Roses are red

Violets are blue

I don't own Harry Potter

This is sad, but true

Thanks to my betas ravenclaw-sass and littlered1992!

We're winding up now guys and I can't wait to hear what you think of this chapter! xx

Icy tendrils pierced Hermione's skin and curled around her heart, squeezing so hard she could barely breathe. She turned to Draco who was shaking, his eyes wide and his mouth slightly open as if he was thinking the same thing as she was. No… it's not possible.

Seeing his grey eyes swirling with uncertainty, panic, and unbridled anger, Hermione seemed to snap out of her own trance. "Where would he have gone?" she asked, knowing as soon as the question had left her mouth that it was a stupid one to ask.

Draco barked a harsh laugh. "I don't know. He's under house arrest; the Ministry was watching his every move. The Floo is monitored and the wards have been adjusted so that only I can leave…" he trailed off, beginning to look around the study as if there would be a clue. There was nothing.

The room was pristine but still held signs of life as if Lucius had just popped down to dinner and would be back later. A crystal tumbler sat to the right of the parchment on the desk with a half-empty bottle standing next to it. Had Lucius left in a hurry?

Hermione's mind raced. She knew she had to do something, but what? Lucius was dangerous enough when he was inside the manor; she could only imagine the horror of having him wandering the streets of England as a free man. Her thoughts snowballed one after the other until her vision swam. Lucius, meeting with a faceless stranger to procure a wand; Lucius, taking a Portkey to an unknown location; Lucius, grinning as he raises his wand and—

"Hermione?" Draco clicked a few times in front of her face and Hermione shook herself.

"What?" She blinked, her teeth worrying her lip as the images faded.

"I said I need to go and tell Mother. Just wait here and when I return, we'll decide what to do next. Okay?"

She nodded and Draco grasped her shoulders. He squeezed them once and then pressed a quick kiss to her forehead before disappearing back out into the corridor.

Hermione was left alone with her thoughts, which was neither pleasant nor beneficial for their case. She hated feeling so useless. There has to be something I can do. She began to pace, one hand behind her back as the other one twirled her wand between her fingers.

On her third lap around the room, Hermione came to a sudden halt. She licked her lips as the obvious course of action came to mind. With a quick wave of her wand, she had sent a message to the Ministry. She knew that getting the Aurors involved would probably place a spotlight on Draco, but the consequences of not reporting such a disappearance would be far more dire. Besides, she reasoned with herself as she clenched her wand tighter against her palm, Draco is innocent.

She resumed her pacing and after a few moments, Draco reappeared.

"Mother's in shock," he said, closing the door behind him and falling into the armchair. "She's absolutely terrified, as you can expect." He ran a hand over his face and then sat up straight, fixing Hermione with a business-like look. "We need to find him."

"I called Harry," Hermione blurted out, bring her hands up in a sign of surrender as Draco's expression darkened. "I had to," she continued quickly. "If the Ministry found out he's missing and we hadn't alerted the Aurors, that could prove deadly for you and your mother."

A tic was working in his jaw and his eyes were icy cold as his gaze bored into hers. "You called Potter," he said slowly, drawing out the syllables in a hushed tone.

"If I didn't you could be thrown in Azkaban again! They'd think you helped your father escape!"

"Because Potter won't think that?" Draco stood abruptly; Hermione could practically see his rage pulsing and crackling around him.

Dread began to fill her stomach. It settled there like a slab of concrete and Hermione tried to remind herself that she had done the right thing. Draco may not believe that Harry was reasonable and a professional but Hermione had to believe that her friend wouldn't take out a decade-long grudge on an innocent man.

The solid block of dread gave way to hurt, which then dissolved into anger. Hermione clenched her jaw. "You underestimate me," she said.

"And you overestimate Potter." Draco folded his arms across his chest.

Hermione opened her mouth to respond but before the argument could really start, there came a rushing sound from the fireplace which glowed a brilliant green and then died down, revealing the form of Harry Potter.

He adjusted his glasses with one hand while wiping the soot from his Auror robes with the other. "Hermione." He inclined his head to her and then turned to Draco. "Malfoy."

