December 31, 1999
The New Year party at Malfoy Manor was always a grand affair. The entire mansion was decked up with glittering lights. Even the pathways leading to the front door weren't spared. Guests milled around as glasses of expensive Chardonnay or Merlot exchanged hands.
Hermione was dressed up in a backless black silk gown. She looked beautiful. Draco had told her repeatedly. His praises only made her shudder with disgust.
She engaged in some useless chatter with Astoria Nott about the latest fashions and the shops to visit in Paris but her mind was elsewhere.
She was lucky that the party was attended by only a few people. The lesser the glasses, the better the effect.
At ten minutes to midnight, Hermione started to see the effects of the potion laced in the drinks. A few people had already started dozing off at the corners of the room. Everybody was here in the room.
Hermione had made sure of that. The wards outside the room and along the walls would make sure that none except Hermione or Winky could leave the room.
At five minutes to midnight, Hermione made her way to the only entrance of the room. She cast a last glance at Draco who was still engaged in an idle banter with the minister and hadn't seen her.
Waving her wand in a swift flourish, Hermione whispered "Et creaturarum in somnum!"
The effect was immediate as people started dropping on the floor one by one.
Success! Hermione felt a new sense of purpose as she locked the large heavy doors behind her. Grabbing Winky, she apparated back to her quarters for Scorpius. All her essential belongings had already been sent to the destination; only the three of them being left now.
Pushing aside her sadness, Hermione wrapped her baby boy in her arms and looked at her elf.
The little creature's eyes gleamed with pride, "You been brave, Mistress! Very brave!"
Hermione fought back tears as she nodded sadly and grabbed the glowing hairpin. "Let's go."
A new year was indeed ahead of them. Then together, the trio vanished into the thin air.