Other than the quick glance over her shoulder to make sure no one was overhearing them, she kept her eyes trained on Eponine's face. Don't say it, don't say it, don't say it...

"When was the last time you really tried?" Well, she said it anyway. Hermione was still under the firm belief that if people tried hard enough some answer had to reveal itself sooner or later. Maybe it was naive, or perhaps she was just that stubborn. It was hard to say what her motivations were, and she knew that the other girl was most likely going to react much like Ron did when asked why she wasn't trying hard enough.