Self-Preservation

After a Quidditch loss, Draco vents his frustration in the Slytherin showers.

“Do you know why you lost?” she said, interrupting his reverie.

Her voice was still careless and lilting.

He stiffened, she might as well have dumped ice water on his ardour. His lip curled into a derisive scowl. “Because Weasley is a suicidal idiot.”

Granger laughed under her breath and then proceeded to lean back against him, like he was just a wall that she happened to have at her disposal.

“No,” she shook her head, eyes closed under the spray, “Ginny’s an idiot about Quidditch, same as Harry and Ron both were, but she’s not suicidal. She just wanted to win more than you did. That’s why Slytherin always loses against Gryffindor.”