As he stepped further into the room, he twirled his wrist in an elegant motion, procuring a notepad and a pen from thin air. Hermione was watching Draco and couldn't help but smirk at the look on his face when he took in the plain, blue ballpoint; Harry had never been one for a quill.

"Tell me what happened." Harry wasted no time, turning to Draco and looking at him expectantly.

Draco shot one last glare at Hermione before sighing and turning his attention to Harry. Hermione watched the exchange as Draco explained how they had been in a meeting with Douglas when they needed to visit Draco's study, found Miksy, and then come to Lucius' study and found him missing. Harry did not look up from his notepad as Draco spoke, writing furiously across the page.

Harry pursed his lips as Draco concluded his story. Hermione held her breath as her friend eyed Draco up and down as if appraising him. "When was the last time you saw him?" Harry asked.

Hermione's heart leapt into her throat at the same time that her stomach dropped to her knees.

Draco shot her a pointed look before he turned back to Harry. "I last saw Lucius on the morning of Christmas Eve; he wished to see me about the arrangements for my engagement party which was held on Christmas night. Lucius did not show up for the party."

"How did he seem when you last spoke to him?"

Draco scoffed. "His usual self; arrogant, smug, controlling..."

Hermione didn't miss the way Harry's eyes narrowed at Draco's statement. She ground her back teeth together and stepped forward, focusing her gaze on Harry. "You can't honestly believe that Draco would have helped Lucius escape."

Harry's gaze flicked briefly to Hermione's and then settled again on Draco's face. "It's standard questioning, Hermione." He cleared his throat. "We have to ask these questions so we know what sort of case we're dealing with here."

"What sort of case—?" Hermione snapped her mouth shut as realisation hit her. But there's no way that Draco could have… Hermione raised her eyebrows until it physically pained her to hold them there. "Are you suggesting that this could be murder?" she hissed.

Harry shook his head. "I'm not suggesting anything; these questions are standard. I have to ask them. So—" he turned to address Draco "—you can either answer them here, or I can take you to the Ministry."

Hermione knew he was right; these sorts of questions were standard in any missing person investigation, but that didn't mean she had to like it. There was something unsettling about the way Harry looked at Draco, and while Hermione wanted to believe that it was just his mask of professionalism, it simply did not sit right with her.

Draco, on the other hand, appeared calm and almost...aloof? "I'll answer your questions, Potter," he said evenly.

Harry nodded in appreciation. "Can you think of anyone who might have wanted to hurt him?"

Draco snorted. "It may be quicker if I list the people who didn't want to hurt him."

Hermione squeezed her eyes shut. Every fibre of her being wanted to reach out and pinch him. What a thing to say to an Auror who has marked you as the number one suspect in a possible murder case.

"Can you account for your whereabouts between Christmas Eve morning and now?"

"Yes," Draco answered. "I've been here, at the manor."

"The whole time?"

"Yes."

"Is there anyone who can corroborate that?"

"Yes." Draco turned to Hermione, his eyes still cold. "Hermione was here early Christmas morning. The Greengrasses will be able to confirm Christmas Eve."

Harry was writing furiously, his grip on the pen so tight Hermione thought it might snap. "Thank you," he said finally. "Do you have any idea how Lucius may have Apparated from the manor?"

Draco shook his head. "There's no way he could have left on his own," he said. "He had no wand and his movements were being strictly monitored by the Ministry." He glanced towards Hermione who pursed her lips and looked Harry.

The black-haired wizard shot her an apologetic look before tucking the notepad into the pocket of his robes and vanishing the pen. When he met Draco's gaze again, his eyes had softened. "I'm sorry," he said softly, "but it's policy for me to take your wands—" he nodded towards Hermione "—both of yours—in for testing; you'll have them back at the end of the day."

Hermione seethed; she knew that Harry was just doing his job and she would stand by her decision to call him, but if she was being honest, she had expected him to be a little less 'by the book' and a lot more helpful.

Silently, she and Draco handed over their wands. "Thanks," Harry said as he took them gingerly and placed them in another one of his robe pockets. "I'll see if I can rush them through; hopefully it won't be too long." He turned to face Hermione, his green eyes silently asking her to remain calm. I'm doing my job, they said.

