The approach of the next formal meeting was looming over Hermione's head. Only Goyle would outright object to Draco killing his father. The group's idea of compromise was to have him challenge Lucius to a duel, rather than trying to kill him outright. This appeased the traditional side of the Slytherins, the situation not unheard of. If Draco were to win, he would have to live with the guilt of killing his father. A burden almost as devastating as what would happen if he didn't.

The days continued to tick by, and all the important, stressful conversations they shared in the study started to feel alarmingly normal. They would toss around who they were going to tag for death one moment and place wagers for a round of exploding snaps the next. That was where Hermione found herself on the night of the full moon before the upcoming formal. Playing chess and plotting murder.

"Bishop to G9. Bet we could find Greyback tonight. I hate to see that rancid beast living within the manor," Blaise said to Draco from across the chessboard.

"That dog won't be living at all. But he'll be sound of mind when I bleed the life from him," Draco growled. "And he will pay for-… sneaking onto the grounds."

"Is he still denying that?" Theo asked and Draco nodded in confirmation. "Surely Lucius could prove it well enough with the roster?

"Castle to G9," Draco played with a smug grin and Blaise swore under his breath. "They didn't work properly."

"But the wards did catch the Clarke bloke. I interrogated him myself. Why would it signal for him and not the others?" asked Theo.

"We'll kill his whole pack soon enough," Draco snarled, like he always did when wolves came up after the attack.

Hermione gaped as the boys just nodded and continued playing their game. It was the last impromptu tournament between all the friends and took up most of their evening. Theo was playing with Hermione's camera, rejoicing in the moments where he could snap a picture of one of them caught off guard.

"That is barbaric," said Hermione sternly. Draco held his blunt up to his mouth, hesitating as he studied the new positions after Blaise's last move. "You can't murder the entire pack, Malfoy."

At this, Draco looked up his lashes and grinned. It took her a minute to interpret his smug expression, and her eyes nearly rolled into the back of her head.

"You can't murder the entire pack… Professor," Hermione said, putting as much contempt into the last word as she could muster. It didn't matter though, Draco still hummed with satisfaction, dropping his head back and finally taking a long pull.

"Bloody marvelous," he purred with a big smile.

Goyle snorted. "How long does that last for again?"

"The evening," Hermione said shortly.

"Actually, it's twenty-four hours," Blaise corrected, still looking at the board but smirking slyly.

Of course, the only time she loses a game of chess, it was to Draco and his ridiculous interest in her addressing him as a teacher. She nearly joked that she should be glad he didn't conjure her a set of school robes, but she didn't want to give him any ideas.

"If he won't spare his own father, I think it's rotten luck for the wolves, Granger," Goyle sneered, and Hermione's shoulders slumped. There was no way she was going to let that duel happen.

"Malfoy will win. Don't worry, golden girl," Blaise soothed her.

Hermione sighed. "I don't see why we can't at least ask him. He must hate Voldemort. And with Cyrus gathering his own followers, the quicker we end this, the better for everyone."

"My father doesn't care about what is 'better for everyone'. He cares about what is best for the Malfoys. Check," Draco said, directing his queen to take out Blaise's. "And that's not good enough for me. Not anymore."

"Perhaps I should try to convince him? I've been known to convert Malfoy elitists in the past, Professor," Hermione said, batting her eyes.

"Cheeky. Fifty points from Gryffindor," Draco quipped, and Hermione gasped in horror.

"Fifty?!" She yelled for a moment before remembering herself and her face fell.

"Castle to H3. Checkmate, you bastard." Draco said with a laugh and threw the butt of his joint on the board. Blaise swore under his breath.

"Finally. Any longer and I'd likely splinch myself getting back to the castle," Theo groaned. He stretched his arms out before walking over where Blaise was still studying the board. "We shouldn't delay any longer. Goyle and I have second post in the Forbidden Forest."

"I'm patrolling with Bennett tonight," said Goyle.

"But that leaves me with Flint!" Theo protested. "Shall I tag him? Hate to waste such an incredible opportunity."

"Malfoy's already doing Lestrange. Anymore would rouse suspicion," Blaise said. He squeezed Theo's hand and brought the back to his lips to press a kiss in farewell.

"Flint will be at the next formal with the others. You can have your pick of any that you would like once I lock them all inside."

The boys left the study, Blaise taking a room across the hall as the other two made their way to Hogwarts. Draco climbed into bed and pulled Hermione to him. His hair was still damp and smelled strongly of his soaps and oils. The scent of him was something she was sure could never be washed away. The way it filled her lungs and then spread through to her fingertips. They would tingle with need, only to be soothed by tracing them along his skin. At times holding him tightly enough to leave half-moon indentions in his skin.

"I love you," he whispered against her lips.

Rather than falling into another kiss, he propped himself on his forearm so he could look at her while he brushed her hair back. His hand caressing her as he studied her face. There was a heaviness in his gaze that he stowed away when the others were present. The weight of what he would have to do, and the guilt that undoubtedly came with it. The layers upon layers of guilt were so apparent, so devastating. Hermione saw it in his eyes as he stared over her, and she couldn't help but desperately want to absolve him of it.

"You don't have to do it, Draco. There must be another way," Hermione tried to appease him.

"He murdered Neddy, he deserves it," he said, dragging his fingers across her lips. "Every day we wait gives our enemies more time."

"Theo and Goyle should be okay on patrol tonight though?" Every day the fighting had become more brutal. At least when the boys were patrolling Hogwarts, they didn't have to worry about one of them getting killed by the Order in battle. Hermione wasn't sure she could handle the reality of her friends killing one another.

"Might be bored to death," Draco said with a small grin.

"Do you think… Well," Hermione stumbled a little on her words. "It must have been someone in the Order, wasn't it? Who tagged Theo?"

