She began suspecting that something was happening when she met Draco for their usual meeting right before Potions.
"Hermione, do you and Ron still hang out?"
"Not really, Draco, but why do you want to know?"
"Just wondering. There's a Hogsmeade visit this weekend, and I thought that we could meet in the Three Broomsticks for a cup of butterbeer. It's supposed to be pretty chilly."
"Okay, we can work out the details on Friday."
Harry had kept dropping hints the entire week that something was going to happen.
"Hermione, are you sure that you want to meet Draco in the Three Broomsticks? Why don't you stay here? If you go out into that cold, you might catch pneumonia, and then you would have to be in the hospital wing and get behind on your schoolwork."
"Honestly, Harry. Why the sudden interest in my welfare? I'll just put on a thick sweater under my cloak. I'll be just fine."
But the most disturbing came when she was talking to Parvati and Lavender.
"Hermione, are you going to the Three Broomsticks with Draco on Saturday?" asked Parvati casually.
"Yeah. Why?"
"Well, think about who it is. Draco Malfoy. What about all that pure-blood stuff? And his father and You-Know-Who?" said Lavender urgently.
"Don't get all uptight. Draco has really changed."
"Not as much as you think. I think he's a Death Eater." said Parvati.
"So do I." said Lavender.
"And you know what I think? I think you both are completely too wrapped up in my life!"
"Come on, Hermione. Lighten up. We are trying to do you a favor."
Hermione didn't know what all these people were doing butting into her personal life, but she did know that she wasn't liking it very much.
On Saturday, as the wind whipped along the lake and the temperature dropped steadily, Hermione donned a thick woolen sweater and her best cloak. She battled the gail and quickly disappeared into Hogsmeade.
The Three Broomsticks was crowded like usual, and she scanned the crowd for Draco. She saw three hooded men, Hagrid and Professor McGonagall, a few goblins, and assorted creatures and wizards. She didn't see Draco until he emerged from the table behind the hooded men's table. She signaled to him that she would be there in a minute and ordered a butterbeer from Madam Rosmerta.
"Hi, Draco! It's awful chilly out there. This butterbeer is going to hit the spot." Madam Rosmerta appeared with a tankard of the rich foaming liquid and set it down in front of her. "So how's everything been going?"
"Pretty good. But Hermione-" and Draco's voice faltered, and he looked off into the space directly above her head. "How's your Herbology project going?"
Hermione was stunned by his change of subject. She was sure he was about to tell her something important. "Fine, but were you going to ask me something else?"
"Yes, Hermione, but I'm not really the one to say it."
"I am." came a low voice from directly behind her. Hermione turned in her chair and gasped.