The next morning on the way to breakfast, the thing that preyed on Hermione's mind was the fact she'd never actually kissed him.
"Hermione?" a familiar voice called. She slowed to let Ron catch up, and, shortly after and rather more breathlessly, Harry.
"I thought you weren't talking to me?" she asked coolly.
"Uh, about that." Ron ran a hand through recently washed hair. "It occurred to us that, well, we probably ought to ask you if you were doing anything with Malfoy before we judged you for it, you know?"
"So?" Hermione raised an eyebrow. Ron looked blank. "Ask," she said.
"Are you in a relationship with Malfoy?" Harry asked calmly.
Hermione looked down the corridor towards the dining hall. Pansy Parkinson was just entering. She glanced back and shot Hermione a look of pure evil.
"No," Hermione said quietly. "I could never enter a relationship with Draco Malfoy."
Harry nodded happily, and Ron grabbed her arm a little over enthusiastically. She smiled at him, looping her arm around his, and offering her other arm to Harry. They entered the dining hall arm in arm.
On the other side, isolated among first years again, Draco Malfoy watched them solemnly. He hadn't heard a word they'd said, but he could guess that something had been, since they were all so chummy again. He closed his eyes for a moment, gathered his strength, and climbed to his feet.
"Well, well, well," he drawled as he approached the Gryffindor table. "The troublesome trio are together again."
"Hello, Malfoy," Hermione sighed.
"And just in time for Valentine's Day. Isn't that sweet?" He hovered behind Harry, who was sitting opposite Hermione. "All too young and innocent to understand the true meaning of it all."
"Says the boy who was dumped only yesterday," Ron pointed out snidely. "And all over a rumour."
"Just keep believing that," Malfoy smirked.
"What's your explanation for why you and Hermione spent so much time together last week?" Harry asked, hitting the one question to make both squirm.
Draco's eyes lit up. "I was tutoring her," he said smugly. "In potions." Hermione rolled her eyes, though Draco wasn't sure if it was for his benefit or her friends'.
"You poor thing," he leant over, leaning on the back of Harry's chair. "All you've got are friends. What's Valentine's Day minus the love?"
"The same as any other day," Hermione said smoothly.