Talk about a cliffhanger! Oh, this chapter is going to be so fun to write! Hermione is on her way to Malfoy Manor to see… Malfoy? We'll find out. Continue reviewing guys! I love to hear from you. You can always message me if you'd like, I always reply. I've been getting the kindest messages from you all! It seriously makes my day! Feel free to follow me on Twitter: breanne_dodds and Insta: breannesawriter ; if you're interested in my personal life :P ZephyrLegend – You'll find out what happens, but it won't be like you're expecting :P Pgoodrichboggs – That is such a good analogy! The question is, seeing as what Voldemort's been doing to the Muggleborns, will he do the same to Hermione and will Draco be able to keep his cover? Guest – It will take an emotional toll on both of them, and we'll find out how they handle it!

Chapter 24:

When Draco heard his Aunt Bellatrix's evil laugh, he knew something wasn't right. She never laughed unless she was either harming someone or excited. Neither of two meant well for the person on the other end of it. He had been beckoned to the sitting room after his mother had come and gotten him, telling him that they were needed, but did not know what for. Draco followed his mother, dressed in her normal long black gown with long sleeves, and a corset, into the sitting room to see about eleven people standing, arguing back and forth. Someone had caught someone, and this someone was really important, and all would be forgiven for the Malfoy name… He was forced to stay behind his mother, even though he was tall, he still could barely see Bellatrix in the middle of the crowd.

He knew enough not to ask what was going on… If they had caught another Muggleborn and insisted on doing the same thing that they done to Emma Magunson, Draco would turn and walk out the other door, right out of the house, right out of the gardens, right into the lake, and drown himself. He heard more laughing, and saw Bellatrix jumping with glee and his mother straightened her chest. They knew this was not good. Draco hadn't noticed his father was in the middle of the crowd either until he emerged, his face light and happy as he approached his family.

"They've caught him!" Lucius said gleefully. Draco's eyes widened as he craned his neck to try to see. "Oh, Cissa, do you know what this means?"

"Indeed I do, Lucius," she replied coolly, and watched as her sister gleefully pranced around the room. "Do you know for sure?"

"Draco? Why don't you take a look?" Lucius insisted, his eyes commanding.

Draco clenched his jaw into the still position he had learned to keep it in, only to keep up appearances. He knew he could not say no, especially to his father. So, he nodded, and took a step forward, seeing that Harry Potter was indeed on the floor of his sitting room. A bit of a shock though it was, he saw Potter looking at him, and noticed that he looked as though he hadn't slept well or ate right in weeks. He nodded to his father, and when his eyes landed on Ron, he nodded the confirmation that Ron was indeed Ron as well. But, Draco's heart stopped when his eyes landed on the third person they were holding. Hermione.

When Hermione saw Draco emerge from where his father and mother were, her heart stopped. He had come back to Voldemort… and he was dressed in an expensive black tuxedo and groomed like a Malfoy; not one blonde hair on his head was out of place. She was gagged, but if she wasn't, a list of profanities would have streamed out of her mouth at the man she loved, and maybe it would have gotten her killed, but she seemed to not have a care in the world about her life these days. He had correctly identified Ron and Harry, and she couldn't deny that the cool in his voice made her worst fears come true. He had turned. He was one of them again.

Damn her. Damn her for ever thinking he could change. Damn her for falling in love with him. Damn her struggling against her captors, and damn Draco Malfoy for staring at her so harshly, in the way he always had when he was mad at her. It was as though the six months she had spent with him didn't matter. He had returned back to his old ways, and she knew right then and there that she would be killed the moment he revealed her true identity, and that would be the end of her. Be the end of their relationship. The wizarding world would fall to Voldemort because Draco Malfoy would not make the right decision. In her heart, Hermione was sure of it.

His father had to give him a nudge to go look over Hermione. Draco's feet were rooted to the floor until the excited shove from his father willed them to move. He took long strides, unsure of what to think or do, as he approached her. She was struggling, just as he expected her too. She had probably thought he had turned, and he had to keep up appearances. He was formulating a plan to save her as he leaned down in front of her. Her brown eyes were angry, and there were tears falling down her cheeks, wetting the gag that was in her mouth. He wanted to take it out, but he knew if he did, she would scream and carry on at him. He couldn't allow that.

