No one knew exactly when it had started, but Goyle and Crabbe—Draco's usual followers—had gradually come to accept Hermione Granger's presence without question.
So when Hermione spoke up, not a single person tried to interrupt or mock her.
It was as if this know-it-all girl naturally belonged by Draco's side.
At most, a few of them just exchanged... slightly awkward looks.
Even Hermione herself failed to notice the subtle shift—or perhaps she subconsciously chose to ignore it.
The only person who seemed to question it at all was Pansy.
"Why are you even here? Don't tell me this compartment was meant for Gryffindor students?"
"..."
"..."
The moment Pansy's gaze swept across them, Goyle and Crabbe immediately lowered their heads, trying to make themselves as inconspicuous as possible.
That question—which sounded innocent enough but was really a jab at Hermione—was conveniently ignored by everyone present.
After all, someone else was bound to step in and answer her.
"According to A Hundred Important Notes About the Hogwarts Express, there's no such rule assigning compartments to specific houses. Therefore, my being here is perfectly justified."
"Hermione Granger."
The way Hermione delivered her response—calm, factual, and with the air of a classroom lecture—made Pansy's eyelids twitch in irritation.
Unable to argue back, she turned her glare toward the true culprit: Draco, who had just put his book down.
If it weren't for worrying about him, none of them would even be here together in the first place...
After shutting Pansy down so neatly, Hermione returned to the previous topic—though the hint of pride on her face made Pansy's little fists clench tighter in frustration.
"As for what we were talking about earlier, I think I know who's been spreading... well, let's just say unflattering things about Draco."
"Oh?"
Before Hermione could go on, Pansy jumped in immediately. "Do you even need to ask? Obviously it's the Gryffindors. Who else would it be?"
"If I hadn't spoken up, you wouldn't have figured that out so fast."
"Who... who says that?"
"Then why do you need Goyle and Crabbe to investigate?"
"You don't get it."
"You're the one who doesn't get it."
It had to be said—compared to Astoria, Pansy and Hermione were like fire and water, cats and dogs—born to clash.
It seemed inevitable that they'd start arguing the moment they were in the same room.
Just moments ago, they had been discussing who was behind the rumors, but somehow the conversation had devolved into an argument over who was actually smarter.
Seeing the topic drift further and further off course—and catching the helpless looks from Goyle and Crabbe—Draco finally decided to speak up from his seat...
"No need to investigate those Gryffindor students. We have more important things to deal with."
Draco's voice immediately drew everyone's attention.
"Goyle, Crabbe—go confirm those rumors. I want the original version, not the exaggerated nonsense that's been spreading lately."
"It'll be difficult... but we'll get it done."
At Draco's command, Goyle and Crabbe exchanged a look of relief before bolting from the compartment as if escaping a battlefield.
Once they were gone, Draco turned his gaze toward Pansy.
Sensing his eyes on her, Pansy straightened her back—a motion that made Hermione's eyebrow twitch with irritation and, admittedly, a hint of envy—and declared, "Draco, if there's a task for me, I'll handle it better than anyone else!"
Her tone sounded earnest enough, but the fleeting glance she threw at Hermione carried the unspoken message that the other girl was completely unreliable.
Noticing it, Hermione gripped her book tightly in anger.
Draco, meanwhile, was absently touching his chin in thought, completely unaware of the silent skirmish happening beside him.
"Pansy," he said at last, "you know the wizard Barty Crouch, don't you?"
"I do," she replied, frowning slightly. "But why are you asking?"
"Look into him. Especially his son—or any living blood relatives."
"Hmm... understood."
Before leaving the compartment, Pansy made a point of glaring at Hermione Granger, who still hadn't moved from her seat.
But when she noticed the way Draco looked at Hermione, as if he meant to say something privately, Pansy hesitated. Then, with a small stomp of her foot, she turned and left.
She was curious about what Draco wanted to say to Hermione, of course—but she also understood the look in his eyes. That knowledge made her leave feel heavier, tinged with reluctant frustration.
Hermione, on the other hand, suddenly realized her heart was beating faster than usual. Though it wasn't even summer yet, she felt flushed, fanning her cheeks lightly to cool herself.
If Pansy had seen this, she would've stormed back in immediately, no doubt.
But Draco—oblivious to a girl's thoughts and certainly no Legilimens—spoke plainly, revealing why he'd asked Hermione to stay.
"What happened?"
"Huh? What... what do you mean?" Hermione blinked, feigning confusion. "I don't really understand what you're talking about."
If two people shared a certain connection, a few words were often enough to communicate what they meant.
And it seemed Draco and Hermione had that kind of connection.
When Draco asked his seemingly random question, the flicker of unease on Hermione's face gave her away completely.
Draco didn't bother to soften his tone.
"Don't let Pansy's attitude fool you. She noticed something was wrong too—that's why she asked."
"You mean she... No, that's impossible."
"So something really did happen?"
"You're trying to trick me!"
Realizing it too late, Hermione puffed out her cheeks, clearly annoyed. She hadn't expected Draco to use such a transparent tactic on her.
But, as Draco had guessed, Hermione was indeed dealing with something.
As for Pansy's motives—why she'd acted the way she did—that part was something Hermione subconsciously chose to ignore.
"It's about Potter and the others, isn't it?"
"I..."
"You should understand what that means. As long as you're close to me—"
"What are you trying to say? That Slytherins shouldn't have Gryffindor friends? Or that I'm just some naïve fool in your eyes?!"
Huff... huff...
Hermione's sudden outburst caught Draco completely off guard, leaving him momentarily stunned.
And in that silence, he realized she wasn't the same little witch he used to know. She'd grown—she now thought deeply about the meaning behind every action and every word.
Still, Draco couldn't shake the feeling that what truly upset her was his attempt to analyze the "risks" of being close to him.
At least, that's what he told himself.