"Should there be heating charms in here? Surely the creatures will get cold." Hemione asked Draco who was throwing a quaffle in the air. After arriving home from Hogwarts, Draco gave her a thorough kiss before Hermione requested he apparate them to the stables to visit Nymphadora. Dory hadn't come when she tried to reach out to her the day before, and she had thought the worst had happened.

This first winter snow happened the week before on the first of December. Cyrus Greengrass was thrilled, the grounds were covered in white just in time for the Yuletide ball that evening. He had tried to have the location changed to his home instead, but Voldemort rejected his offer. The size and prestige of the Malfoy ballroom was the only suitable option for a wizard like himself.

"The elves will cast them if needed," Draco said lazily, breaking the silence he committed to for most of the morning.

Hermione nodded, sitting on the stairs in the barn, feeding Dory treats. Her coat looked even more magnificent in the snow, but it was too dangerous to go outside with so many visitors already at the manor. The sheer number of them, coming and going and readying the grounds for the evening, forced Hermione to bring up a topic they'd managed to avoid for some time.

"Do you think it would be worth…" She stopped the quaffle with her eyes mid-throw, forcing Draco to look at her. "Do you think your father would let you check people in at the door?"

"Why would I do that?" He asked, confused.

Hermione sucked in her bottom lip. "He wouldn't let you oversee the list on your birthday, for obvious reasons. But he may not object this time."

Draco inhaled deeply through his nostrils, then stood and grabbed the quaffle levitation above him. "I'll see to it."

"Are the precautions the same?" she asked, trying not to focus on the part of the conversation that made her distraught.

"I don't know. I'll have to ask."

"How many guests are coming?"

"Do I look like a party planner to you?" he snapped at her, and Dory ruffled her wings. Hermione brushed her cheek to ease her, and she went back to eating.

She had to stop herself from shouting, "Don't be an arse."

"Don't ask stupid fucking questions."

Hermione reeled back, unsure where his animosity was coming from. "Well, you know how to avoid that, don't you?! Maybe instead of me having to force things out of you can just tell me things you know pertain to me."

He scoffed and turned around walking away from her. Dory nudged her again, nearly knocking her over.

"It's all right, Nymphadora. I'll miss you when I go, too," she whispered loud enough for Draco to hear, admittedly to irritate him.

"Fucking hell. This again…" he mumbled, whirling back around. "I told you, I'll handle it. I wouldn't have gotten her if I expected you to leave her."

"I don't even have a home, Draco."

Draco looked at her incredulously, like he was about to point out something.

"Go on, then," She goaded him. "I'll call for Neddy or sneak back in on my own."

He huffed through his nose, his nasty attitude all too familiar from when he would do it during school. "Don't be stupid."

The quaffle in his hand turned to dust, and Hermione could feel the magic prickling her fingertips.

"Do not, call me stupid again!" She yelled out the words as loud as she dared.

Draco lazily dusted off his hands, looking through narrow eyes sauntering over to her. He climbed the steps, the final one making him tower over her. She clenched her jaw, looking up her lashes as she refused to tilt her head. He caged her in with his arms, leaning down until they were nose to nose.

"Brilliant."

Damn him.

Hermione pursed her lips together as tightly as she could, but by the way he licked his bottom lip she knew her face betrayed her.

He leaned over further to talk in her ear. "Witty." Kiss. "Sexy." He tilted her head back and kissed across her neck to the other side. "Terrifying."

She lost her battle and breathed out a laugh.

"You owe me a quaffle."

"Add it to my list."

He growled and started kissing her neck again. "Mean." He continued and she rolled her eyes at the hypocrisy. "What was it you said about when you are on one of your mean streaks again? Something about actually wanting to shower me with compliments and affection?"

Hermione pushed him back, but he held onto her hand and pulled her to stand. "I don't think it's such a good idea. Your head hardly fits through the door already."

He chuckled lightly, but the joy faded from his face almost as quickly as it appeared, and his eyes looked over her face. "Hogwarts was shit and I don't walk to talk about it. But I will ask my father about the list."

"What happened?" She blurted.

