Hermione took her seat at the Weasley's dining table between Ron and Fred. Ron's thigh pressed up against her own under the table and she shifted in her seat, angling her body towards Fred.

'I don't understand why we can't have these meetings at Grimmauld Place. There's no room,' Ron moaned under his breath.

'Because, you idiot,' Fred whispered back, 'The big greasy git knows where it is, so it's not exactly a safe house anymore, is it.'

She tried to ignore the knot in her stomach at any mention of him.

At the head of the table, Mr Weasley cleared his throat loudly. 'Right…' When every head swivelled in his direction his ears turned bright red and he rubbed at the underside of his jaw. 'Right. If everyone's in attendance then…'

With an air of confidence Kingsley Shacklebolt leaned forward, his elbows propped on the table. There was something so similar about the action that Hermione squeezed her eyes shut, the knot in her stomach giving way to full blown butterflies. Ron tentatively touched her knee.

'You okay?' He breathed in her ear.

She took a slow breath and squeezed his hand once. 'Fine.'

'Our plans for this evening are officially in motion. Thanks to Arthur and Nymphadora, we have managed to spread the word that Harry will be moved in five days' time when he comes of age and the trace has been lifted,' Kingsley stated.

'Do you think this information has made its way back to Voldemort?' inquired Bill.

Kingsley bowed his head. 'We can no longer know for certain.'

Because their inside man had betrayed them. Hermione wrapped her arms around her stomach.

'But,' Kingsley continued, 'we have good reason to believe he expects it. This means we hope to have minimal distractions, however we must be prepared for every eventuality.'

'Constant vigilance,' Ron mocked. Hermione bit the inside of her cheek and knocked her knee against his in warning.

'Remus is at my parents', helping them to set up the protection enchantments,' Tonks told them.

'Fleur is Aunt Muriel's. It turns out I'm better at breaking spells then setting them up,' Bill added with a grin.

Kingsley nodded at them appraisingly. 'My house is set, as well Alistair's.'

'Where is Mad-Eye?' Asked Mr Weasley 'This was his plan, you'd think he'd want to be here to ensure everything is in order.'

The corner of Tonks' mouth twisted up. 'It appears Mundungus tried to do a runner. Mad-Eye has gone to reel him back in.'

Mrs Weasley rubbed her temples. 'He is unreliable and fickle. I cannot believe you're still considering taking him along.'

Mr Weasley laced his fingers through hers, his thumb rubbing along the back of her hand. 'We need all the help we can get. The more decoys, the better chance we have to pull this off and keep Harry safe.'

'Precisely. Which brings us to our final discussion point,' declared Kingsley, looking around at the rag-tag group sitting around the Weasley's kitchen. 'Our seven escorts and seven Harrys.'

A stillness fell throughout the room as Bill and Mr Weasley exchanged looks. Hermione was suddenly aware that everyone's gaze was on her. Ron shifted in his seat, and when she turned towards him he was staring down at his hands as though they held the secrets to the universe. His cheeks flushed a telling pink.

Understanding roared through her and she shot up from her seat, her stool falling behind her with a loud clatter. 'No!'

Mr Weasley adjusted his glasses. 'Hermione—'

She glared at him. 'No. I'm going. This is ridiculous, you can't—'

'Please. Sit down,' he pleaded, looking apologetic.

Fred righted her stool as Ron stood, tugging gently at her wrist.

She snatched it away. 'I am going with you to collect Harry.'

'You still haven't recovered fully,' Ron said softly.

'I'm recovering just fine.'

'You can't walk up the stairs without getting winded,' he reminded her. She gave him a murderous look.

'You must understand,' Mr Weasley beseech, 'we only have your best interests at heart. The journey will be long. Even with all our safeguarding measures in place we cannot know for certain what we will face. We may be in a position where we need to defend ourselves.'

'Precisely. You need me. I can fight just as well as any of you,' she protested.

Tonks offered her a small smile. 'Believe us, we know. You're as tough as nails.'

Hermione looked around the room, trying to make eye contact with a friendly face. Fred and George both ducked their heads, and Mrs Weasley fidgeted with a loose string on her dress. Hermione's heart sank. 'Then why is this even a discussion?'

