"So I have been wracking my bleeding brain," Draco drawled, his back against the headboard in his sleeping quarters, "and I cannot for the life of me figure out how Avance is consistently ahead of us."

They had spent the bulk of the evening in council deliberations and had only just returned to their private wing; Draco was beyond ready for sleep.

Granger glanced his way from where she had just crossed the threshold into the room. "Specifically?"

Shaking his head, Draco stared at the silver crown tie clip she had gifted him as he fidgeted with it. "All of it. It's all specifics. The Ascension. They knew about our trip to Italy. They've been targeting Nocturnus in France… and the woman, today. They knew we would hold court, for Merlin's sake."

A tentative look on her face, she settled onto the foot of the bed, tucking one leg beneath her as the other hung over the edge. "I can't figure it out either."

"And…" Frowning, he went on. "I'm trying to figure out how to turn the tables on them. So far, we've played into all of their expectations. And it's driving me up the fucking wall."

Releasing a long breath, her shoulders sunk. "I don't know what to say. They must simply be watching us closer than we realised. Or maybe…" Trailing off, she shook her head again. "Maybe we're predictable."

Meeting her gaze, Draco chewed on his tongue for a long moment. "Do you know what we need to do? Talk to the Ministry. You know, that summons and all."

Granger released a quiet snicker. "I guess I thought you were just ignoring that since they can't actually do anything."

"I was," Draco confirmed. "But think about it—Avance obviously did something to spook Shacklebolt with the expectation it would deter us somehow. That we would be wary of our own Ministry."

"So to reach out to them," she breathed, eyes sparkling, "would go against their expectations."

Toying with the tie clip, he added, "It's not a foolproof plan but… there's more. We need to do something that no one outside of Nocturnus would know—and then if it gets back to Avance somehow…"

With a sharp intake of breath, her face tightened. "You think someone's leaking information."

"I don't know," Draco said evenly, dropping his gaze to the quilt. "It's a heavy accusation. But we might simply consider the idea. If Avance didn't have a hand in orchestrating our court today… there were still hundreds of people who knew about it beforehand."

"But the Nocturnus oaths," Granger muttered, her brows knitted.

"Are not unbreakable," Draco said carefully. "Not like the Lunae bonds, anyways. I certainly wouldn't want to break a Nocturnus oath, even so."

Silence fell between the pair of them, and he could feel the tension radiating from her; uncertain whether she found the idea too outlandish to consider, he leaned back, sweeping his fringe from his face.

At last, she released a sigh. "I have personal history with Kingsley. I'll see about arranging a meeting to discuss our summons."

"Good." Feeling the weight of thousands on his shoulders, Draco set the crown pin down on the bedside table, rubbing at his weary eyes. "Something tells me tomorrow's going to be another long day. I'm going to get some sleep."

Rising to her feet from the foot of the bed, Granger nodded with a muted, "Okay." Ducking in, she brushed her lips across his cheek and said, "I'm going to have a shower—clear my head a little. I hope."

"Right," Draco mused, catching her wrist as she turned to walk away; she spun back, facing him. "You're okay? After what happened today—with the woman."

Pressing her lips into a thin, unconvincing smile, she whispered, "I'm okay."

"Liar," he huffed, dragging his thumb across the crescent on her wrist. "If you aren't, you know you can—"

"I will be," she said, cutting him off. Belatedly, her false smile widened. He allowed her wrist to fall from his grip and offered her a nod; it was the least he could do to give her space to process on her own. A hint of something more genuine pulled at her lips as she whispered, "Good night, Draco."

Silently, he stared after her as she turned and left the room.

Blinking awake, Hermione was startled to realise the spot beside her in bed was cold. More often than not, she was the first to awake, and even when Malfoy rose first, she was prone to light sleep and usually stirred as well. Stretching with a wide yawn, she noted his pillow was also cold.

She rose and padded towards his en suite, finding no evidence of his presence, and the sitting room was empty. It wasn't unusual for him to leave their wing without her, but a cursory glance at the decorative clock on the wall suggested it was only half six. Malfoy rarely woke before eight. Stifling a yawn, Hermione dressed and prepared for her day.

Expecting to find him with a mug of coffee and a slice of rye with marmalade, she made her way towards the kitchens.

But in the breakfast nook where he usually preferred his toast, she found only Narcissa instead, sipping from a cup of tea as she flipped idly through a copy of The Daily Prophet.

