Realizing they were now alone, Hermione and Draco both started to feel the uncomfortable silence that fell around them. They avoided looking at each other and every time they would open their mouths to say something, they would immediately change their minds.
Finally, after a few more moments of awkwardness, Hermione decided it had to stop.
"Would you like a cup of tea? I think I want one." she said suddenly, making Draco jump with surprise.
"W-what? Oh, yes, yes please." he stuttered, rubbing the back of his head.
She hurried towards the kitchen with Draco following her at a distance. He took a seat at the table and watched Hermione bustling around the teapot.
A few minutes later the tea was ready and both of them were sitting facing each other, holding a big mug in their hands.
Draco stole a few glances at Hermione, watching her sipping her tea quietly. He shifted into his chair, fumbling with the handle of his own cup.
"What happened between you and Weasley?" he blurted out, surprising both himself and Hermione.
She looked up at him, surprise evident all over her face.
'What the bloody hell is wrong with me? I can't even make proper conversation.' He berated himself inwardly, avoiding looking straight into Hermione's eyes.
Instead, he sipped his tea, in all appearance calm as anything.
"Well, we're friends." Hermione stated simply.
"Yes, I knew that already, Granger. I meant what happened with your relationship. Weren't you two together at some point?" he drawled.
'Alright. That's good. Keep yourself detached and unaffected. After all, what do you care what she does with the Weasel?'
Hermione thought for a moment before answering his question.
"Not really. I did like him in the earlier years of school, but at some point, I guess I grew out of it. That is why, in the end, we decided our friendship was more important."
"I see." Draco said quietly, clutching his cup tighter between his fingers. "And… have you two ever… uhm, kissed?" he finally asked awkwardly.
'You're getting better and better at making a fool out of yourself, Draco Malfoy.'
Groaning inwardly and thinking surely Hermione would be upset with his straightforward question, Draco was surprised to see her looking at him rather puzzled than offended.
For some unknown reason Hermione was taking his stupid questions seriously and seeing how she was about to answer his last one, he braced himself. He tried hard to keep his pale complexion from blushing but failed miserably. A delicate shade of pink was rising on his cheeks.
Luckily Hermione didn't seem to notice, too absorbed in her own thoughts.
"Yes, actually." she said calmly, oblivious at how Draco caught his breath. "During the Battle of Hogwarts, while we were in the Chamber of Secrets to destroy one of Voldemort's Horcruxes.''
"That awful battle was raging in the castle and you two felt like snogging each other?" Draco asked in disbelief.
"I guess it was the adrenaline, the spur of the moment, you know." Hermione said, smiling sheepishly.
It was her turn now to feel awkward and fumble with her cup.
Draco snorted and shook his head.
They both remained quiet, silently enjoying their tea. For a moment, Draco peered at her. She had talked calmly about her seven-year crush and she seemed at peace with the outcome. But what did he feel about it? He couldn't decide whether he felt relieved or annoyed, while the reasonable part of him said he shouldn't be feeling anything at all.
***
The next day, Hermione met Caleb in a small coffee shop near the Leaky Cauldron. Draco and Harry stood watch not far from them, both disguised as someone else, while the rest of the team wore invisibility cloaks or disillusionment charms.
The session went well and after an hour and a half they were ready to go. Harry took his leave as soon as he saw Hermione approaching. The others disappeared as well, leaving Draco to take Hermione back to the flat. But, for some reason, Draco felt as though she'd rather stay out a bit longer. She refused to Apparate back at the flat and was walking in slow strides.
Then, with a shock of realization, he remembered it was Friday. She had always gone out on Fridays but had stopped in the past few weeks.
"Granger?" he asked, mulling over his thoughts, trying to figure out the best way to ask her without seeming too nosy.
"Hm?" she said looking straight ahead, unaware of Draco's thoughts.
"What were you doing on Fridays? You always went out and came back at the same hours. Where were you going?"
Hermione stopped walking and looked over at Draco.
'Should I just show him? Would he understand?' she thought, while carefully regarding the man in front of her.