'We cannot have a repeat of what happened at the Astronomy tower,' Kingsley explained, his tone edged with authority. 'I'm sorry Hermione, but we cannot afford the liability.'

Hot, angry tears clouded her vision.

They think you're weak, taunted Snape's voice inside her head.

'A liability?' She demanded angrily to the table. 'Is that what you all believe?'

'Please,' Ron said timidly, looking at her at last. 'Don't make this more difficult than it already is.'

She wanted to beg, to plead her case. Her cheeks burned, and a bitter, sour taste formed under her tongue. She pressed her lips together. She wouldn't cry. She wouldn't allow them the satisfaction.

'You need a sixth decoy,' she spat.

'I'm sure they can manage,' Mrs Weasley began.

'She's right, Molly,' Kingsley agreed. 'We need as many Harrys as possible to make this work.'

Bill looked between his parents. 'Dad…'

Mr Weasley sighed and dragged his hands down his face.

'You know I would never want to put her in any danger, but she could do it,' Bill pressed.

George grinned. 'If you're talking about who I think you're talking about, those Death Eaters won't stand a chance.'

'It's true,' said Fred. 'Have you seen her hexes?'

Mrs Weasley's face went white. 'Absolutely not.'

'Molly–'

'I will not let you put our only daughter in danger. She's a child, Arthur.'

'Ginny's not a child,' Ron claimed passionately. 'Besides, you should have seen her at the Department of Mysteries. She took down nearly as many Death Eaters as Harry.'

Mr Weasley stood up and placed his hands on his wife's shoulders. 'He's right, Mols. It's nothing that she hasn't faced before. And she won't be alone, I'll fly with her.'

Tonks cleared her throat. 'Your first instinct will be to protect her, not Harry. She should fly with Remus. He'll keep an eye on her.'

Mrs Weasley's eyes welled with tears as she clutched her hands to her chest. Hermione's annoyance rose within her. Logically she knew Ginny could easily hold her own, but it was entirely unfair.

'Does this mean I get to ride with Kingsley?' George's grin increased tenfold.

'You think you can keep up?' There was a hint of a smile on Kingsley's face.

George tipped his chair onto its back legs. 'Can you?'

Everyone winced as the kitchen door shut with a bang; Mrs Weasley's seat was now empty.

Mr Weasley sighed. 'She'll come around.'

'It's sorted then,' said Kingsley. 'Hagrid will meet us there. I need to collect the Polyjuice Potion. Arthur, I trust you will fill Ginny in on the plan?'

'I'd better go find her before Molly does,' Mr Weasley confirmed.

'Let's hope for the best, and prepare for the worst,' Bill told everyone. 'And whatever happens tonight, we stick to the plan.'

Hermione was halfway up the stairs before the room had even emptied. Heavy footsteps trailed behind her, making her pulse quicken.

'Hermione, wait,' called Ron.

She reached the landing outside Fred and George's and made a sprint for the door, but Ron quickly overtook her, his hand snaking around her wrist and yanking her backward.

'Get off me,' she hissed. He dropped her hand quickly, looking startled.

'C'mon, Hermione, don't be angry–'

'Don't be angry?' She screeched, her body shaking. 'How could you just stand there and allow it? You're supposed to be my best friend. You know how important this was to me!'

He winced and glanced down the stairwell once before shoving her into the twin's bedroom.

Hermione moved to the opposite end of the room, crossing her arms across her chest in defiance. Ron leaned against the door, his head cradled in his hands. Her anger slipped a little bit; she had never witnessed him appear so distraught.

'I'm worried about you,' he told her.

'Well, you shouldn't be. I'm perfectly fine.'

He shook his head. 'Why don't I believe you?'

She inhaled sharply, trying to contain herself. 'Ron, you have to stop treating me with kid gloves – I'm not going to break.'

'You nearly died. I won't let you risk your life.'

Hermione kicked one of the many boxes surrounding the twin's room, feeling moderately satisfied when the stack tumbled to the floor. 'And how many times have you and Harry put yourself into dangerous situations? You can't just lock me in a tower and expect me to stay there forever.'

