Draco didn't know how he managed to fall asleep, what with the massive tension and fear bombarding his every thought. Constantine had gotten some sailing rope and tied him to a chair, in case the stunning spell wore off overnight. Then, she and Narcissa had retired to sleep. Draco hoped his mother was sleeping alone in a nice bed. Or even sharing a room with Constantine, although he'd prefer otherwise. As long as she wasn't with Lucius…
He had to change the subject in his mind. He couldn't handle it.
Somehow, sheer exhaustion caught up to him and he fell asleep.
…
"Draco. Draco. Draco!"
Draco sleepily opened his eyes. Hermione was grinning at him, as though she'd just scored an O in Potions.
Hermione?
Draco sat up suddenly, realizing that he was in their room, from before, back when they were still stuck together. He grabbed her shoulders, and she felt real. She was solid underneath his touch.
"Hermione, how? Is this – oh…oh god, I'm dreaming." He deflated as the answer came to him.
"Don't worry." Hermione smiled. "You're dreaming, but I'm not."
He quirked an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"Do you remember how Constantine used to manipulate your dreams?"
Draco stared at the brilliant witch in front of him. "This is really you?"
"Yes!" Hermione grinned. "I remembered the ingredients and the instructions, so we came back to Hogwarts to get everything. I needed a quiet place to set up, so Professor McGonagall suggested our old rooms. Then I just waited for you to fall asleep, and I knew you would materialize here when you did."
Draco reached out and grazed her arm in astonishment. "You never cease to amaze me, Hermione. How could you have even remembered?"
Hermione blushed lightly. "Er – it was Neville who helped me. But never mind! Where are you? Have you learnt their plan yet?"
"No." Draco frowned. "We're on the Malfoy yacht. I don't know how to find out where on the ocean we are, though. And they're not telling me anything."
Hermione chewed her bottom lip. "How can I find you? I need to figure this out!"
"It's okay!" Draco said quickly. "We'll think of something. Here, come lie next to me. Let's think."
Hermione hesitated for a moment, and Draco feared that he had gone too far. What if Hermione didn't love him back? What if she just thought of him as a brother, like Potter and Weasley – oh! Potter and Weasley!
"What happened to my friends?" Draco blurted out. "Blaise and Theo? And Potter and Weasley?"
"They're fine!" Hermione said quickly. She climbed onto the bed and curled up next to him. "The aurors found Harry in the dungeons, and they took Blaise, Theo, and Ron to St. Mungo's. They're not under the spell anymore."
Draco sagged back in relief. "I was so worried."
Hermione nodded. She didn't say anything, so Draco stayed quiet, too. They just laid there, inches apart, nearly touching. Draco desperately wanted to reach over and feel her solid form underneath his fingers again, but he forced himself to stay still.
"We're running out of time." Hermione whispered.
Draco groaned softly. "If only we'd stayed in Greece, I could tell you where we are."
"How do you mean?"
"Constantine used the floo to take us to the Malfoy summer home in Greece, and then she took the floo to the yacht. I'm sure it's been disabled by now."
"I wonder if we could do a tracking spell on the floo?" Hermione mused. She sat up, so Draco did, too. "If it told us the general location of the yacht's floo when you used it last, we could calculate the windspeed of that area in each direction and see if we could find the yacht…"
"Do you think it'll work?" Draco furrowed his brows.
Hermione sighed. "I have no idea. But it's worth a try, at least. On your end, start working on Constantine and your father. See if you can find out what the plan is."
"I can certainly do that." Draco agreed. "I can't promise I'll find anything."
"It's worth a try." Hermione repeated.
The conversation floundered down to nothing once again. Hermione was staring at her hands, so Draco took the time to look at her.
She'd clearly showered before coming to the rooms. Her hair was still a little damp. She was wearing a school uniform, neatly pressed as usual.
He started to notice something unusual though – Hermione was wearing lipstick. Subtle, of course, but he couldn't remember the last time she'd thrown on makeup for no reason. And he squinted to see some blush, and foundation (a little rubbed off the edge of her collar, too – this wasn't a practiced act.) Hidden by her hair, he could just make out a pair of gold-colored earrings.
Hermione was wearing makeup and jewelry.
Draco's stomach dropped. He suddenly realized why she was being so quiet.
"I have to tell you something." Draco blurted out. He grabbed the edge of his shirt, toying with the fabric.
Hermione looked up eagerly. "What is it?"
"It's just – I need…" Draco stopped himself. He took a deep breath.
Malfoys do not stumble over their words, especially when the moment is this important.
"Hermione…" He started again. He looked at her, but his vision began to go dark. "Wait – what's going on?"
Hermione's fuzzy face was panicked. "You're waking up!"
"No! I need to tell you –"
"Tell me what?" Constantine's silky voice dripped into the room. Draco closed his eyes, but when he opened them, Hermione was gone completely.
Constantine was smiling at him, but it was a sinister smile. "Did you have a lovely dream, my dear Cousin?"
Draco took a deep breath. He had to find out information, for Hermione. "I – I did. Can I talk to Father? I…I think I'm ready to atone for my behavior. I think I'm ready to join you."