He traced a finger down her back, sending shivers throughout her body. "How about I tell you all the ways I imagined you making it better?"

Neddy appeared the moment they got back in the room, announcing that Theo was looking for them. Draco had coaxed Hermione out of her jumper before he arrived, and she was struggling to get her arm back through the sleeve as she walked to the door.

"How did the latest crop hold up?" Theo asked Draco.

"I don't know. I just drop them in the ditch and the Order either takes them away, or they return as new men."

"Did any return?"

"Two. but I wouldn't claim they came back whole. Whoever is doing the memory charm is breaking off a little too much if you know what I mean. One poor sod hardly remembered his name."

They had gotten nearly fifty people to switch sides and go with the Order. Anthony told her that they are questioning them under veritaserum to ensure they are not double agents, but he doesn't know any of them personally as his identity has to stay concealed. The only contact he had was with the Weasley's, all others must believe him to be a true death eater if he was to remain hidden.

When Draco started his ranting about the wolves at Hogwarts, Hermione left them to it and went to sit on the balcony. All the boys hated the creatures, but Draco's position had been especially hateful since she nearly died from her attack.

She pulled out the letter Anthony delivered to her earlier that week. The coins had a built-in failsafe if anyone tried to reveal the charm within them, so they had been deactivated since Katie Bell's discovery. The letters were rarer with the heightened paranoia, but the Weasley's insisted on sending her something in case she was not able to leave during the Ball.

Cat,

I wish you were able to make it home for the winter Hols. We all admire your commitment to your work, but remember we are here, eagerly anticipating when you'll find yourself free to come home.

Mother adores the goodies you insist on sending home. Some more enjoyable than others if I am being honest- not to mention trying to find a place for it all. We'll have to do a deep cleaning once you are back and can tell us what to keep and throw out.

If I don't see you before Christmas, know we've piled all your gifts in a cupboard for when you do arrive.

Love,

Crab

Ginny's note looked like it was written with haste.

Hi Sis,

I wrote this letter three times, but father made me burn all the others. I've so much to tell you. Alas, I will wait for you to get home. I love you. We are all waiting for you and missing you terribly.

Mind the fleas.

Sis

Now that she had a wand, she wrote her reply on charmed parchment, set to erase should anyone other than the intended try to read it. She wrote out more than she usually would, but something stopped her from sharing any of the information that was better conveyed in person.

When she entered the study again, Malfoy had already changed into his formal robes. Theo wore his as well, both boys refusing to cave to their fathers' orders and going stag.

Goyle and Blaise arrived, and Draco let them in, Blaise holding a large box.

"What's that?" Hermione asked.

"A gift for you." He said placing it on the coffee table. Hermione smiled, grateful he thought of her being the only one left out this evening.

She opened the box to find an emerald green dress. It was beautiful, and no doubt more costly than anything she'd ever owned.

"It's Pansy-sized." He said with a smirk.

All the boys had a smug look, Draco's mixed a bit with worry but still amused by her shock.

"I- Pansy isn't coming?" Hermione stuttered out.

"I told her she didn't have to, so long as she stays at my house in France and doesn't leave the grounds." Blaise said, walking over to their stock of potion and confirming her suspicion. "That is if you are up for it?"

Hermione looked around. "It's such a beautiful dress. It'd be a shame to waste it."

"Off you go, then!" Blaise chirped, tossing her the flask. "I'd like to be fashionably late, but I am already planning on leaving early."

Hermione went into the room, turning when she heard Draco walk in behind her.

"Wait." His voice wasn't angry or worried. It was the one he used that made her thighs quiver.

She stopped at the foot of the bed and turned to look at him. He waited a moment before walking over to her, and she felt her heart race the same way it did the night she kissed him for the first time.

He grabbed the dress and held it up for a moment before laying it out on the bed. He stood with his chest to her back and reached his arms around to undo her denims.

"Did you like being held by Blaise?" He asked as her denims and panties fell to the ground. He rid of her shirt quickly and suddenly she was naked in front of him.

"What?" She muttered, finally registering what he was saying.

He knelt down, lifting her foot to free it of her pants and throwing them to the side once they were off. He kissed her lower back, nearly on her cheek and she shuttered, her hands hanging by her side.

