"Oh," Narcissa said.

Hermione gasped, tumbling out of Draco's lap. Draco jumped up, knocking over his wine glass.

"We weren't—"

"This isn't what it looks—"

"It's only that—"

"Couldn't have knocked, Mother?"

"My," Narcissa hummed, and Hermione felt her face turn beet red at the barely concealed grin spreading across her features. "Don't let me interrupt."

"You're not interrupting anything," Draco said quickly, almost shouting the words. He started to push in his chair, shoving it roughly after it skidded noisily on the floor.

"No, no." Narcissa waved her hands. "Please finish your meal. I insist." And with a sparkle in her eye, she said, "Is there anything I can bring you? More wine? Perhaps the elves can bring dessert?"

"Mother," Draco hissed in warning.

Hermione stared at her shoes, pulse pounding in her ears. Her skin felt itchy with guilt and embarrassment in every place that had just been in contact with Draco's body.

"Very well, then. Enjoy the rest of your dinner." Narcissa glided out of the room with a cheeky wink.

Hermione dropped her head into her hands as soon as she turned the corner. "Oh god," she groaned.

Draco shifted on his feet before excusing himself with an unintelligible mumble, leaving her alone in the dining room with only her burning skin and guilty conscience.

~*~

On Friday, they followed the now-familiar path to the courtyard, though she fell in step with him easily this time. She refrained from playing with her collar as best she could, but she felt the note burning her skin. She'd debated about it all day Thursday, but still didn't feel like she should tell Draco about the note yet. She could only pray that she'd have another opportune moment alone with the strawberry-blonde.

When Charlotte greeted them with champagne, Hermione studied her carefully. But the brunette simply smiled and toasted them as they passed, her eyes quickly flitting away. Hermione tried to keep eye contact, tried to communicate with her, but the curtain closed on them while she turned to greet another guest.

She found Cho hanging off of Mulciber's arm across the Great Hall, smiling as his hand drifted lower on her back. But Hermione's interest was elsewhere, her eyes wide and alert for any sign of the strawberry-blonde. Before she could get a decent look around the room, Draco was leading her up the twisting steps, passing Harper's check, and through the doors to the dining room. Hermione swallowed her disappointment, wondering if she'd made a mistake by not telling him.

The first thing she noticed was Blaise Zabini laughing jovially at something Nott had said. Her eyes darted behind Nott's chair and found a different Carrow Girl waiting quietly to pour the wine. Her eyes scanned, but still not a trace of the strawberry-blonde. The disappointment in her stomach twisted more heavily.

"Be still my heart," a voice called out as the door shut behind them, and Hermione turned to find Marcus Flint with bowing dramatically at her. "My lady approaches."