Day 25

"But you can't hide from the big guns, the big guns

Every little move is fixed

Like a game of chess

The blood on your hands is thick

And you're placing bets

Can't hide in the den of lions

You can't move with your feet tied

No rest when you sleep in shadows"

Song: Big Guns - Ruelle

It was already late morning before the duo finally started on their journey back, they were late for various reasons, mostly because Hermione had insisted they each take long sleep cycle turns, in order to be as rested as possible.

"The otter somehow suits you Granger. Well when I think of Hogwarts Hermione Granger anyway."

Draco's brow was furrowed in concentration upon her quick sideways glance to him, they were walking side by side and Draco had been telling her about his different thoughts of what his corporeal patronus might be.

"Well since it is still an otter, obviously my life changing events hadn't been that drastic."

She smiled wryly at herself, in truth, she had been surprised every time she had cast it in the last weeks to see it was still the happy playful otter, she herself didn't feel any affinity with her patronus anymore in truth.

"Maybe... Maybe it had been, but it's not done yet, and therefore your patronus doesn't know yet what new form to take? Like your still in transition or something."

His voice was thoughtful, as if he was running plausible theories through his head, trying to figure out what she herself had been wondering about.

"You know, it actually sounds like a valid theory. I guess if my patronus change, then I know the life changing event had come to pass fully and finally."

She heard his grunt but didn't look at him, she instead kept her eyes locked in front of her, the beach and river stretching out endlessly in front of them, the silhouette of the castle a spec almost on the horizon.

"Your patronus will change Granger. I know it."

She didn't respond to him, she was not sure why he was so certain of it, but didn't feel the need to contradict him, the truth was that she knew patronus changes was rare, but not unheard of.

Xxx

"We will most likely reach the castle sometime during tomorrow morning."

They were sitting opposite each other under a tree, resting and eating lunch, looking at each other the whole time.

"So we can see the setup and maybe breach the castle tomorrow night?"

He nodded at her thoughtfully, chewing slowly on a piece of a bar, Hermione couldn't say how tired she was of the bars, to eat the same thing for weeks weren't even funny anymore.

"And be the lone survivors by the morning after tomorrow, it could be our last day in this bloody arena."

He looked hopeful, she smiled softly at him, he was excited to have this coming to an end, to get out of the arena.

Hermione's thoughts whirled, she knew from the next day she wouldn't have a chance to think anymore, besides about immediate survival and tactics.

She was torn, she wanted to live, she wanted to live with Draco and the possible future she saw in that blasted mirror, the accursed mirror that had crumbled all her hard fought and erected walls.

But she had no idea how to make that happen, she knew she had a lot of gold in her Gringots vault, but they had been banned from it with the loss of the war, she knew it would still be there, the goblins kept neutral always, and they wouldn't allow vaults to be plundered or breached without vault owners, but she had no idea how to get there!

She had studied a lot about long distance apparition, and were quite sure that she would be able to apparate herself and Draco to France and then from there further.

But to do that she would somehow need to break the tracers on herself, get to her Gringotts vault and somehow get them both from out of this arena.

It seemed impossible.

And then her insecurities got the better of her, would Draco leave his family to run away with her?

Would she even be capable of being a mother?

After all she had done, after all that she had become, would she ever be whole enough to function in a relationship, let alone mother children and raise them?

With these thoughts whirling in her head she felt her breathing shortening, and then before she realised what was happening her stomach turned, she had barely jumped up and made it to the water edge before the nausea overcame her and she was throwing up all the contents of her stomach.

She became aware of Draco next to her, he was rubbing her back awkwardly as she heaved, trying to sooth her.

After nothing was remaining in her stomach and the heaving had stopped she finally straightened to look into the worried grey eyes next to her, his arm supportingly around her shoulders.

"You alright Granger? Are you ill?"

She shook her head weakly, she felt tired and weak all of a sudden, and she was very aware that she still felt distinctly nauseous.

"Don't think so, it would be rotten luck to come down now with something wouldn't it."

Her smile was timid, and he helped her back to their tree, supporting her to sit down once more, this time he lowered himself next to her.

"Granger... Everything will be alright. I promise you."

His grey eyes were locked into hers intently, trying to convey some voiceless message, she couldn't understand how he could be so calm, so certain!

She closed her eyes instead and rested her head against his shoulder, taking comfort in his arm around her that held her upright against him.

"I'm sure we are in our last days in this arena Draco... I want you to know that I'm thankful that I was here with you."

He didn't respond, but she felt the shuddering of a deep breath that he had taken, and then his arm tightened, pressing her close to his side, he then dropped a kiss to her head.

Xxx

"Well I guess this is as good a place as any to sleep."

Hermione stood with her hands on her hips, glancing around them in the inky darkness of the night, they were under yet another tree that bordered on the river beach.

Draco had already dropped on the ground and was laying on his back starring into the canopy of leaves above them, Hermione was exhausted, her previously broken leg was aching from the walking, and she still felt nauseous, but she didn't want to assume that she would get first sleep turn.

So she quickly took her wand and cast the needed wards around them, and afterwards shakily lowered herself next to Draco, she leaned back against the fallen trunk that was beneath their tree and took deep shuddering breaths.

"How're you feeling Granger?"

The sudden sound of his voice close next to her startled her, her eyes fluttered to see he had come upright and shifted next to her against the trunk to sit upright.

"Honestly? Like I've been eating raw flobberworms or something."

He chuckled affectionately at her and lifted a hand to tuck a stray curl behind her ear.

"Still nauseous then? And your leg?"

She shrugged and gave another weak attempt at an smile, slightly shifting her aching leg.

"It's sore, but that is to be expected I believe. And yes, still nauseous."

He frowned and then turned to his sack to remove a water container and a couple of bars, he handed her one.

"Eat and then sleep. I'll take first watch."

She wanted to say that she didn't think she could eat anything, but knew she needed her strengths for the next two days or so, so she nibbled only about half of the bar, then she shimmied down to lay on her side on the soft sand next to him.

"Night Draco. And thanks."

She smiled at him as he glanced down at her, he gave his Malfoy smirk and then clasped his hands behind his head and leaned back confidently.

"Remember this Granger. Next time you take care of me."

She only chuckled softly, then she rested her hand on his thigh, her eyes immediately dropped close and within minutes Morpheus came to claim her.