Hermione sat alone during dinner. Harry was with Ron who was sitting farther away from her glaring. Ginny was afraid to come over because Ron had her on a leash, and most everyone else just didn't feel the need to speak with her.
"Granger." Malfoy said as he passed her on his way to his regular seat where his accomplices were already sitting. At the sound of her name she closed her eyes and took in a deep breath, the scent of Draco Malfoy filling her nostrils.
"Draco," she hissed under her breath. His head turned slowly as if to acknowledge her reply, and she felt Ron's eyes on the back of her head. Rolling her eyes she turned back to her dinner, separating her food into small compartments on her plate.
"I can't stand this," she whispered to herself, getting up from the table and walking out of the dining hall. As she leaned against the wall trying to calm down Malfoy entered the hallway.
"Are you happy now?" she shouted at him brokenly, "I can't even stand to eat!"
"You'll get better…" he reassured her gently, coming over to sit by her on the floor.
"You're acting totally out of character," she told him, looking down at her interlocking hands, "what's wrong with you? Are you sick?"
"No, Granger, I'm not sick…but…I'm different. It's like this huge chain has been lifted from my neck…He's dead…and yeah…that's horrible, but…now I'm free…"
Hermione raised her eyebrows at him and shook her head.
"A prisoner in your own home," she quoted.
"Yeah…and now…I feel kind of alone because I don't have a stable family…not that I ever have…but I also feel like I can be my own person…"
"Why are you acting like you can sympathize with me?" Hermione choked, moving away, "why do you think we have anything in common?"
"We're both missing something, Granger," he stated patting her on the knee as he stood up, "Go eat something…you'll starve yourself to death if you don't."
"No one will miss me if I'm gone…"she stuttered.
"People care, Hermione. Ron cares, Harry cares, Ginny…and so do…I." He shook his head and laughed softly at himself, "yeah, I care. Without you, who could manage to reach my level of enemy standards?"
"You're a jackass, Malfoy," Hermione called as she stood up.
"But the sexiest one out there," he called back.
"You wish," she answered walking back into the dining hall. Ron and Harry looked up surprised but she only smiled softly and sat alone. Making peace would have to wait.