Hermione walked the first floor on her own, both Anthony and Draco being away from the manor, she was left to her own devices. The other Slytherin boys had tasks at Hogwarts today, so she figured it was the best time to channel her inner Peeves and wreak mayhem on the guests.

The confundus charm was her favorite to cast during her chaotic escapades. Hermione wouldn't hit them with it fully. Instead her silent cast would strike with just enough power to have them stumbling on their words. The potential for mistakes when they went out to attack would increase and hopefully give innocent people a chance to run for it. The items she vanished from their pockets would always cause a stir; the Death Eaters were hesitant to admit someone else had got the best of them.

A unit of Death Eaters arrived and walked straight to Lucius, whose attendance was almost as rare as Voldemort's himself since he was always at Hogwarts, by his master's side. Hermione recognized the faces as those who went with Draco to Vienna.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Malfoy."

"Ms. Bulstrode, back so soon?" Lucius drawled, looking over the group. "And where is my son?"

"He apparated from the portkey site. I assumed he'd come straight here?" Millicent looked around the room, looking genuinely surprised that Draco didn't make it back before them.

"Any conflicts with the Confederation?" Lucius seemed more on edge than usual. Draco and his unit left to meet with the International Confederation of Wizards. The surrounding countries in Europe were becoming more hostile and resistant to Voldemort's overtaking the ministry.

"I- well… I am not certain I am the right person-"

"We've no time for meekness, girl."

Millicent gulped before continuing. "It was made clear the Confederation, along with the Order of the Phoenix, are supplying muggles with defenses against magical beings."

"Defenses?" Lucius exchanged a humorless laugh with Goyle Sr. who stood at his right. "What? Are they burning us at the stake again?"

"I don't believe so, sir. But they have cast enchantments over highly populated muggle areas. Cities and towns, that limit the entrance of magical folk. Even more areas are forbidden to people bearing the mark."

Lucius' head looked like it was about to explode. It was hard for Hermione to believe the patriarch had ever been denied anything in his life. He rushed to his study, Goyle and Flint Sr. in tow and slammed the door shut without saying another word.

The muggle leaders would likely do whatever they could to protect the people, but what of the witches and wizards who have lived in those cities in peace? Who built a home with muggles. Who had a family. They were all victims of Voldemort's reign, equals in their terror.

Cyrus Greengrass was accompanied by Dolohov in the sitting area before the fireplace in the study. It was one of their preferred places to sit. A lot of the other members would choose to have breaks or private conversations in one of the various smaller sitting rooms, but the two wizards always seemed to want an audience.

"It was your own doing Cyrus, you are the one who insisted on having a celebratory event," Dolohov said, clearly playing on the other wizard's displeasure.

"That was back before Astoria wasn't allowed to leave the castle," Cyrus snapped. "Do you know how much party planning I have had to do? It is abysmal."

"Cyrus please, it's women's work."

"Preciously." Cyrus took a respectable sip of his drink, looking over his companion and watching his reactions as he spoke. "There are some perks to the whole debacle, however."

"Oh?"

"I have had to entertain numerous people at my home to confirm their attendance. Some members like us. Some supporters that are less involved, as of late."

"Curious."

"All are in full support of our cause, no doubt." Cyrus paused and Dolohov nudged him on with a look. "But I've heard- let's call them whispers- that whether or not the Dark Lord has aligned his movement to that of the values of the Sacred Twenty-Eight are difficult for them to see from afar."

"Yes. The visibility is rather challenging from the inside as well… So I've heard."

Cyrus started to get more brazen. "The Dark Lord is a powerful wizard, there is no doubt about that. And with the elder wand," Cyrus does a quick look around, eyes skimming right over Hermione and satisfying himself that no one else was around. "Undefeatable. But they said the same thing about Grindelwald."

Hermione found it both shocking and painfully obvious; the pureblood men would try to find a way to wrangle glory for themselves.

"I'm just saying, we would be poor subjects if we didn't have a backup plan to carry out cleansing the magical world from the filth once and for all if the Dark Lord should fall."

