Hermione saw how frustrated Ron was getting. He so desperately clung to the idea that Draco was the enemy that he refused to see him as anything different. She resigned herself to watching them bicker back and forth like a never-ending tennis match.
                              
"He still is an asshole."
                              
"Be mature, Ron. He's not anymore."
                              
"That's because he's powerless and poor," Ron spat.
                              
"Or he's been tortured to the point where he can't stop shaking!"
                              
Ron grimaced. "If you want me to feel sorry for him that the tables got turned...."
                              
"Turned? Draco didn't torture...."
                              
"No, just extremely bullied us, our friends and...."
                              
"It isn't the same, Ron!" Harry snapped, clenching his fists. Hermione wouldn't put it past him to clock Ron. Harry wasn't the most calmest of individuals. He had a temper.
                              
"And what Dean and the others are doing are that much different?"
                              
"It isn't a game, Ron. They are really hurting him... physically. It's way past childhood taunting."
                              
"What like a broken nose?"
                              
"That was me, not you."
                              
"He would have done worse."
                              
"He could have. He put a Full-Body Bind on me. It wasn't like I could defend myself if he wanted to do more. He even could have let all his friends have a go, too, but he didn't."
                              
"You really can just forgive all that he did?" Ron said, exasperated.
                              
"Of course, I can. He regrets it all. I've forgiven him... I'd forgive anybody."
                              
"Really?"
                              
"Honestly, I could even forgive Dean, if he just realized how fucking stupid he's being."
                              
"His father was killed...."
                              
"Almost 17 years ago, Ron. Dean didn't even know him."
                              
"Is that what you feel about Wormtail?" Ron said, pointedly.
                              
Harry glowered. "He didn't ask for forgiveness. But I wouldn't let Remus and Sirius kill him, and I recall that you tried to help him too when he started to strangle himself in the basement. This has nothing to do with whether or not Dra-Malfoy deserves it, and more and more like you just want him to suffer for what he's done to you."
                              
"Is that too much to ask?"
                              
"Yes! Ron... he's my friend and you just let...."
                              
"I JUST WHAT!" Ron snarled. "Don't forget that I was trussed up like a wild boar! For him! Now, you're blaming me for it?"
                              
"I didn't mean...."
                              
"Yeah, you exploded on me last week for not doing anything, and now you get mad at me, because I was attacked for objecting to their conduct on behalf of the Death Eater!"
                              
"Don't call him that!"
                              
"Whatever, I was attacked because of Malfoy... doing exactly what we agreed on the train I would not do... defend the wanker. No... I'm not sticking up for him, again, Harry! I was tied up for near an hour... I'm not helping him again. You said I didn't have to... don't ask, don't tell... that was it!"
                              
"Well, we're talking about it, now. You can't bury your head in the sand and ignore it anymore!"
                              
"I can try!" Ron spat. "It's Malfoy's fault I was attacked.
                              
"Dean's the one who did it, or Smith or whoever. Let it go!"
                              
"I will not. I'm out. I have no desire to part of your new click!"