"Good morning," Hermione said, flashing a smile and slipping into her usual seat as she poured herself a tall glass of lemon water and selected a slice of toast from Podski's usual assortment.

Narcissa flashed a brief, tight-lipped smile. "And to you, dear. I trust you slept well."

Never quite certain how much to share with the woman, Hermione nodded. "As well as could be expected." While Narcissa technically wasn't on the council, she lived in the Manor and was privy to the comings and goings of the council and guards, so Hermione usually kept her references to inside Nocturnus matters vague.

"Ah, yes," Narcissa said, taking another small sip of her tea. "I heard something about a woman… nasty business."

Forcing a swallow, Hermione agreed, "It certainly was." She added with a wince, "Things keep getting stranger and stranger around here."

"Welcome," the woman responded, a demure smile tugging at her lips, "to life as a Malfoy."

Grateful for the reprieve, Hermione chuckled, taking a bite of her toast and washing it down with a sip of her water.

Narcissa added with a flippant wave, "Of course, you and Draco seem to be navigating uncharted waters, even as far as I'm concerned."

The concession didn't make Hermione feel any better, and she merely selected another slice of toast, suddenly ravenous after the events of the day before, wherein she hadn't had much time to eat. Taking a bite, she asked, "Speaking of—have you seen Draco this morning?"

"I haven't," Narcissa said, lifting her chin. "Although I can't say I see him very often anymore at all." A spasm of guilt chased through Hermione, and she made a mental note that they ought to try and spend more time with his mother. "I am surprised he's already awake, though."

"So was I," Hermione mused, and the pair of them fell into silence. Once she'd finished her breakfast, Hermione offered a smile and rose to her feet. "I think I'll go see if I can track him down."

With another leisurely sip of her tea, Narcissa said, "Very well. Enjoy your day, Hermione."

"And you."

Hastily gathering her dishes and carrying them into the kitchen, despite the elves' many admonitions that they preferred to clean up after her, she retreated back to their quarters, hoping he would have returned by now—but still there was nothing.

He wasn't on the roof or in the piano room, and as she made a meandering path towards the Nocturnus Wing, she decided to duck into the owlery and send a letter to Kingsley Shacklebolt, requesting as benignly as she could that they schedule an appointment to meet with him to discuss the Wizengamot summons.

Which, of course, wasn't the true intention behind it. But Hermione suspected it to be a delicate matter.

When every guard she came across admitted they hadn't seen Malfoy, a spasm of concern chased through her. It had been well over an hour since she had awoken to cold silence, and she was starting to worry that something had happened to him.

Frowning, she froze in the corridor as she left the owlery, and an idea passed her mind. Staring some distance ahead of her, she announced, "Podski."

Moments later, Podski appeared before her, a wide, toothy grin on his face. "Mistress Hermione!" Dipping into a bow, he added, "Miss has never called upon Podski! What a day!"

Offering the elf a warm smile, she said, "I could use your help with something—do you happen to know where Draco went early this morning?"

"Podski knows!" the elf exclaimed, bouncing on the balls of his feet. Hermione clenched her jaw, wishing she had thought to ask an elf before she spent three quarters of an hour traipsing around the Manor. "Master Draco is working in his lab!"

"The lab," Hermione breathed, drawing out the word as she threw her head backwards. Turning back to Podski, she asked, "Are you able to direct me?"

Podski only frowned. "The wards is up, Miss Hermione." Before she could contemplate what that could mean—whether he didn't want to be disturbed at all—the elf grinned widely once more, brandishing a hand. "Podski will take you there!"

As she slipped her hand into the elf's bony one, she was instantly Apparated to a dark corridor, and before she could say anything, Podski Disapparated once more, leaving her outside of a steel door. Hesitant, Hermione tapped gently on the door, leaning back against the wall as she waited, worrying her lower lip with uncertainty.

Maybe he hadn't told her where he was going because he didn't want to be bothered. She had all but convinced herself to turn and walk away when the door swung open.

Malfoy peered at her, lifting a brow. He wore a pair of black frames that suited the structure of his face more than she would have imagined. His hair was disheveled, his sleeves rolled to the elbows, the top few buttons undone at his collar.

There was a slight flush to his cheeks as he breathed, "Hi."

"Hi," Hermione replied, cautious. "I'm sorry to bother you—I didn't know where you were, and I was starting to wonder whether you were alright…"

As she trailed off, feeling out of sorts, he glanced swiftly at his watch, and his eyes widened slightly. With a grimace, he rubbed the back of his neck. "Right. I've been working—didn't mean to worry you." Stepping back from the doorway, he dropped his head to the side, and Hermione followed him into the lab.