So, he did what a good Death Eater would have done. He informed everyone in the room that it was indeed Hermione Granger, the Mudblood that was traveling with Harry Potter. He saw the loathing in her eyes as he said it and it broke his heart into a million pieces. But, then, he turned to his father, a cold look on his face, and requested to take her. Narcissa's eyes were warning, but Lucius agreed, saying that his son was finally understanding the spoils of war. He permitted it, much to Draco's surprise.

He ignored Ron's screaming as he pulled Hermione up by her arm. She stared at him with a loathing that made him angry, and she tried to pull out of his grip, but he held her arm tighter, and eyed her warningly in the most evil way he could. She stopped then, allowing him to pull her out of the room and into the hallway outside. Ron was still screaming for him to let her go, but Draco had noticed the way Harry had studied his move on Hermione, and knew that he might have understood what was going on.

As soon as they were out of earshot and almost to the other wing of the Manor, Draco opened one of the spare rooms and shoved her in it. Then closed and locked the door and cast a silencing charm. He turned to face her and before she could do anything, he pushed her against the opposite wall of the dark room. Hermione stiffened, and he could see the fear in her eyes at him being this close to her. His hands came up to her face and untied her gag, letting it fall to the ground.

And then he kissed her. Mostly so she wouldn't start screaming at him. For so long, he had thought about her, her kisses, her eyes, her body… And now, she was here, in his home. Granted, it wasn't the best of circumstances, but she was here. And to his surprise, she kissed him back. Her lips moved against his quickly, and her hands cupped his cheeks. Only when he had to stop for breath did he pull away and look her in her beautiful eyes.

"I've got to get you out of here."

Hermione didn't speak, just stared at him. When she finally did, it took her a moment to process everything that was happening. "Why… are you here?"

"It's a long story," Draco replied and kissed her lips again. "But, for the time being, we have a moment."

"You-Know-Who will be here any minute to kill Harry!" Hermione replied, trying to get around Draco now. He had to grab her arms and hold her in place.

"No, he won't. They haven't called him, and they won't call him yet," Draco insisted and pushed her back against the wall. "Just stop, for one second."

Hermione stopped and stared into the grey eyes of the man she loved, her cheeks still stained with tears. Draco thought that in that moment she had never looked so beautiful. She sighed and Draco took the moment to push a strand of stray curl behind her ear.

"I didn't turn, Hermione," Draco told her softly. "I'm here to help you find those bloody Horcruxes, and kill the Dark Bastard once and for all."

"How? How did you…" she trailed off, obviously confused at everything that was going on.

"It's a long story," he repeated and ran his fingers down her cheeks, savoring the softness of her skin. "I will tell you it soon, okay? But, I need to get you out of here."

"How do you plan to do that?" Hermione demanded, a look of desperation on her face. "I can't just walk out there and leave! Besides, what about Ron and Harry?"

"Weasley may be a Blood Traitor, but he's a Pureblood," Draco mused. "You-Know-Who won't kill him. Potter… Potter probably won't be killed right away because he'll be shown off. But you… you will be."

Draco thought back to what he had witnessed with Emma and shuddered. He wouldn't be able to keep his cover if anything like that happened to Hermione, of that he could be damn sure. So, he just took a moment and ran his fingers over her skin, trying to calm her down, and savor the moments while he could. He studied her, remembered her, and went on with the next step of his plan.

"You have to trust me," Draco told her sternly. "Can you do that?"

Hermione looked at him almost robustly. "I don't have a choice, do I?"

Draco couldn't help himself, he kissed her again, wrapping his arms around her body and pulling her close to him. She was lifted off of her feet, and for the first time in a long time, both of their hearts were full.

When Hermione was approached by Malfoy, Harry had noticed his hesitation towards her. He never actually thoughthe would see the day when Hermione and Malfoy would be in the same room together, and this was hardly the time and place for it. But, he studied Malfoy's movements, tuning out Ron's screaming and carrying on. He had identified her in the most proper manner, his voice cold, and even colder when he asked to take her. Harry had assumed that meant to do terrible things to her, and so did everyone else in the room, Ron most of all. But, Harry saw the glare he had given her when he hoisted her onto her feet: a look of warning. And most importantly, when Hermione saw that warning, she stopped struggling.

