Hermione could only grip Lizzie's hand while she watched Professor McGonagall reprimand Harry. Some of the other Gryffindors desperately came to his defense, only to be silenced by their Head of House.

"But Professor, Malfoy –" Ron persisted.

"That's enough, Mister Weasley. Potter, follow me, now."

Professor McGonagall led Harry away without another word or so much as a side glance. Guilt weighed down Hermione's heart, for she and Harry both had broken the rules, yet he was the one being punished. Even worse, Hermione hadn't even thought to discourage Harry from going after Malfoy instead of foolheartedly joining in on the incursion. Now, because of her lack of prudence, Harry was walking off to possible expulsion.

"You don't think they'll actually expel him, do you, Lizzie?" Hermione whimpered. "Perhaps they'll decide on just a few months' detention?"

Patting her friend's back, Lizzie responded, "The best one can do is hope, Granger. But here's a question for you: You already had a broom of your own to use, so why not fly after Malfoy next to Potter instead of on the same broom as his?"

Hermione blushed. "Not now, Lizzie! For goodness sake's, Harry could be on his way home!"

While it was a genuine worry, it also spared Hermione having to answer Lizzie's teasing inquiry.

"I just can't help but feel I should've done something to stop it," Hermione said ruefully to the triplets, as they walked with the throng of first-year Slytherins to dinnertime in the Great Hall. "If I had heeded Madam Hooch's warning and tried to stop him –"

"He still would've went after Malfoy," said Lizzie matter-of-factly. "He's a Gryffindor, Hermione. Naturally, that means he wouldn't have been able to hear you over the sound of his own vigor."

Hermione sighed. The four of them entered the Great Hall.

"Regardless, I was on the broom, too. But I'll still be here, and Harry –"

At the sight of Harry seated at the Gryffindor table with Weasley, the doleful dimness in her eyes was instantly brightened. Before she even realized it, she was sweeping through the Great Hall over to where Harry sat. The Lovett triplets exchanged sneers and took their seats at Slytherin's table.

"Harry!" Hermione gasped when she reached him, nearly out of breath.

Harry turned to face her, but before he could get a word out, the emotional Muggle-born threw her arms around him. Ron and several Gryffindors in the vicinity were stunned; Ron because he was astonished by the unexpected display of physical emotion from the normally poised girl, and the others because a Slytherin and a Gryffindor embracing was...irregular.

Seconds after she felt his hands on the small of her back, her dwindled composure barked at her to contain herself. She carefully released him and stepped back.

"I'm sorry..."

Harry just giggled. "For what?"

He had no problem with people hugging him, as foreign as the gesture still was to him.

"That you got into trouble for going after Malfoy. I-I should've tried to stop you! Whatever punishment you received should be shared between us...It's only right."

"But I haven't been punished, Hermione," Harry comfortingly assured. "Quite the opposite, really..."

This was one of the rare occasions in which Hermione was puzzled. "Not even a day's detention?"

Harry shook his head, somehow in a teasing manner.

"Harry's been made Gryffindor's Seeker!" Ron said proudly.

"Have you really?" she responded in disbelief. "Even though you're a first year? If I've read Hogwarts: A History correctly, there hasn't been a first year allowed to play Quidditch in about –"

"– a century," said Harry. "Wood told me."

"Gotta warn you, Harry," Ron said lowly. "Fred and George are Beaters for the Slytherin team, and they're both like human Bludgers. I've never actually seen them in action, but I hear that they flattened Gryffindor last year."

Harry gulped. "I start training next week, so I hope I'll at least learn the essentials and not lose too badly. Only don't tell anyone, Wood wants to keep it a secret."

"Certainly won't be difficult on my end," Hermione automatically said. Was that her inherent Slytherin self speaking?

"Having a last meal, Potter. When are you getting on the train back to the Muggles?"

Of course this icy tone belonged to none other than Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle flanked at his sides as usual. Having already had a stomachful of him for today, Hermione didn't so much as turn to acknowledge him. Harry and Weasley weren't able to feign any indifference...

To mock his foe, Harry shoveled a piece of steak and kidney pie into his mouth before swallowing and coolly retorting, "You're a lot braver now that you're on the ground and you've got your little friends with you. How's your scalp, by the way?"

Though Hermione had said nothing, Malfoy still sent a bloodthirsty glare to the back of her head.

"It would do a kindness to your Muggle-spawn friend to keep her uninvolved. I'd take you on anytime on my own," Malfoy growled over the cracking sounds Crabbe and Goyle made with their knuckles. "Tonight if you want. Wizard's duel. Wands only – no contact. What's the matter? Never heard of a wizard's duel before, I suppose? Bet even Granger here has skimmed over it once."

She had, but she certainly was not going to corroborate any snide comment of Malfoy's in any context.

"Of course he has," said Ron, wheeling around. "I'm his second! Who's yours?"

Hermione knew what a second was and what purpose they served in a wizard's duel, and she couldn't mask her dread. "Harry –"

"Crabbe," Malfoy said. "Midnight alright? We'll meet you in the trophy room; that's always unlocked."

"What is a wizard's duel?" Harry asked once they were gone. "And what do you mean you're my second?"

"Well...that means I take over if you –"

"– die," Hermione snarled. "Harry, I'm not judging whether or not you could hold your own against Malfoy, but do you really want to chance getting into trouble again? Not only that, but who knows what little lethal spells Malfoy may have under his belt. You could get seriously hurt."

Ron rolled his eyes. "Says the girl who hops from airborne broomsticks like lily pads."

Even internally, Hermione couldn't deny that Weasley had her there. There had to be another way to talk Harry out of going along with this duel nonsense.

"One stroke of luck was convenient, Weasley." She was probably going to kick herself for this later, but... "Think of all the points Gryffindor will lose if you're caught."

Uncertainty flickered in Harry's eyes. "I..."

"Don't worry yourself about it, then," Ron interjected. "It's not your problem."

Harry's eyes flitted helplessly between the two of them, unable to come to either one's defense in their silent standoff.

At last, Hermione resigned with a sigh. "Clearly I'm wasting my breath. Best of luck to you both."

And without so much as a cordial goodbye, Hermione retreated to the Slytherin table to rejoin the triplets.