It was more elaborate than anything she'd seen. A series of cauldrons stood, ready for brewing, along one workbench, and several cabinets were stocked with ingredients along the far wall. Looking around, she said, "This is astonishing. What are you working on?" Peering into a bubbling cauldron, she paused.

"The elves like to keep a stock of household potions on hand," he said, waving a dismissive hand as if keeping a Manor full of people supplied with potions was nothing. "And I've fallen a bit behind with the way things have been lately." Wrinkling his nose he added, "But that isn't why I'm down here."

Based on the corridor outside—although the lab itself was bright and spotless—she surmised they were underground. And his words confirmed it.

"What's going on?" she asked, walking closer to see what he was examining.

"The Nocturnus healers were able to give me a blood sample of the woman from yesterday," he began, his voice low and clipped. "I'm trying to extract the poison she ingested to see if we can learn anything. It… isn't nice work. I didn't want to upset you over it."

Swallowing, she nodded. "We're in this together. It wouldn't have upset me."

Even as she spoke the words, she could still picture the way the woman foamed from the mouth, her body going still and rigid as the life faded from her eyes. Hermione had seen death before—Merlin, she'd fought in a war—but that had been a long time ago. And it felt different. This felt infinitely more personal.

Malfoy looked unconvinced, so she carried on. "Have you found anything?"

"Not yet," he said, carding a hand through his hair as he adjusted his frames. Her stomach twisted at the way he looked in glasses, and she felt a flush colour her cheeks. Unaware of her interest, he paced forward. "I'm attempting to separate the component parts but it isn't quick."

Looking over his shoulder at where the small sample was bubbling in a miniature cauldron, she frowned. "What are you hoping to find? And how long have you been working on this?"

"I couldn't sleep. And honestly? I don't even know what I'm looking for—but it feels better than sitting around doing nothing."

With his admission, she became aware of the half slur to his words, the sluggishness to his motions. Eyeing him with concern, she said quietly, "We're doing far from nothing. Maybe you could stand to take a break if it doesn't require monitoring right now."

"I can't," he said, shaking his head with another agitated hand through his hair. Blinking several times, he added, "I can't walk away in case I miss something."

For a man ordinarily so well composed, even with some of the circumstances they'd been through, it was disarming to see him frazzled. Turning to face him, Hermione dragged her hands down his arms. He blinked at her, and she could see the fatigue on his face, the shadows beneath his eyes. She whispered, "Take a break."

Hesitating for a moment, he said, "I suppose I could eat." Flashing her a doleful look, he said, "Could I convince you to bring me something?"

"You could not," Hermione snapped, holding his stare. "You can go get it yourself and get out of this lab for a while."

"Fine," he said, tone dismissive. "As soon as I've got something—"

Lifting an unimpressed brow, she watched as he performed a series of spells on the sample before she absently remarked, "I've not seen you wear glasses before."

Removing them, he rubbed at his eyes and returned them to the bridge of his nose. "I don't wear them often."

"You should," she said carefully, staring at him as she leaned against an empty workbench, folding her arms. When he glanced her way, he hesitated, his expression shifting and lips twitching with a smirk. Dropping her voice, she added, "They look good on you."

Stepping closer, he took hold of her upper arms, brushing his lips across her forehead. His voice was scarcely above a breath as he said, "I know you're trying to distract me—and I appreciate it." Drawing back, he stared at her. "I do. And I'm going to put a pin in this for later because this lab is highly sanitised."

A shiver chased down her spine as she drew him closer; his body brushed against hers. "There's no fun in that."

Groaning, he glanced away, dragging one hand down to her arse. "I need to be sure this sample is kept protected." It was only then that Hermione noticed a slight shimmer in the air over the sample, and realised he had it warded, presumably given whatever fatal properties it possessed. Dragging her earlobe between his teeth as he ducked in, he added, "As much as I'd love to bend you over this table right now."

Feeling a hitch in her breath, Hermione swallowed and said, "Maybe another time, then."

A slow grin spread across his face. "You bet." Stepping away, he approached the sample once more, and she released a sigh. Glancing back at her, humour playing on his face, he said, "Give me ten minutes to be sure this is working—and then I'll take a break. Deal?"

With a smile of her own, she nodded. "Deal."