Dolohov finally made the leap. "And you would let me know if that were to change?"

"Certainly." Cyrus took a gulp of his whiskey, failing to hide his excitement. "I have some visitors coming over tomorrow. A well-bred family, but never especially supportive of the Dark Lord. Join us? We may be able to come up with a contingency plan."

"And how would we get these people to commit to us when they will not even fully dedicate themselves to the Dark Lord?"

"The traditional way," Cyrus spat impatiently. "I already have Daphne lined up to attend the ball with Ignatius Prewett. He was more than willing to accept her hand since his wife's execution. If his reach is not enough, I can barter with Astoria as well."

"What of Parkinson?" Dolohov said, looking more interested.

Cyrus shook his head. "He'll go down with the Dark Lord- should the situation arise." He corrected himself quickly.

"The girl, perhaps? She still seems to have her wits about her." Dolohov suggested. "If she were married, and should Amadeus fall, her husband would inherit the estate."

Cyrus laughed, and Hermione could feel her breakfast trying to make its way back up her throat. "I'll see what I can do."

Footsteps echoed off the marble floor, and Hermione turned to find that Lestrange and his unit had just arrived. Dolohov and Greengrass shifted the conversation immediately, no one save for Hermione privy to their treason.

Hermione left them to their formalities and started to look out for Draco's arrival. His unit finished their debriefing and had already left the manor. Suddenly it dawned on her that Draco was probably waiting for her in their rooms and she hurried upstairs, but the room was empty when she arrived.

The water splattered loudly on the tile floor as she wrung out her strands. She tilted her head back again, enjoying how the nearly too hot water was soothing her scalp when suddenly a large form was pressing into her front. Her scream of shock was cut off abruptly by a pair of lips crashing against her own.

She opened her eyes. Draco was there, fully dressed and getting drenched under the running water as he grabbed her face with both hands to kiss her deeper. The tension in her body disappeared and she melted in his grasp until he was the only thing holding her up.

He lifted her against him, ignoring the water that was still running and started walking out of the bathroom.

"Draco! I'm soaking wet!" Hermione protested right before he threw her on the bed. The comforter beneath her feeling unpleasant against her waterlogged hair and skin.

"Expecting me?" He asked with a devilish grin. She pushed a few of the drenched strands out of her face while he removed the shirt that was sticking to his skin.

"You gave me a fright," she said half laughing and squealed when he grabbed her ankle and dragged her to the edge of the bed.

"Darling... it would be literally impossible for it to be anyone else."

He licked lavishly from her stomach to her hip, lapping up the drops of water that still remained on her skin. His kisses continued to explore her, and she let her head fall back as he made trails across her body with his mouth. He placed a kiss on her breast, nipping her just hard enough to make her flinch.

"Gods, I fucking missed you," he groaned.

He began a new path of kisses back down her body and she reveled in it, arching her back against his lips as he kissed down her stomach. Her grip on his hair was probably too tight, but he didn't seem to mind and groaned when he pulled against her grasp.

It was then she realized how anxious she had been while he was away. Feeling out of place and unwelcome even in their own bed when she had to tuck in at night on her own. If the worst should happen, she would be forced from the room in an instant. The fact soothed her, but also kept her on edge, waiting to be dragged from the sanctuary they created.

His lips were so welcomed and familiar, she hardly noticed when his kisses down her stomach didn't veer to the side to nip at her hips but continued down until his lips were pressed against her core.

The first brush of his tongue against her was a shock. A shock to her body in the way his soft tongue against her throbbing core made her see stars. A shock to her mind in that Draco Malfoy's face was in a place she never intended any person to be.

Reflexively, she tried to jump back but Draco was gripping her, his arms wrapped around her thighs as he buried his face between her legs. Eagerly licking and sucking and if it wasn't for the voice in the back of her head-

"Stop," She breathed. Or moaned, if she was being honest with herself.

Draco looked up at her, panting slightly with his lips parted and shiny. This time when she tried to scoot back, he released her, his hands still holding onto her thighs and then her legs and she reluctantly backed away.

