No one would question that Hermione was a workaholic. No one but herself that is. Workaholics enjoyed their careers and while her job wasn't horrible, it certainly wasn't something she looked forward to everyday.
Six days after retrieving Malfoy from the hospital, Hermione was back to the usual drudgery of checking her memos for complaints about Muggles and doing her best to accommodate them.
Today she was burdened with the story of Stella Little. Ms. Little lived behind a Muggle primary school in East Sussex. The woman was distraught that the children kept kicking footballs into her yard which was disturbing her mandrake collection. Hermione was in the middle of writing a polite but stern letter to Ms. Little on how hexing footballs to bite unruly school children was illegal, when she was interrupted by one of her underlings, Arthur Weasley.
"Good morning, Hermione!" Mr. Weasley blossomed into her office like an overstuffed peony. He was extra cheery today with a green and red necktie that sparkled like a decked out Christmas tree. "Don't mean to intrude but I came to tell you about the annual New Year's Ball. With the holidays around the corner we need to start planning these events sooner rather than later."
She tossed her quill down with only a hint of annoyance- Ms. Little's case could wait- and turned her attention to the balding redhead.
Mr. Weasley was always pleasant. Compared to the majority of her coworkers, Ron's father treated her with respect deserved to someone twice her age. Most of the department was not thrilled to work under a twenty year old, but Arthur Weasley was an exception. He was much more intelligent than the Ministry gave him credit for and Hermione was certain the man knew he was more qualified for head of the department than she was. Why they had picked Hermione over him was unknown. Originally she had tried to refuse the promotion in Mr. Weasley's stead but the staffing administration had refused. Her guess being it might have been by Arthur's choice.
After the War, Arthur had become much more forlorn than she remembered. Today, however, he looked to be brimming with delight.
"Hello, Mr. Weasley. You look well today."
"Please, dear, you can call me Arthur. I'll probably be your father in-law soon, so you might as well get used to it." He laughed.
"Right, Arthur, you do remember that Ron and I broke up, don't you? You helped him move out."
"Really?" Arthur blinked and gave her a glassy stare that made him look slightly Confunded. "Huh, I'm sorry that must have slipped my mind. Anyways, as I was saying, I'm making sure everyone in the department can make it to the ball on New Year's Eve. It's at Gringotts this year, sure to be a beautiful event. The goblins always put on a good show."
He handed her a decked out invitation card that was complete with gold lettering and glitter.
"Thanks, I'll try to make it. It depends on how busy I am." She answered. It was likely she would have too much work over the holidays although she didn't really feel like going to a ball anyway.
Arthur nodded and turned to make for the door. "Excellent. It's going to be lovely. Oh, by the way," he stopped mid step and circled back around, almost tripping over his shoes in the process, "have you read the paper lately? It looks like Harry made the front page again. Here, I have a copy if you want to see."
He passed her a wrinkled version of The Daily Prophet and Hermione grimaced when she saw the blown up photo of her friend's face that was cropped ever so carefully to frame the scar on his forehead.
Boy Who Lives Saves Day Again!
London: Mr. Potter has kept a low profile since the end of the Second Wizarding War, but it appears that The Chosen One has trouble staying away from dangerous situations. Early Friday morning, our sources report that Mr. Potter was seen pulling a woman to safety out of a burning building. Francine Gimble, 63, is a Squib oboe instructor for the Muggle education system. She was preparing her breakfast Friday morning when her house exploded in what the Ministry has deemed a non-magical gas leak. Thankfully, Mr. Potter and a team of Aurors were on the scene ready to pull the woman to safety. Ms. Gimble is currently at St. Mungo's with non life threatening injuries. Her twin sister Fiona Franks, also a Squib, was available for comment:
"Had Harry Potter not been there I'm certain she would have died. Franny can't use magic, being a Squib and all, so we were incredibly lucky that the Aurors arrived in time. "
Mrs. Franks and her husband, Lawrence, are staying with their sister at St. Mungo's. The healers estimate that Ms. Gimble will make a full recovery soon.