Hermione offered him a stiff nod to indicate that she understood. "Thank you, Harry," she said, though her pleasant tone was forced.

"I have to get back to the Ministry; do not leave the manor. I sort of rushed over here without backup, so I'll need to return with a team before we can start a manhunt. We'll also need to conduct interviews with Narcissa and her lawyer."

Hermione moved towards Draco, placing her hand on his arm as he stiffened at the mention of his mother. He shook her off. "My mother is incredibly ill, Potter," he said through clenched teeth. "I will not allow you to question her as you have just questioned me; she's only just woken up and she is fragile—"

"I just need to speak with her, Malfoy," Harry interrupted, holding his hands, palms facing out. "I promise I won't do anything to jeopardise her health. I'm happy for you to be in the room as well, if it makes you feel better."

Draco nodded once. "And I'll want her Healers there as well."

"Fine," Harry agreed. "I'll see you soon."

With a final look at Hermione, Harry turned and disappeared back through the Floo.

Hermione braced herself for the inevitable argument, but Draco seemed to deflate the second they were alone. For a few moments, Draco simply stood staring into the grate and Hermione watched him, waiting for the spell to break and for him to start yelling.

When he turned, Hermione tensed but his eyes were free from ire. "I think I have an idea about how Lucius left the manor," he said softly.

Hermione blinked. "You do?"

Draco nodded. "Miksy."

Hermione stilled, her brain trying to wrap itself around what he was saying. The image of the distraught elf sitting on the stairs played over and over in her mind, and her gut squeezed painfully. She didn't want to think about Miksy in such a position; how scared would the creature have been to be forced to break Wizarding law?

"It makes sense," Draco said, as if he thought Hermione's silence was indicative of her disbelief.

"It does," she acquiesced. "Do you want me to tell Harry?"

"No," Draco replied quickly. "I'll tell him when he gets back."

Silence descended once more. Hermione felt as though she should be doing something, but what? Without her wand she was useless against any possible threats that may present during a hunt for Lucius, and even if she still had it, what could she possibly do?

"I'm sorry," she said, reaching out to take his hand and giving it a squeeze; she breathed a sigh of relief when he didn't try to pull away. "I should have talked to you before summoning Harry. I just thought—"

"It's okay," he said, cutting her off.

His silver eyes swam with so many emotions in quick succession, Hermione could not pinpoint one of them. Before she could ask him if there was anything more she could do, Draco's gaze had slipped to her mouth and he was tugging her into him. He placed a chaste but heated kiss on her lips, and for a moment she relished the sensation of nothing but the two of them and the way they were connected.

All too soon, Draco pulled back, resting his forehead against hers. "I need to talk to Miksy," he whispered.

Hermione nodded and let go of him, the soft material of his shirt sliding through her fingers. She watched him as he turned and strode from the room, sensing that he wanted to go alone.

When Harry returned, he entered through the front door with a group of Aurors behind him. Draco answered the door himself and allowed them in. Hermione caught a flash of orange hair indicating that Ron was here. A new sort of panic settled in her chest; she hoped that Ron would remain professional, and that Draco would stay calm.

"Potter," Draco said with a meaningful glance at Hermione. "Before I take you to see Mother, I have someone else you might like to speak to."

Harry raised his eyebrows but gestured for Draco to lead the way. Hermione's heart dropped to her knees as she followed behind them. Draco had not told her about his trip to the kitchens, and Hermione was still unsure whether Miksy had been the one to take Lucius to wherever it was he was hiding.

Since this morning it felt as thought their relationship had been put through the wringer. His muttered admission was still playing over and over in the back of her mind, masked only by the sheer magnitude of Lucius' disappearance. Hermione longed to once again be alone with the blond wizard, though she knew that he probably didn't remember what he had said.

Her teeth sank into her lower lip as they entered the kitchen and Hermione steeled herself for what was to come. Draco needed her support right now, and with Harry insisting to do things 'by the book', she had to be on guard. She clasped her hands behind her back and leaned against the counter near the entrance so as not to intrude.

"Miksy?" Draco bent down to peer behind the kitchen counter. A sniffle echoed around the room. "I have someone I'd like you to speak to, please."