He knew Malfoy would not harm her, especially because he loved her. For some unknown reason. But, Ron was still struggling and kicking as the two were placed in the center of the room and the Death Eaters and Snatchers left them to the other side of the sitting room, huddled around one another, talking in hushed whispers. And Ron was still screaming.

"Ron, shut up," Harry whispered to his friend.

Ron turned to stare at him. "Are you fucking kidding me? Malfoy just took Hermione!"

"He won't do anything bad to her, I promise," Harry said from between his teeth. "Seriously, Ron, just shut up and let me think."

"How do you know he won't? This is Malfoy we're talking about!" Ron growled desperately.

Harry knew he had to make a choice right then and there. He glanced at the Death Eaters, too occupied in their own discussion to pay the two any mind at the moment. He faced Ron the best he could and took a deep breath. This was also not how he planned to tell his friend about Hermione and Malfoy's relationship.

"He loves her," Harry said finally, studying his best friend's face.

"What?" Ron actually laughed. "I appreciate you trying to defuse the tension, Harry."

Harry cocked an eyebrow. "Ron, I'm serious."

"No, you're not, Harry. Just admit it: you're pulling my leg so I would laugh and shut up and let you think," Ron smiled. Harry rolled his eyes. At least Ron wasn't screaming anymore.

"Whatever floats your boat, Ron," Harry muttered. "But, when he doesn't harm her and she comes back here alive, you'll believe me."

Ron took a moment of silence to think about that statement while Harry's mind raced at a million miles per hour. He couldn't find any way out of this situation, especially since they were bound and wandless on the sitting room floor. He could only hope that Malfoy and Hermione were using – dare he say – the brilliant brains of theirs to get them out of there.

Draco wished that he would never be done kissing Hermione. Her lips were the perfect paradise in his world of hell. He was still trying to wrap his mind around the fact that she was here. A few plans came through his mind, but while they were kissing, what seemed like a foolproof one came to him. He pulled back and smiled at her.

"Why are you smiling?" she whispered, pecking at his lips. He could still feel the tension in her stance, and rested his nose against hers.

"Because, I have you, even if it's just for right now," replied Draco softly. He pulled away, seeing that it was raining outside now. The darkness mixed with the rain made for a sorrowful scene as he called for his houself. "Sparky?"

Within a moment, the elf was before him, and he crouched down to her level. Hermione watched him intently, wondering what in the world he could up too. She also remembered Lucius' treatment of Dobby and prayed Draco didn't treat Sparky the same way.

"Yes, Master?" she asked, her eyes trailing over to Hermione. "Master, is this…?"

"This is Hermione," Draco gestured towards the girl behind him. Hermione smiled at the elf, surprised that Draco had told Sparky about her. Sparky's tennis ball shaped eyes widened. "I need you to fetch Dobby. Tell him that it is his job to escort Harry Potter out of this house. Do you understand?"

Sparky nodded, and within a moment, she was gone. Draco turned to face Hermione, straightening his suit coat. Hermione raised an eyebrow in his direction. He was leaving their rescue up to Dobby, and that didn't settle well with her.

"Dobby?" Hermione asked.

"Yes," Draco said. "Hermione… you need to know that your friends are in the dungeons. Lovegood, Thomas, and Ollivander are all there."

Hermione involuntarily gasped, and her hand raised to her mouth. "We have to save them!"

"I'm working on that," Draco muttered and took her hand. "I'm going to take you back out into the sitting room. I need you to promise me that you won't do anything rash. We will handle getting you out of here. Hermione, promise me."

Hermione looked as though she was about to slap him. But she nodded. Draco reached down to the floor, and grabbed the gag off of it. He looked saddened as he tied it loosely between her lips again, and kissed them through the gag.

"Hermione –"

"I know," she whispered before he pulled it tightly, and knotted it behind her head.

"You will get out of here," he promised before squeezing her hand and leading her back over to the white double doors.

He didn't have to tell her to act the part; as it seemed that's what everyone was doing these days anyways. He grabbed her arm roughly, and pulled her down the hallway back to the other side of the Manor. Quite a few times, the two met eyes, hazel on grey, but did not attempt to speak to one another. As they neared the sitting room, they heard voices ringing loud and clear. They seemed to be arguing, but Draco paid no mind. He took a deep breath before throwing open the doors to the sitting room. Everyone in the room turned to stare at the two, and Hermione did her best to look weakened and devastated. She had even begun crying again, although that wasn't entirely all show. She was scared for her and her friend's lives.