It was little more than a fluff piece. The Prophet had taken a sharp turn since the War that had the paper flooded with feel good blurbs and gossip. Hermione assumed that the wizarding community preferred to believe that everything was hunky dory instead of actually knowing the news. Case in point: under the article about Harry's rescue mission was a large photo of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy holding their two year old daughter who was giggling and waving at the camera. Isabella Malfoy, bubbling toddler and darling of the Ministry, already was blessed with an article in the paper. With her mother's face and her father's elegant blond locks that curled, the adorable baby had warmed the cold aftermath that followed the Death Eater family from the War.
The Prophet wasted no time detailing the little girl's first trip to Diagon Alley, but not a word was given to mention the Malfoy's older son who was still supposedly missing. Though it seemed like the Malfoy's were using their baby's charms to bump them up to perfect wizarding status again, she guessed they probably weren't delighted that Draco's disappearance was unknown to the public. No one could technically find him if they didn't know to look.
She put it in mind to talk to Draco about his little sister. It was odd that he hadn't brought it up yet. She would also have to talk to Harry about this savior complex he had.
"Poor Harry. He'll be on the front page at least once a year for the rest of his life." Hermione grumbled while handing the paper back to Arthur.
Arthur sighed. "It's a shame really. He deserves to be left alone if he wants to be. Anyhow, it was good to see you, as always. Oh, and let Ron know that Ginny won't be able to make it for Christmas. She has a game on Boxing Day."
Hermione frowned. "Um, we aren't going to be having Christmas at my house this year."
"Oh really? Why ever not?"
"Well, since Ron and I broke up we figured it would be better to have it at the Burrow like we used to."
"You broke up?! Merlin, when did that happen?"
She blinked at him. Mr. Weasley was looking a little fuzzy around the edges. His clothing was nicer and more elegant than his usual tattered robes, but he had let his beard grow in on only one side of his face and there were parts of his breakfast still stuck to his upper lip.
"About two months ago. Are you feeling alright, Arthur? I just told you Ron and I broke up, remember?"
"You did?" He tilted his head a bit and widened his eyes in an empty gaze. She was reminded of how Ron used to look on the few occasions they had watched television together.
"Um, yes, I did. Maybe you should go sit down for a while. You're looking a little off."
He shook his head in a sudden little tremor as if to help clear water out of his ears. "I'm fine, not to worry. Sorry to hear about you and Ron. Molly is going to be upset."
Hermione didn't want to tell him that Molly Weasley already knew about the breakup. From what Hermione had gathered from Ginny, the woman was not upset at all by the news. She was also pretty certain he had been present for his wife's lecture on how Ron could do so much better than that swotty, bossy, and disrespectful girl. Ginny said Arthur had stood up for Hermione which had earned him the silent treatment from his wife for a good week or so.
"How about I walk with you to your office?" She suggested. He attempted to wave her away as she rose from her desk and tried to offer him her arm.
"Stop it. I said I was fine."
She followed him anyways, only stopping to glance at Theodore Nott on the way out. Nott barely ever spoke more than he had to and today was no exception. He returned her look for a brief moment before ignoring her completely and returning to his work.
They made their way to Arthur Weasley's office where he shooed her away at the door.
"Hermione, you worry too much. I'll be alright, I promise."
He sounded way too much like Ron which instantly wired her up to argue with him. She didn't get the chance since he shoved the door closed once he was done talking.
Back in her own office, Hermione pondered Mr. Weasley's behavior for a good forty five minutes while trying to concentrate on her work. She was seriously considering talking to Ron about it when Nott burst into the room like a battering ram.
"Ms. Granger, could I borrow a moment of your time?"
Hermione was scribbling one last paragraph of her letter. "Not now, Theodore."
"It really is rather important. We need to head downstairs."
She frowned but didn't look up from her parchment. "Why?"
Nott didn't answer her. Instead he pulled out his wand and started shooting shielding charms at the windows.
"What are you doing?" She asked, realizing it was the beginning of a very strange day. "Is something wrong?"
He was shivering. "We have to leave."
