[Tuesday, November 15th, 2016]

"You look rested." Granger had walked up to Draco's desk after class. He turned his head up at her voice. It was true. His eyes weren't the same blood-red colour from the previous week and he'd actually combed his hair.

"Remind me again, is it polite for one friend to tell another friend to shut up?" he grinned at her and she laughed.

"Friends?"

"I'm pretty sure that's what you said." Draco grinned some more and Hermione found she rather liked his smile. It meant he was comfortable. Comfortable with her.

"That's a new word for us," she remarked. He jutted his chin out.

"I don't mind it."

They looked at each other and things didn't feel tense nor awkward. Somehow in the span of two and a half months they had managed to become friends and whether or not that made sense didn't really matter.

"Are you busy Monday evening?" Granger asked and Draco tried not to make assumptions. After all they had only just called each other friends.

"Not particularly."

"Good, because I'd like to learn how to use this thing before the term is up." Granger pointed at the telescope behind him. "I signed up for an hour-long session and I was hoping you could show me?"

Of course she wasn't asking him out for dinner, but what she asked for was even better.

"We'd better make it a two-hour session." He raised his brow, giving her a look that he hoped she'd be offended by.

"What's that supposed to mean?" She fell for the bait. Draco started packing up, letting her brew in the unanswered question for a moment longer.

"Oh nothing, it's just a lot to learn."

"I'm a fast learner!" she exclaimed. Draco schooled his features trying not to give anything away. As usual, he was rather enjoying riling her up.

"Of course you are, it's just different from spells and the like."

"And what, you think spellwork is a cakewalk?"

"Why would I walk on cake?"

They laughed simultaneously, because of course he understood the idiom.

"Speaking of spells," a thought occurred to him, "can I ask you a question? I'm doing some research of my own."

"They don't call me Professor for nothing," she said, leaning on his desk with her arms steady behind her.

"I know a bit about the Patronus spell but I've always wondered, isn't there a mental component to the spell? If I remember correctly, the incantation alone doesn't work right?"

The question shattered any sort of playfulness and banter they had going. Granger became visibly unsettled and Draco considered that perhaps that dream wasn't just a dream after all.

"Um," Granger seemed to take stock of her surroundings. The class was empty and it had been just the pair of them for a good while. "A happy memory usually works best," she answered, but it felt empty.

"Granger, are you okay?" Draco regretted asking now. He moved toward her but stopped himself. It's not as if he could comfort or reassure her that it was an innocent question. For all she knew it could be.

"Yes." She shook her head as if to refocus. "I'm just a bit tired is all," she grabbed her bag from a chair nearby. "I'll see you Thursday."

"Um yeah, see you Thursday." Draco didn't want her to go but there was no stopping her now.

"Night," she said over her shoulder.

Draco watched her leave and wanted to kick himself for letting curiosity get the better of him.