Draco drug her over to Harry and Ron and threw her roughly down on the ground before being congratulated by Bellatrix and his father for a job well done. Hermione scrambled back to her friends before staring around her at the eyes of the prying Death Eaters. Honestly, she had never been more frightened in her entire life. She only hoped that Dobby would come through. Her eyes settled on Draco as he moved back to where his parents were standing. His father looked worse than he had on Christmas Eve, blackened circles under his eyes, and his features carved ever so sunken. His mother, however, stood in raw beauty. Her blue eyes held the power of dignity, and it wasn't hard for Hermione to picture her betraying Voldemort.

"I told you, Ron," Harry murmured as the Death Eaters went back to discussing business.

Ron turned to face Hermione the best he could. "What did he do to you?"

Hermione spit the gag out of her mouth and narrowed her eyes at Harry. "What did you tell him, Harry?"

Harry looked frightened in that moment. "That Malfoy wouldn't hurt you."

"He didn't," Hermione told them.

Ron's eyes bulged open as he stared back and forth between Draco and Hermione. "Harry – you weren't lying. How the fuck – he's the one?"

Hermione sighed. Wonderful. "May I remind you now is not the time, Ronald? We're tied up on his sitting room floor."

"Yeah, great boyfriend you have, Hermione," Ron muttered as his face grew more and more red.

"Shut up," she hissed at him.

She noticed that the Snatchers and Death Eaters were going through her bag now. Lucius and Bellatrix were arguing about who would summon Voldemort. Draco moved so that the trio could see him, and he stood diagonally to them, next to his mother. He tapped his left arm twice, so that they knew Voldemort had not been called yet. Hermione looked to Ron and raised her eyebrows, as though to tell him to shove it. Ron bit his lip, but studied Draco. As the arguing continued, Draco tapped his wrist three times: they were running out of time.

"STOP!" came Bellatrix's shrill cry. Everyone in the room ceased their movements and turned to face her, even Draco. Lucius was about to touch his Dark Mark and summon Voldemort. "DO NOT touch it, Lucius! If you do, all of us will perish!"

Lucius froze with his finger still hovered over his Dark Mark and everyone in the room watched Bellatrix's haunting form as she stalked over to one of the Snatchers. Draco saw it was a sword; the sword of Gryffindor. As Bellatrix moved, he turned to Hermione and met her eyes. He mouthed "the sword", and Hermione shook her head. They had found the sword. There was some arguing Hermione couldn't comprehend before six flashes of red lights rang out. The Snatchers had been stunned.

"Where did you get this?" Bellatrix snarled to one of them. "Snape sent this to my vault in Gringotts!"

"It was in their bag," came a strangled reply from one of the Snatchers.

"DRACO! Move this scum outside, and if you don't have the guts to finish them, I will later," Bellatrix commanded her nephew. Draco's eyes narrowed, and Hermione felt her heart begin to pound inside of her chest.

"Don't you dare speak to my son like that –" Narcissa said furiously, but Bellatrix cut her off.

"Be quiet, Cissy! The situation has become a lot graver than you could imagine!"

"Oh, I could imagine quite a bit, Bella," Narcissa's voice was dangerously quiet and still.

Bellatrix looked as though she was deep in thought. "The prisoners must be placed in the cellar until I come up with a plan of what to do."

Narcissa held her ground. "You do not order me around in my home."

Hermione found herself admiring Draco's mother, and realized why he said they would have gotten along well. Narcissa was an older version of herself, except more distinguished. Draco's eyes darted back and forth between his mother and Aunt, waiting to see what became of the argument. He had instinctively moved in front of Hermione as though to protect her. She saw Bellatrix pacing through his legs, and craned her neck to see Narcissa's arms cross over her chest.

"We are in danger! Do you not understand?!" Bellatrix shrieked. "Do as I tell you!"

Narcissa hesitated for a moment before turning herself to one of the Snatchers. "Greyback, take the prisoners down to the dungeons, please."

"Wait," Bellatrix stopped pacing and faced the three prisoners. "Except… except for the Mudblood."

Hermione felt her heart constrict. Harry's eyes widened, and he looked to Hermione and then to Draco. Draco's jaw clenched and his hand reached for his wand. It was halfway out of its pocket before his mother placed a hand over his and forced him to put it back. Ron was screaming all over again. They watched as Bellatrix stalked over to Ron and hit him across the face.