Yes, something was definitely wrong. Of course her soft spoken office assistant wasn't going to say what it was. "I have to finish this first. One minute." She answered.
"There isn't time, Ms. Granger!" He finished whatever he had done to the windows, a pointless task since the Ministry was underground and the windows were false, and hovered beside her desk.
"Alright, let me get my cloak and…"
"No, NOW, Hermione!" His hand clamped about her wrist and he dragged her out of the office and into the hallway.
People were rushing in every direction between the sounds of far off screams and muffled crying. An Auror she didn't recognize told them to head to the lift and take it to the lowest level. She paused to ask him what was going on but Nott already had her hauled off towards the lobby.
There was a queue of people shoving one another like a mosh pit in a rush to enter the lifts. The crowd in front nearly trampled a witch if a frazzled Auror hadn't levitated three people to stop them.
"Everyone please stay calm! There is plenty of room for everybody. Staying in an orderly fashion will get everyone into the shelters quicker."
"Shelters?" Hermione stood on tiptoe to see over the mob. A group of three Aurors were trying to herd people into the lifts as best as they could without anyone getting hurt. One Ministry official shoved a woman out of his way to get ahead of her. The alteration had resulted in a fit of screams and punches. Hermione was about to push her way through to help the woman when Nott grabbed her again and yanked her in the other direction.
"The Aurors will take care of it. Come on, we can take the staircase."
She wanted to question him about what was going on but between the hoards of people and the deafening noise she couldn't.
The staircases were abandoned in comparison to the hallway. She pondered why the Aurors were so insistent on the lifts until she realized they needed to descend fifteen floors. All the way down they sprinted and Hermione ended in the lead. Nott was pale and panting behind her; looking like he'd lose his breakfast on the next landing.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." He lied. "The shelters are through here."
He stumbled through the doors of the stairwell and down a congested corridor that was just as crowded as the lobby with panicked noisy people.
"HERMIONE!" A familiar voice echoed over the commotion. Harry's figure emerged from her left and he pulled her toward him. "Thank Merlin! We need to get into one of the bomb shelters immediately! Follow me."
"BOMB SHELTERS! They have bomb shelters here!?"
"Crazy, right?" He responded. "The Ministry had them built during World War II. This way."
He forced his way through another throng of nervous people and down a snaking passageway. They were lead into a stuffy small marble walled room that was crammed with wooden folding chairs. So far there were only two other people there.
"Sit down." Harry told her. "I'll be back as soon as it calms down out there."
"Wait! Harry, what's going on?"
He gave her an irritated groan. "Hell if I know? You think they bother telling me anything? Ha! Not a chance. Stay put. If I'm not back again soon someone should be by to get you food and blankets if necessary. I doubt we'll be here that long, so don't worry."
"Famous last words." Said one of the two people in the room. Hermione recognized her as Penelope Clearwater, Percy's ex girlfriend. "Best get comfortable. Last time this happened we were here for almost sixteen hours."
"Last time?" She moved to sit next to her after Harry left and Theodore collapsed into another chair.
Clearwater blanched. "Um, that was during the Battle at Hogwarts. Sorry, I didn't see it was you until you sat down."
Hermione rolled her eyes. The woman didn't need to apologize for being locked up safe and sound beneath the Ministry during the Battle. "You think there's something that serious going on?" She asked.
Penelope exchanged a pained glance with the young man she had been sitting with before responding. "For the Ministry to order a lockdown of the entire building? Yeah, I would guess so."
Her heart was instantly a clattering cowbell between her lungs after hearing that said.
"Fuck." Hermione mumbled.
Harry was back a few minutes later with Ron behind him.
"Everything's going to be fine." He told them while sitting down. Ron was busy sealing the heavy steel doors that clanked shut like a bank vault. "We've managed to get everyone into their shelters and the building is completely closed off. The Floo networks have been shut down and Kingsley has full trained Aurors at all the entrances."
"Still don't know what's going on?" Hermione piped.
"Nope." He chided.
"Welcome to the club." The boy next to Penelope chimed in. "The under thirty club, that is. They don't tell us anything."