"I want you," she said desperately. Meaning it wholly and hoping he didn't take her hesitation at what they were doing moments before as changing her mind.

"Do you?" he said, standing up on the side of the bed and reaching for his belt. One nod of her head and he was removing his trousers and pants to stand in front of her, as naked as she was. "And what is it you want from me?"

"Don't tease me," Hermione shot back. She received enough mind games from the other Slytherin boys.

Draco smiled fully then, crawling over her and she wrapped her hands around his shoulders, pulling him to her faster with excitement. When he was finally positioned between her legs, she reached up to kiss him, only to have him pull back. "Please tell me what you want, Hermione. I want to hear your pretty voice say it."

Well… fuck.

"I- I want you" she repeated, hardly able to think clearly anymore.

"That's so sweet, my love," he cooed, barely brushing her lips. "What do you want me to do?"

My love.

My love.

"I want you to make love to me." The words were so easy.

He pressed into her, finding little resistance as she was ready and spread open for him. Three nights and nearly four days without him and the distance needed to be compensated with him getting deeper inside her. Hermione started to urge him, one hand nearly on his arse to pull him tighter.

"I hate being without you," he confessed to her. "Every minute."

Hermione wanted to respond. To tell him how he was always on her mind, but he started moving his hips. His cock slid in and out of her as her walls stretched around him, swaying between the point of pleasure and pain.

Maybe he had been made for her as well.

He bent down, finally taking a pink peek into his mouth. For the first time she felt herself closing tighter around him without him having to give attention to her most sensitive spot with his fingers. She came suddenly, without warning and whatever words that wanted to leave her in that moment made their escape.

"That's it. Come for me, Hermione," He spoke as he quickened his pace.

As she was coming down from her climax, she felt the coil inside her start to tighten again.

"Don't leave me," he told her possessively, gripping her tighter. "You're mine."

"Draco-"

"Say it."

Hermione was nearing oblivion, but the voice in the back of her mind needed to object. "I'll have to leave-"

"You'll have to leave this place. Not me." He said, and suddenly he stopped moving.

He panted against her face and his breath satiated her more than the air ever could. His fingers kept working in quick tight circles as her walls ached for him to move again.

"Say it."

She was nearly to the edge again. Never had she orgasmed so closely together before, and the build-up was nearly too much for her to handle.

He grabbed her face to look at her, fingers splayed nearly down her neck with just enough pressure to show he was there. "Unless there's someone you'd rather-"

"No! Fuck, Draco just-"

"Tell me, my love."

"I'll be yours when I leave here," she conceded finally. Because she would leave. She had to. "I'll still be yours."

"Always?"

"Always." She echoed, and he rewarded her by resuming his pace.

It was nearly punishable, but she still begged for more. Her words and moans obscene until she finally crested again in tandem with him finishing inside her.

She laid back, a dead weight into the mattress, as Draco kissed her cheek to her neck. It took them several minutes to come back to reality, and Hermione's mind tried to recollect on all that was said.

She turned her head, and he met her smile with one of his own. "You were late."

Draco propped himself up on one elbow, "I don't have control over the Confederation, Granger." He kissed her soundly, his tongue slipping in her mouth as he cradled her face.

"Everyone else got back on time…" She didn't know why she felt nervous pointing it out, he was the one who just lied to her. "Did something go wrong with the Order?"

He looked at her for a moment, opening his mouth like he was going to speak before kissing her deeply again. If his goal was to distract her, it nearly worked. But really, it only made her want to get the business out of the way faster so that they could enjoy each other.

She got a good look at his face for the first time since he returned. There was the remnant of a cut below his left eye. Hermione trailed the healing wound with her fingers and found the fading yellow of a bruise near his brow as well. Bruise paste or dittany could have progressed the healing process, so there was no way to know if the wounds were days or hours old.

"It just took me longer to get back," he finally said. She would have pushed him further if only the wards didn't call for their attention.

Draco summoned the map, checking who the uninvited party was and found Theo and Blaise walking down the hallway. Hermione got herself together quickly, using a charm to clean herself and dry her hair before getting dressed and heading to the door to let them in.

"Is Malfoy still not back?" Theo asked once she closed the door.

Hermione followed them as they walked into the study. "He is just changing. Is something wrong?"

Blaise looked to Theo, who nodded in Hermione's direction. "Better get on with it, before Malfoy comes out."

"Get on with what?" Malfoy spoke for the doorway. He wore an oxford shirt and trousers that made it impossible to tell he was indisposed just seconds earlier.

"Cyrus approached me. Started asking all kinds of questions about my relationships with Pansy." Blaise answered, but he was looking at Hermione rather than Draco. "Something wasn't right about it. It was like he was challenging me."

Hermione nodded as he spoke, his rendition confirming what she heard earlier. Blaise sent Pansy away as much as he could afford, which just so happened to be all the time as of late.

"So bring her here for a few days, put on a show." Draco said, as if it was something they did all the time.

"That was my thinking. However, Pansy begged me to not make her come back you see…"

All eyes fell to Hermione, and she didn't even have a chance to fully grasp the meaning before Draco spoke for her.

"No."

"We're not asking you, Malfoy." Theo snarled.

"You're not involving Granger in your games. Have Pansy come back and parade around with you herself."

"She is in no state. Her father has demanded she come back and as of her letter this morning, she has no intentions of heeding his request." Blaise shot back.

"And we already have the potion." Theo threw in.

"Do you have the hairs?" Hermione asked before Draco could reject the idea again. A nostalgic excitement presenting itself like it did during her mischief at school.

Blaise smiled at her. "And a set of her robes."

Hermione nodded. "I'll do it."

"Fuck no, you won't." Draco finally butted in. "You don't know what it's like-"

"I know exactly what it is like," Hermione corrected him. "I assume she's meant to attend the formal tonight with you?"

"Yes, but she would typically arrive any minute."

"Give me the hair, I'll do it now."

"Stop! This is madness," Draco laughed dryly.

"Would your father notice if Pansy arrives without going through the wards?" Hermione asked him.

Draco looked at her and shook his head slightly, but Hermione was relentless. "He won't return until later. I'm meant to manage them in his absence."

"Brilliant!" Theo chimed as he caught the vial Blaise tossed to him. He walked over to where they stored the polyjuice potion and fixed a portion along with the hairs in his flask. "Let's not wait for him to arrive, then."

Blaise conjured a set of death eater robes and Hermione headed to the bedroom, smiling slightly to herself as she heard Draco trail behind her.

"Granger, this is ridiculous. I'm not risking your life just for Zabini to fuck with Cyrus."

"I heard Cyrus talking with Dolohov." Hermione said, pulling her jumper off before removing to her denims. "Apparently, he wants to use Pansy to get his hands on the Parkinson estate."

Draco reeled back, and she had to credit him that he looked just as disgusted as she felt. "The Dark Lord doesn't encourage betrothals."

"It sounded like they were trying to set things up so that they are the ones to take over. Should Voldemort fall." Hermione didn't let herself think too much before pulling the robes over her head.

"Are they planning on him to fall?"

"I don't know if they're prepared to stage a full force coup. But…" Hermione buttoned her robes; the garment of people who wanted her dead. "Whatever it is, Pansy is meant to be a pawn. I'm not a fan of hers but Blaise is right. You told me before that you all do whatever you can to protect her."

Draco looked conflicted. No doubt thinking over what punishments could apply to Blaise and Pansy if they do nothing.

"Bloody Gryffindors." He kissed her firmly as she walked him towards the study door. "Fine, but I will be with you the whole time." He walked backwards until his back hit the door, still looking her over one more time before she changed form. "These robes are ghastly."

She brought her mouth to his once more, while her lips were still her own. "I'll let you take them off after."

The transformation happened quickly. Her fingers bubbled slightly before they settled, thinner and paler than normal. Her head felt lighter as her honey curls were replaced with a shoulder length black bob and fringe. The entirety of her body felt lighter, and the robes that were uncomfortably tight now hung off her sickly frame, and Hermione tried to remember if Pansy had always been so thin.