"Shut your mouth! If she dies under my questioning, you'll be next. You may be a Pureblood, but being a Blood Traitor is next to being a Mudblood in my book," she hissed at him. She turned to the Snatcher. "Greyback, secure them downstairs. Do nothing more to them."

Draco made his move to protect Hermione from his crazy Aunt before his mother grabbed his arm and drug him a few feet back. His eyes met Hermione's; her brown ones were fearful as Harry and Ron were drug away from her. Bellatrix grabbed a fistful of her hair only to be met by a scream from Hermione. Draco tensed and made to bolt after her, not caring who saw or what they saw. Narcissa held him back, squeezing his arm tightly.

"Draco, do not," Narcissa hissed in his ear.

"She will die," Draco turned to his mother.

"She won't," Narcissa replied. "I'm assuming you've already put a plan in motion to save her."

Draco turned from his mother back to where Hermione was drug on the floor. He willed himself to say silent and still as Bellatrix paced around her like she was a cat and Hermione was her prey. She held her wand out in front of her, panting slightly, getting ready for the interrogation. Draco matched the evil look on his father's face, but instead of it being directed towards Hermione, Draco's was directed towards his Aunt. He watched as Bellatrix began her questioning, demanding where they found the sword. Draco knew Hermione would rather die than give up any information pertaining too Potter's quest to destroy the Horcruxes. That right there was enough to drive the young Malfoy up a wall.

"You're lying, you filthy Mudblood!" Bellatrix screamed. Draco willed himself to watch as Bellatrix pounced on the woman he loved and held a silver knife to her throat. "Tell me the truth! You've been inside my vault at Gringotts! TELL ME THE TRUTH!"

On the many times that Draco had wanted to kill his Aunt, now would be the most prevalent time. Narcissa watched her son closely, watched the hate in his eyes grow to the point of blindness. He was truly in love with Hermione – of that she could be certain. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been stepping forward for what seemed like the hundredth time, and having her pull him back. Narcissa wasn't a fool; she knew he wouldn't be able to stand watching Hermione be killed.

After countless questions without the right answers, Bellatrix began to use the Cruitatius Cruse on Hermione. The first time she had said it, Hermione screamed so loud that it shook the very walls of Malfoy Manor. Draco gritted his teeth as he watched her squirm on the floor of his sitting room, and tuned out the cries from the dungeons begging to let her go. Even as Bellatrix continued asking questions of Hermione, her stubbornness would not be depleted. She continued to lie, and although Draco admired her pride, he could not see using it sacrifice her life.

Bellatrix was an evil woman. So evil that she would inflict the worst possible torture and pain on someone as she knew how to do. When she hadn't gotten the answers she so desperately needed, her thirst for bloodlust kicked in and she straddled Hermione, holding her down to the ground and placed her wand on the right arm. She yelled the Cruico again, and Hermione's screams echoed off the walls and stung Draco like physical pain. He wanted to go to her – wanted to help – but he knew he couldn't. Just watching her lay there, helpless, was the most unbearable torture he had ever received.

There was blood and Hermione's whimpers and screams rushing down the wooden floor. He remembered when he had first seen her blood: it was just like his. Nothing was separating them, nothing was different, except she was too stubborn and he was rooted. Draco couldn't make out exactly what Bellatrix was doing, but she was enjoying it, of that he could be sure. She was demeaning Hermione in every way, and Draco tried desperately to meet Hermione's eyes. When she finally turned her head to him, he almost exploded in rage. Her eyes were bloodshot, and tears ran down her cheeks. Bellatrix was busy doing something to Hermione's arm, but he could tell Hermione was not willing herself to scream. She wouldn't give Bellatrix the pleasure.

Hermione was so weak she couldn't even mouth "help me" to Draco. She just hoped her eyes would tell him. Even as she looked into his eyes, laying there, helpless and allowing the sinister witch to carve into her skin, she noticed he was paler than usual and a lot angrier. He looked as though he could kill someone – and Hermione was sure he could. After what felt like an eternity, Bellatrix whispered something about her being marked, and she felt the woman's weight come off of her. It was only then that she heard Narcissa telling Bellatrix she would read Hermione's mind, as Bellatrix needed to figure out a plan for the Dark Lord. Reluctantly, Bellatrix agreed, and through the slits of her eyes, Hermione saw the nape of a black dress come forward and then the blonde hair of Narcissa Malfoy falling gently over her face.