"Hey," Ron had finished with the door and was talking. "What's wrong with him?" He gestured to Nott who was quivering uncontrollably. Hermione barely managed to jump out of her chair in time to catch her assistant before he fell from his seat.
Over the past few minutes Theodore's complexion had morphed from sickly pale to flushed crimson. With his arms and legs pulled tight against his chest and his head bent in a jarring angle, one would think his joints had solidified. He shook as if he were a boiling tea kettle; his face contorted like he was holding back from screaming.
She tried to hold him in his chair but when that proved to be impossible Harry helped her gently settle the spasming Slytherin onto the floor.
"Nott, what happened? Did someone curse you?" Harry questioned the man but Theodore either couldn't hear him or couldn't respond. "Why is he acting like this? Hermione?"
Harry had wrapped his arms around the taller man's knees as he had started to kick. Hermione had to support his shoulders.
"I don't know! He was acting strange before but nothing like this."
The others in the room gawked at the display. It wasn't long before Nott was hyperventilating through his nose as he seemed determined to keep his jaws clenched shut. Hermione felt the tremors of pain coursing through his body. Even with his eyes cemented closed he had long tears gushing down his face. His hair was wet from sweat.
"A little help here, Ron!" Harry snapped at his friend. Ron, however, didn't move. It didn't appear to be out of disrespect or hate for Nott, but from fear. He was a statue of panic.
"He looks like he's being Crucio'd." Ron mumbled what they were all thinking but couldn't say aloud. "Worse than being Crucio'd."
"Are you mental? Go get help!" Harry gestured to the door with his head.
"But, we're on lockdown…"
"Ron!" Harry bellowed through his teeth. "He's dying, Ron! Go!"
At that announcement Ron finally got his brain back together, unsealed the door and scurried into the hall before resealing it again.
"He's dying?" Hermione stated. She met Harry's grim stare and shuddered. Instead of gripping Nott's shoulders she shifted so he rested in her arms with his back against her chest and her chin upon his head. "Dammit! Why did we take the stairs!? I should have realized.."
"And had him pass out in the lift instead?" Harry said. "I don't think so."
Penelope and her coworker had joined them on the floor in the few monstrously long minutes they waited for Ron to return. The other woman transfigured a glove into a damp cloth that she draped over Nott's eyes.
"I wish we knew what we were doing." She sighed while the damp cloth did almost nothing for Theodore. Hermione watched hopelessly as Penelope reached to hold Nott's hand but couldn't because he'd had it clawed up too tight. "Perhaps we should stun him?"
Harry shook his head. "If it's a malicious curse that could make him go into shock. However, I'm beginning to think that may already be happeni... God, his nose is bleeding! Penelope, switch places with me. I should check his pupils."
"What for!?" Hermione barked rather rudely. Penelope and Harry crawled over each other to move around the crowded space.
"If one eye dilates more than the other then he may have a concussion." Harry answered matter a factly. He was prying one of Nott's eyes open and flashing his lit wand over the man's face.
"I know that!" She snapped. "Harry, if it were just a concussion he wouldn't be having a severe breakdown on the floor! Dammit," she pushed Harry's fingers out of Nott's eyeball, "knock it off!"
"Well, what else am I going to do?! Sit here and watch him die?! "
"I don't know, maybe go find out why Ron's taking his sweet bleeding time to get back here?!"
As if on cue, Ron pounded into the room with a disheveled looking Auror with giant eyebrows. Hermione vaguely recognized him as Robards, the head of the Auror department.
"Who the fuck put the Nott boy in here alone!?" Robards scowled. "Potter, move out of my way."
"He's not alone!" Harry growled back. "We've been here…"
"I said MOVE, Potter!"
Harry moved.
Robards nearly stampeded into Nott in his rush to kneel beside him. His stubby hands pried Nott's arms away from his body so quickly a bone may have been broken. He ripped the right sleeve up to the elbow, causing the gold cuff links Nott wore to pop across the room. At first she thought he was taking his pulse. Then she saw the Dark Mark.
