Author's Note: Thank you SO much for all the lovely reviews on the last chapter, and I really appreciate your patience while I've been away. I can't believe how close we are to the end. I hope you enjoy.

Alpha love as always to the wonderful Kyonomiko. Errors are my own.

Disclaimer: I do not own any part of the Harry Potter franchise.

Draco jolted awake, eyes wide and startled. He was soaked in a cold sweat, his heart racing with abandon in his chest as if it would never cease. As if it would drive him to his death.

He gasped, choking for fresh air, panic pushing through his veins and fueling his heart. Darkness lay all around him and he could feel, only on instinct, the presence of another at his side. Hermione. She lay against the wall beside him and he could feel that her head was rolled to the side. Her breathing was shallow in the silence that hovered around and enclosed in upon them.

There was a strange and unfamiliar taste in his mouth and his stomach rolled with the stabbing pain across his skin. He lifted a hand to his middle, his fingers thick and unmanageable.

Draco clutched at his chest, crying out at the agony pouring through his every nerve. He was going to die here – he didn't even know where here was – and as sweat poured from his temples, his eyes rolled back into his skull and he slipped into blessed darkness.

There were voices as Draco's eyes fluttered open. Anxious, urgent voices, paired with anxious, urgent faces. Lights flickered in and out of his periphery, and in the distance, a roaring quake.

Someone was shouting something, their voice vague and muffled. Draco groaned, his head falling to the side as he blinked, lifting a leaden hand to his forehead. His heart throbbed a dull pace to match the slow rhythm of his breathing.

"Hermione," he mumbled, his head dropping forward into his chest. He felt sticky and miserable; how long had it been since he had showered? When had he last eaten?

The ground beneath him was hard, the walls dark and crudely carved. He blinked, awareness floating in and out like the rise and fall of the tide. His skin felt detached from his body, crawling with a life of its own and still people lingered, shouting words he couldn't comprehend as spots of light hovered before him.

Someone was prying Draco's bag from his grip and he clung to the strap, his vision hazy and unseeing as the faces around him grew blurred and indistinct. "No," he cried, shaking his head.

He felt fingers coil around his wrist and thrashed; all he could hear was the steady pound of his blood in his ears. He choked a breath, struggling to draw oxygen and another hand grabbed hold of his other wrist.

Draco pulled at his arms, moisture blocking his vision as he exerted the last of his strength and fell into nothing.

Heat. Nothing but stifling, unbearable heat. Draco came to with a sharp cry, a terrible searing in his skin and bones, boiling his brain in his skull.

Bright flashes of light shot fire through his entire being and Draco twisted to the side, his tongue dry and throat hoarse from the white hot flames ripping through it. Tears broke from his eyes, tracing paths of agony across his cheeks.

He gasped, fingers reaching out, blind. He heard a low keen and it took long seconds to realize it came from somewhere within him.

He wasn't alone, and he knew there was someone who was meant to be with him – but she wasn't. He choked on a name, the word feeling at once a part of him and unfamiliar. His head rolled to the other side, but through the blur nothing made any sense.

Someone exclaimed, "We're losing him!"

The words danced around Draco's skull from within like the hammer crushing it from the outside. His fingers closed around something, he couldn't tell what, before he felt a sharp sting brush across his skin.

With another strangled cry, the heat took him.

There were certain things she remembered and large blocks of time she couldn't. Some parts, she couldn't reconcile with whether or not they were a dream.

She thought she could remember faces – Hikari, Dean, Burke, and maybe Robards – although they were all discordant and out of order, like she'd emerged from a delirious fever state.

But when Hermione opened her eyes to the stark whiteness of a St Mungo's examination room, she couldn't keep the swelling of emotion from her chest. She blinked several times, meeting the startled hazel eyes of Theodore Nott.

"Granger," he bit out. "You're awake."

Hermione stared up, registering the feel of her body between the sheets. The heaviness of her head on the pillow. "I think so."

