Questions

At work the next day, Hermione was working like a madwoman, her hair especially frizzy, and Harry and Ron were concerned. She hadn't said anything to them so far and Draco wasn't there yet.

"Um, Hermione?" Harry hesitated as he watched her scribble away viciously on some papers. "Are you okay? You're-" He stopped mid-sentence when her eyes shot daggers at him from across the desks.

"Nevermind," he looked down at his desk. However, his best friend's welfare was more important to him than the risk of being scolded at, and he was determined to get an answer. "No, Hermione, tell me what's going on. You're clearly upset."

She glared at him again, but her gaze softened. "It's nothing," she sighed, looking down at her lap.

"Oh, come on, Hermione," Ron rolled his eyes at her, "you seriously think we believe that?"

"Does it have something to do with Malfoy?" Harry asked.

Her eyes darted to Harry. "Why would you ask that?" It amazed her. Apparently, he had been more observant than she thought.

"You were-" Ron started to say but halted when he saw Draco walking towards them, a couple of metres away. Ron quickly put his head down on his desk, trying to look inconspicuous. It didn't matter much because Harry and Hermione already looked in Draco's direction when Ron did.

When Draco reached them he noticed that Harry and Hermione were watching him, though Ron's eyes were glued on his own desk, with no papers on it. It was obvious that Ron was ignoring him on purpose. Draco looked from Hermione to Harry.

"Hello," he greeted awkwardly, scratching the side of his face. Hermione turned back around to her work with no response.

"Hey, Malfoy," Harry smiled.

Draco stayed where he was for a moment longer, then, trying to hide his humiliation as he walked past Ron, held his hand up to his face all the way to his desk. He didn't know if Harry or the other two were watching him because he kept his head down.

It was quiet for the first time in a long time. Normally, Harry would chat with Draco for a few minutes, and Hermione would say her hellos, but that was not the case today. Even Ron would usually sit in his seat, complaining about anything and everything. A couple of hours passed, and Draco stood up. Hermione automatically looked up at him, and their eyes met, but she looked down again. He said nothing and walked away, bringing nothing with him.

As soon as he was out of earshot, Ron turned back to Hermione. "So, what's going on with you and Malfoy?" He whispered, and Harry leaned over the desks to listen.

"And don't say it's nothing, because it's obviously something," Ron added.

"It is nothing, Ron," Hermione lied. "We were just working together for a couple of days on Zabini's case and now it's over. It's back to normal now. It's not as if we ever really talked before that." She picked up one of the memos on her desk that she already read earlier, now trying to avoid Ron and Harry's stares.

"Well, we actually haven't solved that case, yet," Harry pointed out, locking eyes with Ron. "You seemed like you were getting to be friends with Malfoy, though." He didn't appear upset about that, only that she was clearly bothered about something.

"You know what I think?" Ron asked, looking at them both. "I think that Hermione has a thing for Malfoy." Hermione stared at him, her jaw dropping.

"You know," Harry said as he contemplated the comment, "that makes sense. Look at the way she's been acting! And, why would she have wanted to work with him?"

Hermione scoffed. "Are you both insane? I worked with him because it seemed like he needed help with the Zabini case!"

Ron glanced at Harry, a knowing look on his face. "Sure, sure, Hermione," he agreed sarcastically.

Hermione jumped up and gave them a deadly stare. "Both of you, listen up!" Hermione snapped. "You both know I am not interested in settling down with anyone. I am not interested in getting married or having kids. I want to live my life in solitude. I do not need anyone," she told them with finality.

Harry looked at her kindly. "You don't have to have your walls up all the time, Hermione. You can let people in. I know you've been hurt in the past, and I know you're scared, but-" Draco was walking back over. Harry gave her a meaningful look and sat back down.