But she didn’t feel that way toward Pansy now, because Draco had pulled Hermione aside on the long walk to Greyback's lair of a house. He’d grabbed her by the elbow and steered her off the side of the road. Bent his head to her ear, and whispered in it. "Pansy's just a friend. Don't get your knickers in a twist, Granger." Hermione had punched him in the arm – lightly – for mocking her, but for the next ten minutes she had grinned like an idiot as she'd plodded along with the others. Draco was different tonight. He wasn't reflexively pushing her away; and although Hermione knew not to get her hopes up too much lest he retreat back into his shell, he seemed to have stopped trying to deny his feelings. It was about bloody time.