The following morning, Hermione, Ginny and Harry walked down to the hall for breakfast while Ron stayed in his chambers packing for Romania. They took their seats and Harry immediately turned to Fred and George and they started talking about the upcoming quidditch match. Ginny tried talking to Hermione but she just simply didn't want to talk after the events from last night, she turned around to see Malfoy walking into the hall and she suddenly didn't feel too well. She told Ginny that she had to go and headed for the door before Ginny could ask any questions.
Just as Hermione left the hall and begun walking to the stairway she hear her name being called "Hermione, wait up!" Hermione stopped and slowly turned around to face Ginny. "What's going on? You left so quickly. Are you okay?" Hermione saw no point in lying to Ginny, she always found out the truth one way or another, so Hermione told Ginny the events that had unfolded throughout the night.
"Whoa, and Ron really hit him?" Ginny asked in surprise at her brother's courage. Hermione let out a small laugh "yeah, he really did hit Malfoy" both girls giggled in the hallway when Harry approached them. "What are you two laughing about?" Harry beamed, before Hermione had a chance to answer for herself Ginny had responded "Ron punched Draco in the face last night" Harry lost his smile and look over at Hermione "what?" he asked Her. "It was nothing really" Hermione started, while putting her hand through her hair, Harry reached up and gently grabbed her wrist and pulled it towards him. When she had put her hand through her hair, her robes had slightly moved up her arm partially revealing her bruised and swollen wrist.
"What happened?" Harry demanded as he rolled up Hermione's sleeve to reveal the slight outline of a hand, Draco's hand to be exact.
Ginny gasps "Hermione, you never told me that Draco hurt you!" before I could explain anything to Harry he had let go of my arm and was marching back toward to the hall "Harry! Stop!" but before Ginny and I could catch up with him he walked through the doors and into the hall walking straight to the Slytherin table looking for Malfoy.
Harry scanned the table and found Draco at the far end sat between Crabbe and Goyle talking about God knows what "Malfoy" Harry shouted, claiming the attention of half the hall.
"Oh, for Merlin's sake" Hermione mumbled to herself; she runs to catch up with Harry just before he reaches Draco "what's this about Potter" Malfoy snarled, his eyes travelling between Harry and Hermione. Draco lost his patience when neither of them responded to him. "Well?" he snapped.
Harry gently grabbed Hermione's wrist and rolled up her sleeve to reveal the mark the Draco had left. "This." Harry said pointedly, Draco followed his gaze until his eyes fell upon the faint hand mark on her wrist. "You did this" Harry stated in a low warning voice, Draco ignored Harry's remark and slowly raised his eyes until he was looking directly at Granger.
I had never noticed how blue Draco's eyes were she thought to herself as his eyes connected with hers "I...I" Draco mumbled before he broke eye contact and walked briskly out of the hall. "Hey, i'm not through talking to you Malfoy" Harry shouted after Draco. "Stop it Harry! You're making a scene" Ginny interjected.
Hermione gave Harry the 'really' look before following Draco's actions and leaving the hall. Hermione caught a glimpse of Malfoy turning the corner heading in the direction of the Slytherin common room. She let out a small sigh.
Harry and Ginny trailed behind Hermione, when they were out of earshot of the hall Hermione turned to Harry "Why did you have to make a scene?" she huffed, Harry was slightly confused; he thought that she would be happy that someone cared enough to stick up for her "I was only confronting Malfoy, he had no right to lay his hands on you" Harry exclaimed "How do you know it was Draco that left this mark? For all you know it could have been Ron, considering we were arguing last night! You should have spoken to him in private Harry, not in a room full of people and you should have waited for me to explain to you what had happened!" Hermione explain, clearly not impressed with his action.
Harry grew annoyed at Hermione's words "You're so ungrateful, you know that? No wonder Ron is leaving tonight, it's probably to get away from you!" Harry shouted at Hermione before marching up the staircase. "Harry James Potter!" Ginny scolded as she ran up the stairs after him.
Hermione stood alone in the hall for a brief moment before heading up to the astronomy tower. That was where she felt safe, where she could think and take a moment to alone, truly alone.