Ron ran a hand through his hair, his shirt raising up to show a gap of skin overtop his trousers. She blushed and looked away, but not quickly enough — Ron turned scarlet and tugged his shirt back down

'I know,' he conceded, his voice rough. 'Hermione, I know. I'm sorry. You have to understand what it was like though, seeing you there in that bed, pale and weak. Never knowing if you were going to wake up.'

'You mean like when you were poisoned?'

Ron crossed the distance between them in three steps and gently grabbed her shoulders. 'Then you do understand.'

'I understand what it's like to feel worried sick about someone,' she agreed, the image of Snape in pain as he grasped his forearm coming to mind. 'But I would never force that person into anything. I would respect their choices, regardless of whether I agree with them.'

'Hermione, I just want you to be safe.'

She placed a hand on top of his. 'And I would have been. I can fight just as well as you and Harry can.'

'You hate flying.'

She couldn't help her smile. 'Hate is a pretty strong word.'

His hands slid down her arms, leaving goosebumps in their wake, until he linked his fingers through hers. A simple act, one they had shared a hundred times before. Why did it make her heart beat heavy in her chest?

'Don't act all brave on me now, Granger. I know you better than anyone.'

Maybe he had, once upon a time. Maybe he and Harry had gotten to know her better than she knew herself. But that was then. That was before the secret lessons and promises with the Half-Blood Prince. That was before the memory charms, before she had found herself as an unexpected accomplice to the murder of their Headmaster.

Before she found herself spiralling; her thoughts always dragged back to him.

'Hermione…' He licked his lips and her stomach gave a funny little swoop.

The door opened with a bang. Hermione instinctively tried to move away, but Ron held her hands fast.

'Sweet beetles, what happened— oi, Fred, will you get a look at this.'

'My word, ickle-Ronnikins!'

Her face burned hot as Fred and George leaned on either side of the doorframe wearing matching grins.

'Can't anyone get a moment of peace in this damn house?' Ron groaned.

'Well, you are in our bedroom,' George pointed out.

Fred grinned mischievously. 'But it's fine,' he waved his hand, 'please carry on.'

'What are you two yammering about?' Ginny elbowed Fred out of the way as she pushed herself into the room.

'Just a small lovers quarrel,' Fred sniffed.

George pretended to swoon. 'Oh Hamlet, Hamlet. Where art you Hamlet?'

Ron let her go at last, and Hermione tried to put as much distance between them as possible. 'It's Romeo.'

Ginny elbowed him. 'Yeah, you idiot. Didn't you pay any attention in Muggle Studies?'

'Where did you think I learned about Shakensword?' George gasped, rubbing his side.

Hermione rolled her eyes. 'It's… oh, you know what? Never mind.' She slipped past the group and started on the stairs up to Ginny's room, pointedly ignoring Ron on her way out. She collapsed on the low cot, flinging her arms over her head in an attempt to block out the afternoon. There was a small knock at the door.

'Can I come in?' Ginny asked tentatively.

Hermione gave a non-committal noise. There was a creak of the mattress beside her head.

'I'm sorry.'

Hermione sighed and removed her arms to see Ginny staring down at her. 'There's no need.'

'It should be you out there tonight. This whole thing is absolutely daft,' Ginny sighed. 'I'm surprised you didn't put up more of a fight.'

'There's no point. I could read the room… no one wants me there tonight.'

Ginny nudged Hermione with her foot. 'You know that's not true.'

'Isn't it though?' She sat up and began to plait her hair back. 'I've seen the way everyone looks at me. Like they're expecting me to fall over any moment. And the thing is, it's the same look they gave me after the Department of Mysteries last year.'

'And look how you recovered. Just give it a few weeks, I'm sure you'll bounce back just as quick.'

She wished she shared Ginny's enthusiasm. She had tried to remain positive about the whole situation, but the signs were there in small ways. The need to rest during one of her walks with Ron. The way she slept longer than anyone at the Burrow. She was constantly reminded of how her body was failing her.

She knew it was a possibility, but denied that the day would ever truly come. Snape had warned against her rather risky behaviour but she ignored him. It was worth the risk.

Now she wasn't so sure. That said, how could she have done things any differently?

'You're going to be brilliant, tonight,' she told Ginny, changing the subject.

