He could not begrudge her this night out. Though Weasley was one of the people Draco could not bring himself to tolerate, he was one of Hermione's closest friends, and he made her smile. That was truly all that mattered to him now—that Hermione could laugh freely and live her life with abandon. As he watched her, he thought back to the night she left. He had found out days later that Pansy Parkinson had left her knickers on his dresser in what turned out to be a rather effective attempt to ruin his relationship with the beautiful Gryffindor, but he had not even seen them the night he brought Hermione to his home and offered that she rest on his bed as he prepared a meal for them. She had been rather tired, he recalled, because of a case moving through the Department that week. He had only wanted her to sleep as he cooked her favorite foods: mashed potatoes, gravy, and roast chicken, with chocolate fudge for dessert. But after he'd perfected the meal and charmed a handful of candles and rose petals to float around the room, he had gone to wake her from her slumber only to be greeted by a tear-stained bedspread, wide open balcony doors, and complete silence. She had taken all of her own belongings, the various articles of clothing and piles of paperwork that had been scattered around the room since she'd spent so much time there. The only thing she had left behind was the collection of books he had gifted her during their relationship. Every single book he'd given her, from the fiction to the treasured copy of Hogwarts: a History had been deserted, stacked neatly on his bedside table and still carrying a trace of her intoxicating scent. He had sunk to the bed in shock, fingers closing around the small velvet box in his pocket as hot tears rolled down his cheeks. He had looked just once at the glittering diamond ring in his hand before chucking it to the back of his closet in anguish, and he had only just retrieved it that morning. He couldn't help but imagine just how breathtaking the ring would have looked on her hand, had she only given him the chance to explain himself to her.