She looked quizzically at Harry as he sat in front of her. Her brain was trying to find pieces of information that she could use to help the situation at hand. Horcruxes. She had seen the word many times but never heard of anyone having used them to such an extent that Harry and Dumbledore believe He was using them.
"But I don't understand. That's powerful magic, dark dark magic, why would they be ordinary object?" She whispered as students passed their table. She had told Harry this was a bad spot, that they should go further back but he had insisted that he couldn't stay long, and the common room was more crowded than the library ever would be. She felt exposed. Coming from the tight space she had left, the weight of that room had yet to leave her. The evil that had been coming through those doors would take longer than she had to get over. She fingered the puffy skin under her eyes slightly. She had been embarrassed to cry. She found herself doing a lot more crying than she usually did, yet the ache in her chest was slowly morphing into a pain in her head as she fought to pay attention.
More importantly, it was the evil that was coming that bothered her the most. While she had been focused on Malfoy, Harry had been focused on Voldemort and the state of his soul.
"I'm not sure what they are. They could be large or small, I don't even know how many there are. He only had me talk with Slughorn and then I haven't seen him since." Harry shrugged running his nails in the wood on the table. She rested her hands over his to stop him and smiled slightly as he apologized.
"Is that what you are doing tonight? Looking for one?"
"I can only pretend to know what were doing. I wouldn't be surprised. He said it was urgent that I meat him, and soon. Where can I find you when I'm done meeting him? Maybe I'll have some more information?"
"I'll be here, I'm going to see what I can find." Harry laughed then and she smiled in return as he rose to leave.
"See you later Hermione. We can talk then." He smiled and turned leaving quickly. She closed her eyes and put her head in her hands leaning over the table. She breathed in and out counting down from ten as she forced away the tears that were beginning to form again. She could feel someone approach the table and sighed, if she kept her head low maybe they would walk away? She counted to ten again and let out a larger sigh as she felt the presence still there. Lifting her head slowly she jumped as she looked at Draco before her. He looked crazed as he scanned the room. Her heart leaped into her throat as his eyes fell on hers and she could feel the tense air take over the room.
"We need to talk. Now." He barked crossing his arms and turning quickly to walk down the hall to her right.
No I will not follow him, we decided to be done so we are done.
She looked as he turned a corner, pushing another student down in his haste. She rummaged through her bag and began pulling out paper and quill. Things she would need to help Harry. Harry was the focus, should have always been the focus. Nothing should have stopped him from coming to her with this sooner. Sighing she rose quickly and stood at the table. Biting her lip she closed her eyes again and listened for any sign that he had left in a hurry, that he was in a rage and would be leaving the library soon. Her heart would not slow. The ache in her chest was as sharp as it had been when she left the room just an hour ago. She sighed and made her way to the back. Their small corner where she knew he would be waiting.
He made it to the back room and bit his fist to stop himself from shouting out.
This was really going to happen. He was going to have to do it tonight. Be a murderer, let them into the castle to do whatever it is they please. But by the end of the night he was going to have to kill the old man. He knew it, could feel the words in his mind. Scratching at the surface of his brain.
Kill him or I kill you.
It played on repeat, had been since the letter touched his hand. He could talk all he wanted, tell her all that he knew she deep down wanted to hear, but he was certain. He did not want to die. He wanted to live, to be on the winning side of the war, to be there at the end with her. He did not blanch at the thought; it was a thought that had been there many times in the last few weeks. When he dreamed it was dreams of victory, a victory of a side he was currently not apart of. Could never be a part of because he needed to live.
"What are you doing?" She asked and he turned quickly. She took a step backwards and then quickly recomposed herself. He could feel the adrenaline in his veins. "You're bleeding again. Why is it you're almost always bleeding." She slowly walked towards him and reached for the hand that had been in a fist just moments ago. The bite marks dripped crimson on the carpet and he did not flinch as she took her wand out to heal him.
"I opened the way." He let the words out and she nodded in return.
"I had thought so, that's what finally sent me back here. I was going to ignore you, we already did the goodbyes. I didn't think another round was really necessary." She quipped at him still frowning at his hand.
"You need to hide tonight." She faltered then, dropping his hand and looking up at him. He could see the small red patched under her eyes, the watery edged cut into him even more as he placed a hand on her cheek. She turned away quickly and dropped her gaze again.
"I won't hide from whatever it is that is coming. I need to warn someone if anything." She crossed her arms over her chest and took a step back.
"Hermione. I think she is going to be the thing coming" He handed her the note and winced as pain cut into him behind his eyes. He pressed his palm to his eye socket and tried to hold the noise threatening to come out in.
"I don't know who this is? Draco, are you okay?" she grabbed his arm pulling his hand away.
"Bellatrix. Hermione promise me you will run from her. At least promise you won't seek her out. Just let them rummage, do what it is they are going to do and let them leave. Being the bloody hero won't keep you alive." He felt like claws were digging into the back of his mind as he tried to keep whomever was trying to force their way through at bay.
"What is the matter with you." He fell to his knees and she came down with him.
"Don't speak just listen." He kept his eyes closed as he finally let them in. breathing through the pain, he silenced her with his hand and spoke, "Tonight it is my turn to show what I am. I just ask that you stay out of the way." With that he rose and ran out of the enclave opening his eyes. He could feel the presence there, weaving its way through his thoughts and feelings. He set up walls and waited as they tore them down. Wincing as each came crumbling down. As long as he could protect her, he would let his sanity slide.