Narcissa's hand cupped Hermione cheek and she whispered soothing things to her over and over again, and then raised her wand. Hermione felt her mind be invaded, and could tell Narcissa was searching for memories of Draco. Hermione was too weak to resist. She allowed Narcissa to see how they were when he showed up at her home in London, how they had fought, how he had helped them, their kisses, their fights, their love making, the night she had to trust Theo to get him to safety, how she had thought about him every day, his Patronus, how he had taken her just tonight, kissed her, and assured her that things would be okay. And eventually, how he had told Sparky to get Dobby. At that memory, Narcissa withdrew from Hermione's mind and pulled back. She gave Hermione's cheek one last stroke, and Hermione fought to stay conscience.

She saw and heard Bellatrix asking a Goblin if the sword was real. He had denied it and said it was a fake. She saw Bellatrix breathe a sigh of relief, and then lift her sleeve. She was prepared to call Voldemort. Hermione closed her eyes; this was the end. She would die on the floor of the sitting room in Malfoy Manor, just a few feet away from the man she loved. But, then, there was commotion. She heard Harry and Ron's voices, and then Draco's, and then Narcissa's again. Then, she was being pulled up by her hair, and she screamed, and finally opened her eyes to see the sitting room full of people with wands pointed at one another. A knife was at her throat again, and she knew that she was being held by Bellatrix.

"STOP! STOP OR SHE DIES!" came the roar from behind her. Hermione trembled. "Drop your wands! Or else we'll see how filthy her blood really is!"

Hermione focused on Harry and Ron who still held their wands to Bellatrix, and her eyes moved to Draco, whose wand was pointed towards Harry and Ron, as well as the other twelve people in the room. She felt the skin start to break on her neck and panicked.

"HARRY!" she screamed and struggled.

"Alright!" Harry yelled and slowly put down whosever wand he had. Ron did the same.

"Good!" Bellatrix squealed with delight. "Draco, pick up their wands. We'll have Greyback here dispose of little Miss Mudblood."

Draco looked up at the chandelier above them where he saw Dobby hurriedly unscrewing the screws holding it in place. Then, he met eyes with his Aunt and smiled. Everyone had taken to looking at what Draco was staring at, and the chatter had died so low they could hear the last screw unhinge. Bellatrix growled as she realized what was happening and threw Hermione down before the chandelier fell. Chaos ensued once more.

Draco bounded to stop Hermione's fall, and pulled her out of the way, sure that no one would notice since everyone was dueling someone right now. He pushed her out of the way and drew his wand to one of the Snatchers.

"Stupefy!" he yelled, and a jet of red light hit the man square in the chest. Hermione began to crawl to her feet. "Stay behind me! Stay behind me!"

Narcissa was dueling alongside her son, stopping spells from coming near the three, no matter who they came from. It was only then that she realized it was Dobby, who was helping Harry and Ron evacuate, which dropped the chandelier. She allowed herself a thin smile and deflected a stunning spell heading right for her.

"Draco! Get Hermione out of here!" she yelled to her son. She knew the distraction was enough for them to escape and do so accordingly.

Draco took that as his clearance to leave and threw up a shielding spell to block anything from getting to the two while his back was turned. He pulled Hermione out the side door where he saw Dobby go and closed it quickly behind him, hoping that no one would take notice of their absence as long as Harry and Ron were still dueling. Dobby was waiting for them in the hallway, staring at them with wide eyes. Draco pulled Hermione to him and kissed her roughly.

"Go with Dobby," he commanded her and she nodded through bloodshot eyes and tears. "He will take you somewhere safe." He pushed her hair out of her face and kissed her forehead, her nose, and then her lips again. "We will see eachother again, I promise. I love you."

Just one second after Draco's lips had left hers, Harry and Ron came bounding through the doorway, followed by the walls being torn apart from the spells subsequent to them. Draco stole one last look to Hermione before running around the doorway and meeting up with the Death Eaters following in suit of the three. He heard his Aunt screaming something at Dobby, and saw her throw something, and then the three were gone, just as soon as they had come.

He stared at the spot they were a moment ago unblinking, realizing that Hermione had been taken from him... yet again.