As Hermione showered, Draco thought about what had just happened, and what it meant.
Draco wasn't one to feel warm and fuzzy about anything, but for some reason, when he was around Hermione, all of his feelings shifted. But...these couldn't possibly be romantic feelings, right? This was just the start of a nice...friendship.
Draco was now one of the few that knew Hermione had a killer body. When he saw her in nothing but her bra and shorts this morning, he was stunned.
Suddenly, Hermione exited the bathroom wrapped up in a towel.
She then noticed him sitting on his bed. "Oh. I should've known you'd be waiting."
Draco smirked at her, as usual.
"We're going to leave today." Hermione said. "But, first, I'm going to go back to Hogwarts and see if I can find any of my belongings in the Gryffindor Tower. I suggest you do the same."
Draco nodded. He didn't know what to say. There were certainly more interesting things to talk about.
He was mostly just confused about how he felt about Hermione.
Harry, Ron, and Dean appeared at the top of the stairs.
"Blimey, Hermione!" Ron said suddenly. He didn't want any other guys getting a glimpse of his girl. "What's going on up here?"
"Nothing, Ron." Hermione said, even though, deep down, she knew it was a lie. "Draco's about to shower and I'm going to get dressed. And then...and then we'll be on our way."
"What do you mean 'we?' And what do you mean 'on your way?'" Harry asked.
"I'm going back home to Mum and Dad. And, you see...Draco doesn't have a place to stay. I agreed to let him stay at my house, just over the summer." Hermione explained nervously.
"Are you serious?" Ron asked, getting angry. "Are you serious! After all the things the slimy git's done to you—to us—and you're inviting him to live with you?"
"Ronald, please don't be unreasonable." Hermione sighed.
"Unreasonable? I'm not being unreasonable! You're the one being unreasonable. So, what, are you breaking up with me? You've fallen in love with Draco?"
"No! Ron, stop!" Hermione yelled.
"I should've known this would happen. From the moment you went to talk to him in the hallway." Ron snapped.
Hermione felt the anger boiling up inside of her. She couldn't take it anymore. Finally, she leaned forward and shoved Ron, frustrated.
"Merlin's bloody beard..." Dean muttered and Ron stumbled backwards.
"The lady said to stop." Draco said angrily to Ron.
"Shove off Malfoy." Ron snapped.
"How could you treat me like this, Ron?" Hermione said, obviously hurt. "I'm getting dressed, gathering my things, and we're leaving now."
She quickly wiped away a tear and shut the bathroom door.
"Hermione, wait!" Ron called.
Click. The bathroom door locked.