January 31st

Hermione wrenched her arm out of Augustus' grip with an annoyed huff. With her hand free she slapped at his slightly pudgy stomach. It was just barely beginning to show the hints of a little extra weight that always seemed to affect those nearing middle age. The slap wasn't hard enough to hurt, of course. Just enough to make him laugh.

"Don't call me that, Augie."

"It's your name, is it not?"

She narrowed her eyes to glare at him. Far from being frightened of her angry expression, he just laughed again. Augustus laughed a lot. It was one of his traits that was most endearing and most obnoxious. Sometimes he wanted to joke around and laugh when she was absolutely not in the mood. Making the conscious decision to be serious, he removed all hints of mirth from his face to stare at her with concern.

"It's not safe for you to be out here. You realize your husband is inside?"

Thinking about Antonin being in the same country was difficult enough. She loathed the man every bit as much as she respected him. To remember the parts of him that she didn't completely despise, she had to think of him as two people: her teacher and her husband. Perhaps it wouldn't make sense to anyone else if she tried to explain, but it worked for her. When her husband frustrated her enough to make her seriously contemplate murdering him, she pushed aside all that she hated to focus on him only as her teacher and revered mentor. Her mind could get messy and confusing at times. No one understood that better than she did.

"Why is everyone here? What's going on?"

"Hermione, you need to get somewhere safe before Antonin discovers you're out here. He might already suspect. Subtlety isn't exactly Allie's strength. She told me she thought you'd be nearby. He probably saw us talking inside."

Anyone who didn't know Antonin Dolohov on a personal level might be surprised to learn that he not only had a fiery temper that terrified his enemies, but he also struggled with fierce and all-consuming jealousy. A great deal set him off. Before they were ordered to marry each other, he was always angry when she would leave the house they lived in together without him. There had been no reason to move out of his home after she'd proven herself to be a loyal Death Eater. He had plenty of space and he certainly wasn't in a rush to fill it with the presence of another witch. Hermione stayed because it was easy. When another young recruit moved into the attic and she took the spare bedroom next to Antonin's, they became almost like peers. She still respected him and had a great deal to learn from him. He, however, had selfish reasons for not suggesting she find different accommodations.

"Why is everyone here?"

She wasn't going to be deterred in getting her answers. Something big was going on, she could feel it. Even Augustus seemed out of sorts and uncomfortable. He rarely had a single moment when he wasn't completely confident. It was a subtle difference in his bearing, something that most people would have never even picked up on. But, Hermione wasn't 'most people'.

"You really need to leave. It's not safe. Do you want to go back home with Antonin? Because he's determined to find you."

"He wants to find me to kill me, not bring me back home."

The expression on her old friend's face was difficult to decipher. He wrinkled up his forehead, tilted his head slightly, and just stared at her without speaking. Almost as if he was confused by the very words that had come out of her mouth. There was something bothering him, something that he wasn't eager to speak about. Hermione could only imagine.

"I don't think he wants to kill you."

She scoffed. Clearly, he hadn't heard the story of her dramatic escape from the clutches of her madman husband. It all became too much for her one day. Their son had just had his birthday. Eleven. He'd been excited for weeks about the party that his parents were throwing for him. All of his little mates were invited, and thanks to the Dark Lord's insistence that his Death Eaters have as many children as possible, there were many. She'd been in the kitchen when her irate husband came storming in, angry about something she'd done or failed to do. She was forgetting the details. He'd grabbed her arm. Like he'd done a thousand times before. Except that time, she was tired.

Not wishing to allow her mind to go down that treacherous path, Hermione shook her head and muttered to herself to stop dwelling on the past. She met Augustus' worried eyes with a determination that made it clear she would not be persuaded to give up her questions.

"I wasn't invited tonight. Why? My arm didn't burn."

"Hermione, I think you should…"

"No, Augie! Tell me."

