Reality was not a kind place, and it seemed to have no room for him and Hermione. What would she do while he was in Azkaban? Pine away for him? He snorted as he clumped in muddy boots through the dining room toward the cellar door, itching for a shower. Draco wouldn’t want for her to wait around for him – and she wasn’t the pining sort, anyway. Or rather, Hermione shouldn’t be the pining sort – she was blindingly brilliant and strong and full of life and curiosity, and if she had half her mind on him, she wouldn’t be able to fulfil that potential. She could do amazing things with her intelligence, and drive for knowledge, and if her life were eaten up by waiting around for him – worrying about him, missing him...it wouldn’t be fair.