Draco Malfoy appeared to be in a good mood when he arrived at Honeydukes.
As soon as he entered, he noticed that familiar messy, brown-haired head.
Hermione Granger.
She stood alone in front of a shelf in the corner of the shop, examining a plate of suspiciously blood-red lollipops, her expression somewhat hesitant.
"Oh, I would not bother with those. They are for vampires," Draco said slowly as he walked over.
She turned and saw him, and the smile lines under her eyes immediately appeared. She was no longer the reserved person she had been in front of Hogwarts. "Draco! Thank goodness you are finally here. I am really a little dizzy."
That magical path from Hogwarts to Hogsmeade, a journey that takes an hour on foot, had changed Hermione Granger's attitude.
Originally, that road was supposed to be long. If you remained silent, simply stumbling along that somewhat muddy road, wondering when you would reach that distant, unfamiliar, only-rumoured-about pure wizarding village, you would feel that this silent road filled with morning mist seemed to have no end.
However, that road is short.
If someone were to casually discuss along the way the very things that interest you... the secrets to making Shrinking Solutions and alternative ways to neutralise their toxicity, or the remarkable properties of the bird-serpent, the shapeshifting lizard, and the Swedish Short-Snout dragon, or whether Professor Trelawney, whom the students idolise, is a self-proclaimed fraud... you would certainly find the road unusually short.
"I still think Lavender is making a huge fuss about the rabbit," she had complained, tugging at his sleeve as they walked along the misty road.
"Although Professor Trelawney said that 'what she feared would happen on the sixteenth of October,' there are a few doubts: First, she only received the news that day, which does not mean the rabbit died that day; second, her fear that the rabbit would die is absurd... it was a baby rabbit, not an old one; and besides, even if she was afraid the rabbit would die, she never expected it to be killed by a fox..."
"I understand what you mean," he said, leading her around a puddle with great interest. "From the perspectives of time, cause of death, and manner of death, it is very inaccurate."
"Do you think so too?" She was only focused on looking up at him, letting him lead the way, and did not notice the puddle.
"Hmm." He paused for a moment, then subtly led her away from a passing Thestral, echoing her thoughts. "Your analysis is quite rational. In my opinion, your roommate is a bit paranoid and seems to be trying to force a prophecy onto you."
"That is right." Her tone was a little happy, completely unaware that she was brushing past a black winged Thestral and had almost stepped on its long black tail. "Very few people think that way. They all think I have no heart or anything."
"You have no heart?" Draco paused, nearly choking on his own words. "Who said that? Are they blind? I do not think there is anyone more caring than you in all of Hogwarts."
Look at how helpful she is every day! She has practically taken care of all the poor souls at Hogwarts!
"Ron said that to me. He felt sorry for Lavender and said I did not care about other people's pets," Hermione said, her voice hesitant.
In fact, Ron's original words were:
"You and Draco are exactly alike, neither of you cares about other people's pets! You two are truly a perfect match..." He took a breath, thought for a moment, and added a few more words. "Study partners!"
Why is Ron ranting so much?
Hermione thought with a hint of embarrassment and annoyance, clutching the boy's sleeve tightly.
"Do not listen to him! He was furious for a long time when I sent his rat to Azkaban last time. You cannot stoop to the level of a pet enthusiast like him."
He comforted her, his grey eyes sweeping over her as if brushing away the emotional dust that had settled in her heart. "The masses are often blind, and truth is often in the hands of the minority. Is that not right, the minority?"
Her heart felt soothed by his eyes and words, regaining its former rationality and sense of order.
So she cheered up again, and the inexplicable feeling of embarrassment and annoyance subsided temporarily.
She started tugging at his sleeve again, asking all sorts of questions. "What exactly is that alternative solution you just mentioned for neutralising toxic substances?"
"Oh, about that." Draco seemed to have thought of something funny, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly. "Regardless of the effects of the Shrinking Solution, from a purely toxic point of view, all you have to do is stick a Dungbomb in your mouth."
Hermione stared wide-eyed, speechless for a long moment.
"That is right." She suddenly realised. "That is exactly it."
"Oh, by the way, why were you a little nervous earlier?" Draco finally could not help but ask as they approached the gates of Hogsmeade.
"I was not," Hermione suddenly denied hastily. "When did you say I was nervous?"
He did not speak, but raised an eyebrow at her.
"Uh, maybe a little," she said guiltily, carefully choosing her words, burying her nervousness towards him and only daring to show him the surface of her emotions. "I have never been to Hogsmeade before. I did not know where to go..."
"What are you afraid of? I will be your guide," he said calmly. "I will not let you get lost."
"Really?" She suddenly perked up. "I thought you did not like crowds, did not like going to these kinds of places..."
During the summer holidays, every time I dragged him to stroll through those bustling Muggle streets, he would hesitate for a while.
"I do not like it, but I can make an exception today. We have arrived..." Draco paused, smiled slightly, and said to the girl whose face was full of surprise, "Welcome to the only pure wizarding village in Britain."