Little Ma had invited Hermione?
Zhang Xiao rubbed his chin and thought back carefully, only to realize there had been faint signs of it before.
Within their little group, Cedric was in a different year, so he did not spend as much time with them as the others in the same year did.
Among the younger ones, only Zhang Xiao and Malfoy could really keep up with Hermione in conversation. But Zhang Xiao had always maintained clear boundaries, keeping their everyday interactions firmly in the realm of friendship.
Harry and Ron were not terrible students, but their grades were hardly outstanding either. When it came to someone Hermione could talk to, Malfoy was the one who could discuss homework and schoolwork with her.
Come to think of it... Malfoy... Zhang Xiao suddenly remembered.
When Hermione's birthday came around, he had not even remembered it. Malfoy had been the one to remind him, and Malfoy had carefully picked out an owl for her as well.
(Volume five, chapter six: Reunion at the Leaky Cauldron)
As he delved further into his memories, more details surfaced. For instance, whenever someone told a joke or something funny happened.
Malfoy would unconsciously look to see whether Hermione was laughing.
Whoa!
Had Little Ma really fallen for Hermione?
Still, even if pure-bloods now claimed they no longer discriminated, that sort of thing could not be wiped away overnight.
No wonder he had said he hated his own weakness and could not bring himself to say it aloud.
He had guts!
Zhang Xiao was still rubbing his chin thoughtfully, unaware that the conversation had shifted to him.
"What about Zhang's dance partner?"
"No idea, but nobody's approached him these past two days."
"It's probably like when we were putting teams together. Nobody dares to ask Zhang."
Jolted