Everyone had already eaten supper, so he didn't have to worry about going in for that at least, but he knew Snape would be looking for him soon anyway. Draco completely despised Snape, but it was worth it pretending to like him in return for good marks. Oh, yes, Draco did think of himself as shrewd, but he felt that was just who he was, and many people did seem to like him, especially – much to his dismay – Pansy Parkinson.
The sun was setting, and Draco though he should be getting back, so he after setting down 'Merlin' beside him, picked up his rumpled black robe. Then, after shaking it out thoroughly, he reluctantly pulled it over his head, and felt a wave of heat sweep over him.
About one hundred yards ahead of him, he could see two figures running down the steps of Hogwarts. The last rays of sunlight caught on the glasses of one of them, and the flaming red hair of the other, and Draco knew at once that it was Harry Potter and Ron Weasley – probably going to visit their 'friend' Hagrid. Draco rolled his eyes and continued walking, watching Potter and Weasley head for Hagrid's 'shack'.
As he reached the stone steps, Draco turned and thought how lovely the sun looked peaking over the trees of the Enchanted Forest, then he shook his head and ran up the steps to the doors. As he was about to reach for one of the massive handles, someone on the other side opening the door rather quickly knocked him off his feet.
'Watch where you're going Granger,' Draco exclaimed angrily as she stood there practically dumbstruck. Pages of 'Merlin' were now scattered about he courtyard.
Hermione opened her mouth, probably to say something offensive, then thought better of it and closed her mouth only to open it a few seconds later saying, 'I'm terribly sorry, I hope nothing's ruined.' She said this nervously, eyeing the scattered pages, which were now blowing away in a cool breeze, which suddenly came up.
'What?! You're sorry? My book is ruined!' Draco said outraged, but then he paused and thought about what he just said – he hated that book. 'Uh, sorry, I guess. I really hate that book,' he said, avoiding her face.
Hermione had vowed to make a change and she had. She could still see Harry and Ron's faces when she had showed up at King's Cross Station wearing jean Capri's and a floral printed tank top. She didn't know what shocked the more – the clothes themselves, or the fact that her 'bra' straps were showing. When they were alone in the train compartment later, Ron had whispered to her, 'Hermione, don't you know that your, um, your underwear is showing?' He had of course blushed when he said this, and so had she; it didn't take her long after that to change into her robes. After that she always remembered to keep her straps from showing, to keep from there being further confrontations about 'underwear' with Ron.
As she walked to Hagrid's house, she didn't dare look back, she knew that Draco was still there, looking at her. For some reason, she could always feel it when he was looking at her, it must have been his cold blue eyes.
When Hermione reached Hagrid's hut, she knocked on the door. Harry opened it, and let her in.
'Hullo,' he said warmly, 'where have you been?'
'Oh, nowhere. Um, it just took me a couple of minutes to get my shoes buckled,' Hermione said trying not to sound conspicuous.
Ron gave her a funny look, but let it go. Hermione sat down at the table, with Ron and Harry, and Hagrid poured her a cup of tea and sat down too.
'So Ron, how's yer brother Percy bin doin' at the Ministry?' Hagrid asked sipping his tea.
'Oh, fine, fine. He's been working a lot lately, but not as much as last year.' Ron answered pleasantly. Hermione was left out of the conversation for a few minutes, and she stared blankly at Ron, thinking about last year, and all of her years at Hogwarts. She thought about what might be going on at home now, but whatever she thought about, Draco always turned up. However, Ron shook her back to reality moments later.
'Hermione? Hello? What are you staring at?'
Hermione was startled, but answered, 'oh, nothing, I'm just really worn out, I'm going to go back, and go to bed.' She started to leave, but Harry and Ron decided to join her.
'Yeah, I'm quite tired too, bye Hagrid, see you later.' Harry said with a smile.
Ron however, looked at Hermione down right suspiciously, and answered slowly, 'Yeah, me too, by Hagrid,' although while he said this, his eyes never left Hermione.
Hermione walked out of Hagrid's, followed by Harry and Ron. Ron shut the door behind him and caught up with Harry and Hermione. They walked back to Gryffindor Tower together, but Ron didn't act out of character once again that evening.
