"I’m well aware you don’t need me to protect you, Hermione. No need to hurt my fragile ego anymore. That doesn’t mean that having two people to face a problem, instead of one, won’t always skew the odds more in your favor. I’m a Slytherin after all, surely you don’t expect me to fight fairly. Unless of course, you’re saying that I’m far less competent than you, and am therefore a liability in this scenario...." He’d sat down on the armchair while he was talking, propping his elbows on his knees as he just watched her. 