There was a split second of silence before Pansy barged through the doors, sinking into the chair across from Blaise as if it were exactly where she was expected to be.

Draco cleared his throat and said, "Some privacy, Pans?"

Pansy had barely let out a scoff when Giuliana filed in, and a vein throbbed in Draco's temple as he watched her perch on the coffee table next to Blaise. There was a movement in the corridor, and Hermione glanced up to find Daphne hovering in the doorway, her arms tightly crossed.

"Something's wrong," Daphne said. "Why else would he bring her?"

Draco rubbed his forehead. "Nothing's wrong, Daph. I just need to speak to Blaise—"

"What is she talking about?" Giuliana scooted closer to Blaise. "What is wrong?"

Blaise's shoulders lifted, and he shook his head. "I have no—"

"We're not leaving, Draco." Pansy crossed her legs, tapping her fingers on the armrest. "Out with it."

Four pairs of eyes fixed on him, but still he said nothing. Hermione fought the urge to wipe her sweaty palms on her denims.

"I believe there is a change on the way," he finally said. "A shifting of the winds."

Pansy's tapping ended with a thump. "If you have something useful to say, now would be a good time."

"Where is this 'wind' shifting, exactly?" Daphne's voice was tight, and Hermione watched her fingers clutch at a locket around her neck.

Giuliana turned over her shoulder. "A wind shift? Pansy, what—"

Blaise sat very still, his eyes boring into Draco's. Hermione watched his dark pupils dilate and retract, and felt Draco relaxing next to her — his walls crumbling away.

"Girls," said Blaise, cutting through the chatter. "Leave us."

Giuliana flinched, like she'd been slapped. Pansy coolly picked at her fingernails. "Why?"

Blaise massaged his brow. "Because Draco's going to get us all killed."

Draco glowered at Blaise while Pansy and Daphne exchanged unimpressed looks, as though this was just another Friday evening in the dormitory.

"Come get me if something interesting happens." Daphne sniffed and pushed off the doorframe, disappearing with a flip of her hair.

Giuliana began arguing with Blaise in Italian, and Hermione leaned into Draco's ear. "Where is Daphne's sister?"

"Montreal, with her parents." Hermione turned her head to look at him. "The Greengrasses have been 'on holiday' there since last June."

Her gaze drifted to the empty doorway. "Why did Daphne stay behind?"

Draco nodded his head to his right. And Hermione's gaze snapped to Blaise, gesturing with his hands as he spoke.

Her mind clicked with old memories of them passing through the hallways together. It made sense that Daphne would stay for him. But then why were they acting like total strangers?

Draco let out a slight cough. "Giuliana." The girl broke off, turning to him like a doe caught down the barrel of a rifle. "I need you to distract Kreacher for us. Can you keep him busy?"

She whipped her eyes back to Blaise, almost asking for permission. He nodded, and pinched the bridge of his nose as she left the room.