Ginny seemed to bristle at this, her face lighting up as she shifted to the edge of her seat. 'I can't believe Dad agreed to it,' she said excitedly. 'You don't understand how hard I've tried to make them see what I'm capable of. I'm not just the baby in the family.'

'No,' Hermione agreed, 'You're certainly not.'

Hermione stood in the window of Ginny's room, watching the figures below form a circle in the paddock outside the Burrow. One by one, they apparated into the night.

Ron looked back at her in the window, his hand raising. She placed her hand on the glass in greeting, a knot of foreboding sitting in the bit of her belly. She was filled with the urge to run down the stairs, to apologise for her behaviour. She had ignored him the rest of the afternoon, sitting in her room with her books. She told him she was doing research on the Horcruxes, but in reality she was just using it as a diversion tactic. She knew what Ron was on the cusp of saying, and she couldn't allow him to freely speak his mind. She couldn't bear it.

But seeing him on the grass below, ready to disappear into the unknown, she wondered if she had made the right choice. There were a million things that could go wrong, and knowing Harry's luck, they would go wrong. Would she ever forgive herself if he never made it back?

She watched as Ron placed his hand on Tonks' arm and with a blink they were gone. The paddock and beyond felt eerily quiet.

Hermione collected her battered copy of Advanced Potion-Making and slunk downstairs to the lounge, where she curled up in one of the big armchairs.

'Would you like a cup of tea?' Mrs Weasley asked, popping her head around the door.

Hermione smiled at her. There was no reason to be rude towards the older woman; if Mrs Weasley had her way, no one would be flying out to collect Harry. 'That would be lovely, thank you.'

'I won't be a moment, I'll just set those protection enchantments.'

Hermione closed her book. 'I'll come help.'

But Mrs Weasley was already halfway out the door. 'That's quite alright dear, you just stay here,' she called.

Hermione scowled and settled back into the armchair, forcing herself to read through the tidy indigo script in the margins for the hundredth time.

Three cups of tea and a platter of pumpkin pastries later, Mrs Weasley had abandoned her knitting and was staring out the front window.

'The should be back by now,' Mrs Weasley fretted, wringing her hands together.

'Even on a broomstick it's still a long flight,' Hermione pointed out.

Mrs Weasley tutted. 'They're fast flyers.'

Hermione tried her best to muster up the confidence she didn't feel. 'I'm sure they'll be home soon.'

The clock on the mantelpiece continued to tick away the time. One hour passed, then another thirty minutes. Mrs Weasley's anxiety was slowly rubbing off on her, and Hermione took refuge out in the paddock, staring up at the sky.

'Where are you?' she whispered into the night.

How frustrating it was, to be kept locked up at home.

Something wasn't right. They should have been back to the Burrow ages ago. She began to gnaw on the corner of her thumb, her toe tapping out a frantic rhythm.

She should be with them. She should have been there, helping them on their journey. Ginny was right, why hadn't she fought harder?

There was a bright flash of blue light overhead. Hermione gasped and pulled her wand from the back pocket of her jeans.

'Mrs Weasley!'

Mrs Weasley came sprinting from inside the house, her wand already in hand.

'There was a flare in the shield,' Hermione bellowed. The two of them stood side by side, eyes scanning the dark night sky.

'Are you sure?'

There was a hint of hope in Mrs Weasley's voice, as though she didn't want to believe what Hermione had said. But they both knew.

Seconds later another bright light flashed overhead. Hermione pointed towards it with her empty hand. 'There!'

There was a small explosion in the sky and something bright streaked down towards the orchards like a fallen star.

'Wait, Hermione don't!'

Hermione ignored her, sprinting out of the paddock and through the orchards, her wand held high in front.

Her heart thumped in her chest as she let her feet carry her forwards, high off the rush of adrenaline. A lumbering shadow came out from between the trees and she dropped into a crouch, a spell forming on her lips.

'Alright there, Hermione?'

Hagrid loomed before her and she nearly cried in relief.

'Hagrid!' She threw her arms the best she could around his middle. 'Are you hurt?'

He patted the top of her head. She caught a whiff of fire and earth, and she felt instantly homesick for Hogwarts.