"Did you like when he touched you," he kissed the center of her lower back, "here?"

Flashbacks from the last time she wore Pansy's skin came to her mind. Along with the proclamation Draco had yet to fulfill.

Hermione could hear the boys speaking on the other side of the wall, joking and starting their drinking for the evening. Draco kissed up her back, pushing her hair to expose her neck and brushing his lips up to her ear.

"Well?"

"N-No?" She stuttered, feeling small and exposed with him pressing against her. He was still fully clothed, and she said a silent prayer to herself that he wasn't just helping her get dressed.

"Are you asking me, or telling me?" He spoke directly in her ear. Goosebumps raised on her skin as his fingers went down her sides to grab on her hips. This was what he usually did before slipping a hand between her legs, and she closed her eyes in anticipation.

Instead, he backed away, cool air chilling her skin and she turned around to see his eyes raking over here.

"Did you like how he kissed you?"

Hermione shook her head. "No! He didn't actually kiss me. Well, not fully…"

"Would you have let him?" He persisted, fixing his sleeve. When he didn't keep moving to take his robes off, she felt a wave of disappointment.

Hermione sucked her bottom lip between her teeth and shrugged, putting on her most innocent look and deciding to take on the offensive.

He closed the distance in a few slow steps, using a finger to tilt her chin up once he was towering over her. "You let him kiss these?" He said, dragging his thumb across her lips.

"He didn't."

"Where then?"

Hermione put a hand on the nape of his neck, pulling him down until his lips rested on her cheek where Blaise had touched all those weeks ago. She had nearly forgotten about it, but it was clear Draco hadn't.

He kissed her, gently at first, and then firmer. Darting his tongue out for good measure and making sure all traces of anyone else were replaced with him. His fingers moved to fist her curls, almost painfully tight before stealing her lips with a bruising kiss. She moaned, desperate for him after only a few dark words and featherlight touches. But as she pushed her body against his, the stark reminder that he was fully dressed became prevalent.

"Take this off," she panted, pulling at his robes.

"If he tries to kiss you tonight?" He asked her with a raised brow. It sounded more like a command than a question and she felt the thrill of knowing the right answer.

"I won't let him," she said eagerly, trying to capture his lips again.

He started to kiss down her jaw to her collar bone. "And why won't you let him?"

"Because you don't want me to?" Hermione flinched as he nipped at her skin, and she whimpered. Perhaps wrong answers could be fun too.

Of course.

"Because I'm yours." She breathed out and was rewarded with a groan from the back of Draco's throat. He continued kissing down her body, sucking and lapping generously at one nipple before moving and giving the other attention.

"Good girl. So many sweet places only for me." He kept his journey down until he was on his knees in front of her. "This one is my favorite," he said, running two fingers between her folds, and spreading them so that his breath warmed her core. "Would you let Blaise taste your pretty cunt?"

Her cheeks caught fire. "Jesus Christ… Draco-"

"Will you let me?" He grabbed one of her legs and draped it over his shoulder. Her hand went to his hair for balance, and the blonde waves looked so lovely popping through between her fingers.

"I… Do you want to?"

Draco kissed the insider of her thigh, trailing closer to her center but stopping just before he reached it. Rather than panic, Hermione realized she was disappointed he didn't keep going.

"Very much."

"Okay-"

Hermione's voice was cut off as Draco descended on her, his tongue warming her clit as he licked between her sensitive folds. Her thighs instinctively tried to clasp together, but her leg over Draco's shoulder only resulted in her pulling him tighter. Every inhale was nearly a gasp, and each exhale was practically a moan and Hermione allowed herself to let go of her troubling thoughts. Focused only on Draco's gifted tongue and strong hands that gripped her so tightly she was hopeful for marks.

He slowed his tongue, allowing her to catch her breath. Her grip loosened in his hair and the extra slack had him diving at her again. Exploring more of her with his tongue and licking at her opening before pressing into her. The shallow probing reminded her how much she wanted him to do more.

He moved back to her clit and groaned. Her disappointment lasted less than a second when she was reminded how divine his tongue working in circles felt.

