They settled onto the kitchen stools attached to a bench where Hermione had arranged a variety of snacks. The talk flowed better than she would have hoped. Ron moaned about the Quidditch, and Draco even politely asked Harry about his latest assignment, which he had read about in the paper. She was just breathing a sigh of relief that maybe the night wouldn't be a complete disaster after all, when Ron, after swallowing a large mouthful of firewhiskey, turned his gaze across the bench to address Draco for the first time.