'I'm fine. But there's someone here who'd like ter see yeh,' he said.

Harry stepped out from behind him, his black hair tousled and windswept. She pulled him into a tight hug. 'Harry,' she gasped.

Harry squeezed her back. 'Are you okay? Ron said you weren't up to coming.'

'He did, did he?' She scoffed and fought the urge to roll her eyes. 'Where are the others?'

'You mean no one else has arrived yet?' Harry asked, his gaze darting towards the Burrow behind her.

The hairs on the back of her neck stood up. 'You're the first to arrive.'

'Molly must be worryin' herself sick,' said Hagrid, looking back towards the Burrow. 'I best go find her.'

For the first time Hermione took note of the fresh scratches and marks on Harry's face, along with his slightly tattered outfit. His glasses were cracked in several places and she tapped the side of them with her wand on instinct. The glass mended itself.

'Harry, where is everyone? What happened?' she asked nervously.

Harry took a shuddering breath. 'We were ambushed. There were Death Eaters waiting for us.'

The air escaped her lungs and she grabbed onto Harry's shoulder to steady herself. 'Oh god. Ron?'

Harry shook his head. 'We got split up. Hermione… he was there. Voldemort, he found us.'

Her knees went weak.

Before she could say another word, an ear splitting scream came from the Burrow.

Harry went white. 'Mrs Weasley.'

They both took off back through the orchard. Just outside the paddock wall, Hagrid, Tonks, Ron and Lupin crowded over a figure on the ground. Mrs Weasley was on her knees.

'Ginny!'

Harry's strangled cry tore her to pieces. Hermione's stomach roiled as she realised the dark shadow surrounding Ginny was blood. The coppery tang filled her nose and made her retch in the back of her throat.

Tonks crouched down over the youngest Weasley, her wand movements quick and steady.

'We were attacked,' Ron explained, his voice hoarse. 'Voldemort… he…'

'I know,' Hermione whispered, unable to tear her gaze away from the youngest Weasley. Tonks had managed to clear most of the blood away from Ginny's face and hair, but there was a large gaping hole where her left ear had once been.

'It won't stop bleeding,' Tonks wavered.

Lupin's face was ashen. 'It's cursed.'

Mrs Weasley looked up at them. 'Help her!' She pleaded.

'Not without knowing what curse was used,' Tonks said, rocking back on her heels.

'That's Snape's work,' Lupin told them. A chill ran through Hermione. 'Sectumsempra.'

Harry's head whipped around, his eyes wide as he stared at her and Ron. 'The Prince!' He looked back at Lupin. 'If you know what it is then you can fix it.'

Lupin helped Tonks off the ground, an arm protectively snaking around her shoulders. 'It's not the straight forward, Harry. I can't.'

Mrs Weasley muffled a cry against the back of her hand.

Harry rounded on Lupin, his hands trembling and his eyes feverish. 'Help her!'

Ron took a protective step forward in an attempt to angle himself between Harry and Lupin.

Hermione stood still as a statue, her brain running a thousand miles a minute. What had Snape taught her about curses?

Think, Granger. Use that brilliant mind of yours.

Magic was give and take. A simple equation, as they learned in arithmancy. That's all a counter-curse was: the necessary penalty paid.

It was an exam question and nothing more. She tried to ignore the fact that the stakes were potentially life and death. She recalled seven bottles of potion on a wooden table and a riddle written on a scroll of parchment.

This was nothing more than another one of Snape's puzzles, and who better to solve it than his own student.

'Wait,' Hermione cut in. 'I… I have an idea. Hagrid, could you possibly bring her inside?'

Hagrid stooped low, scooping up Ginny into his arms. Inside the Burrow, he laid her down on the dining table.

Under the bright lights of the kitchen, Hermione could make out the wound properly and she tried not to blanch. Dark red blood matted Ginny's hair to the side of her face, covering her neck and soaking the oversized men's jumper she wore to match Harry. Her freckles stood out stark against her pale face. Hermione carefully brushed her hair back, wincing as warm blood coated her fingers.

Stop. Breathe.

She closed her eyes and took one slow breath, counting to ten before exhaling. When she opened her eyes back up, she found Snape leaning over the table, staring down at Ginny's bleeding and broken form.