"My beloved. It has been far too long," he cooed with an exaggerated bow and Theo snorted behind him.

"Better get to the gates. You don't want it crowded when you try to sneak past," Theo insisted.

Hermione reached out her hand, or Pansy's hand rather, and Draco looked at it for a moment before taking it, and apparating them to the edge of the grounds.

Hermione looked around once they appeared, never venturing past the gate in the front yard. They were standing off to the side of a gravel road, hidden within the trees.

"The apparition point is past the wards, about 200 meters that way." He pointed, doing a quick look on the road before pulling her to walk alongside him. "If anyone were to arrive, they would just assume you got here first and already crossed. Just keep walking straight, Blaise will meet you at the gate."

"Shouldn't you go back?" She said as she started down the path and Draco still walked beside her.

"I don't like you, like this." He said looking nearly tortured. "What if someone notices?"

Hermione scoffed, "Don't be daft, Draco. Now bugger off before someone sees you."

Draco couldn't hide his amusement with her impression of Pansy and did one more quick look. "Ah Pans, what's gotten into you? You're usually such a sweetheart."

"Go!" she pushed again, and he disappeared with a crack.

Hermione turned towards the Manor, seeing the front of the hedges, and started walking towards the gates. It was different, approaching Draco's home the way she had seen so many others do before. The gates looked larger, and the hedge lined path to the front door seemed a mile long.

"Pansy! May I just say you look ravishing today." Blaise said formally, holding out his hand.

"Hm, well, I was just recently ravished," Hermione said passively as she grabbed his hand and Blaise barked a laugh before he could stop himself.

" As true as that may be," he croaked out. "A lady should never say such things."

"And I'm a lady?"

The gravel crunched beneath their steps, as well as several people who were now behind them, and Hermione felt her nerves start to get the best of her as she approached the door.

She really didn't think this through.

Tonight was a formal meeting. Hermione had attended nearly all of them during her captivity there, but now she wouldn't be hiding in the corner. She would be sitting, opposite Theo and three seats over. Next to Pansy's father. With the rest of the respectable purebloods in Voldemort's inner circle while he took his spot at the head of the table.

Hermione was nervous, and she was sure it showed. But so often was Pansy, nearly trembling in her chair anytime she was forced to attend. The young witch has grown to hardly ever speak.

"Ho-ho, look who decided to join us," Theo hooted, playing his role in their little act.

"I couldn't skive off forever," Hermione said, trying her best to keep her eyes from locking on Draco's. "Miss me terribly?"

"Gutted." Theo replied curtly before turning towards Malfoy. "We've got some time before the formal. Shall we join the others in the dining room?"

Blaise took the opportunity to wrap an arm around Hermione's lower back, pulling her into his side. She looked at him then, planning on just returning a polite smile when she was hit full force of his gaze.

Blaise was fit, in an undeniable, all the time, sort of way. But the intensity of his stare nearly made her knees buckle and she didn't even fancy him more than a friend. No wonder Theo always had stars in his eyes.

"Ahem."

The sound of Draco clearing his throat broke her trance, only to be hit with a fiery stare of his own. She looked at Theo, instinctually to explain but the green-eyed boy only had eyes for Blaise, who now was smirking something fierce.

She must have been surrounded by Slytherin's for too long, because she decided that their charade may be a little fun after all.

"Do the peacocks still strut around, or do they leave that to Malfoy now?" She mused as she walked past the boys into the front door.

"You know our prince. He'd prefer to ride around in a litter if only he could find people to carry the poles." Blaise followed closely beside her, placing his hand suspiciously lower now that Malfoy trailed behind them. "But strut, he does."

"Clever. Coming from the man that practically limps." Draco remarked.

"I've got a lot to carry," he snarked back. "But only one person here other than I would know anything about that."

Theo lost his footing and Hermione could hear his expensive shoes scuff against the marble floor.

"Blaise darling, not in front of the children!" Hermione said, batting his chest and she nearly lost it when she saw how close Blaise was to laughing.