She lifted a hand; her skin looked pale and bruised and her palm was pink and slathered with paste, as if healing.

"Good," Nott said, consternation in his brow. "Randall will be back shortly."

"How long have I been here?" Her throat felt raw and hoarse, her mouth dry.

"You've been here in St Mungo's for around twelve hours," Nott said, busying himself with a few vials at her bedside. "But you and Draco returned to Harappa somewhere around three days ago."

"Three days," she whispered; her brain felt thick and clunky. Her eyes shot open and she caught Nott's wrist in urgency. "Where is Draco?"

"Draco is next door," Nott said, eyeing an instrument as he gently extracted his wrist from her fingers. "You've both been through physical and magical hell, Granger. Let me be the first to say, it's a wonder you've survived."

"The cavern," she whispered, rubbing a hand at her temple. It was the last thing she remembered: her magic being pulled from her core and funneling through Draco; she shuddered at the memory of the way the corrupted magic in the bull figure had coiled and twisted with their own. She wondered how close she had been to her magic burning out entirely. "Is he alright?"

"He's fine," Nott said, and she could hear the relief colouring his tone. She felt awash in the same. "He will be very happy to know you're awake."

Something else pulled at her brain, even as the pieces of the last few days still struggled to come together in a jumbled state.

"Furthermore," he went on, "you will be happy to know the last traces of the magical illness have left your system. It's difficult to say whether there will be any long term effects... but you're out of any immediate danger."

"Really," she whispered, remembering how they had discovered the tulsi – but she couldn't remember having taken any of it. She swallowed, realizing Draco must have been responsible – that he had acted to save her life. A breath chased from her lungs. "Harry! And Seamus – and the other Aurors –"

Nott's face set in a grim line and he stared at her for a long moment; Hermione felt her heart crash in her chest. "We had to drop Aurors Cary and Milano into a stasis to allow the tulsi to take hold in their bloodstream. Cary is still out… and Milano awoke this morning." He fiddled with another device, as if his words hadn't just kick-started something deep within her. "Potter and Finnigan are responding well. You and Draco certainly pushed it to the eleventh hour. But you did it, Granger. They're all going to be fine as far as we can tell."

"Fine," she choked, tears springing to her eyes. She swiped at the moisture, not wanting to cry in front of Nott. But she just shook her head, whispering, "They're fine."

Something significant and understanding was in Nott's gaze as he clapped her on the shoulder, his fingers reassuring. "Just fine," he repeated. "It wasn't looking good; we didn't think…" He trailed off, giving her a tight smile. "Those Aurors were lucky to have you and Draco in their corner."

Hermione nodded, clapping a hand over her mouth as the implication settled in. Harry and Seamus were okay. Draco was okay and they were back in London.

"How did we even get back here?" she asked. Last she could remember, they had been trapped in the tunnels below Harappa, unable to access their magic and a cave-in blocking their entrance.

"That is a question for your boss," Nott said with a shrug. "Your Unspeakables won't tell me anything, of course, never mind that I virtually brought you back to –"

He cut himself off as the door opened and a jolt chased through her. Healer Randall walked in, speaking with Unspeakable Burke, and Hermione couldn't keep a smile from her face when they both paused, eyes wide in surprise.

"Granger," Burke said with a nod, taking up the seat at her bedside. He cast a glance towards Randall, who nodded and took her Healers from the room. Then Burke turned back to face her. "Thank Merlin you're awake."

"Unspeakable Burke." Hermione pressed her lips together, feeling another swelling of emotion. "Healer Nott's informed me of the recent developments… he said the Aurors are all okay?"

"They will be," Burke said, his voice thick. "You and Auror Malfoy really pulled it off, Granger."

"And how did we get here?" she asked, rubbing her head. "I don't remember much past sealing the magic in the chamber – Auror Malfoy must have given me the tulsi."