Everyone gasped when the Mark was exposed except for Robards who visibly snarled. The snake and skull looked to be cut deeply into the soft skin; almost down to the muscle. But instead of red tissue beneath, the Mark oozed a black tarry substance like burned cinder.
"You see this, Potter." He bellowed in a baritone too deep for a man of his short stature. "This is why we don't leave him alone during a lockdown!"
Harry tried to grumble something that sounded like 'didn't know he was marked.'
"CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" Robards screamed into Harry face. Harry jumped and she felt Nott cringe and twist from the loud sound. "You always know who is Marked! There is only one other individual in the building of similar standing and you bet your sorry arse that I know exactly where he is." Robards snapped then turned his attention across the room. "Weasley!"
Ron shuddered as though the older Auror were accusing him of being the other Death Eater.
"Go fetch Lucius Malfoy. He's in the twenty third shelter with the others from the Department of Mysteries. If he's in," he nudged Nott with his foot, "a similar predicament as this one, report to one of the men on door guard."
"Sir…?" Ron looked close to sobbing.
"Now, boy! Potter, go with him."
Thankfully Harry and Ron didn't stay and argue with the man. They hurried from the room like terrified rabbits escaping a hungry wolf.
It was also thankful that they returned rather quickly with Malfoy senior leading them.
Hermione had forgotten the presence Lucius Malfoy commanded when entering a room. Unlike his son, Mr. Malfoy carried himself with a proud and determined air that reminded her a bit of how Dumbledore would capture the eyes of the entire great hall by simply standing up. With his long black robes, ivory walking stick, and billowing albino blond locks, the man was a powerful figure.
Therefore it made the situation even more terrifying when Lucius Malfoy crumpled to his knees like a wounded fawn upon seeing Theodore on the floor.
"NO!" He tripped over Penelope and deposited himself beside Hermione, cradling Nott's Marked arm in his hands. "Theo, son, it's alright. Hang on."
Robards was as speechless as the rest of them. His eyes flickered once to Harry and Ron and a third Auror they must have found on the way there. After a moment of watching Malfoy mop up the black ooze on Nott's forearm with the transfigured glove, Robards cleared his throat.
"Right, Malfoy," he took a step closer and leaned in to examine the interaction, "got any idea what's going on here? I'm thinking your arm isn't bleeding black crud as well?"
Malfoy bared his own forearm to show the same tattoo. Where Nott's mark was fresh and dark, Malfoy's was a faded grey color that resembled an aged Muggle tattoo.
"No." Mr. Malfoy said softly. "Did any of you think of taking this heavy cloak off of him? He's overheating." He lifted Theodore toward him and started removing his winter cloak.
"Malfoy, what's going on?" Robards snapped.
"He's being summoned and he's refusing it. Or, he would be, were the Dark Lord still alive. This," Malfoy gave a sigh and shook his head, "this isn't good."
"Have you ever seen it escalate this quickly?" Robards asked.
"No. Never. Not even close." He threw Nott's cloak and robe aside leaving the man in his white button up undershirt. "Ms. Granger, support his back for me please." Mr. Malfoy removed his wand that doubled as a handle to his walking stick and stunned Theodore with a quiet Stupify.
She had thought she already was holding him up completely until Nott collapsed into her, his body finally relaxing with a loud sigh. Not expecting his weight to crash down on her that suddenly, Hermione let out a startled cry before positioning herself to hold him easier. It occurred to her then how much force he had been exerting in order to simply hold himself up.
A woosh of movement followed Nott's collapse when Malfoy rose instantaneously and pinned Robards against the opposite wall with his fists. Several chairs were smashed against the Auror's body in his forced path between Malfoy and the wall.
"HOW DARE YOU?" Mr. Malfoy cried. "How long were you planning on leaving him like that?!"
"I needed to make sure that…" Robards attempted to explain himself but was cut off by Malfoy's knee colliding into his groin.
"You didn't need me here to stun him!" He continued. "If you had waited much longer he would have died of a heart attack! The boy's pulse was through the roof, no thanks to you and your loud voice. I'm sure you were yelling at him the entire time!"
