With every step she took, Hermione could feel those gazes piercing her back.
But she forced herself to keep her eyes straight ahead, quickened her pace, and hurried to the two empty seats.
Draco remained standing, his back to the night outside the window, facing the prying eyes in the classroom, and also to Hermione walked hesitantly towards him.
His gaze swept calmly over Hermione's face, which was slightly flushed with nervousness and turmoil, and then over her tightly pursed lips and clenched fingers.
Then, he did something that made Hermione pause slightly.
He turned to the side and extended his palm, inviting Hermione to sit in the seat further inside.
Because the location inside is relatively more secluded.
Then Draco gestured with his chin, indicating for Hermione to sit down. "You can sit inside."
At the same time, he himself stood very naturally on the outside side of the aisle.
It was obvious that he planned to wait for Hermione to go inside, then sit outside and protect her inside.
Hermione stopped two steps away from her seat.
She looked at the spot Draco was pointing to, and her heart skipped a beat, as if something had hit her.
Reason is calling again!
That's not right! What gives him the right to assign me a seat?
This is so... so controlling!
Moreover, sitting inside, it felt like I was being "enclosed" by him.
That meant she wasn't completely exposed to his sight, and as a result, she lost the freedom to leave at any time!
She wanted to refuse and simply turned around and left, returning to the middle and back rows.
But now, she had already arrived here.
Under everyone's gaze, she had become the focus of the entire event.
If they were to argue now over whether their seats are inside or outside, it would only draw more attention, create more embarrassment, and further confirm the speculation that their relationship is unusual.
Besides... that spot inside does seem a bit "quieter," at least you don't have to directly face the students walking by in the aisle and so many blatant stares...
She was struggling internally.
Finally, under Draco's calm but persistent gaze...
Driven by the silent pressure and the desire to end this awkward situation as soon as possible.
Hermione bit her lower lip, with a reckless expression, and quickly squeezed through the gap Draco had made, taking a seat on the inside against the wall.
Her movements were somewhat hurried; her shoulder even brushed lightly against Draco's arm.
The cool touch felt like an electric current, making her flinch as if she had been electrocuted.
Hermione quickly sat up straight and hugged her backpack tightly to her chest.
Draco sat down leisurely after she did, taking up the outer seat.
He adjusted his posture, straightening his back slightly, which formed a barrier, blocking most of the views coming from all directions.
This also partially concealed Hermione in the shadows created by herself and the wall, reducing her stress of being spied on.
Hermione immediately sensed the difference.
Although Draco, a huge source of pressure, made her tense, she was indeed largely shielded from the blatant stares from the classroom.
The discomfort that felt like a thorn in my back lessened considerably.
She dared not look up, dared not look in any direction, and just stared intently at the blank parchment in front of her.
Her fingers unconsciously twisted the quill of the quill pen, almost breaking the pen shaft in her grip.
Hermione could even clearly hear her own rapid heartbeat, the sound seemingly drowning out the whispers around her.
After Draco sat down, he neither immediately took out his textbook nor spoke.
He merely tilted his head slightly, his gaze falling on Hermione's profile, which appeared somewhat stiff from tension, and her bright red ears.
He looked at Hermione for a few seconds.
Just then, an barely suppressed voice came from the direction of the Gryffindor table in the back row of the classroom.
Although the voice was deliberately lowered, it still clearly penetrated the noisy environment and reached the ears of those in the front row:
"Could Hermione have been Confundus Charm? Or given Love Potion?"
It was Ron's voice.
Confundus Charm and Love Potion.
These are two magical techniques that are widely known in the magical world.
Especially Love Potion.
It has always been shrouded in ambiguity, taboo, and scandal within the circle of teenage wizards.
How could Hermione be allowed to get involved with a Malfoy, a Malfoy who subscribes to the ideal of Pure-blood Supremacy?
What other explanation is there besides magical control?
The seeds of doubt were sown.
The students who had been pretending to take notes while dozing off in their chairs all turned to look at the corner of the front row by the window.
All eyes were fixed on Draco and Hermione, especially Hermione.
Harry turned sharply to look at Ron, a clear look of surprise flashing in his eyes.
But that surprise was quickly replaced by a deeper worry.
Hermione, right in the eye of the storm, was struck dumb the moment she heard Ron's words.
She was already in a state of confusion and her cheeks were burning from the series of events that had happened tonight.
She was gripping her quill tightly, trying to force herself to focus on the open textbook on the History of Magic.
Try to escape the suffocating gaze and inner turmoil by using those dry Ancient Magic treaties and wizarding war chronicles.
Ron's words were like a bucket of ice water mixed with boiling oil, not only extinguishing all her self-comfort but also igniting all the emotions that had been building up inside her.
Confundus Charm? Love Potion?
Hermione was being questioned about whether she was under Confundus Charm or given Love Potion, which was why she was sitting with Draco?
This is not just a misunderstanding, it's a blatant insult!
This is an utter disregard for her intelligence, a trampling of her principles, and an insult to her character!
A tremendous surge of humiliated anger erupted like a volcanic eruption, instantly shattering all her confusion and shyness.
She suddenly raised her head, no longer looking flustered and evasive as before.
At that moment, her eyes were burning with rage as she stared intently at Ron in the middle and back rows.
Ron was taken aback by her gaze, and subconsciously shrank back, revealing a hint of panic and hesitation.
He seemed to realize that his words had been too blunt and hurtful.
But he quickly straightened his back, his eyes remaining firm.
In his view, there was no other explanation for Hermione's "abnormal" behavior at this moment.