Draco moved back and Miksy emerged slowly from her hiding place. The elf was shaking like a leaf, her small hands knotted together in front of her stomach. Her large eyes were wider than Hermione had seen them and decidedly red-ringed.

"Hello!" Miksy squeaked and fell into a low bow directed at Harry.

Harry stepped forward and then knelt down so that he was able to look into Miksy's eyes. The poor creature looked absolutely terrified and Hermione had to clench her fists at her sides to stop herself from reaching out and hugging her.

"Hello, Miksy," Harry said softly. He extended his hand towards the elf. "My name is Harry, and I'd like to ask you a few questions, if that's okay?"

Miksy glanced between Harry's proffered hand and Draco, the latter of whom nodded at her. Miksy took Harry's hand and shook it awkwardly.

"You will answer Mister Potter honestly, Miksy," Draco said, his voice soft but commanding.

"Yes, sir!" Miksy squeaked and then swallowed thickly.

"Right, then." Hermione almost gasped in shock when Harry sat himself on the floor and smiled at Miksy. "The most important thing to remember, Miksy, is that you're not in trouble, okay? We're just trying to find your master."

Miksy's eyes grew wide and she turned her head sharply towards Draco. The blond bit down on his lower lip and then crouched, sitting so that he was facing Harry. The elf, seemingly calmer now, nodded her head. "Yes, sir," she whispered.

"I need to know if you have any idea where Master Lucius has gone." Harry's tone was friendly and it was this, Hermione thought, that made Miksy feel comfortable enough to answer honestly.

"Miksy knows where Master Lucius is," she said, her voice shaking dangerously.

"Good," Harry said. Hermione had to hand it to him—his voice did not waver or change in tone as he continued. "And where is Master Lucius?"

Miksy glanced up at Draco, her entire body shaking like a leaf. Draco nodded and offered the elf a tight smile. Turning back to Harry, Miksy opened and shut her mouth a few times, as if her voice box was refusing to cooperate. "M-Master L-Lucius is...is...is in...P-Paris!"

At that, the poor creature burst into very loud tears, her hands gripping the tips of her ears as she had done earlier on the stairs.

"Thank you." Harry reached out a hand tentatively as if he was going to pat Miksy on the shoulder, but then he thought better of it. "Did...did you take Master Lucius there, Miksy?" he asked softly.

"Y-yes." Miksy hiccuped but did not let go of her ears. "M-Miksy took M-Master to th-the cottage. Miksy is a bad elf! A very bad elf!" She punctuated each word with a stamp of her foot, but as she was under a direct order from Draco not to hurt herself, she could not do much more.

"Thank you," Harry repeated before getting to his feet. Draco copied his movements. "Well, that's the best lead we could have hoped for." He met Hermione's gaze and she glared back, crossing her arms over her chest. Harry sighed and turned to Draco. "I'm sorry if I came off as accusing you before; they are honestly our standard questions."

He turned back to Hermione and arched an eyebrow as if to ask if that would be enough to appease her. She offered him a stiff nod and quirked the corner of her mouth; she could not believe that Harry had asked Draco those questions without bias, but she would forgive him as he had at least apologised.

"Dorek!" Draco called.

A soft popping sound rang around the kitchen and another House Elf appeared. This one was hunched over, his crepey skin hanging off of him in unappealing folds. His nose was hooked and seemed far too big for his face. "Yes, Master Draco?" he lisped, bowing as much as he could with his back permanently bent at such an angle.

"Please take Miksy back to her quarters and make her a pot of tea. I will be up to check on her shortly."

"Yes, Master." Dorek bowed again and shuffle forward, reaching a gnarled arm towards Miksy and taking her by the elbow.

Miksy's eyes were glazed over and she was hyperventilating, her small chest heaving with the exertion. Hermione wondered if the distraught creature could hear what Draco had asked Dorek to do, but then they were gone.

Harry cleared his throat. "If you'll excuse me, I need to organise a Portkey. He slipped his hand into his robe pocket and pulled out their wands "Here, I don't need to take these."

"Thank you," Hermione said, a smile on her lips as she pocketed her wand.