Robards was able to continue standing partially because Mr. Malfoy was holding him up. The blond wizard was nearly a head taller and a good twenty years younger than the Auror. Even so, Robards still managed to bicker.
"But you didn't stun him right away, did you, Malfoy? He could have died just as quickly." He grumbled through a choked gasp.
Mr. Malfoy responded by shoving his entire body weight through his knee into Robards' privates again. This elicited a sharp curse word and a hiss.
"You were planning on letting him suffer, weren't you?! You cunt!" If possible, he slammed himself even harder against the older man's body. "Why haven't you found my son yet?!"
The switch in topic didn't phase Robards.
"Worried that Draco is undergoing the same situation?" Robards spit a bloody dollop onto Mr. Malfoy's shoe. He must have bitten his tongue during the commotion. "I wouldn't be too concerned if I were you."
"YOU…..!"
"Keep in mind that the kid was gone for five weeks without anyone noticing. Not even you. Usually someone who manages to be missing that long without a trace is trying very hard to stay missing." He managed a smile that bared his red stained teeth. "I don't think you'll be hearing from your son any time soon."
Lucius Malfoy stared at him for at least another minute, calming himself so as not to hurt the Auror more than he already had. Hermione reasoned that were Malfoy to raise a hand or his wand to this man he may end up in Azkaban again.
"You're not even trying to look for him?!" He finally stuttered out.
"Don't insult me." Robards managed to shove the Death Eater off of him. "Of course we're looking for him."
Malfoy almost lost himself in fury again but this time Harry, Ron and the other Auror had their wands pointed at him. Noticing that he was outnumbered, Mr. Malfoy took a step back.
"Just find him!" He snarled. "Now, I'll take Theodore with me…"
"Mr. Nott will remain here until the Minister has given the all clear."
Malfoy looked like Robards had told him to go fuck a pigeon. His eyes bulged and his mouth thinned into a slit of a frown.
"That's ridiculous! He needs to go to the hospital!"
"He'll have to wait until…" Robards started when Harry interrupted him.
"Sir, if Nott ends up dying because you wouldn't let him go to the hospital, I'm pretty sure Shacklebolt will have you sacked."
Ron and the other Auror gaped at Harry. It appeared that he had an issue with keeping his opinions in check around his boss.
"Potter," Robards' voice had lowered to that deep octave again that made Hermione's ear drums throb,"not only is Nott being summoned by what could be a copycat You Know Who, but the Ministry is under lockdown because a Dark Mark was cast over King's Cross no more than half an hour ago."
Everyone froze. Even Lucius Malfoy seemed startled by that statement as he blinked wide eyed at Robards.
Hermione was the one to speak first.. "The train station?!"
"A Dark Mark?" Ron mouthed, his face a dull grey color.
"You heard me." Robards cautioned. "I think Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley will be staying here to keep an eye on the Nott boy. As for you, Malfoy," he pointed at the door, "Liam and myself will walk you back to your shelter."
Nothing else was said as Robards and Liam, the extra Auror, escorted Mr. Malfoy away. Hermione instinctively huddled Theodore closer to her while Harry sat beside her. He delicately took Nott's wrist in his hand, forearm facing upwards, so he could look at the still oozing Dark Mark and cringe.
"How's his pulse now?" She asked him while Harry took the damp cloth up again to soak the snake tattoo.
He frowned while using one hand to probe his index and middle finger into the nook beneath Nott's thumb. "Still pretty fast but not life threatening, I think."
They all waited in silence as Hermione kept dampening the cloth with a humidifying charm and Harry kept tabs on Nott's heart rate. After an hour his breathing and pulse returned to normal but they kept him stunned since his arm was still bleeding black and possibly causing him pain.
"Are we going to talk about this?" Ron stated from his chair by the door. "You know, the whole Dark Mark being cast thing. Anyone else freaking out about that? Harry? You alright, mate?" Ron leaned forward to make eye contact with his friend. "Your scar feeling anything?"
