"With Harry and Ron and all of the others –" she began "– I’m happy. Contented. Everything is simple and straightforward; familiar. But I’ve realised that as much as I love my friends, my relationships with them are...well, I don’t grow or change. I don’t question things, or think differently about things because of the time I spend with Harry or Ron." Hermione paused, Draco’s eyes unblinking on her face. "As much as I love them, I’ve been stagnating with them." Hermione’s fingers threaded through Draco’s, and she looked down at their entwined hands, resting on his lean, pale chest. "But since you’ve been here – since I’ve been spending time with you – I’ve stopped stagnating. You make me question my preconceptions and ingrained perspectives. You challenge me, interest me, and make me think. I can have long, intelligent conversations –"