Leaning against the counter in the kitchen, Draco watched as one of the elves joyfully prepared him a turkey sandwich, lips twitching as he watched Granger's futile attempts at offering her assistance.

She would have offended the creature if he hadn't warned them all in advance not to take her efforts as an affront.

When the elf presented his plate—complete with chips and a dill pickle—Draco nodded. "Thank you, Patroclus. It looks delicious." Patroclus squealed, clapping his hands together, and when Draco took a large bite of the sandwich, the elf busied himself elsewhere.

Granger sighed, leaning back alongside him, snagging one of his chips.

He had seen the flash of disappointment on her face when he tucked his glasses into their case upon leaving the lab and made a mental note that she liked glasses. Idly, Draco wondered what that suggested about her friendship with Potter, but it was neither here nor there given he had seen the platonic way the pair of them interacted.

"What are you going to do with the poison once you figure it out?" she asked thoughtfully, chewing her bottom lip.

"I don't know," Draco mused. "I don't think there's much really to be done with it, I just…"

"You need to feel like you have control over something," she interpreted, staring at the opposite wall.

Glancing at her, he felt a frisson of something chase through him. Never could he have imagined opening up to her in the ways he had—like he never had with anyone. It ought to have annoyed him that she was so adept at reading him, but they had already been through so much together since the bonding, and it only further solidified the belief that he had made the right decision.

He responded after a moment, "Yes."

"I owled Kingsley," Granger went on, swiping another of his chips and breaking it in half; he stared at the wisp of steam that escaped from the hot interior. "Hopefully he grants us a meeting—it will mean Avance's claws aren't in too deep already."

Nodding as he swallowed another bite of his sandwich, Draco pondered the thought. "Seems to me Avance has their claws everywhere."

Granger shifted closer, casting a furtive look around the otherwise empty kitchen. When she spoke, her words were scarcely a breath. "There are thousands of people camped out on the grounds, ready at your word. We have claws of our own."

"Claws," Draco echoed, shaking his head, "that I don't want to use unless I must."

Her shoulder brushed against his. "I know."

Granger rummaged for a butter knife and sliced his dill pickle in half. As she claimed one half for herself, Draco shot her a look and swiped his own, eating it before she could take his as well. Her lips twitched when her stare found his, and after the way she had looked at him in the lab, he was toying with the idea of dragging her to their quarters.

Allowing a smirk to pull at his lips, he reached for her hand, tugging her into his chest.

But his wand vibrated in his pocket and, startled, he reached for it with a grimace. "I've got to get back—something happened with the sample."

Eyes flashing with uncertainty, she said, "I'm coming with you."

"Of course you are," he huffed, taking hold of her hand and Apparating the pair of them without waiting. The subterranean level was a maze in itself even if Draco hadn't warded the corridors around his lab beyond access. For a moment he wondered how Granger had even found him—but when they landed in the lab, he strode towards the sample, peering closely at the results.

Frowning, he swept a hand through his hair. "Cyanide."

"Right," Granger breathed at his side. "Quick and efficient."

Unsatisfied, Draco was careful to trap the extracted poison in a hermetic vial so its contents couldn't be accidentally inhaled or ingested. Grimacing, he said, "A favourite of organisations involved in espionage where the operatives face likelihood of interrogation… and Muggle. But why when there are so many creative poisons to brew from magical ingredients?"

"Simplicity," she suggested, "or ease of access."

"Both," Draco conceded, "and effectiveness. As we saw, it didn't take long to… well."

Leaning against an empty stretch of wall, her arms folded, Granger postulated, "So what does this tell you? About Avance? Or whatever else you were hoping to learn."

"If they're giving people cyanide pills," Draco said with a frown, "they mean serious business. And cyanide is straight and to the point. Remember the chamber in Italy? The traps there were Muggle too."

"And the sword," she hedged. "Avance—Alba or wherever they're getting their influences from… is only interested in doing what it takes with no frills."

"No matter how it looks," he finished with a sigh. Gazing at the vial, he added, "Which doesn't tell us anything more than we already knew." Pulling Granger's hand into his, drawing strength from her magical energy, he met her stare. "Let's hope your friend Shacklebolt is in a good mood. We need to act—and fast."

Author's Note: Hi everyone! Thanks so much as always for reading this little story. Hearing your thoughts, theories, and suspicions about characters mean more than I can say with everything going on in the world. I hope you enjoyed the chapter!

Alpha and beta love to my wonderful team Kyonomiko, LadyKenz347, and ravenslight.