Harry rubbed at his forehead like he suddenly was checking if the scar was still there. "I'm fine."
"Right." Ron gave Hermione a nervous glance. "How are you doing, Hermione?"
She knew he was just being a concerned friend but she still bristled from his acknowledgement. "Oh I'm just peachy, Ronald. Never been better, in fact."
Ron sneered. "Look, I was trying to be nice and all but if…"
"Stop." Harry interrupted. "No fighting."
"I wasn't…."
"Ron, shut your mouth. Now is not the time!"
"I find it hard to believe that you three were at each other's throats so much back when you were saving the world." Penelope Clearwater joined the conversation. She was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed as she sat on Harry's other side.
Hermione snorted a dry laugh. "You'd be surprised."
"Since you all have the experience of dealing with stressful and dark magic related events, maybe you could put your heads together on what's going on instead of arguing." She glanced between the three of them and idly scratched her nose.
When none of them said anything, Clearwater sighed and began to hypothesize.
"So, I'm thinking it's awfully strange that Malfoy's son has been missing for so long. I thought that family was pretty close knit."
Harry pondered her comment while Ron immediately fired back with another assumption.
"I bet Malfoy set the Dark Mark off!" He shouted. "Maybe he's the one summoning Nott."
"Oh please." Hermione snubbed his comment. "Why would he put his best friend in so much pain?"
"Well, if Nott didn't know it was Malfoy that would explain him panicking so much and going into shock. Malfoy wouldn't have expected Nott to refuse the summoning."
Harry frowned. "Don't the Marks only work one way? I thought only Voldemort could summon people and they could only summon him."
Hermione nodded in agreement but Ron wasn't convinced.
"Malfoy could have altered the charm so he could be the summoner!"
"Come off it, Ron! Malfoy isn't going to be able to undo a Dark Mark charm! That's a blood magic ritual." Hermione barked. She tried not to think about Malfoy alone in her home possibly in a puddle of his own black blood that had weeped from his forearm.
"But clearly someone did it." Harry spoke softly then. He lifted the cloth over Nott's Dark Mark for a moment to examine it again. It was still seeping. "We killed all the horcruxes. He can't cheat death again!"
"Horcruxes?" Penelope asked. It was an empty question that she hopefully realized wouldn't get an answer.
Hermione watched Nott shudder from something only he could feel. Instead of overheating he seemed to be plummeting in body temperature. She made Harry toss her the winter cloak back and draped it over him.
Malfoy's dead. Her mind raced. You left him to die all alone. There's no way he could have survived this if he refused the summoning too.
She wiped at her face, trying to force the threatening tears to disperse.
"I have to go." She started to untangle her limbs from Nott.
"What?" Harry asked her. "Go where?"
"I just need to go. I can't stay here." She stood and made her way to the door only to find Ron was blocking her exit. "Move, Ron!"
"No." He pulled himself taller so he looked down at her.
"Ron, I have to…"
"You can't go, Hermione."
"But I…"
"No, you literally cannot leave the building. When they say lockdown they mean it. How do you plan on leaving anyways? The Floos are shut down and the entrances are guarded. You can't Apparate out of the Ministry."
The tears broke through. She wailed and Ron stared at her. He looked to be torn between shoving her back to the floor and embracing her. The alternative to both was to continue to stand before her like a rock. That was the choice he preferred, it seemed.
And though she believed she'd be trapped there for hours, sobbing like a banshee in front of her ex boyfriend, she couldn't get herself to stop. Not when Harry put an arm around her shoulder, not when Penelope ordered Ron to sit down, not even when Liam returned from wherever he had gone to tell them the all clear had been announced.
Eventually she must have calmed down because her face had dried by the time she had climbed the staircase at full speed and made it to her office to retrieve her cloak and bag. Later she would wonder if Theodore Nott ever made it to the hospital but at the time her concerns were focused on another Slytherin she knew.
Hermione Flooed to her Muggle household before anyone else at the Ministry had even exited their bomb shelters. She prayed to whatever religious being she could think of that she wouldn't be coming home to a dead Death Eater.