Author's Note: Rated T just in case. Enjoy!
"Harry?" Hermione spoke, and he looked up from his book curiously. "I want to talk to you about something," she stated and cast a silencing charm around them.
"What?"
"First, I just want to say, that I have noticed that talking to Draco has helped you…"
"But?" he prompted.
"But don't you feel guilty, even just a little?" she asked gently.
"No, well, I was starting to," he corrected himself. "But we've made a deal about when he's going to talk about himself."
"And when will that be?" she asked pointedly.
"When we get to an age when he suffered a trauma too."
"Good," she breathed.
"Mione?" he murmured, expression confused.
She smiled. "I told you, I noticed that your conversations were helping you, and I didn't want you to let guilt of it being one-sided cause you to cut yourself off from it." His expression turned sheepish. "I thought, if I could get you to take steps early enough, you wouldn't go that far. Turns out, you'd already done it yourself," she spoke brightly.
"I was about to, and he suggested the deal," he admitted. He glanced down at his book. "You're not upset that I'm talking to him rather than you, are you?" he asked softly.
"No," she spoke firmly and placed her hand over his. She waited until he looked up at her before continuing. "I know you, and I know that the guilt you still feel, would have hampered any progress you would have made. Especially when it came to events that we both experienced," she added pointedly. She gave his hand a squeeze. "But if there ever is anything you want to talk with me about, I'm willing, all right?"
"All right," he replied with a smile.
"What are you reading?" she asked as she retracted her hand.
"A book on potions techniques, I want to earn my grade this time."
"Want some help with it?"
"Please."