For the next few days, Hermione barely saw Draco. They still ate dinner together along with Narcissa, but conversation was sparse. Narcissa eyed the two, but didn't say anything. After dinner, Hermione would offer to help in his lab, but he always refused, saying he was either done or he could handle it, and she eventually stopped offering to help out.
After the fourth day, as they ate their dinner in silence once again, Hermione was growing frustrated. She had apologized and meant it. He didn't need to keep making her feel bad and hurting her feelings. As soon as Narcissa retired to her room after dinner, Hermione spoke up, "Alright, how long is going last?"
Draco quipped a brow at her, "What are you talking about?"
"This silent treatment. You barely talk to me anymore. I thought we were getting along with each other," she said.
He shrugged, "I'm not not talking to you on purpose. I've just been preoccupied."
Hermione narrowed her eyes at him, "I don't believe you. You used to make an effort to at least start conversations with me."
He mirrored her expression, "Alright, fine. I've been ignoring you. Happy now? I've been avoiding you because it pissed me off that you would assume I would do anything to get out of hanging with your friends. I'm not the same kid you knew in school-"
"I know you're not!"
"Then stop acting like it! Give me the benefit of the doubt. Let me explain things before you go getting all pissed off about things for no reason," he said, throwing his napkin onto the table.
They glared at each other a moment more before Hermione sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose, "You're right. I already apologized for overreacting though. You're the one acting like a third year, giving me the silent treatment."
He glared at her for a brief moment, but he knew she was right about his actions; he was acting childish.
" I don't know what else to do to make us ok again," she continued softly.
"Just… give me time, ok?" he said, sighing as well.
"Alright. You know where to find me when you're ready to talk to me again," she said as she got up and headed towards the stairs.
Draco watched her leave and weighed his options. He was still pissed, but how much longer should he let it affect him? With an irritated sigh at himself, he ran a hand through his hair. She was right, they needed to stop acting like teenagers and more like adults. He got up and walked quickly towards the stairs and saw that Hermione was almost to the top.
"I could use your help tonight in the lab, if you're free," he said.
She turned around and eyed him wearily, "You sure?"
He nodded, "Yeah."
She gave him a small smile and a nod, "Alright. I'll meet you down there in a bit. I want to change out of my work clothes."
He gave a nod and headed down to the lab, a small grin on his face.
The next morning Draco woke up with something heavy on his chest that also seemed to be...vibrating? He opened his eyes and was met with a ton of orange fur. If he could take a guess, he would say cat, but there was so much fur he really wasn't sure. He stirred a bit and the creature on his chest lifted it's head and glared at him. Draco glared back. The cat got up and took it's time stretching, still on top of Draco's chest, before it sauntered across the bed and hopped off, leaving the room from his balcony, which he always kept open on summer nights.