"I said 5 minutes, Miss Granger," said Snape. "That’s 5 points from Gryffindor." Hermione silently and motionlessly threw a middle finger at him, as Snape completely ignored Malfoy’s lateness. She took her seat next to Harry and Ron, pulling out her book for the lesson. "Where were you?" Harry whispered. Hermione shook her head."Later," she whispered back. Hermione stared at Malfoy; he was not looking at the front of the classroom as Snape was explaining the different unforgivable curses. He had the same faraway expression as he had in the Great Hall when she had spotted him earlier. Hermione recalled to when she saw him in Borgin & Burkes, he wore a similar expression. It seemed Malfoy becoming a deatheater was more than just that, like he was carrying a heavy burden with it. His activities in the Room of Requirement led Hermione to believe that he had been set a task for an initiation or something. After all, what made one become a part of Voldemort’s secret circle? Surely, one would have to proof oneself to him in order to be trusted. The more Hermione thought of this theory, the more she believed it. Why else would Malfoy miss out on Defence Against the Dark Arts lessons with his favourite teacher, what else would have him act fouler than he already was? He was set a task that was beyond Professor Snape, something more important and shouldn’t be wasted on an hour or two of lessons. He seemed genuinely concerned and Hermione didn’t know Malfoy to be afraid of anything, given how he was so well protected with the powerful family he came from, despite his father being in prison for his acts at the ministry last year. Hermione couldn’t help but feel sorry for him, this task, whatever it was, it was already taking its toll on Malfoy and it was only the first day of school. Hermione figured she should stay out of it, but something about his obvious reluctance made her want to encourage his reluctance further, so that the school could be spared from dark magic altogether. Much to Malfoy’s likely dismay, Hermione decided she was going to press for more information from him and try to help. Hermione knew if she tried to approach him again, he would run the other way. She pulled out her feather quill and shielded Harry and Ron from seeing what she wrote on her parchment. They were too involved in Snape’s explanation on the blackboard to notice anyway. Slowly, Hermione wrote the following words: