It wasn't uncommon for the boys to keep secrets. Details of operatives or missions remained broad while they willfully withheld details. She had conditioned herself not to press. Far less than she had ever done with Ron and Harry.

The guilt she had for not telling them about Anthony fed into her compliance. The other truth- the one she didn't acknowledge until long after she left- was that she was afraid. Afraid that she would anger them and they would hate her and then what would happen? It was never a conscious thought- neither to her or Draco. But the threat of having nowhere to run while she was trapped kept her placid.

Hermione had to remind herself in the minutes after Draco left- with a team of former death eaters- that she wasn't trapped anymore.

The fight in her mind was exhausting. Anger towards Draco for holding back from her, and hatred towards herself for ever believing he would do it intentionally.

Blaise was lacing up his boots. The drinks on the side table were empty, and he looked just as unwell as he had the past week- but nothing more. There was no doubt that he was angry. Anyone would feel the same if they got removed from a mission against their will.

It should be enough of an annoyance to provide an adequate distraction.

"How long ago did they leave?" Blaise rushed.

Hermione closed the door and leaned against it. "Nearly six hours."

"Shit," Blaise spat, before standing and heading towards the door.

"You're too late," Hermione said, calmly.

"I can catch up. Malfoy and I created the routes together-"

She didn't move from the door, not even when Blaise tried to shove past.

"You'd be no good to the team today, Zabini. Malfoy would have been too concerned with your well-being. It is difficult to hear, but sometimes the best way we can help others is to take care of ourselves," Hermione said.

"The Dark Lord is after him. The only reason you have not yet seen the full weight of his wrath is because Draco draws his attention to our missions," Blaise said.

Blaise looked down on her with disdain, but she held firm. It was difficult to accept, she knew that personally from experience. Hearing that Voldemort would be aiming for Draco…

Draco would be fine. He would lead their team to victory and Voldemort would have another failure to crawl in his hole and weep about.

"Come on," Hermione said. "Some fresh air will do you good."

Hermione opened the door and Blaise followed her out down the hall. The extra sleep worked wonders on him, and Hermione would keep a close eye on him to ensure he didn't get his hands on anything harmful. Today wasn't the time to discuss what Hermione assumed was some sort of self-medication. Not while she had a more pressing issue at hand.

There was the guilt, again. But the boys were the ones who taught her how to derive the information that she needed.

"I'm not fucking running," Blaise complained. "Or any other of that nonsense you lot do in the back garden at ungodly hours."

Hermione had to slow her steps so Blaise could keep up. She chuckled slightly, looking over her shoulder. Damn, she had really missed him. "You're safe from morning training. It's nearly three in the afternoon. And aren't you meant to be an athlete?"

"It has been a long while since quidditch," Blaise countered. "I keep rather fit naturally."

"I'd say so," Hermione offered and Blaise smiled, widely. "Draco said you did loads of training during school."

"I did a fair amount of training," Blaise replied, keeping pace with Hermione more easily now. "Spent most of it sneaking off to snog Nott. If we're being honest with each other."

"Tart."

Blaise's laughter echoed off the staircase, and it was one of the most beautiful sounds Hermione had heard in a long time.

"Pots and kettles, Hermione," Blaise murmured as they walked the first floor. Minding not to be overheard. "I know all about your extra little trainings. You've been working up quite a sweat at awfully late hours."

Hermione nearly tripped. "Have not!"

"Have so," Blaise said.

Hermione's face heated, and she did her best to look casual as more people roamed the first floor. Most would have their eyes on Blaise. Anytime he or Draco were around, they received most of the attention.

"Morning, Kingsley!" Hermione called.

"Granger- excellent! Could you pop into the dining room?" Kingsley asked. "It will only take a moment?"

"Erm- sure, just give us a minute?" Hermione said.

Kinsley nodded before walking into the dining room and closing the door.

"Your tricks don't work on me anymore, Zabini. Draco hasn't told you anything," Hermione baited, lifting her chin.

Blaise scoffed, a smile so wide she could see tongue as he poked his cheek. "Malfoy doesn't ever shut the bloody hell up . I know every minute detail about every exchange you've had since first-year."

"He never."

"Whatever you say, miellat," Blaise teased.

Hermione's face fell and she narrowed her eyes. "What does that mean?"

"I'm hungry. What's for lunch?" Baise deflected walking into the kitchen. Hermione followed closely behind him. "Your tits got bigger, by the way. Or your waist got smaller. Malfoy isn't quite certain. Then there's your hair. Did you know it shimmers like gold in the sunlight?"

Blaise turned suddenly and Hermione nearly bumped into him. He leaned in, speaking barely above a whisper.

"Oh… unless you're in the shower or it's late at night and you've got it all wet with sweat. Then, it looks like raw amber honey. Malfoy thinks the hair between your legs would be the same, but there's no way for him to be sure since you're bare-"

Hermione shoved him and he barely moved. "I'm going to hex you."

Guilt vanished. Blaise was only getting what was coming to him.

Blaise walked backward into the kitchen, which was fortunately empty. He squeezed his eyes shut and let his head fall back theatrically.

"Oh Merlin, there's that thing you do with your teeth. Drove himself mad in the morning. Worrying where you learned that."

"I learned that from you. Ages ago," Hermione said.

There were biscuits on the table and Hermione grabbed one and chucked it at him. She really would have silenced him, if his eagerness to talk wasn't exactly what she was hoping for. The fact that she was hardly holding back her laughter only fueled him. It was so refreshing to have someone know what she and Draco have and to see fun. It was like they were any other young couple.

Blaise caught it gracefully, brought it up to his mouth, and took a large bite.

"I know," Blaise grinned, wiggling his brows. "I won't tell if you won't."

"You two need to do some serious work on personal boundaries."

"That's only the naughty bits, Granger. It all sounds much more romantic when he says it, mind you. But if I keyed you in on some of the deeper workings of Malfoy's affection, he would actually destroy me. Rightfully so," Blaise said, sincerely. "The things I've rambled on with him about Theo… absolute filth."

"I'll let you reminisce on that while I see to Kingsley," Hermione said.

"A few new defects arrived last evening. They want you to try and identify them," Blaise said. Hermione's jaw dropped. "Draco and I were stretching our legs and accidentally overheard."

"Human legs?" Hermione asked.

"Shh…" Blaise said. He looked properly concerned before verifying that they were alone. "Of course not. People are much more talkative around cute little critters."

Blaise accompanied her to the dining room and she didn't protest. He was correct- there were two new defects they wanted her to review. Hermione knew most of the members' names from the manor map. These two she had not heard of before.

It was a surprise to all when Blaise spoke up beside her.

"These two were partnering with Greyback and Alecto. I wouldn't clear them too quickly," Blaise said.

"How is that different from any other follower?" Kingsely asked.

"Years ago, Cyrus and Dolohov were creating a sort of contingency plan, if and when the Dark Lord should fall. Greyback and Alecto took over in their stead once they died."

"Plotting against Voldemort is a good mark in our book," Charlie said.

"They were wanting to inherit his power, not absolve it. People follow the Dark Lord out of fear. Others followed Alecto and Greyback out of greed. Be careful. Their belief of superiority runs deep," Blaise cautioned.

"You would know well about that," Podmore muttered.

"Indeed."

"Anything else?" Hermione asked, interrupting the brewing feud.

"That's great. Thank you, Hermione."

Blaise was visibily irritated as they finally made their way outside. But he was also talking. That was what Hermione needed more than anything else. No one should be out there at that time of day. It would give them slightly more privacy than walking about the house. They let the comfortable silence accompany them as they made it to the treeline and kept on the path that looped through.

"I suppose it's good you and Draco have each other to confide in. Besides," Hermione said, keeping her voice calm but letting a small fracture through. Now was as good of a time as any to make her move. "It's not like he has much time left…"

She kept her eyes straight as Blaise turned his head to her. There was a second when she was sure Blaise was going to call her bluff, but he slowly looked forward, letting his head hang slightly.

"I didn't think he would tell you," Blaise said.

She fucking knew it. God, she would cheer if she wasn't so devastated. Nor if she wasn't so desperate to know more.

"I don't think he wanted to. I should thank you. You must have said something to change his mind," Hermione said.

The heavy canopy of the treetops made what little light penetrated through hued with dark greens. It gave Hermione slightly more cover so she could keep her voice sound. It gave both of them plenty to look at so it wasn't obvious Hermione wasn't looking him in the eye.

"He does trust you. It's only that he doesn't trust his own judgment any longer," Blaise said. "I told him… Having the person you love leave on a mission and never return is no way to say goodbye."

Hermione's heart dropped out of her chest and onto the ground. The sound was almost prevalent in the space between them.

Why was he leaving? If it was just to flee the war and not her, surely he would have told her? He didn't want her to come along…

"Don't look so horrified, princess. I've had real love enough to know it when I see it," Blaise said, gently. "Malfoy, however, could live an eternity in denial. You'll have to spell it out for him this time if you want him to believe it again."

"I'm not horrified," Hermione refuted.

And she didn't love Draco. Not anymore. Explicitly,at least.

She didn't.

Clearly, Draco was only capable of loving himself. Or there was someone out there he was running to since he wouldn't be troubled to tell her about it.

Breathe, she told herself.

Blaise's comment last night was about them running out of time. Not running to, or from, someone. Perhaps Draco would have to flee?

That made the most sense. If he had done something unforgivable during his time serving Voldemort and feared the Advisory would punish him once it was revealed.

Whatever it was, Hermione was sure she could forgive him. Not that he deserved it from keeping secrets and tempting history to repeat itself.

"Malfoy should know how I feel well enough. I have been very nice to him lately," Hermione said.

Blaise's sly grin was more convincing than the prior. The banter was a familiar comfort between them. He increased his pace and strolled beside her.

"You little minx," Blaise said. "Did you use any more of my tricks?"

"I'm not telling you that!" Hermione cried, laughing slightly with embarrassment. "We'll call it a goodbye present. Since Malfoy isn't too keen on staying around."

"That's not fair, Hermione. He is fighting it as hard as he can," Blaise spoke, slowly. His voice was soft and apologetic. "The Dark Lord has a piece of his soul. He is focusing all of his power on destroying him. There is only so much Occlumency can do."

All of the air was forced from her lungs like she was punched in the gut.

Draco wasn't leaving. Draco was…

Hermione spun around. Her face must have looked as crazy as she felt because Blaise's comforting smile fell into a worrying frown.

"Voldemort is… is killing Draco?" Hermione surmised. "How?! How much longer does he have?"

Blaise gaped. "A few months we'd estimated- What exactly has Malfoy told you?"

"Draco doesn't tell me shit," Hermione spat. "But you - you Blaise Zabini- are going to tell me everything. Or so help me god- on the grave of Salazar Slytherin- I will pillage through your mind and find the answers myself!"

Blaise took a step back and reflexively reached for his wand.

"He's using the mark, isn't he? Draco used to flinch when summoned. The times he was more angry it was like his mark would burn," Hermione said, remembering all of the times Draco got pulled away from the safety of their rooms.

More recently, all of the times Draco hadn't been able to conceal his pain in front of her. God, how did she not push him to tell her? How bad was it when no one was around to witness it?

Blaise- he had said we. Was he going to be next?

No. No. She wasn't going to let that happen.

Blaise groaned. "He's going to kill me."

"If you or Draco die, I am going to kill you," Hermione yelled charging forward. "How is he doing it?"

"With the mark, it can be painful when we are summoned. But the Dark Lord has found a way to break further. It's like he can claw his way into Draco's mind. Sometimes Draco says… he says he can feel him behind his eyes."

Hermione gasped. Not in horror but realization.

"Where are you going?!" Blaise shouted as Hermione ran back towards the house.

It took him a few meters to catch up and Hermione was already barging into the house by the time he walked alongside her.

"Kingsley!" Hermione yelled, not slowing her pace. "Find a lead to cover my team tonight. I won't be going."

She didn't wait long enough for him to reply. She sprinted to the second floor, ignoring Blaise's panicked shouting behind her as she searched until she found Pippy.

"Ahh!" the elf startled as Hermione barrelled toward her. "Miss Hermione. Is all well? Pippy can help Master's friend?"

Pippy gestured towards Blaise, who had overexerted himself and was gasping for air behind her.

If they did survive this, she would actually ensure he joined Miller's physical training.

"Pippy," Hermione's breath was only slightly elevated from their journey from outside, but racing from what she was about to ask. "I need you to teach me something."

The forbidden forest consumed nearly all of the light that the dementors didn't. It would be hours before sundown, and Hermione was certain that the Dark Lord lurked inside.

Hermione tumbled to the ground once she reappeared, a large body knocking her over. Quickly, she flipped around and pulled out her wand.

"Zabini?!" Hermione hissed.

Blaise jumped up and dusted himself off. "Landing needs a touch of work."

"You're impossible," Hermione insisted.

"Herd ran though these parts yesterday. Keep tracking to the east…"

Blaise grabbed her hand and pulled her back.

"Transform!" he hissed in her ear.

Hermione obeyed immediately, sinking to the ground as her human limbs were replaced by four short legs. Reds and greens became indistinguishable, and the fox to her right looked large and alert. The voices came near, and the fox pounced on her.

Hermione squealed, yet Blaise didn't loosen his grip. He huffed air through his nose and Hermione conceded to lay still as he held her neck surprisingly gently in his sharp teeth.

"I 'eard something round here," a young males voice called as they approached them.

A few others followed. They were in battered shirts and trousers rather than school robes. There was a distinct animal scent wafting from them. Either they were either animagus like them, or werewolves- yeah, definitely werewolves.

A boy clicked his tongue in irritation. "That's hardly a centaur. Idiot."

"Wocher there, foxy?" one of the girls- likely late teens- called to Blaise.

Blaise returned a low growl. He tightened his hold around Hermione's neck, defending his 'kill' and turned to carry her away.

"Blimey! Did you see the size of that rat?!" A boy called.

If foxes could snicker, Hermione was certain it would sound exactly like the sounds coming from Blaise's snout.

Once they had a safe distance between them and the werewolves, Blaise dropped Hermione from his grasp and they continued their sprint towards the castle. There was no one in pursuit of them, and Hermione was first to transform back once they were out of sight.

"A rat?!" Hermione wailed- as quietly as she could. "Education in the school is even worse than I thought."

Blaise smirked. "We'll add it to the curriculum as soon as the war ends."

Hermione huffed, still rightly offended. "That was a clever trick back there. We could have just run."

"They would have followed us if we didn't confirm we weren't what they were looking for. Draco and I use it all the time," Blaise pushed his tongue out between his teeth and spit slightly. No doubt some of her fur was sticking to his tongue. "You're a lot lighter."

"Draco lets you drag him around?"

"We take turns."

Hermione smiled quickly before it fell and she turned back towards the castle. The last time she went in, she had the element of surprise on her side. Since then, there could be extra protections in place. But she would have to try.

"Stay here," Hermione instructed Blaise.

"Fat chance," Blaise replied, stepping next to her. "I'm going in with you."

"You'll be seen. Ginny has the cloak and your animagus form is far too large to go unnoticed. Besides, if the wards have been changed and I get injured trying to cross, I'll need you to drag my limp body away," Hermione said.

Blaise growled under his breath but said nothing. They watched as Death Eaters marched in and out of the Hogwarts. Hermione couldn't tell where the wards started and ended, but the Forbidden Forest was clearly outside them.

Blaise's permission to entry was surely revoked. Draco's would be more complex. It was the Malfoy wards that guarded Hogwarts. Hermione wasn't even certain if there was a way to exclude someone within the family from them. Or if Lucius would do it.

" There. That's Yaxley in front. Alecto on the other side," Blaise whispered. Hermione looked to see the Death Eaters depart the castle in formation. " The Dark Lord prefers unassisted flight to apparition. It takes only slightly longer but is far more terrifying ."

" I've seen," Hermione nodded. " He's going after Draco, isn't he?"

"Yeah… " Blaise nearly choked. "Fuck… I should be with him."

She could make out Voldemort in the middle of the march, his pale head reflective in the overcast daylight. What little color was left on the ground dissolved with each step he took outside.

"I'll be quick. Stay hidden," Hermione said.

"Granger, wait," Blaise stopped her with a hand on her shoulder. "Iknow I shouldn't ask. It's completely terrible and selfish of me… If you find mine, by happenstance… "

Hermione turned towards him. She grabbed his hand, squeezing it tightly. She wished she had more time.

"I'll try," was all that she could promise. "But it won't call or come to me. I don't even know if Draco's will. "

"It's fine. Fuck that was stupid to even ask ."

"It was not stupid," Hermione said firmly. "And we will find it. You will know. It is only strangers that they aggressively repel."

Blaise nodded. "Hurry on."

Hermione smiled nervously before turning back around. They both transfigured and Hermione scurried over the wards. She turned around and chirped at the fox, who was crouching in the shadows but his eyes still gleamed, before running towards the castle.

The horrors of the castle didn't shock her this time. There was no time to help anyone, so Hermione kept her head down and stayed in the shadows. There was only Draco. Voldemort was heading straight to him and each time could be the last if he was able to maintain his hold.

The Great Hall was empty. A stark contrast to the last time when every square inch was filled. Hermione kept her stance low and her steps light, inching her way around to approach the back of Voldemort's table. The throne he sat on, elevated much higher than the rest from where it stood on the stones.

The pile of stones- thousands upon thousands- were singing their warning. The high pitch screech was equally deafening and silent as Hermione got closer. A phenomenon she had experienced only a handful of times in her life.

They weren't just stones. They were tiny horcrux. The tithe Voldemort collected from all of his followers. Piled together and walked over like they were nothing.

The power from horcrux was undeniable. Voldemort must have found a way to siphon it. Tom Riddle was pathetic and weak on his own. He would be nothing without the thousands that followed him, elevated him. Giving him their magic so he could pretend it was all his own. No more than a boy with a grudge against the world for not offering him what he thinks he's entitled to.

Hermione transformed back into her human form. She looked at Draco's former chair and tried not to think of all of the duties he was forced to perform in it. The magic from the stones was reverberating through the room. Sometimes condensing together as if the Dark Lord could feed from it even from a distance. It was terrifying. The stones were unwelcoming as she inched closer.

"Easy," Hermione whispered as if they could hear. "I'm not going to hurt you."

She pulled out her wand and the magic from the stone carved away from her like a riptide from the shore.

"Virtus divina. Magia ligat …"

Hermione began to cast the ancient magical spells of the Rite that Pippy had taught her. The elf was hesitant to share it at first, but when Hermione explained it was to save Draco, she reluctantly agreed.

"Sanguis arescit. Ossium molentes," Hermione's hand began to glow. The familiar light that she knew lived with her skin. The same as Draco's. " Animae quondam tuae meaeque notae in unum vivunt, Rite imperat. "

The light flowed from her hand, searching for Draco's. Her soul searching for his.

Hermione's soul knew Draco's well. The light streamed towards the mountain of stones and Hermione encouraged it further until it disappeared within the mass.

A few stones dislodged as it moved, and Hermione had to fight to not cover her ears as they rolled too close to her.

This plan was idiotic. Hermione knew that. The piece of Draco's soul she searched for had been taken from him when he was sixteen. Long before he had any trust for her. Far before their souls were bound together by Neddy that morning in Draco's study.

The moment the light found Draco's holcrux, Hermione could feel it. It recoiled, and she could feel the fear and resistance through the fragile connection. She coaxed it through the bond. Begging him to trust her. Promising that she would keep him safe and help try to make him whole again.

The light wrapped itself around Draco's holcrux, encasing it completely. Even though she couldn't see it, she could feel it. She could feel the moment it yeilded and allowed itself to be held.

Hermione reached towards the stones and they balked at her- horrified that yet another magical being would use them for their own devices. Hermione pushed all of her magic into the light- the stone would have to come to her.

"Come on," Herimione whispered gently.

Trust me. Please, come to me. Let me help you.

Against all odds, Draco's sixteen year old soul was more amenable to her than who he was now, and Hermione could see the stones shuffle and shift as it made its way forward. The light was reeling itself back in, disappearing into her palm until the end appeared. Several stones tumbled down, jerking away from her as she was stranger to them. Draco's stone, however, remained cocooned in the safety of the light until it landed in her hand.

The ringing stopped, and it was like a sigh of relief rolled through the both of them. Draco's horcrux was a white stone- nearly transparent. It was so small, about half the size of a pearl, and yet it felt like she held the world in her hands.

SLAM!

Hermione flinched, eyes flying towards the doors. She pocketed the stone carefully and quickly and transformed to dart to the shadows. The halls were filling quickly, and she was running out of room for cover. There was a broom cupboard Filch used to store things in, and Hermione transformed before the Death Eaters could round the corners and hurried inside.

The door was closed, and Hermione released the latch as quietly as possible, careful not to make a sound. The air in the room was so stale, but Hermione feared they would hear the breath rush through her nostrils if she tried to take too much.

There was slight movement behind her, and Hermione spun around, wordlessly erecting a protective enchanment.

Unfortunately, no sort of charm or enchantment would work on him.

"Peeves," Hermione mouthed.

Peeves didn't float as much as he hung. It was like there were hooks in his shoulders, forcing him to remain vertical.

"My Lord. If there was some sort of security breach, I would know of it," Lucius' muffled voice traveled through the door.

Peeves lifted his head. A bewildered expression came across his semi-transparent face. His jaw dropped slightly and he looked around her in the small cupboard.

"Potty?!" Peeves nearly cheered as he searched the brown cupboard for Harry.

The word was so fucking loud, certainly at least one of the Death Eater's marching down the hall would hear it. If not, they would if he didn't shut the fuck up.

Hermione shook her head, begging the antognoistic polgrogist with her eyes are much as possible.

Peeves smiles widely. Every menacing tooth on display.

"Peeves. Please, don't," Hermione begged, desperately.

"Yaxley! Round up every student outside of their houses! Bring them to the Great Hall" Voldemort wailed from the other side of the door.

The holcrux must have alerted him. Or he could feel their disturbance and returned. Returned with nearly every Death Eater on active duty in his army by the sounds of it.

Peeves heard it too, and he snickered before he disappeared through the wall.

BOOM!

Armor crashed onto the floor somewhere in the corridor and voices roared in response.

"Get that bloody pest out of here!" Lucius commanded.

"All flee from the mad, sad, Tom,

Far too ugly for even his mum!

All the wizards cheer each time he's gone,

And Peevesy knows he likes his palm!"

"KILL HIM!" Voldemort roared.

Clattered echoed down the corridor as Peeves led the swarm of Death Eaters away from her hiding space. Hermione cautiously opened the door and marveled in disbelief for a quick moment, huffing a laugh in bewilderment before transforming and rushing out to find Blaise.

The fox was pacing in the same spot that she left him. His ears turned toward the sound of her step and they transformed back into their human form at the same time.

"What happened?! I saw them all come back and thought…" Blaise cut himself off. "I couldn't get past the wards to come after you. I was stuck here and there was nothing I could do."

"It alright."

"We're not trying that again. I mean it, Granger! We'll find another way!"

"I got it," Hermione grunted, being held far too tightly.

Blaise released her and Hermione took a small step back. She reached into her pocket and pulled out the stone. It lay in her palm, and Blaise reached for it slowly. The horcrux retaliated, and Blaise pulled his hand back with a yelp of pain.

"Yep. Definitely sixth-year, Malfoy," Blaise grumbled and Hermione put the stone back safely into her pocket. "Let's go reunite them."