Harry returned her smile as he reached out and pulled her into a one-armed hug. "We'll let you know as soon as we find him," he whispered and then stepped back, continuing on his way.

Draco turned to Hermione as Harry could be heard calling his team of Aurors. "If Miksy led Lucius from the manor—" he began.

Hermione held a hand up and moved towards him. "House Elves can't be tried as humans, Draco," she said softly, reaching out to grip his arm. "Miksy is bound by magic to serve your family; Lucius ordered her to take him away, and she obliged because she has to, not because she wanted to. She won't be punished."

Draco's shoulders sagged in relief. "Thank Merlin."

"Come on," Hermione threaded her fingers through his and squeezed. "Let's go and check on your mother."

As they entered Narcissa's room, the first thing they noticed was that the bed was empty. The second was that the frail witch was standing by the window, one arm resting beneath her ribcage and the other playing with the necklace around her neck.

"Mother!" Draco rasped. "What in Circe's name are you doing?"

Narcissa did not turn. "I'm thinking."

"About Father?" Draco crossed the room in long strides so that he could wrap an arm around his mother's shoulders. Hermione hung back near the door, unsure whether she should wait outside, or shut the door, or simply stand and wait for an invitation.

Narcissa sighed and then shook her head. "No," she said. "I'm thinking that I'll need to replant my rose bushes."

Draco's harsh laugh ricocheted around the otherwise silent room and he dropped his arm back to his side. He ran it through his hair and then glanced back to Hermione, gesturing for her to come over.

"Mother," he said softly. "We know where Lucius is."

Narcissa turned to look at him sharply, her eyes wide. "Where?" She shuffled backwards slightly until the backs of her legs hit the armchair and she fell into it.

Draco knelt in front of her. "He's in Paris; he ordered Miksy to take him there. That's why the wards weren't activated and why he was able to escape without a wand."

Narcissa released a long, slow breath through her nostrils. "Trust Lucius to rely on the help to escape." She pressed her lips together and then turned to Hermione. "Thank you, dear, for all of your help. I'm sure it was your influence which ensured the Auror's speedy response."

Hermione smiled. "You're welcome, Mrs Malfoy."

"Please—" she leaned forward and took Hermione's hand in hers "—call me Narcissa."

"How are you feeling, Mother?" Draco cut in before Hermione could respond. Hermione briefly wondered if he was bothered by his mother's request and made a mental note to ask him about it later.

"Fine." Narcissa sighed, dropping Hermione's hand so that she could cup Draco's cheek. "I'll admit that Lucius' disappearance was a bit of a shock, but really I should have expected something like this." Hermione screwed up her face in confusion, and when she glanced down at Draco she saw that he was wearing the same expression. "What I mean is that it isn't odd for your father to run; he probably heard that I was awake and knew that I would not approve of the...changes—" Narcissa paused, pursing her lips before continuing "—that I will make to his otherwise perfect plans."

"I don't understand," Hermione blurted out. Two sets of grey eyes turned towards her, pale eyebrows arched in a perfect indication of well-bred curiosity. She cleared her throat and then sank to her knees so that she wasn't hovering above them. "What I mean is that I'm confused as to why Lucius would fear you; how would he know that you don't agree with his plans?" She gestured halfheartedly towards Draco, hoping that she had not offended his mother.

Narcissa smiled slowly, her lips stretching slowly into a wicked smirk. "One of the only benefits of being Lucius Malfoy's wife is that I have been privy to a lot of his secrets. He never tried to hide anything from me, thinking that as a woman I was beneath him and too vapid or stupid to bother remembering or understanding certain deals or actions. His underestimation of me allowed me to retain my sanity throughout the Dark Lord's stay in our home, and my visit to Azkaban." She visibly shuddered, the smirk falling from her face as she folded her arms across her chest.

"You have dirt on him," Hermione said, respect for the older witch blooming in her chest.

Narcissa nodded. "And I've filled Mister Douglas in on all of it. I don't doubt that Lucius would have heard that I had woken. My assumption is that he panicked, assumed I would seek legal counsel, and then fled before the consequences could befall him."