Her voice was carrying further than their hiding place. Fearful that she was about to give up their position, Augustus pulled her closer to him and frantically searched the immediate area for eavesdroppers. They were playing a dangerous game. If Antonin suspected he was hiding the whereabouts of his wife from him, he wouldn't be pleased. And when Antonin wasn't pleased, he was frightening. Only when he was satisfied that no one was around did he sigh and turn his attention back to her.

"This isn't the best place to have this discussion."

"Then let's leave. Let's go somewhere you can actually talk to me."

"Hermione…"

"Damn it, Augie! Stop. Tell me."

He made a quick plan. And like he always did, he didn't feel the need to let Hermione in on the details. He pointed his wand at her head and muttered an incantation that made her flinch. She didn't think he would hurt her, but she couldn't be sure. When she felt the hair on her head begin to grow longer at an alarming pace, she grabbed the ends to see he'd also adjusted the shade. Blonde had never been great for her coloring. She was about to ask what he was doing when he scooped her up like she weighed no more than a small child and threw her body over his shoulder. Her first instinct was to kick and scream and demand that he let her go. Augustus patted her arse in an overly familiar manner that would've gotten him a slap to the face or a kick to the bollocks if she'd been capable.

"Keep up that act, sweet. It'll serve you well."

She continued to struggle with him up until the door to the tavern opened and she had the sickening realization that he'd actually brought her inside the Leaky Cauldron. Loud, raucous voices that she knew all too well could be heard all over the bustling main room. There was a great deal of laughter and that was never a good sign when the space was filled with Death Eaters. What was Augustus doing? She thought she could trust him. Clearly, she'd been wrong.

"What'd you have there, Gus?"

Hermione recognized the voice belonging to Rabastan Lestrange. There was a note of amusement in it that didn't bode well for her situation. Before Augustus responded, his large hand slapped her arse again and he began squeezing and pinching it. She felt humiliated and violated all at once.

"Just a pretty little poppet I found outside. Stupid Muggle didn't watch where she was going. Think I might have to teach her a lesson."

The sudden burst of amused laughter from several of the attendees was harsh to Hermione's ears. She was grateful for the long curtain of unnaturally blonde hair covering her red face. Her fear raged with her good senses. If she was spotted by her husband or any of his loyal comrades, she would worry about it then. Getting away from Augustus seemed to be her best option. When she renewed her struggles to get out of his grasp, he tightened his grip and laughed.

"She's got a bit of spirit in her, doesn't she?" Rabastan's laughter was chilling. "Perhaps when you've taught her a lesson, you'll be kind enough to share."

"If there's anything left of her, I promise, Rabby, you'll be the first I owl."

Augustus pushed past the crowd of Death Eaters to make his way the staircase that led to the private rooms. If she hadn't have been so terribly frightened, she might have seen the sense in bringing her into the midst of the animals. Who would suspect that she was there with them? No one. But, Hermione wasn't able to think clearly. Her brain felt fuzzy and she was so very tired.

"Great show down there, love. You did exactly as you should've."

He didn't put her down until they were inside his room and the door was completely shut and properly warded. Carefully, Augustus laid her down on top of the large bed dominating the space. It was so warm and soft that Hermione thought she might be able to fall asleep right there even without knowing all of the answers to her questions. Augustus placed the back of his hand on her cheeks, then her forehead.

"You're burning up, Hermione."

She couldn't argue with the man. Even if the room was warm and the fire was blazing in the grate, her entire body was chilled. At least her feverish thoughts made a bit of sense. It was difficult for her to concentrate.

"Here. Drink this."

At first she was tempted to push the vial away. What if this was all a ruse on Augustus' part? What if Antonin had gotten to him? She didn't think he would ever trade loyalties, but stranger things had happened. But, the bed was so soft and the room was so warm. She felt safe for the first time in a long time. Augustus coaxed her into drinking the contents of the vial and instantly she felt a heaviness in her eyes. Before she fell deep asleep, she thought she felt him kiss her forehead and promise that no one would come in that door as long as he was there.