The energy from the duo a few feet back, not so much. But they had more than their fair share of teasing her.

"Parkinson, is that you?"

Hermione heard Theo's father shout and Blaise's arm tightened around her. He turned them, taking a small step from Hermione to create a respectable distance.

"Mr. Nott, pleasure as always." Hermione, or Pansy, chimed.

Nott Sr. raised both his brows, "As with you. This one has kept you away for far too long."

"Hard to keep her hand off me if she's too close. Nonetheless, we could hardly bear to be apart for another moment." His hand on her back started to inch lower, no doubt in perfect view of Malfoy and he started pushing his luck a little too far. Hermione pinched his side firmly in warning and he hissed reactively.

"Ah! - easy minx. Not in public." He purred.

"That's enough, Zabini," Draco snapped, and a satisfied grin crossed Blaise's face. She looked at Theo for help, but he also seemed to be amused that his partner was having a go at Draco's expense.

Nott Sr. chuckled. "Oh Malfoy. Such a prude, just like your father." He turned to Hermione. "If you even need anything and Mr. Zabini is not around, please keep in mind I am always happy to assist you."

Ick.

"Thank you, sir." Was all she could force out, and the words made his eyes darken, something repulsive.

Blaise's grip tightened and she turned her head to see Dolohov was approaching them. She had witnessed several conversations take place in this very hall, but for some reason the walls started to creep in on her.

Blaise tucked her hair behind her ear, and Hermione couldn't help but notice how easily Pansy's straight strands stayed in place compared to her own that would always pop out immediately. He leaned down the next moment blocking the view of the oncoming men, and his lips touched the side of her mouth, barely missing her lips.

"Zabini!-"

"We were just on our way to walk the garden, father. Pansy hasn't been out there in ages and she's dying to see how the peacocks are fending." Theo cut Draco off, reminding him of their company.

"Ah yes. Well, Nott Manor has an array of exotic creatures as well. Please let Theo know if you care to visit, I'd be happy to give you a private show."

Hermione swallowed, forcing down the vomit that was creeping up her throat as Theo's father took his leave. She had heard Pansy and the Greengrass sisters complain about the predatory behavior of the old men, but this was the first time it was directed at her.

The group makes their way outside, avoiding conversation with any of the other members, yet still being witnessed by many. They were walking by one of the storage sheds, finally out of eyesight, when Blaise was ripped from her side.

Hermione turned and saw Theo had a fistful of Blaise's robes, opening the door of the shed and pushing the smirking boy inside.

"We'll only be a moment," Theo said with a peppy tone that was not reflected on his face. He followed Blaise in immediately and slammed the door.

Hermione swallowed, turning to Draco to see the repercussions of her own actions.

"Don't worry," he muttered darkly. "Once you're back to you," he took a step forward, tracing his fingers down her robes, not attempting to mask his contempt for them. "You'll be getting yours."

She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, and he looked away. Not in the usual way, but like he was put off by the gesture. It was then she noticed her lip felt thinner than usual, and she remembered she was wearing skin that was not her own.

"Do you not like me like this?" she taunted, and his nose crinkled in a way she hadn't seen since their school days. "Many others seemed to be pleased by it."

Draco took a step back, looking down his nose but neglecting to reach out and touch her. "I've told you before, that cheek is going to get you in trouble, Granger."

"Parkinson," she corrected him.

"Not for much longer." As he leaned closer, his lips nearly brushed her ear. "And it wasn't Parkinson who was coming on my cock not an hour ago."

Hermione should be offended, disgusted. They stood there, Hermione trying to think of something quick to stay back and Draco was either closing his eyes or looking away.

The door to the shed opened and Blaise and Theo walked out, all smiles and snickering about something under their breath. When Theo looked up and saw Hermione and Draco were still outside waiting, he did a quick look between the two before walking to stand between them.

"Now, where are those birds?"

When they couldn't stall any longer, Blaise walked Hermione into the drawing room, arm and arm, meaning to show her to Pansy's seat as there was no way for him to know she knew where it was already. Suddenly, a hand grabbed her by the opposite elbow, ripping her from Blaise and started dragging her down a corridor.

