Draco in wasting his time in Flourish and Blotts, upstairs in the back section where the texts on experimental hexes has always caught his eye. He runs his finger along the spine of one text, a perpetually bored expression on his face.

Hermione has remembered the name of a book she wants to show Ginny.  After their discussion about the DA and possible hexes they could learn this year, she wants to take it to the Burrow with her tomorrow so they can discuss it and maybe even tell Harry.  After consulting with the man behind the counter, she makes her way upstairs towards the appropriate section and stops abruptly as she sees you.  He *would* be here, wouldn't he? She muses as she walks over to stand beside you, silently scanning the titles for the book she's after.

"Granger..." His polished voice dripping with distaste at seeing you. He takes a small step back, looking annoyed that you stood so close, and then looks back to the shelves. "Isn't this section a bit dark for you?"

"I could say the same to you," she replies with a hint of a smile in her tone.  She hasn't found the one she wants, but as is always the case with bookstores, she has seen another one that looks good too.  She pulls it out and flicks through it.

Draco sneers at that, not looking back at you, and reaches to take something off one of the top shelves. The height he's put on recently even more noticable. <i>Malédictions Romantiques by Vindictus Viridian</i>... romantic curses? <i>At least it's in Frnech...</i>

Hermione doesn't need reminding that you are so much taller than she is and deliberately keeps her eyes on the book in front of her.  It's good. But not as good as the one she's after.  She replaces the book on the shelf and after glancing briefly over at you, she returns to scanning the shelves, looking for the book that she just knows will be perfect.  "Interesting article in the Prophet yesterday," she can't help but comment, glancing up at you.  Gryffindor bravado causing her to draw herself up to her full height.

Draco had been opening the book, but his hands still - only for a moment. He takes a short breath and then sneers. "Yes. Wasn't it. Enlighten you, did it?" Training his eyes on the French table of contents - to compose himself and shove down the anger there. <i>Anger just encourages this fucking mudblood.</i> Yes. He remembers that all too well.

"Actually, no," she replies, watching you closely.  Hermione has learnt a lot too and that knowledge almost has her smirking.  "I already knew all that.  But I'm glad at least the rest of the world are able to see the Malfoy family for what they truly are."

Draco snaps the book shut and turns on her, drawing himself to his full height and taking a step closer - glowering down at her. "And what exactly do you think you know about my family, mudblood?" His voice cold and precise - every syllable stressed.

Hermione refuses to be intimidated.  She's watched your behaviour over the last year and she thinks she's got you pegged.  "I know," she replies, glaring up at you, "that your father is a Death Eater and I *saw* him there, doing Voldemort's dirty work, at the Ministry."

Draco looks down at you for a moment, then snorts and shrugs, stepping back and opening the book again. "Oh, is that all? And I thought you were going to say something interesting..." His tone dismissive - eyes back on the pages.

Hermione raises an eyebrow at that, surprised by your reaction but there is a hint of a smile on her face as she senses a win at getting you to back down like that.  She turns back to the shelves and the smile breaks free as she tries to scan the titles but is really too amused by what she perceives as your attempt at intimidation.  <i>Still a little boy playing games,</i> she muses, her finger trailing down the spine of an interesting looking book.

Draco trails a finger along the text, smirking. "Strange though...how the article didn't mention any formal sentencing. What do you suppose that means, I wonder..." And oh, you haven't won yet. His tone indicating not only that he doesn't deem you worth his anger - He doesn't even deem you worthy of the effort. He chuckles harsh and soft in laughter and then recites, under his breath, a passage from the book in perfect cultured French - now not even acknowledging you there.

"The list of charges was probably too long to print," Hermione returns lightly, and as you speak in French it dawns on her that you're holding the very book she was after.  <i>I am *not* going to ask for it,</i> she silently insists, deliberately not looking in your direction.  Instead, she pulls out the first book she looked at, which is a remarkably similar, if inferior, text.

"Oh.. yes... that's what it means." The sarcasm evident - and he reads another passage under his breath, then chuckles at it, pointedly not seeming to pay any attention to you at all. As if you were only a  nuisance that he can ignore. <i>Which</i> he decides, <i>is very near the truth.</i>

"It sounds like you have a theory, Malfoy.  Do please enlighten me."  <i>This ought to be good.</i>  She turns to regard you with an appropriately polite expression.  Hermione has always known the value of choosing her battles and now is no exception.

Draco snorts softy and finishes the passage he was on before slowly lowering the book and sneering down at you. "If you haven't figured out how politics works by now, mudblood, I'm sure you never will. My Father will be a free man soon enough, no matter what you <i>say</i> you saw."

What that has to do with the article in the Prophet, Hermione cannot fathom but it doesn't seem to matter right now.  "I'm sure it will come as no surprise to anyone when your father buys his way out of Azkaban.  The real question seems to be, why hasn't he already done it?  What is there to gain by staying in prison when he clearly doesn't have to?"  Her tone is thoughtful as she mulls over this inconsistency.  She'll figure it out.  Don't you worry about that.

Draco rolls his eyes, obviously indicating that you're too stupid to understand. "Honestly, Granger, if you can't figure <i>that</i> out...." He snorts in soft mocking laughter again, and then looks turns to sink into the nearest chair, looking down into his book and dismissing you completely.

Hermione's gaze rests on you but she's no longer seeing you as she contemplates this new information.  <i>Why would anyone choose to remain in prison?</i> she wonders.  <i>What could he possibly hope to gain by staying locked up?</i>  Deciding to think about it later when she's alone, she tucks her book under her arm and turns towards to stairs.  The inferior text will have to do, there is no way on earth she is going to ask you about the book you're currently reading.

Draco's sneer actually turns into a small smile as you turn to leave. Counting it a victory that he made you retreat, he looks down at the book an begins to read earnestly.

Strategic retreat, Hermione would argue if she were aware of your thoughts but as she is not, she simply continues on downstairs to purchase her book, mulling over the information you've given her.