Hermione has changed, she acknowledges as she sits in her armchair watching the clock as it ticks around to 5pm, an open book half-read on her lap. How she feels has changed. She used to have feelings for Ron; fluttery, wanting, giggly feelings. She used to have romantic, sweet dreams of what could happen between them when one of them was finally brave enough to make the first move, and now all of that is...gone. Crushed, erased, dashed to pieces beneath the weight of reality. But what she feels for Malfoy now seems like a betrayal, what she feels and can't deny and doesn't want to deny despite her guilt and unease. It's not fluttery or giggly, and if she believes what Malfoy says – she doesn't – not even healthy. But she feels inextricably connected to him now, tied together by what they have been through, are going through. If she does escape, the thought of leaving him here is intolerable. His ability to stoically do what must be done no matter what is safety to her, his arms around her at night are comfort, his mouth at her wrists is want, his very presence is home.