"Amadeus!" Draco called as Pansy's father continued to pull her in tow.

Hermione turned around to see Blaise and Theo were holding Draco back from following, and she gave him the slightest of nods to confirm she was alright.

They turned the corner and were out of sight, and Pansy's father didn't hold back as he threw her against the stone wall.

"Who do you think you are, ignoring my letters?!" Parkinson shouted at her, his spit landing on her face.

"I was busy-"

He slapped her face with the back of his hand. The sting enraged her and she tried to see past her oncoming anger to determine how Pansy would respond to the abuse. She wrapped her hand around her wand and wordlessly cast a quick silencing charm.

Hermione was not able to fight back against Death Eaters within the manor, but she wasn't Hermione right now. She put both hands on his chest and shoved him as hard as she could.

"You ungrateful shit." He snarled when he regained his balance. "I can send you off myself if you like? And it won't be another holiday where your boyfriend keeps hiding you!"

"Crucio."

Parkinson fell on the ground instantly. Unlike when she practiced with Blaise or Goyle, the curse kept pulsing through her while she fed off his pain as he withered and wailed.

She ended the curse suddenly, and before he had time to get his footing she waved her free hand. Amadeus was thrown against the wall, ropes binding his arms to his sides and others tightening around his legs and neck, all without Hermione having to mutter a single word.

She sheathed her wand, taking her time as she started fixing Pansy's sleeves on her arms and he wrestled against the binds. She lifted one hand up in front of his face and closed it into a fist, making the ropes tighten around him.

"It is in your best interest, father, that I stay away." She scrunched her nose in the way Pansy had done to her so many times, knowing how belittling it felt to be on the receiving end. "You look unwell. Do these hurt terribly?"

She gestured to the ropes and the obediently disappeared. Hermione wanted to hurt him again. The powerful feeling she had finally achieved was fading away.

He cackled from his position on the ground, looking up at her as he stood tall.

"The Dark Lord will be so pleased." Pansy's father had to lean against the wall to hold himself up as the last few tremors left him. "Once you've demonstrated the killing curse, you'll be able to get your mark."

"I am leaving after the formal." Hermione drawled as emotionless as she could manage. "And if you put your hands on me again, I will demonstrate the killing curse on you."

Hermione started to walk away, removing the silencing charm as she turned the corner.

"You will be at the next initiation ceremony, girl!" He shouted after her and she quickened her pace. "At one end of the curse or the other!"

The boys were standing by the window when she finally came into view, and she gave them a small nod before she took her seat. Fate was on her side that neither Voldemort or Lucius attended the meeting. They left it up to Draco to inform the others of the newest development on muggle defenses.

Goyle arrived and took his seat, greeting Pansy and her father like the well-bred specimen he was. With the number of death eaters that voiced their disgust of being forced out of muggle cities, there was no time for other topics of interest.

"Muggles weaponizing magic against us." Goyle growled, shaking his head before turning towards Hermione. "You're looking a bit like death warmed up."

"Having a go at my girl, Goyle?" Blaise snapped, shaking his head. "Honestly, what a thing to say."

Blaise threw an arm around Hermione as the group started gravitating to Draco's suite.

"Uh- Parkinson, have you seen what we've got growing in the greenhouse?" Goyle said out of nowhere once they reached the hall.

"Mhm, we were just out there this morning."

Draco reached for the door and Goyle positioned himself in the way before he could open it.

"What the fuck are you-"

"I don't think it's appropriate for Pansy to enter your rooms, Malfoy. Especially since there are no other girls in attendance to maintain accountability."

Realization dawned on Hermione and Malfoy at the same time. He turned to look at her and a real smile graced his face for the first time in hours. He reached out, grabbing a piece of fringe that was previously black and straight, that had now grown in length and spiraled into a honey-brown curl.

"Come in, Goyle," She chimed, opening the door herself and his eyes went wide. "We've a lot to catch you up on."