.W.L. – that it was for lack of a better word, inauthentic.

Hermione finished her pasty, swept off the few flakes that had made their way onto her skirt, and sighed. This silent period between her and Malfoy felt simultaneously enjoyable, and nerve-wracking, and Hermione had to end it.

"We were so young back then-I mean, obviously we were younger than now, but just-everything was so different. Our perspectives were entirely different." Hermione spoke softly, and kept her gaze zeroed in on the blades of grass that she was now robotically plucking out.

She felt Malfoy hum with agreement.

"Do you wish it had never happened?" Malfoy asked.

This Hermione had to think about. Not that she hadn't thought about it before, but she certainly hadn't thought about how she would answer if Malfoy were to ask her.

She looked over at him, and watched as he inspected the cuff of his shirt as if he'd never seen it before. "I don't know Draco," she admitted hushedly. "You?"

He looked up at her, his expression guarded but genuine. "Some days I wish it didn't. Some days, I'm glad it did." He paused, then continued. "I am different now, I think."

"You are," Hermione answered, quicker than she anticipated. "I think I'm different now too. But a lot of the people in my life don't seem to have noticed."

Then she laughed, remembering her last class. "It's strange though. I think Parkinson could tell. She's really blunt isn't she?"

"Pansy?" Malfoy leant closer to Hermione, "What did she say?" His question was dripping with trepidation and his eyes were locked on her face.

Hermione instinctively dropped her gaze. "Oh, well. She just seemed very observant you know, in terms of how I'm dealing-well not dealing but, all of this-being here and-"

"Yes." He cut her off, but Hermione knew his intentions were not malicious. "That's very typical of Pansy. I'm sorry."

"No, no! Don't be, I-well it was weirdly comforting to hear I think." She tried to reassure Malfoy with her expression, willing him to ease his frown.

The sound of footsteps on the stone slabs took them both out of the moment. The afternoons classes were about to begin and that meant that whatever was going on between her and Malfoy, had to be paused.

Hermione grabbed her bag, and stood up.

"Thank you, Draco. This was… nice." She smiled down at him, wondering whether he felt the same.

He then rose, seemingly not with the intention of leaving with her, but with the intention of wishing her farewell.

"Hermione, all of this has been nice," he laughed a little. "You have been far too gracious towards me."

Then she grinned. "Oh that can all change, don't get too comfortable Draco." She blushed a little, seeing the spark in his eyes.

She waved goodbye, and slipped into the crowd. Glancing over her shoulder just once, she caught Malfoy's gaze, and tried to convey all that she was feeling in just one smile.

This was impossible for two reasons. The first simply because there was so much that she was trying to convey. And the second, because she herself did not know exactly what she was feeling. Happiness? Content? Appreciation? Whatever was happening between them, it had begun not even a day prior, but yet Hermione felt a closeness amongst them that she had not yet felt in her life.

As she walked to class, she let her mind wander. And while her thoughts were daunting, they were exciting. It wouldn't be long before she saw Malfoy again, and if she was being honest with herself, she was looking forward to it.