"What was that?!?" Ron asked, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

"What?" Harry said.

"That, with Izzy.  That."

"Oh.  Nothing.  I'm just not using to catching falling girls."

"And I suppose she's not used to being the falling girl that's caught?"

"Shut up," Harry said, blushing again.

Ron laughed.  "Anyway, I wanted to talk to you about them." He gestured to Draco and Hermione.  "Izzy said they were doing something?  I'm nervous about how much time she spends with him.  I think... I think she likes him."

"She probably does.  But..."

"But what?"

"But that's her choice I guess.  And as mean as he was to us in the past, Malfoy seems nicer now.  The war totally changed him."

"But he was a Death Eater!  That's ridiculous!  Maybe he's lying about wanting to help and is feeding info to Voldemort." Ron protested.

"Hermione's a smart girl.  If he's not who he says he is, she'll know.  We have to support her.  She wont like it if we're babying her." Harry seemed resigned, like he was watching his sister grow up.  I mean, he kinda was.

"I guess you're right." Ron admitted.  "But if Malfoy and 'Mione start dating-" he shuddered "-then we're gonna have to sit down and have a chat with him first."

"Good idea."

——————————————

That night, after their group outing to Hogsmeade, in the common room, Izzy was sitting in a chair slightly away from the Golden Trio but still close enough to be part of the conversation.

It appears, however, that they forgot she was there, because they started talking seriously.

"Alright 'Mione, listen up," Ron began.

Hermione sighed and closed her book.  "If you're going to lecture me about Malfoy again-"

"We are, but not in the way you'd expect. Calm down."

"We've noticed that you and Malfoy have grown, er- rather close." Harry held up his hand to shush Hermione as he continued. "We've agreed that's okay. But... if you... if you start to get... romantic with him..."

"Harry, what on earth are you talking about?" Hermione interrupted, a slightly nervous look on her face. She never could lie to her friends very well.

"You clearly like Malfoy and he clearly likes you. If you don't start dating then I'll make you two date! Harry and I cant deal with the tension between you two, bloody hell!" Ron exclaimed, a little loudly. Luckily they were alone in the common room. Except for Izzy, who still seems to have been forgotten.

"I- I don't- what- why- I don't-" Hermione sputtered helplessly, growing redder by the minute. "Okay fine! I do like him. But calm down Ronald, we've already kissed once, so it's not like you need to do much."

"Aha! I knew it!" Ron looked a little proud of himself for "figuring it out".

"No mate, I knew it," Harry said.

"It doesn't matter," Hermione began. "I understand you two are hesitant of this becoming a relationship but calm down. I know how to handle myself and he's a good man. Loyal, kind, beautiful, good muscles, eyes like-"

"Okay! Okay we get it," Ron shuddered.

"Now we just have to talk to Malfoy," Harry stated, turning to Ron.

"No! Please don't!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Hermione, as your... as your brother and your friend we're going to have to talk to him. Nothing you can do or say will stop us from doing so. So hush."

And with that, Ron and Harry went upstairs.

Hermione turned to Izzy, who apparently was not forgotten.

"It'll be okay, right? Draco won't get scared away?" Hermione asked.

Izzy pauses before responding. "If he truly loves you, nothing they can do or say will scare him away."