Hermione wasn’t sure what had compelled her to do it,  let’s blame the potion  , but she carefully reached her hands up to grasp Malfoy’s. His eyes snapped back into reality - staring at her with his mouth slightly ajar. She returned the glance with a smile, rubbing her thumb in circles around the back of his hand. Maybe it communicated just enough in the moment. Not a  thank you  or an  it’s okay , but an acknowledgment that they were there together and things could be fine just for a passing moment.