When he pressed his fingers inside, hitching them to hit her spot that made her see white, her leg buckled, and he was the only thing holding her up. Licking her mercilessly as she came with a whimper. Words spilling out of her that she would never be able to recall again.

She felt more sensitive, but Draco kept pleasing her and she felt herself starting to crest again.

"Draco…" she moaned, trying to pull her leg off him but he held her tight. His tongue was now moving so slowly, her hips had to move to get the friction she needed.

"Yeah, love?"

"Please."

"Tell me, love. What do you want?" His voice was commanding and full of lust and she needed him to fill her with it.

"I need you." He rewarded her words by sucking on her clit, and she nearly saw stars.

"Such beautiful fucking sounds…I know what you need." He looked up at her and the desire in his eyes nearly took her breath. "Now say it."

"I need you to fuck me. Please-"

She rushed the words out, wanting to say them and not allowing herself to think enough to stop herself. They probably came out wrong, but Draco was up, throwing her on the bed atop her dress the next moment.

"Bloody hell, Hermione," he breathed looking over her, making quick work of ridding himself of clothes. He crawled over her and she opened her legs so that he could fit between them. "Your cunt is just as sweet as the rest of you." He stole her lips immediately, kissing her until she was nearly dizzy before pulling back to gulp for air.

"That was…" Hermione couldn't find the words, but Draco moaned in agreement. "But I need this." His erection was throbbing as she started stroking him a few times before placing him at her entrance.

Draco pressed into her, sliding a hand grab her ass and the other at the side of her head, taking a fistful of the emerald dress. The dress that, Hermione realized in that moment, he was intent to fuck her on.

She cried out, as Draco started thrusting into her, wasting no time to ease her into it and taking her hard and sure just as she asked. The marvelous ache building up again as she was full of him.

He sat up suddenly, looking down at her before continuing his thrusts, slower and evil and he knew exactly the pace to drive her mad.

"Tonight, when we are in the ballroom, this is what I'll think of. No matter what you look like, or whose arm you are on, you are- Fucking. Mine."

Hermione was sure his words were lovely, but he needed to keep moving. "More."

He lifted her to sit up with him, pressing her lower back so that she was filled with every inch of his cock. He rocked them, thrusting up into her where she now straddled his lap and she placed her hands on his shoulders and met him thrust for thrust. When she needed more, she moved faster, practically bouncing and using his firm grip on her hips to leverage herself further.

"Good girl. Fuck yourself on my cock." He praised her.

She was so close, and she could hear his breath hitch in the way that told her he was as well. When he finally took over the pace, it only took a few more pumps until she was unraveling in his arms for a second time. She kissed every part of his skin that her lips could reach. Starting at his shoulders, across his chest and back to his mouth. He panted so deliciously into hers, and if only all the miserable people downstairs had someone of their own to light them up, they could maybe stay in that moment forever. Be that as it may, they had business to attend to.

Hermione got dressed quickly, waiting to take the potion until the last moment.

"You look so beautiful, my darling," he told her. "It is a shame for the dress no one will see it on you."

She exited the bedroom as herself, Draco righted and ready behind her before downing the potion and leaving the study on Blaise's arm as Pansy.

There was a gloom to the ballroom that wasn't present during Draco's birthday party. While the vases were crystal, and arrangements were extravagant, the mystical ambiance Astoria created was missing. Cyrus Greengrass instead elected to have the room resemble the Dark Lord.

Hermione stayed close to Blaise, fiddling with the diamond brooch pin he gave her to pin up one side of Pansy's hair. Voldemort was absent. Likely set up in the drawing room, having guests walk through to greet him like the king he fancies he is.

Her eyes traveled up to see that the ceiling was filled with dementors instead of the night sky, a patronus shield keeping them trapped. She clutched Blaise's arm tighter, darting her eyes up when he looked at her questioningly.

"Greengrass' taste is ghastly." He muttered scrunching up his face. "You think he was trying to turn people off of the Dark Lord."

