"Oh...?" Hermione murmured, clutching her hands together in her lap, feeling her back and shoulders stiffen as Malfoy mentioned the war. It was always a dangerous topic to bring up around her; especially at Christmas, where the family reunion was also a stark reminder of all the people they'd loved, who had died. All the empty spaces around the table were painful, like fingernails digging at an old, unhealed wound. She breathed deeply, showing no trace of her emotion on her face. Malfoy tried to smile at her as he went on, but the expression was wobbly and weak and all kinds of awkward, as he seemed to sense her discomfort.