Hermione Granger looked up from her work, somewhat startled that Harry had sat down with her, as he tended to do so only over breakfast (when he'd beg for homework) instead of dinner - when he was far more likely to be talking Quiddich with Ron. Or, attempting to, at any rate. With Ron's head all muddled with Lavender Brown, it was a harder thing to do.
Harry had a crafty look about him, a sort of suppressed amusement, which instantly put Hermione on her guard, though she knew that Harry'd never pull a mean prank that Ron had suggested. Still, she'd had years of being picked on in elementary school. She looked inquiringly at Harry, who -actually- smirked. "Have you noticed,yet?" Harry said with a suggestive nod over at the Slytherin table.
Hermione turned to look, and asked, "Noticed what?"
Harry inclined his chin up, and said, "Look at where Crabbe and Goyle are sitting..."
Hermione nodded, having noticed that they weren't sitting near Malfoy anymore.
"Wanna bet that Malfoy isn't as brave without his goons backing him up?" Harry asked, breaking into a full, teasing grin.
"Harry James Potter! Don't you dare!" Hermione scolded.
"Aww..." Harry said, "Not even a little?" He batted his eyes at her, and said in a low mutter that belied his earlier jocularity, "You know he called you worse than slime."
"That doesn't mean you have to do anything to him. He degrades himself by lowering himself to insults. I'll not have you do the same, Harry James Potter." Hermione said.
"Still..." Harry said, smiling, "I think our fortunes may be looking up this year..."
"Because of him?!" Hermione said, astounded.
"Fewer detentions make me a happy boy." Harry said, grinning widely, and Hermione couldn't help but laugh back.
[a/n: Sometimes people aren't completely serious about every damn thing. Leave a review!]