He eats lunch with Hermione under a tree by the lake.

Ron isn't with them.

"It's Malfoy, you know," she tells him.

"I know."

"Ron needed some time. It's a lot to adjust to."

He laughs mirthlessly. "Is it?"

"If you hadn't been so rash and left Gryffindor, I'm certain Ron would have come around. You've been friends from the first. I can't believe you'd just throw all that away."

"I didn't do anything, Hermione. I was the one attacked, remember?"

"You could have given it a chance for a few days. Given us a chance."

He's sorry he came.