Inside Your Mind

do i wanna know?

Do I Wanna Know? - Arctic Monkeys

February 20th 1999

Hermione grit her teeth the whole walk to Hogsmeade, biting her tongue so that she didn't argue with Ginny further. It had been a long morning of Ginny trying to convince her to drop the anger and resentment towards Draco so that they could go to Hogsmeade as a four.

'I don't know why you're so set on us going as a group.' Hermione hissed as Ginny hooked her by the elbow and dragged her through the Entrance Hall. As soon as she saw a certain blonde Slytherin stood next to the front door, straight backed by Blaise's side as they waited for the two girls, she considered bolting in the other direction.

'I thought it would be nice.' Ginny replied, firm in her decision to try and get the group of four on civil terms once again. Though she had left the issues mostly between Hermione and Draco - she was obviously on Hermione's side and had even had a row with Blaise about what had transpired - she was now determined to get them to at least speak to at least try and have a civil conversation.

They were mostly quiet throughout the walk; Ginny and Blaise led the way, arms pressed against one another as they clearly conspired to get their friends alone in an attempt to get them to talk about their issues, while Hermione and Draco followed. There was about a foot gap between them, Hermione trailing slightly behind, and neither said a word.

When the first shop on the Hogsmeade strip came into view, Ginny held back so that she could speak to Hermione.

'Are you alright to meet me in Honeydukes?' Ginny asked with a small smile. 'I need some new gloves for Quidditch.'

'I'll go with you.' Hermione said, slightly confused at Ginny's request for them to separate.

'Blaise is coming with me. I know you don't have any need to go to Spintwitches and we'll only be five minutes.'

'Alright.' Hermione agreed hesitantly.

'See you soon.' Ginny said as she caught up with Blaise and Draco.

Hermione shrugged it off, considered going to Tomes and Scrolls but brushed that thought aside when she knew she'd spend more than five minutes there, and entered Honeydukes.

She perused the shelves, passing quickly over the Chocolate Frogs and Bertie Botts as they reminded her of Harry and Ron, and picked up a few Sugar Quills.

Hermione was about to pay and leave, cursing Ginny for making her wait ten minutes already, when she tripped over someone bending down to pick up a bag of sweets from the bottom shelf. She landed sharply on her elbow and let out a loud curse, drawing the attention of most of the customers, and turned to shout at the person who had been hiding on the floor.

'Malfoy, what the bloody hell are you doing on the floor!?' Hermione cried as she quickly stood and cradled her sore elbow.

'Granger.' Draco replied stiffly as he stood up, rubbing his ribs and wincing slightly. 'I was just trying to get some Peppermint Toads.'

'Well... well- you,' Hermione stuttered as she tried to think of a way to berate him for tripping her over, when in reality it would probably just be a good excuse to shout and scream at him in general, but she was coming up short.

He had simply been in the wrong place and she at the wrong time.

'Go on, spit it out Granger.' Draco drawled. 'I know you're about to lecture me about how I was in your way.'

Hermione sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. 'No.'

'No?'

'No. I'm not going to "lecture" you, Malfoy.' Hermione said, using air quotes to mock his snide choice of words. 'I can barely stand to look at you anymore, I don't have it in me to shout at you for tripping me up.'