Hermione snorted inelegantly. "And he's still underestimating you," she observed. "He fled to France, to a Malfoy property, not thinking that he could be tracked down so easily."

"No, dear." Narcissa leaned forward slightly, her smile back in place. "He underestimated you." She pointed to Hermione and then to Draco. "Both of you, and your feelings for each other."

Draco cleared his throat, saving Hermione from what was sure to be a downward spiral into a full-blown panic attack. She glanced at him, her cheeks heating. He smirked at her briefly and then stood. He opened his mouth but then froze, cocking his head to one side.

"What is it?" Hermione asked, dropping Narcissa's hand and standing as well. When he didn't answer straight away, Hermione looked back down at his mother who was wearing the same expression as Draco. She glanced between them slowly but before she could ask the question again, Draco was striding towards the door.

"The wards," he said though he didn't turn back. "Potter's back."

Hermione hurried to follow him, jogging down the corridor and bouncing down the stairs. When they reached the foyer, the front door was being opened by the elderly elf, Dorek.

"Mister Potter!" He wheezed. "Come in!"

Harry's voice was muffled but Hermione assumed that he had thanked the elf. When he entered, Hermione noted the cut on his left cheek, and the purplish bruising around his right eye. His black hair was mussed and his robes were torn at the left shoulder.

"Harry!" Hermione rushed towards him. "What—?"

"We got him," Harry said, his breath coming sharper than normal. He held his hand up to indicate that he wasn't about to go into detail, and then used it to gesture behind him.

The next person through the door was Ron; his face wasn't as beaten as Harry's, though his right arm seemed to hang limper than was strictly normal. His other arm was bound to that of Lucius, and as they shuffled into the entryway, another Auror on the other side of the Malfoy patriarch came into view.

"Merlin!" Hermione placed a hand over her chest. She turned to Draco, whose hands were behind his back, twisting and knotting together as he peered at his father through cold, narrow eyes. His lips were thinner than Hermione had ever seen them, and a tic was working in the side of his jaw.

"Draco!" Lucius gasped, baring his teeth as Ron and his colleague tugged him further into the room.

"Lucius." Draco lifted his chin slightly, his tone icy.

The odd group came to a stop three feet in front of where Hermione was standing with Draco. She glanced at Harry and then at Ron, who was watching her with an apprehensive expression. Hermione offered him a small nod and the ginger-haired wizard responded by tugging aggressively on Lucius' ropes.

"We're breaking at least a dozen policies," said Harry, wiping his forehead with the back of his sleeve, "but we thought it was fitting we allow you one final goodbye before we send him back to Azkaban."

At the name of the prison, Lucius growled and made to break free of the Aurors. Ron and his partner grimaced as their arms flailed with Lucius' movements, but a quick flick of Ron's wand stilled the recaptured fugitive and they once again turned their attention to Harry.

Hermione opened her mouth to speak, but at that moment Lucius began to wail, a high pitched and unearthly tone not unlike that of a toddler in the middle of a tantrum.

After a few seconds and several failed attempts at asking the question everyone wanted the answer to, Draco pulled his wand from his pocket and pointed it at his father's throat. "Silencio!" he hissed, his eyes flashing dangerously as the room fell quiet again.

"Thank you," Hermione said primly, balling her hands into fists to keep them from shaking. She turned her gaze to Harry. "Was he in Paris?"

Harry nodded. "Yes; not the smartest decision he's ever made." He shot a glare at Lucius, who was mouthing wildly back at him. "He was in the Malfoy cottage with another House Elf." Harry turned his attention to Draco. "Roch?"

Draco's eyes grew wide. "Yes, he maintains the Paris cottage."

"He's okay," Harry said quickly, "but there was a bit of a struggle." He indicated Lucius with a scowl. "We had Roch taken to the hospital there."

Hermione ground her teeth together, rage building within her. She had never been one for physical violence unless incredibly worked up, such as when she punched Draco in third year, or absolute necessity such as during the war. However, in this moment the urge to leap forward and take to Lucius with her knuckles and fingernails was almost overwhelming.

"Lucius?"

Hermione whipped around at the same time as Draco. "Narcissa? You shouldn't—"

"I'm fine." Narcissa was coming down the stairs behind them, leaning heavily on the bannister.

