November 3rd

Slicing William Wood's throat open with a spell was immensely satisfying for Hermione. Though it was an act that she'd committed numerous times over her years as a Death Eater, especially when she was an interrogator, somehow it had never felt so good before. Not even Theodore Nott Senior's execution felt so good. While there was a part of her that could sympathize with the dead wizard and his desire to avenge his murdered younger brother, she mostly didn't care. She killed Oliver Wood because she had to. Either he was going to die alone or she was going to die right along with him. It didn't make the least bit of sense to sacrifice her life for someone that was going to die either way. Anyone who couldn't understand her reasoning was clearly not intelligent enough to understand logic.

She returned to the Three Broomsticks shortly after she left Ginny's house. What was going to be done with Wood's body wasn't a concern of hers or Rodolphus'. In twenty years, she couldn't recall very many instances that she worried much about a person's remains once she killed them. Their world was only for the living. She allowed other people to worry about the dead. Because of the late hour, no one was downstairs when she pushed open the door to the iconic establishment. Not even Thorfinn and he was usually always there. Once she took a long, hot shower to clean the filth of the night from her skin, including an impressive amount of blood on her face that splashed back when she slit his throat, Hermione slipped under the covers of the bed and fell deep asleep.

There would be no public mourning for the wizard she killed. His name wouldn't appear even in a short blurb in the Daily Prophet. Only the most senior and feared Resistance members were ever mentioned in print. Perhaps there would be some within the ranks of the Resistance that would be saddened to hear of his passing, but she didn't care. He was like a rabid dog that needed to be put down out of its misery. There would be no peace for Hermione in a world where he still lived. As excellent as she felt after killing Wood, she hoped that she wouldn't have to wait too long before she could repeat it with Aubin. She just had to find him first.

One of Rosmerta's barmaids carried a plate piled high with breakfast across the main room to Hermione's table only moments after she finally emerged from her room. Torture and murder could be exhausting. She'd spent much of the previous day asleep. Utilizing the amount of dark magic that she did for a long period of time could be quite draining. She was still tired and could've probably slept the rest of a second day away if she desired. When she saw the front page of that morning's Daily Prophet, all hint of exhaustion disappeared. Her loud, unexpected laughter caught several in the Three Broomsticks off-guard. It was a sound that wasn't always positive when it came out of her mouth.

"I can't believe he actually did it."

She didn't care that she was talking to herself. Splashed across the front page was a wedding announcement. Though usually banished to the back pages of the newspaper, the sudden and unexpected elopement of the Daily Prophet's newest Senior Reporter was big news. Alecto Carrow was officially Alecto Carrow-Rookwood. The horrible witch that no one ever thought would get married somehow managed to snag herself the respected former Ambassador of sorts to France as a husband. Even seeing a picture of the 'happy' couple sealing their vows with a kiss in a moving picture was hard to fathom.

Alecto was a truly desperate woman. Hermione didn't believe for a single second that the witch that had once been considered a close friend truly loved Augustus. No, he was simply an opportunity. She'd never once even hinted at it, but she didn't believe Alecto had ever been in a relationship long enough or serious enough for marriage to even be a consideration. It was why she didn't doubt that she would jump at the chance to marry Augustus if he simply asked.

Hermione felt sorry for her ex-lover. After finally getting out of his first horrible marriage, he jumped right into another with a woman that was even nastier. But, she did promise to make him a widower early on. Once Augustus was allowed to be a part of Rodolphus' plans, she would get rid of his pesky inconvenience of a wife. Maybe after Alecto's untimely death he could move on and find a woman he loved that could love him back the way he deserved. That woman certainly wasn't Hermione. She would bring him nothing but even more misery. Possibly even more than both of the other women he'd already married combined.

No longer the least bit interested in finishing her breakfast, Hermione stood up from the table and immediately went outside. It was likely wiser to wait until it was dark to track down her husband again, but she wanted to talk to him. Was he aware of the reason for Augustus marrying Alecto? She wanted him to know that he was doing what he could to become another person on the inside for their benefit. Considering all that Rodolphus did to Hermione, Augustus wasn't foolish enough to fall into his trap and actually believe his rubbish. At least Hermione didn't think he would. She had to confess that sometimes, especially after thirteen years away from the wizard while he was stuck in France under the Dark Lord's orders, she didn't exactly know the man. Not like she used to. Of course, maybe she never knew him to begin with. Maybe she never knew anyone. Their world wasn't exactly one that was conducive to being entirely open and honest with those in similar circles.

She was surprised to track Antonin back to the same holiday cottage he'd been in when she spent those enjoyable two nights with him. Wasn't it unsafe for him to be in the same places for long? He was operating outside of the norm, rubbing elbows with the scum of the Resistance. Every day he was in danger. For what, she was still not sure. Her husband, just like Rodolphus, was playing a game she didn't know all of the rules to. It was exhausting.

Antonin answered the door after her first knock. Seemingly in a rush to pull open the door, he was surprised to find his wife standing just outside. Hermione wondered if he was expecting someone else and if so, who? A stab of jealousy pricked at her heart.

"Disappointed it's me?"

His kiss did nothing to dispel the feeling that he didn't really want her there. It was something that she'd felt many times over the years they'd been married. In the past when she was drugged out of her mind on her potions and didn't care much for her husband to begin with, she didn't mind. In that moment, however, she felt the urge to run away to lick her wounds in private. So much happened since the night the Lestrange brothers were successful in tearing down the united front that they'd been able to develop and strengthen.