"Malfoy sent a Ministry memo. Quite a stroke of brilliance if I'm honest – those buggers will survive anything," he said with a bit of a chuckle. "Hikari and Auror Thomas were able to locate where the two of you must have entered the tunnels and correctly inferred you had lost control of your magic upon entering – so they brought in a Muggle excavation crew to clear the rubble with their equipment. They've since been Obliviated, of course."

"Of course," Hermione murmured, distracted as she attempted to process everything. "Sir, the bulls were keys to access a magical chamber. The magic in Harappa was –"

Burke held up a hand, even as his brows flickered in surprise. "Robards and I will confer with both you and Auror Malfoy to report everything that happened since we last saw you here in London. But it can wait until you've left the hospital. I daresay it will be a riveting tale."

Her lips twitched. "You won't even believe it."

Barking a laugh, Burke shook his head. "I've seen a lot, Unspeakable Granger – but I think you might be right." He rose to his feet. "Get some rest and we will talk more when you're back in the office."

"Can I see Auror Malfoy?" she asked, catching her lower lip between her teeth. "Is he well enough?"

Burke hesitated before shaking his head. "I'm not sure. I think he is speaking with Robards."

Something leapt in Hermione's chest at the thought that he was healthy and they were back in London, together, and they had achieved their mission. Even at the thought, she hesitated. They didn't know what life would be like together, now that they were back home.

She didn't know how he would feel about the idea. With his friends, his mother, his father, who was in Azkaban…

She shook off the thoughts, smiling at her superior. "Thank you."

With a nod, Burke took his leave.

While Hermione waited for the Healers to return so she could ask them about Draco, her eyes drifted shut and she fell once more into sleep.

Draco adjusted his tie as he paced the hallway, nerves prickling his skin. He didn't remember having seen Hermione since she had been halfway dead in his arms, deep in the tunnels of Harappa.

He still couldn't believe it – that the tulsi had actually worked to eradicate the magical sickness from their blood, that the memo had arrived at Robards' desk in time, that Hikari had led the team involved in their rescue. According to the Healers, it had been a harrowing process to bring the two of them around and he was grateful he couldn't remember it.

He pressed his lips tight at the emotion roiling within him.

He and Granger had said a lot of things to one another, in those final hours before they'd sealed the cavern, when they had been convinced they were going to die.

But now, Draco found he was hesitant. A life together in London was new territory and it was strange to think that it had been less than two months since he had knocked on her door with a cursed figure. Strange to think of how entirely his life had shifted since then.

While he had been recovering, Robards had been by his hospital room to speak with him. The man was composed by nature, but there had been something disconcerting in his eyes as he had clapped Draco on the shoulder and thanked him for his dedication.

He adjusted his tie again, feeling warm around the throat.

Draco supposed he might be given more cases, now. Maybe the other Aurors wouldn't treat him so poorly.

But ultimately, the thought that he had been a part of the mission that had saved the lives of four of his colleagues, as well as Granger, was enough.

He only hoped she hadn't come to regret her words, induced by sickness and a fear of imminent death.

He tapped on the door before turning the handle, slipping inside. To his surprise, Granger was dressed and seated cross-legged on the bed, a book in her hands. She looked up at his entrance; something in the pull of her brow jolted Draco square in the chest. Then her lips turned into a smile as she marked her page and set the book aside.

"Hi," she said, lifting a hand towards him – and then she let it fall to the bed. "How are you feeling?"

"Good," Draco said with a nod as he paced closer. He took up a seat on the edge of her bed. "And you? Theo says you're about ready to be discharged."

She released a tight huff and nodded. "Just about. Hikari and Dean were just by to drop off my things from the hotel in Lahore."

Draco swallowed, noting the hesitation in her gaze as she stared at him. "Same."

Granger worried her lip for a moment before her fingers reached out to graze his. "Look, I know we both said some things in the cavern… and I just want you to know, I don't expect you to…" she trailed off, looking uncomfortable. "It was a tense situation, you know?"