Draco rushed towards her, taking her other hand and helping her the rest of the way down. When they reached the foyer, Hermione turned to look at Lucius. He was sneering at Narcissa, as if she was something filthy in his otherwise pristine house.

He mouthed something and Narcissa frowned. "I'm sorry Lucius, what was that?" Again, Lucius tried to speak but was unable to do so. Narcissa smirked and Lucius glared back, hatred burning in his eyes.

Narcissa indicated to Draco that he should undo the spell. Draco huffed, clearly displeased, but he waved his wand and non-verbally lifted the silencing charm from his father.

"You're awake." Lucius said.

"And you've been arrested. Again." Narcissa clasped her hands in front of her and surveyed Lucius as though he was a particularly thrilling Arithmancy problem.

Hermione almost choked on a laugh. Narcissa may be weak, but she could still deliver one hell of a verbal barb. Lucius' lip curled even further and his eyes narrowed to slits.

"You can't do this to me!" he hissed.

"I'm not doing anything to you, Lucius." Narcissa took a step forward so that she was standing in front of her husband, close enough to reach out and touch him should she want to. Hermione was grateful for the rope binding Lucius; he would not be able to lash out. "As usual, the only person you can truly blame for your current predicament is yourself." She offered him a half-hearted shrug and Lucius growled.

Draco had his wand pointing towards his father's chest in an instant, but Narcissa waved him off.

"I should have known you would ruin everything," Lucius snarled.

"As I understand it, you were the one who has ruined everything. You always did have a knack for forcing our son into situations he did not desire." She lifted her chin slightly as her gaze raked over his bound form. "I assure you, Lucius, that all of the problems you have created for Draco since your release will be undone before you have had the chance to properly settle into your cell."

The way Narcissa spoke, so low and soft yet full of threat and promise reminded Hermione eerily of Bellatrix. There was something to be said for family resemblance, but in this moment Narcissa looked strong and purposeful, not demented and deranged. An odd mix of pride and vindication swelled within Hermione's chest and she had to fight the urge to applaud as Narcissa stepped backwards.

"One last thing before you go," she said, arching an eyebrow in a bored sort of way. "I want a divorce."

With that, she turned on her heel and made her way back towards Draco and Hermione. It was the most strength Hermione had seen her possess, and she couldn't help the smile curving on her lips as the Malfoy matriarch settled beside her again.

Lucius opened his mouth to retaliate, but Draco was too quick for him. Silenced once again, Lucius began to thrash against his restraints. Before Ron and his colleague had to wrestle him into submission, Harry muttered, "Petrificus Totalus," and Lucius was instantly still and rigid.

"Well, we'd better get going." Harry nodded at Ron and his partner who began to shuffle towards the door, dragging Lucius like a leaden statue between them.

"Thank you, Harry," Hermione stepped forward and took his hands in hers.

"It's the least I could do," he said quietly. "I am sorry if I upset you this morning…" He trailed off, glancing briefly at Draco before making eye contact with Hermione again. "And I'm sorry for being such a prat these past few months."

Hermione smiled as tears began to prick at the corner of her eyes. Whether they were from happiness, relief, or a mixture of several emotions currently swimming in her belly, she wasn't sure. "Apology accepted," she whispered before tugging Harry into a tight hug.

"I need to go," Harry said, indicating the door behind him with a jerk of his thumb, "but we should catch up soon… brunch?"

Hermione nodded, releasing his hands as he stepped backwards. "Sure," she said. "I'd like that."

"I'll owl you." Harry grinned, stepping forward so that he could offer his hand to Draco.

"Thank you, Potter," Draco said, squeezing Harry's hand once. "Really."

"Don't mention it." Harry grimaced. "It's so weird, you showing appreciation."

Draco's lips twitched in a way that made Hermione believe that he wanted to smile in response. Instead, he schooled his features and simply nodded as Harry moved to say goodbye to Narcissa and then left swiftly through the front door.

"Well," Narcissa said, "I don't know about you two—" she indicated Draco and then Hermione by pointing at them in turn "—but I could really use a drink."