Hermione was ready to bite back, already on the warpath. Only Malfoy could perfectly blend an insult with something very close to a compliment; Hermione was almost impressed. Yes, because being called a witch by him was an unexpected flattery. This was the first time Malfoy had gone so far as to recognize her as his equal, and it unsettled Hermione so much that she fell silent, causing the witty remarks she'd thought of to die on the tip of her tongue.