The pureblood elite took turns between waltzing on the dancefloor and indulging in champagne, as if it was any other party they had attended over the years. Daphne Greengrass was dancing with Ignatius Prewett who was several years her senior. Astoria stood across from her, in the company of Corban Yaxley, who took every chance he had to drag a knuckle down her porcelain skin. Hermione found herself staring when Astoria's eyes finally met hers, her entire face lighting up before she hastily made her way over.

"Gods, Zabini. You all missed the opening remarks. Where's Nott?" Astoria said, turning around, and Hermione got a good look at the diamonds that wove through her intricate braid. "Alright Parkinson?" She asked with a raised brow when she caught her staring.

Blaise answered for them. "Went into the drawing room with Malfoy. They've business to attend to."

Malfoy was checking with Lucius to see if he could get control of the guest list and get Hermione's name on it so she could finally escape. The thought of it made her feel…

"I wasn't expecting you to grace us with your presence," Astoria said, and it took Hermione too long to realize she was speaking to her.

"I-uh… Surprise?"

Merlin and Morgana…

"You look fantastic. That's beautiful by the way. I've always admired the Zabini vaults when it comes to jewelry." Astoria gestured towards her brooch.

"I'd have to empty it entirely if I attempted to keep up with you," she said, gaining back her wits. She had heard the formal exchanges enough to play Pansy's part to a tee.

"Oh! Do you like it?" She said, turning again and gesturing to her sparkling braid. "I figured if I put enough of the family jewels in my hair, my father would be less willing to let Yaxley steal me."

"Yeah, what the bloody hell is that all about?" Blaise said under her breath, gesturing towards the old, repulsive, wizard.

"Betrothal nonsense."

"He never…"

"Dangling the carrot as of now. Unless a better, richer option comes around." Worry crept onto her beautiful face, and not for the first time Hermione felt sympathy for the rich, pureblood girl.

"Did Draco say if he was going to come out soon?" She asked Blaise with large blue eyes.

Nevermind.

"He should be. Though I can't imagine his presence would improve the state of your date," he said, flicking his chin towards Yaxley, who was staring predatorily in their direction. Hermione looked around the room and noticed Daphne and her date were gone, and she regretted not bringing her map with her so she could ensure she wasn't taken somewhere isolated.

"Keep staring, you old prat," Astoria muttered with a smile and a wave. "I'm worth twelve of you, Yaxley."

Hermione breathed a chuckle and Astoria turned back to her with a smile, pleased to amuse her old friend. Were Astoria and Pansy friends?

"I better get back before my father has a hippogriff. Tell Draco to find me once he arrives?" She asked the last bit of her sentence with an uncertainty she rarely displayed.

Hermione watched Astoria as she practically floated away, her eyes not diverting until a familiar figure drew her attention. Anthony was rushing out of the ballroom, doing his best to acknowledge and greet people on his way out.

"Will you excuse me?" Hermione started to walk away and Blaise grabbed her arm.

"I'm not really supposed to leave your side," He said.

"We'll if you think Malfoy would be pleased with you joining me in the bathroom, feel free to come along."

Hermione looked over her shoulder as she exited the ballroom to see Blaise join Marcus Flint and his date at the champagne table. Once out of the room, she picked up her pace to check the hidden alcoves. Anthony had looked anxious in his departure, and she wasn't sure exactly how to explain her current appearance, but if he needed to speak with her urgently it was something she would have to risk. She turned the corner in the hall to see him going into the alcove by the cellar door. It was more difficult to keep her feet silent in Pansy's five-inch heels, but she managed to keep her stealth as she approached the opening.

Oh.

Okay.

He definitely was not looking for her.

Anthony's back was pressed against the wall, one arm circling Daphne's back and the other groping her ass as he kissed her ravenously. Daphne had both hands on his face, holding his lips to hers and she kissed him back with equal vigor. Her date lay stunned in a corner of the alcove in what looked like a very uncomfortable position.

"Jesus, Daph. Did you kill him?" He said looking at Ignatius Prewett lifeless body in the corner while Daphne kissed down his neck.

"I don't know, maybe." She threw her arms around shoulders pulling herself higher. "Who cares?"

Anthony laughed around her mouth before starting to kiss her back. "You're so scary."