'What's your theory,' asked Harry quietly.

Snape's hand floated over Ginny's head, following the outline of her skull.

'You said when Snape healed Malfoy it was like a song, wasn't it?'

'Yes,' Harry confirmed. Hope bloomed on his face. 'You know what it is then?'

She unbuttoned her cardigan and tossed it over a chair. 'No. But I think he used some sort of blood magic to heal her. I don't know the exact words, but I get the idea behind it.'

Snape's head snapped up, his eyes blazing like liquid night.

Ron stepped beside her, his arm brushing against hers. 'What are you doing? Hermione, blood magic is…' she heard him swallow audibly. 'It's dark.'

'Everything isn't so black and white,' she said as she met Snape's gaze. His head tilted to the side. 'Magic demands a price,' she recalled from Snape's text on healing magic. 'We need to give it what it wants.'

'You aren't serious,' Ron protested.

She ignored him and began ticking things off on her fingers. 'I need Essence of Dittany, to help with the scarring after.'

Mrs Weasley rubbed at her nose. 'I have some upstairs.'

'We'll need a blood replenisher potion too, if you have any,' Lupin added. 'For both you and Ginny. I hope you know what you're doing.'

She took her wand out from her back pocket. Her knuckles turned white from the effort of keeping her hand steady. Her mouth was dry from the nervous energy burning through her.

'We could use blood, but that would be too crude.' Snape straightened his spine, his hands sliding into his pockets. She knew he was only a figment of her imagination, but all the same his calmness and presence grounded her. She licked her lips. 'Besides, we know how Professor Snape sees the Dark Arts. He's more elegant than that.'

'So what's your sacrifice?' Lupin asked.

Your power is a well… he told her once.

'I'll give it my magic. It's what Snape would have done.'

Truthfully, she didn't even know if her idea would work. But she had to try. She had to make an attempt.

'Hermione,' Ron whined.

Hermione shut her eyes and inhaled slowly.

She let the breath go.

All those evenings, squirrelled away in Snape's office… chilly walks through the Forbidden Forest. What was the point of it all, if not this? Isn't this what he had designed her for, saving her friends' life?

One breath in.

She gathered all her anxieties, her worries… all her thoughts…

On the breath out she let them go. All but one:

Fear.

Fear of not being enough. Fear for not knowing the correct words, the right phrases.

She pictured the fear as a lake, as murky as the Great Lake outside Hogwarts. She let herself sink down… down into its depths.

The terror she felt of Voldemort finding her parents. Their tortured bodies, broken and dead.

A breath. In and out.

That brief second of sheer terror on Snape's face when he was summoned.

She latched onto the memory and let it pull her down until her lungs burned. Despite the mild summer evening, her skin was chilled. She could hear the rush of her pulse in her eardrums. She fought the urge to open her eyes and run away from the Burrow.

Instead she pressed down into the balls of her feet and raised her hands above Ginny's body.

Like called to like. Though unconscious, she could feel the icy heat of Ginny's terror coming off her in waves.

I see you. I'm with you, her mind whispered to Ginny's.

She allowed Ginny's fear to merge with her own, taking it into herself on another inhale. It sparkled inside her like electricity, and she felt her body jerk at the invasion.

Without the cover of fear, she could sense the rot of the curse. The way it poisoned Ginny's blood, curdling in her veins and coiling around her heart. It was devouring her.

Give and take. That's all magic was really.

Snape's voice rang loud in her head, as though he was standing right next to her. What will you give me in exchange?

Hermione was acutely aware of the clatter as her wand dropped to the floor. She pressed her open hands against Ginny's chest.

My magic, she offered to the darkness. Take it. Take mine instead.

The darkness turned away from Ginny, curious by Hermione's offer. It extended its tendrils, testing out the link between the girls. Mentally, Hermione flug her arms wide.

Go on. Leave her. Take what you seek.

There was a slight hesitation before the darkness lunged forward, and Hermione shrieked as the pain lanced through her. There was a shout and she felt someone grab her arms, trying to yank her away. But she was fused to Ginny as the darkness pulled through her.

She could feel it draining her, leeching her magic out.

She was burning up inside.

