In a way she was thankful to Lucius Malfoy, because if it hadn’t been for the poisonous words he had said to Hermione she might never have confronted Draco, and had that final reassurance. He had been so scared she would despise him when she saw the Mark; she had seen the fear in his eyes, in the determined set of his shoulders and the slight tremble of his hand as he had held his arm out to her. Hermione had despised the Mark, the evil blot on smooth, pale skin, but not Draco. No, she hadn’t despised him.