"Whatever do you mean? I'm a little pygmy puff," she said, batting her eyes and pressing her smile against his. She pulled out her wand, wordlessly casting a charm on their lower halves before meeting his eyes again, this time her fingers untying his robes. "And I'd very much like to be played with…"

Their pants and moans were so loud it started to echo through the halls, and Hermione rolled her eyes before throwing up a silencing and disillusionment charm for the two junior exhibitionists.

Blaise gave her a death stare the moment she entered the ballroom again, and Hermione furrowed Pansy's brows at him questioningly as he stalked towards her.

"What is it?" She asked worriedly as Blaise threw his arm around her and pulled her close.

"Malfoy will have my head if he knows I left you alone."

Hermione relaxed into his hold and followed as he led her to mingle with other guests around the room. The orchestra started playing a song that was vaguely familiar to her, the piano starting the introduction verses individually, grabbing her attention.

For a moment, she assumed she remembered it from the Yule ball, but then she knew she heard it on the radio. It was right at the end of hunting horcrux with Ron and Harry. The magical instrumentals made it difficult for her to recognize at first, but once the violins started on the chorus it was obvious. She looked around the room, and sprinkled throughout the hundreds of guests, there were individuals that must have recognized the muggle song as well. She blinked heavily before looking up at Blaise, who had a smirk on his face and was looking over her shoulder.

Hermione turned to find Draco was standing behind her. One hand behind his back and the other held out for her.

"What do you say, Parks? For old times sake?" Draco had a menacing smile that she found she loved just as much as the rest of him.

She took his hand, allowing him to walk her to the center of the dancefloor, the other guests moving out of their way as was expected for such a highborn family claiming their place.

Draco spun her around once before taking the proper form, one hand holding hers and the other on her waist. She saw Goyle and Theo, who were looking rather smug to have pulled off such an act in plain view. Most people continued without noticing. One Slytherin half-blood that was a couple years older than her looked like he was about to voice a concern, but Goyle quickly hit him with a jinx that made him think better of it. Hermione breathed out a laugh, and her unlikely friend threw her a wink before Draco turned them and he was out of view.

"I suppose I should add 'excellent dancer' to the list of reasons why you are too good for me," he said when she finally mustered up the courage to look at him.

"This is mad," she whispered, laughing at the ridiculousness of it all, but also trying to calm the flutter that was overtaking her.

"I'm dancing with my ex-girlfriend, who is actually my current girlfriend, and you think a little muggle music is what is going to do us in?" He jested and she went to lay her head against his chest before stopping herself.

"How?"

"I told them it was a Draco Malfoy original." He said wagging his brows and she had to look away before she locked in on his lips. "I almost ruined the surprise; I've been sorting out the scores most mornings."

He had, she realized. The music was what Draco would play before he realized she was awake and switched to classical.

"Aren't you worried people will think you are trying to rob Zabini of a fiancé?"

A boyish grin claimed his face, and the next moment he picked her up and spun her. The act caused a very not-Pansy giggle to escape her as she allowed her arms to wrap around him in return.

"There she is," he whispered into Pansy's black hair and her magic pumped from her chest out to her fingertips. He set her down, but held her tighter against him than was traditional form.

And there they remained in the center of the ballroom, surrounded by pure-bloods and elitists unknowingly dancing to a muggle song that the Malfoy heir played just for her.

The floor shook.

The floor of Malfoy Manor never shook.

Blaise stood from the table that he and Hermione had been sitting at, drinking along with some of the younger members so that she could steal a few extra sips of polyjuice potion.

Dread started to infest her and she looked up to find that the patronus charm had ceased and dementors were now descending on the room. She reached for her wand, but her hand never got to her pocket as Blaise hauled her up by her elbow.

A dementor swooped in, and Blaise yanked up his sleeve to expose his dark mark, causing the creature to turn its attention to someone else. There was another shake. Not just the floors, but all the way up to the walls until the chandeliers rattled.

She was pulled tightly against a familiar chest, and she knew Draco was there. His eyes were scanning the room, watching the dementors start to pray upon all the unmarked attendees.

"My room. Now." He growled and she felt the rumble of his chest against her face.

