Harry was waiting for Hermione that night, in the Common Room. She was returning as late as she usually did, and thus the common room was completely empty. Well, thought Harry, we may have helped a little with that, inwardly smirking
"Hermione!" Harry said brightly, "Come sit."
Hermione eyed them both a trifle suspiciously (Ron was fiddling with a rook, which seemed to decide Hermione), before sitting down on the couch with a bounce.
"How was your reading?" Ron asked, looking up.
Hermione opened her mouth, ready to launch into a big discussion, when she noticed Ron's evident lack of interest. "Fascinating. You two really should have been there."
"Right, like we should have been at the prefect meeting?" Harry said, his eyes glittering with a nasty sense of humor.
"Oh. That." Hermione said, deflating a bit.
"When were you going to tell us about running into Malfoy?" Harry said.
"I was..." Hermione fidgeted, "hoping if I forgot about it - well, he would too!" Oh, and wasn't that just typical Hermione - ignoring the unpleasant with a will and a way.
"What exactly did you tell him?" Harry queried, trying to keep his voice gentle.
"That you..." Hermione's voice softened, below the sound of a whisper, "nearly got sorted into Slytherin."
Harry looked up, laughing, "Just that? Fat lot of good that'll do him, right? He can't be making his own house out to be evil, can he?"
Hermione shot Harry a look that said shut it.
"Of course he can," Hermione sighed, "He just needs to bribe a Ravenclaw to say it."
Hermione looked at Harry and said earnestly, "Of course, You needn't say it's true."
"But I'll know, Hermione," Harry said, "and I'm pants at lying, to boot."
Harry sighed, and said, "I really wish you hadn't told him that."
Hermione sighed herself, and said, "I know, Harry, I know."
[a/n: Of course Harry's upset that Hermione didn't tell him. And yes, of course Draco can use this to do damage.]