There was commotion around her, another shout, and then she collapsed on the floor.

Hermione opened her eyes to find a heavily scarred face staring down at her.

'Welcome back,' Bill said.

She moaned as he aided her in sitting up with an arm braced behind her shoulder. She pressed a tentative hand against her chest, but it was her head which hurt more. She squinted against the pain.

'Did it work?' Her voice was hoarse.

'Did it work, she asks,' Fred mocked, his face coming into view beside Bill's.

Bill grinned at her. 'You brilliant little idiot. If you ever try something like that again, I'll let my mum snap your wand in half.'

'Is Ginny okay though?' She demanded.

'Ginny's fine,' Bill told her. 'You, on the other hand, I'm more worried about. I've never seen a curse do anything like that.'

'It was wicked,' George added.

'Seriously cool,' Fred agreed.

Hermione rubbed at the nape of her neck, trying to release some of the pressure. She had done it. She'd done it.

'It felt like death.' She shivered and pulled her legs up to her chest. 'It felt like it was trying to squeeze everything out of me… like I was a balloon about to pop.'

'I'm not surprised.' Bill sighed, the humour gone from his face. Instead he looked extremely tired, and she remembered what they had all gone through that night. 'This is why we don't mess about with the Dark Arts. You're lucky I made it back in time, otherwise you and Ginny wouldn't have survived.'

Her chin jutted out sharply. 'But we did. It worked.'

Bill studied her carefully. 'There's some potions on the table. You might feel some dark thoughts… hallucinations… just, weird things. That can be normal. I can help, but Remus understands the Dark Arts better than I do.' His mouth quirked up. 'You'd know that though, wouldn't you? Him being your ex-Defence teacher.'

She suppressed the scowl on her face. There was no way she was going to go anywhere near Lupin, let alone ask him for support.

'My mum's made you some hot chocolate,' he added, standing up. He arched his back as he stood up, stretching. 'C'mon you two, give her some peace.'

Hermione waited until Bill and the twins left the kitchen before pulling herself off the floor. She nearly had a heart attack at the sight of Ron leaning against the counter, his eyebrows jutted together.

She downed the three vials of potions before picking up the overly-large mug of hot chocolate. Mrs Weasley must have put a warming charm on it, for it was still piping hot.

'Where's Harry?' she asked, before taking a sip. The warmth flushed down to her toes, pushing away the damp, decaying feeling inside her.

'Upstairs with Ginny and Kingsley.'

Hermione nodded. 'Good. I'm glad Ginny is okay.'

Ron stared at her for a long moment.

'Fucking hell, Hermione, do you even understand the gravity of what you just did?'

She took another sip of her drink. 'I saved her, didn't I?'

He ran his hands through his hair, clearly agitated. 'That's what healing charms are for!'

Hermione sniffed and put down mug. 'You were there Ron. No one else stepped up to help her.'

'You could have waited for the others to return. Bill's entire life revolves around counter-curses, or have you forgotten.'

He was angry with her. After everything she had just risked to save his sisters' life?

'They wouldn't have made it in time! I saved her.'

'Did you not listen to what Bill just told you? At what price?' His eyes were misty. 'That magic wasn't good. Merlin,' his hands dropped to his sides, defeated. 'You're incredibly intelligent. It's one of the things I most admire about you. But reading about things and… and doing that? We don't do stuff like that. That's not us.'

Ron was only a few steps away from her. She could cross the distance in seconds. But at that moment she had never felt further away from him. The temporary relief from the hot chocolate had worn off, leaving her numb and empty.

'I don't know what you want me to say.'

His eyes were bloodshot and his Adam's apple bobbed several times before he exhaled. He shrugged his shoulders, giving her one last look before leaving her alone in the kitchen.

Hermione stared down at her trembling hands. They had cleaned the table and the floor, but there was still dried blood underneath her fingernails.

Author's Note:

I can't believe I called Flitwick Felix MULTIPLE TIMES last chapter. I usually comb over everything canon-specific, but the ONE time I don't... haha.

Anyway, for everyone waiting patiently, fear not... our troublesome duo will be reunited soon enough!

Playlist:
Death Eaters, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows soundtrack
I am not a woman, I'm a god, Halsey