The ballroom got brighter, light pouring in from the windows outside in a hue that was too orange and red to be anything natural this late in the evening. Hermione ran to the window and saw that the hedges aligning the Manor were on fire.

"Reducto," she murmured, dissolving the hedges into dust before the fire could get too out of control.

A hand grabbed her shoulders, throwing her against the window, her head hitting the glass hard enough to make her see stars.

"NOW! Now is the time, girl!" Pansy's father spat at her. "The Dark Lord is watching. Show him what you can do! What we can do to bring him glory!"

Hermione put a hand to his chest, and Parkinson went flying across the ballroom. Landing in a heap on the marble floor. "Strike two, Parkinson."

The room was in chaos, guests had turned on one another and curses were flying around the room. Hermione pulled one her wand, looking around to see where any of her friends had gone. A death eater grabbed her pulling her against them so that she shared straight into his mask.

"Get upstairs!" Goyle yelled as he shoved her towards the exit.

Bodies were scattered on the floor, dementors feeding on their souls. The patronus escaped her wand, pulsing across the entire room in waves up into the ceiling until the otter shepherded them back behind the barrier. Satisfied the charm would hold, Hermione took off in a sprint.

She was clotheslined, and her wand was kicked out of her hand and went flying. It had hardly stopped skidding across the floor before it shot back to her open palm, wandless summoning charms a skill she could now do in her sleep. She shoved her wand into the throat of the death eater hovering over her, daring them to make the next move.

She vanished the mask to reveal a snatcher. No one of importance, but his eyes had the glazed overlook she had seen in Theo's when they practiced her unforgivable training.

They were imperioused.

"Mother fucker…" Hermione groaned as she drove her knee between the snatchers leg and left him wallowing alone on the floor. She needed to find Draco. An attack on the manor was an attack on the Malfoys.

The drawing room doors burst open, and Voldemort emerged, maneuvering with unassisted flight through the first floor. The mix of dark magic and rage created a ringing sound in her ears that she was sure would make them bleed. Where was Draco? When did they lose each other? He had to get out. If Voldemort was angry he would surely take his rage out on him. That couldn't happen. Not when he hasn't even had the chance to truly live.

It was nothing she had never seen. People were choking on the air, and Hermione was sending out consecutive scourgify to clear it enough so that people didn't pass out. She was making her way over to a young girl unconscious on the ground when she was grabbed yet again and brought face to face with another mask.

"I forgot you were- get to my room. NOW!" Draco's voice boomed and she found herself angry as well.

"I'm not going anywhere without you!"

She felt the pull and the next moment she was back in their study. The room was orange, and from the windows she could see that the entire forest behind the garden was on fire. It was too large for a reducto spell to be effective, and Hermione was paralized until an idea suddenly came to her.

She ran out on the deck and pointed her wand at the fire. There wasn't an incantation for what she wanted to achieve, but she told her magic what it needed to do and forced it out the tip of her wand.

The fire reduced to nothing within seconds, and Hermione breathed a sigh of relief.

"What- how did you do that?!" Draco asked from behind her.

She turned around and jumped in his arms, grateful they were together again. "The opposite bubble-head charm. Fire cannot survive without air, so I created an airless bubble around it."

Draco set her down, her hair still short and black. She had just taken the potion and would be stuck in Pansy's form for several more hours.

"I have to go back," he said.

"I'm going with you!"

"No! Stay here. I don't know what is happening-"

"It's the imperious curse. Someone has used it on the guests to make them attack anyone that they see. Likely also to set the grounds ablaze."

"All the more reason to stay here." She was about to protest again when he shook his head. "Hermione. There is no surviving for me if I don't go back. You know that."

She did. And she watched him disappear a moment later before bolting for the door herself to run back downstairs.

The fighting continued, and in the ballroom several people were levitating between the floors and the dementors. She saw Theo dueling with a hooded death eater who was meeting his red casts with green.

Hermione disarmed his opponent, and Theo's curse had him flying across the corridor. Her friend chased after him and she ran to his side to help.

It was Blaise. Out of his mind and eyes fogged over. She performed the counter-curse instantly, and watched as his consciousness started to regain control over his mind.