"Right," Draco said, retracting his fingers, feeling a sharp sting beneath his ribcage. "Of course."

"You know," she went on, a bright flush to her cheeks. "If you didn't mean it… I understand."

"I meant it," Draco blurted before he could stop himself. Her chocolate eyes met his. "I meant all of it, Granger."

Her brows curved up as she exhaled, a smile tugging at her lips. "Oh, good! Merlin. I've been so..."

He grinned, elation pulsing through his veins. "Me too," he admitted. "I didn't know, once we got back to London, whether you would even still want any of this."

Her head tilted and she shook her head, staring at him with watery eyes. "I want all of this, Draco."

His heart was racing and Draco felt like he couldn't breathe as he stared at her, taking his hand in his; he never wanted to let go. "You've got it, Granger."

She leaned forward on the bed, her lips pressing to his in a soft kiss. She smiled as she slipped the book into her bag and rose to her feet. "Than shall we finally leave this blasted hospital?"

"That sounds like a great idea." He gave her a slow grin, standing to follow her from the room. "Granger?"

She paused, turning back to face him. "What is it?"

Draco stepped closer, a hand lingering at her waist. "I'm so relieved you're alright. In that tunnel, when I thought you were going to die…" He swallowed, eyes tight. "Well, I'm glad to have you in my life. I'm glad of this experience, despite everything else, because it brought you to me. You know?"

Her face softened as she stared at him; his heart throbbed in his chest. "I know," she whispered, reaching up to wrap her arms around his neck. "I feel the same. But we're both okay. And now…" she trailed off, offering him a breathtaking smile. "Now we get another chance, together. And I'm looking so forward to it."

A slow smirk tugged at his mouth as he pulled her closer, lips meeting hers.

Burke exchanged a glance with Robards, rubbing at the back of his neck. A heavy furrow was settled in his brow. He set his quill down on top of the report.

Robards opened his mouth and closed it again. He leafed through the excavator's journal, shaking his head and running his other hand through his hair. He grimaced and adjusted his glasses.

Draco caught Hermione's hand beneath the table.

"That's..." Burke began, brows flickering. "Really?"

"Really," Draco affirmed. Hermione's lips quirked into a musing smile. "That's what happened."

"Keys," Robards repeated. "So you think the people of the Indus Valley were driven out by this magic." He stared between the two of them.

"It's our suspicion," Hermione returned, "but of course, we can't know for certain. I… wasn't able to see anything more before everything happened and we left Harappa."

"And this magic," Burke said, waving a hand. "The corrupted bulls and everything… it was the ancient magic of the earth, grown sentient and retaliating."

Draco nodded, even as he gave a shrug. "Again, our best guess, based on everything we learned while we were over there."

"Fascinating," Robards said, shaking his head. "And of course, based on our reports from the other Aurors and Unspeakables on the case, this all lines up."

"So," Burke said, setting his hands down on the table. "I suppose you're both eager to take on another case." Then he cracked a grin, exchanging a laugh with Robards.

Hermione swallowed and gave her superior a brief nod. "Of course, sir."

Robards waved a hand. "Take the rest of the week, I think. With pay, of course. You both nearly died and burnt out your magical cores all at once."

Draco exchanged a private glance with Hermione before turning back to Robards. "Thank you."

"And then, Auror Malfoy," Robards continued, sitting up straighter in his seat. "I'll have to see about finding you a new case to lead." His voice dropped, and he added, "You've more than earned it."

Draco huffed a laugh, a slow smile pulling at his lips. "Thank you, sir. I'll look forward to it."

Hermione's hand gave his a squeeze.

Robards and Burke rose to their feet, collecting their belongings. Burke looked at Granger, quirking a brow. "Same to you, Unspeakable Granger. I think you have a long and successful career in the Department of Mysteries ahead of you."

Draco glanced to her, feeling a smile of his own at the tug on her lips.