Draco didn't speak, nor did he force the potion bottle onto Hermione; he simply let her hold his wrist and waited patiently.
But Hermione felt remorse the moment she grabbed his wrist.
She released her grip abruptly, as if burned by a blazing fire.
Then she recoiled sharply, pressing her body against the back of the sofa, trying her best to create distance between herself and Draco.
His brown eyes were filled with a lingering fear and wariness, as if the boy before him were some kind of monstrous beast.
Seeing Hermione's reaction, Draco slowly withdrew his wrist, which Hermione had grabbed.
Then he screwed the stopper back on the crystal bottle, resealing the refreshing fragrance.
Under Hermione's resistant gaze, he reached out his hand again.
This time, the crystal bottle with the stopper screwed on was placed on the small round table in front of Hermione.
After doing all this, Draco stood up straight again, looking down at Hermione was huddled on the sofa like a frightened little animal.
"Then, please make yourself at home, Miss Granger." Draco turned slightly to the side, gesturing for her to proceed.
"We'll continue after you've taken care of your personal matters."
After saying Draco stopped looking at Hermione, turned around, and walked back to his high-backed wooden chair across the round table.
Hermione huddled on the sofa, staring at the bottle of anti-swelling medicine on the table.
She reached out her trembling hand and grasped the ice-blue crystal bottle on the table.
The bottle feels cool to the touch.
The mint-blue liquid inside swayed gently with her movements, as if it contained some kind of mysterious power.
This was Hermione's first sensation when her fingertips touched the crystal bottle.
Hermione no longer hesitated.
With her other, equally cold and trembling hand, she unscrewed the finely threaded stopper on the crystal bottle.
"Pop."
Another soft sound rang out, even clearer than before, echoing in her ears.
The aroma wafted through the air again, this time even stronger, filling the nostrils and bringing a refreshing, invigorating sensation.
This also cleared up her chaotic thoughts a little.
She looked down at the liquid in the bottle, wondering what it contained.
Could there be something else?
Could he have added some other terrible Potions?
Suspicion, like a poisonous vine, instantly coiled around her heart.
But the next second, she forcibly suppressed this absurd thought.
It's unlikely that Draco would use such a low-level method to control her.
So she didn't stop moving.
She closed her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling violently.
Then she tilted her head back slightly and gently brushed aside a few strands of slightly wavy brown hair from her temple with her other hand.
She carefully tucked her hair behind her ears, revealing a smooth, unblemished forehead and her red, swollen, and vulnerable eyes.
This action made her look even more helpless and vulnerable.
At this moment, Hermione had no choice but to deal with her most embarrassing state in front of Draco in such an almost submissive manner.
She gritted her teeth and made up her mind.
She tilted the crystal bottle slightly, and one drop, two drops... the icy blue medicine slowly dripped from the tiny opening, landing precisely on her tightly closed eyelids.
"Hiss--"
A cool sensation instantly washed over me; it was a refreshing and soothing feeling.
The medicine quickly penetrated the burning, swollen skin.
The feeling was exceptionally comfortable, even possessing a strange soothing power, instantly relieving the discomfort and burning sensation in my eyes.
Hermione's body trembled; she could clearly feel it the instant the few drops of the medicine touched her skin.
The burning, swollen sensation receded quickly, like the tide.
Instead, it evokes a feeling of being immersed in the gentlest mountain spring.
She could feel the heavy, tight feeling on her eyelids dissipating rapidly.
The results... were too fast! Too remarkable!
This is definitely not something you can buy at a regular pharmacy.
This is definitely high-end stuff, possibly even contraband.
Where did Malfoy get it? Did he brew it himself? Or did he obtain it through some special channels?
This thought made Hermione's heart sink again.
The resources Malfoy possessed, and the abilities he demonstrated.
Both the hidden knowledge of the Room of Requirement and this potent Potions are far beyond the scope of an ordinary first-year student.
He is more unfathomable and more dangerous than he appears.
But at this moment, Hermione had no time to delve into the origins of the potion.
She simply repeated the action, carefully applying the icy blue medicine to her other eye, and then to any area around her eye that might leave tear stains or redness.
This medicine... its effects are astonishing.
Within ten seconds of applying the ointment, Hermione could feel that the swelling in her eyes had subsided considerably, and her vision had become clear.
She could even feel that the muscles around her cheekbones and temples, which had become stiff from prolonged tension, were relaxing somewhat due to the cooling effect of the medicine.
After treating the last remaining traces of tear stains on her skin, Hermione's hands fell to her sides, resting on her knees.
She kept her eyes closed and didn't open them immediately.
She needs some time.
Even if it's just for a few seconds, it's enough to calm the turbulent emotions inside.
Ten seconds later.
Hermione raised her eyes and looked calmly across the round table.
Draco's gaze slowly and carefully swept across Hermione's face.
Thinking to myself, this bottle of anti-swelling medicine I redeemed from the "system" is indeed a high-quality product.
Draco nodded in satisfaction.
This led to a new topic.
"I think what I said to you at the restroom door was indeed inappropriate."
"Especially after my previous behavior, which truly offended you."
Hermione's heart skipped a beat.
Draco didn't point out Hermione's reaction. "So, in that situation, my so-called 'request' was perhaps influenced by the emotions and the occasion, and was expressed... unclearly, which could easily lead to misunderstandings."
"My intention was not to use a vague promise to... coerce or create unnecessary tension."
"Especially since I already owe you an apology for my rudeness in class earlier."
Hermione stared at him blankly; Draco Malfoy before her was so unfamiliar that she almost didn't recognize him.
Is he admitting his mistake?
Before Hermione could recover from her surprise, Draco continued:
"So let's be clearer, Miss Granger."