Hermione rushed at him, pushing him back into the river.
"Who's the filthy one now?" she screamed at his sopping form.
Confused would be a complete understatement to what Draco was feeling. As he watched her run back towards the castle, a small hand touched his hair. He panicked and threw himself back farther into the water. Ginny Weasley stood on a large stone laughing at him.
"Knew you'd find a way to screw it up. I hope you're happy, finally got what you wanted, haven't you?" she asked, hopping back onto the bank.
"And what's that? I got drenched and I smell like wet dog."
"And here I thought snakes liked water. You got a reaction, Draco. Isn't that what you wanted from her?"
"I don't want anything from her," he sputtered out the word with his fakest venom.
"Draco loves Hermione," Ginny sang as she walked away. "You're gonna have to brighten up if you plan to fix this one. She won't be willing to listen anymore."
Ginny turned, her anger flaring as red as her hair.
"Do you know how many times I've listened to her babble on about you? So finally, I convince her to do something about it. She sets up a nice lunch…with my help obviously. And what do you do? You act like yourself."
Ginny marched off, her chin held higher than any Malfoy possibly could.
Draco sat, letting the water rush around him. He'd noticed Hermione had changed, but he only assumed it was the War that caused her stress. She had every reason to be worried about it; her best friends were right in the middle of the fray. And her amazing ability for witchcraft only attracted attention. Draco knew that when the war reached her doorstep, she wouldn't be caught in the crossfire. She'd be standing brave and in the middle.
She's completely barmy, he thought to himself. Something, there has to be something she wants that I can give her.
He glanced back up at Ginny's retreating form. If he was going to show Hermione whose side he was on, he'd need Red.
A fish brushed against his wrist.
"Gah!" He shouted as he splashed down into the water again.