Sometimes, Hermione was the exact opposite of perceptive. It happened most often when she was caught in a train of thought, when she was learning, reviewing, everything shaped with a goal in mind that she did her best to reach. On the island, idle conversations like these helped to breach the gap that had been built after so many years in Hogwarts. No longer stuck all day with a nose practically pressed against parchment, Hermione had been given the opportunity to meet people of all backgrounds, interests, and abilities alike. She glanced at Kate again, with no small amount of gratitude over the fact that the island had seen fit to give them each other, two girls that probably would never have walked the same circles in a single world. The smaller the population size, Hermione thought to herself, somehow the more likely it became that she met people of a sort she'd never interacted with before. Those who didn't care about studies. Who didn't care about honor. Who saw no merit in being brave.

There were things to learn from each one of those peoples, and from those like Kate, and for that along, Hermione had reason to be thankful enough.

But more than that, she simply felt blessed by the friendship alone, and so with that closer eye on Kate, she began to worry, seeing a few signs of stress and unease.

"Sorry," she apologized quickly. "I'm sorry, that wasn't... exactly a good topic for casual conversation, was it? I don't know how much Harry's told you, I didn't mean to push any further than either of you might be comfortable with."