Hermione froze down to the pit of her stomach. Her heart lurched and she could hear Viktor's cruel, biting voice as he said it.

"Don't ever call me that again, Ron." She hissed. Everyone jumped at the sound of her voice. It was filled with loathing and anger, but saturated with desperation.

"Sorry Hermione…" Ron mumbled. He looked down at his feet as Hermione flounced to the door.

"Let's see if your mum needs help," she said cheerfully. She smiled brightly, ignoring the amazed looks that her friends gave her. Walking out the door, she felt George place a hand on her shoulder. She flinched inwardly, feeling her skin prickle against his touch. She bit her lip and cocked her chin up slightly in defense.

She couldn't afford to slip like that again.


The following week was busy. Hermione barely had time to think or reflect on a single thing. If it wasn't studying, she was assisting Mrs. Weasley, or helping Ginny. She managed to avoid Ron and Harry as much as possible, but not too much as to arouse suspicion.

Time seemed to pass seamlessly. Before she knew it, Mrs. Weasley was carting her small army off to Diagon Alley. Hermione clutched her list tightly as she went from store to store. Books had been cheaper last year, she noted. Everything had been.

With a new set of robes and new books packed tightly in her arms, Hermione was all set. She enjoyed walking with Ginny, who went on and on about the prospects of a new year. They parted when the rest of the clan stopped in Quality Quidditch Supplies to gawk at the new items.

Standing outside of the store, she watched the bustling groups of people. She smiled as she recognized a girl who had been a first year in Hufflepuff last year. The girl smiled brightly at Hermione and waved enthusiastically, as if overjoyed to find someone that actually knew. Hermione spotted Cho Chang going in to Flourish & Blotts with a few of her friends close by. Seamus Finnigan jumped and hugged her before darting in to the store to gawk at the brooms.

And then, she saw the last person she ever wanted to. It was, of course, Draco Malfoy, being protectively guarded by his mother and mountain sized bodyguards. Hermione couldn't help but notice that Draco's mother looked dead tired. It seemed that Draco has spotted her, for they locked eyes for a moment. A sneer formed on his thin lips, summing his entire character. Hermione sighed. Well he certainly hasn't changed a bit. A moment later, Malfoy was in front of her. Hermione ignored his murderous look and smiled vaguely at him.

"Granger," Draco spat. His sneer never left his lips. "Enjoy yourself?"

Hermione heard something else in that voice. She heard something else in that statement – a hidden meaning. Her face fell. So that was the game, was it? She changed her expression in a split second.

"Why yes, I did, Draco." She smiled sweetly. Draco smirked.

"Silly little mudblood," he said. "I'll be watching you." He turned around and stalked off after Crabbe and Goyle. His mother was nowhere to be found.

Hermione regained her composure and continued to watch the darkening street ahead of her. People were becoming fewer and further in between. She lost herself in thought, blocking out everything until she felt a hand grip her shoulder. She shut her eyes tight and breathed in deeply.

"Touch me again, Malfoy, and I swear I'll hex you in to next Tuesday!" She spun around and grabbed the arm attached to the hand. Her face flushed slightly. "Ron!"

"Hermione?" he asked. He stared at her in disbelief, and then registered what she'd just said. "Was that git Malfoy bothering you already?" His face hardened and he scowled at Hermione.

"Ron, calm down. He's just up to his usual antics." She patted his shoulder. Ron nodded slowly. Hermione took her arm and hooked it around his. They met up with the rest of the Weasleys and Harry moments later.

"Everyone all set?" Mrs. Weasley called out. Her voice was tired and bothered, not unusual. Fred and George patted her on the back. They were really only there to help Ginny and their mother carry things back to the Burrow.

Hermione stole a look over her shoulder and saw that Malfoy's characteristic sneer had not yet left his face. She stared at him for a moment, then turned and pulled Ron closer to her. She couldn't explain the feeling of nervousness and tension that wrapped itself around stomach.

But that didn't last long. The moment they arrived back at the Burrow, Hermione plunged deep in to the books she had just purchased. She was lost in a world of titles and subtitles, translations and calculations. Nothing else mattered.