"Of course I'm not disappointed to see you, Hermione. Just surprised. Come inside."

He ushered her back inside the cottage. Memories of the two nights she spent there flashed through her mind. For the first time since that horrible night Oliver was attacked at Hogwarts, she'd actually believed they would be okay when they were wrapped in each other's arms. Once Antonin was her best friend, the one person she trusted more than any other. How did they get to the place where she didn't even think he wanted her in the same room?

"I assumed you would've moved on to somewhere else by now."

Antonin shrugged his shoulders.

"It's quiet here and those who need to know where I am know about this place."

She hated that she felt so uncomfortable around the man she married. But, instead of dwelling on the awkwardness of their meeting, she changed the subject to something she knew he would want to know.

"I found Aubin and William Wood two nights ago. Wood is dead."

His wide eyes proved that he didn't already know what happened. If he'd been in contact with Ginny, she would've told him everything. Though it was the smallest bit of reassurance that he wasn't still having clandestine meetings with the bitch, it helped calm Hermione only slightly. She worried that she would always feel jealousy when it came to Ginny. Didn't even matter that the younger witch was under the impression that Antonin wasn't in love with her. Ginny had a way, even when they were much younger and still friends, of bringing out the insecurities in Hermione that very few others had. She felt in most ways that she fell short when she was compared next to the pretty Quidditch player that all of the boys in the castle liked. Some insecurities would never go away.

"What happened?"

"I killed Wood. But, he was able to give me some information about the Resistance and a few other matters."

"Like what?"

"Oh, nothing all that interesting, honestly, but it didn't take much to crack him. Even if I didn't hate him so much, I would've killed him just to put him out of his misery. Pathetic really."

She wasn't sure why she wasn't rushing to tell Antonin that Aubin was the one who murdered Hannah. Wasn't that just the sort of thing that Thorfinn needed to know? The massive wizard wouldn't rest until the monster who murdered his precious wife was in pieces. Something in the back of her mind told her to keep that secret to herself for the time being. Maybe it would work to her benefit later. William Wood confessed that the reason Aubin suspected Hannah was the Secret Keeper was because he'd been watching his cottage for days before they attacked them in Hogsmeade. When the only person that came and went from the cottage other than the Dolohovs was Hannah, he made an assumption. Aubin was cruel enough that he was willing to just assume that Hannah was the one he needed to kill. If she wasn't, he would've just moved on to the next suspect. The callous manner in which he murdered an innocent woman would've sent both Thorfinn and Antonin into terrifying fits of rage. She wanted to wait until the perfect moment to drop that bombshell. Mostly because she wanted to be present when he was eradicated from existence.

Providing only the barest of details, she explained how she tracked Wood to Ginny's house. Her husband shifted uncomfortably when he discovered that his former mistress was responsible for harboring the fugitive. Hermione left out all mention of Maisie, of course, and didn't explain the depths of depravity Aubin fell to in his quest to run away. She also didn't mention that Rodolphus was there with her. Antonin wouldn't have approved of her utilizing the wizard for any reason. In his mind, she needed to stay as far away from him as physically possible.

"But my brother?"

"Got away, I'm afraid. I thought I was tracking him, but I was actually tracking Wood. I have no idea where Aubin is."

Antonin pulled her back into his arms to kiss her for a second time. Though not as stiff as the first kiss he offered in greeting, it still felt strange. Almost as if he was doing it simply because it was what he was expected to do. She wanted to be no one's obligation.

"I'm so glad that you're all right."

She didn't doubt his words, but she couldn't deny that something felt off between them. Had she imagined that they were on a better footing after the last couple of times they'd been together? Even when they were back in Aubin's cottage and he'd taken her in a fit of passion on the sofa, she worried that she was imagining that he was upset with her. Likely he could tell that she was keeping secrets from him. Just like she could tell he was as well. Remembering what happened only a short time after she left the cottage, Hermione decided to confess to the kiss she shared with Rodolphus in the middle of the Three Broomsticks.

"I didn't mean for it to happen. It just did."

There was a small smile on his face, but Hermione didn't get the impression that he believed what she was saying. At the very least he appeared to be struggling. Annoyed and feeling defensive, she practically barked out a question.

"Do you not believe me?"

He wouldn't answer immediately. She could feel anger rising up inside of her, looking for an outlet.

"I thought you were all for me moving back in with you. Didn't you promise me that I never had to be alone again if I just said the word?"

With a deep sigh, Antonin wasn't in the mood to continue their discussion. Hermione knew the signs. She'd learned to pay attention to them for twenty years.

"And I meant it… until Thorfinn told me about Rodolphus entering your room. He listened at the door. Said it didn't sound like you were upset he was there."

"That's not true. I was terrified. He caught me when I was in the bath and…"

In the middle of her explanation, Hermione stopped. She couldn't believe they were actually having the discussion they were. Did Antonin truly believe that she was in some sort of sordid relationship with Rodolphus? Maybe she was in the past, but that was before she knew about what he'd done to her mind. Frustration unlike any she'd experienced in a long time washed over her in heavy waves. Why did everything fall apart just when things started looking up for her? Would she ever find even the tiniest bit of happiness to cling to and call her own?

"Choose to believe what you wish, Antonin. I'm done trying to convince you."

As she walked out the door, she dropped his cherished watch to the floor. The thud it made when it hit the hardwood echoed in her ears. She meant what she said. And the fact that Antonin didn't say a word in response or try to get her to stop was also telling.