"Take him to our rooms. I'll send Neddy to let you in."

"Grang- Pansy. I can't."

"If he is caught as one of the attackers there is no saying what will happen. I'll cover for you." Theo took a deep breath before nodding and shouldering Blaise away from the fight.

Hermione started down the hall again, keeping to the sides and slipping into alcoves to stun death eaters from the safety of the disillusionment. A death eater grabs another hooded figure and slammed him to the wall. The hooded figure rammed his fist into the side of his head, and when the death eater took a step back, he punched him again, leaving him unconscious on the floor.

The hooded man looked around, hands on his face to confirm his mask had been removed, and as he spun, his hood shifted back to reveal a signature heap of red hair.

He turned to make down the hall, Hermione following behind him. She wouldn't let herself believe it. How could he get in, sure Lucius wouldn't accept a Weasley as a death eater?

Whoever he was, it was clear that he wasn't familiar with the manor as he was running straight into the drawing room. The enchantment sent him flying back as they had limited the entrance to those bearing the mark like they did during Draco's birthday party.

He was still on the floor, rubbing his head from where it slammed into the marble when Dolohov approached him, wand pointed at his chest.

"Stupify!" She casted from around the corner, sending the older wizard flying in the other direction. The hooded red head got to his feet and looked in her direction. He crashed into her jumping out of the way of a green curse and taking her with him, shielding her from the oncoming curse.

She put her wandless hand up just in time to hit the green light with one of her own, and both casts ricocheted off one another and died in the air. Looking up at the man hovering over her, she was met with red hair and a cheeky grin.

"Nipping off so soon? The fun is just starting, Parkinson!" George joked, though his voice trembled from the nearly missed killing curse. He stood up pulling her with him and she had to grab and spin them away from another wild hex flying in their direction.

"What- how are you here?!" She exclaimed after turning the corner.

"It's an aspiration of mine to become a human shield of course!" He said, shoving her behind him and fending against the hex.

"You shouldn't be seen with me," she muffled from behind him, her voice cracking with shock and excitement.

"Why did you help me?" He said turning to her once the firing ceased. "Don't deny it! I saw you. You took out Dolohov and blocked that killing curse." He panted looking around the room. "Since when are you friendly with blood traitors?"

"We don't have time for this George! You have to leave before it's too late. It's impossible to get past the wards if they don't want you to."

A pop got her attention and Neddy appeared. "Neddy let mistress' friends into the study."

"Mistress?! That is too good. Wait until the Daily Prophet discovers their favorite bachelor was snagged up by pug-face Parkinson."

Hermione laughed, overcome with joy that the war had not changed one of her dearest friends. It was short lived however, when she remembered why she had not been able to be with her friends during all that time. "Neddy, can you help him out of here?"

"Erm…" Neddy looked between the two. "Master Lucius is revoking entrance. Doesn't want anyone getting away…"

"If you are still within the grounds when he does it you won't be able to leave," Hermione looked at him, not attempting to hide her terror. "Neddy, take us to the edge of the grounds near the apparation point!"

"Wait a bloody minute! I am not going anywhere-"

Neddy grabbed their hands tightly and Hermione felt the ground beneath their feet change once they reappeared on the outside of the ground. She saw the light post that marked the edge of the grounds and shoved him across.

"George, please. Go now." She choked out, staring back as he looked wildly at her.

"Parkinson, why are you…" He shook his head incredulously. "Come with me. I'll vouch for you. How you saved my life back there because, well… you bloody did no point in denying that." He gave her one of his signature smiles and tears started flowing from her eyes.

"I can't," she choked out.

He took a deep breath, shaking his head and walking towards her when he was hit with an invisible wall. Not letting him get more than a few steps. Light rippled down the doom immediately after as the last of the wards were reinforced. It appears he got past them just in time.

"Neddy, take him away from here."

"No- I… what are you…" He stared at her in total confusion. And then it clicked. And he gasped and she could do nothing but stand there and cry from her home behind bars.

"It's you! Hermi-"

With a pop he was gone. Neddy took them someplace Hermione didn't know. And could not follow.