"That's what we think. Likely a death eater on Cyrus' side that got in with the Order. Whoever they are, they're dead the moment I find them."

"…we?" Hermione asked hesitantly. "Who is 'we'?"

Draco clenched his jaw, breathing deeply through his nose. "You will know everything soon."

Hermione's heart started to race. "Draco… if you don't win…"

"I will," Draco spoke with confidence.

"I would be stuck here forever, wouldn't I?" Hermione trembled as she spoke. "Unless I could convince Lucius to let me go."

"No," Draco said immediately. He kept opening his mouth to speak but failed to find the words. When he finally spoke, he closed his eyes as if he didn't have the strength to look her in the eyes. "I should have taken you away from here already."

"It's not your fault," Hermione whispered back before lifting her head up to kiss his lips. "I love you."

"I love you," Draco kissed her deeply. They could count the days they had left. And she tried to fight off the fear of who they would be outside of their rooms.

"Do you think we'll ever meet each other in battle?" Hermione asked. "If you are wearing a mask, how will I know it is you?"

"I'll be the one grabbing you and disapparating us out," he said instantly.

Draco's kiss started to feel like goodbye. The places his lips would usually only brush, he took the time to kiss sweetly. He pulled her up, setting her in his lap so they could surround each other in their arms. She let herself melt in his embrace. He used his fingertips to trace up her arms and push the small straps of her camisole from her shoulders, letting the material pool at her waist.

"That feels good," she breathed, and he groaned slightly against her skin. Draco didn't need much encouragement, but anytime she gathered the courage to voice her satisfaction he responded so pleased.

He moved slowly, but strong. Gripping her thighs and helping her drive herself forward until she took every inch of him. Fully seated in his lap, she used her hold on his hair to angle his face up, his lips parted and shiny and waiting for her to claim them. Her tongue eagerly licked into his mouth, and he groaned. The sound tasted nearly as good as he did. His hand tangled into her hair, and she fought against his pull to keep her lips firmly against his. The burn was slight and sweet, and she would feel it a thousand times if only to prove how much she wanted him. It worked, and he moaned around her lips as he thrusted up as hard and deep that the angle would allow. Filling her with the same vigor that she devoured his mouth.

Draco tightened his grip in her hair, and Hermione finally conceded and let her head fall back, exposing her neck. The thin skin was quickly assaulted by his teeth, the sting traveling down her body until it reached between her legs, and she felt herself tighten around him. He lifted her suddenly, keeping himself buried inside her, before falling over her and pinning her between the mattress and his chest. Their skin was hot and damp with sweat as they slid against each other with each thrust. It was hard to breathe with the weight on him on top of her, he only held himself just enough to not crush her completely. Every place they did not touch felt like a piece of herself missing, empty. There was nothing more satisfying than the way Draco made her feel whole.

He pulled away, and Hermione's arms tugged on his skin as he stretched away from her grasp.

He chuckled darkly, giving her one more hard thrust and watched as her body relaxed. "I have to slow down, greedy girl. Hands by your head. I'm not ready to fill you yet."

A groan escaped her lips as she obeyed. Draco made slower, shallower thrusts as his eyes raked over from where his cock disappear inside her, up to her bare chest.

"Sorry, professor," she panted. He swore under his breath and tore his eyes away from her. She put her feet on the bed and pushed her hips up to maintain friction, and one of Draco's hands flew to hold her down while the other surrounded her neck.

"Fucking cheat," he whispered, failing at hold back a grin. "Play fair."

"I haven't an idea what you mean," she said innocently, stretching her arms out and arching her back. His hand tightened around her neck for a second before traveling along her collarbone and down to her breasts. He brushed his thumb over her nipple, teasing the sensitive peak until he reached down to take it into his mouth. He started circling his hips, completely buried inside her and using the motion to rub against her clit.

"You make me so happy, Hermione," he cooed as he kissed his way to her other breast.

Draco often confessed his feelings towards her. Sometimes naughty things during inappropriate times, dirty things during sex, and deep confessions during their late-night whispers. This felt more significant than most, knowing Draco was happy. That may have been the most important thing that's ever happened, and here he was, saying she had a part in it.

He pulled out, burying his cock again deeply with one quick thrust. Hermione choked on her breath, already so close to falling over the edge if only Draco gave her what she needed.

"Draco…Please," she whimpered, needing him to just move a fraction faster. He knew that already. He was the one to condition her to desire it so strongly.

"That's my good girl. Tell me what you want," he praised her, his voice deep and assuring. It enticed and disarmed her all at the same time. Her hands cupped his face and pulled him down to meet her for a kiss. "I'll give you anything you want, Granger. Anything."

He repeated the words as he finally started increasing his pace. Promising her everything. Anything she could want. As if he wasn't the only thing she needed.

His name escaped her lips as the pleasure finally overcame her. He covered her mouth with his and consumed every moan like he was claiming a prize.

When she opened her eyes to look at him, he met her stare and she felt desire start to pool in her lower abdomen again. He pulled her legs to rest on his shoulders and resumed his pace, keeping his eyes locked with hers. She let her head lull to the side, and his hand was there the next moment, caressing her cheek and threading his fingers through the back on her hair. His thumb traced her lips and she opened them to suck it inside.

It was his undoing. He gripped her hips with both hands and fucked into her until her back was arching off the mattress as she came again seconds before he did. He dropped exhausted on top of her, groaning deeply and rough. She told him she loved him and he said the beautiful words back.

He panted into her neck as he kissed a path to her ear. "I can't keep you anymore."

Hermione's chest burned delightfully as she caught her breath. The room was so dark she could hardly see the blonde hair that was tangled between her fingers.

"I have to leave this place, but not you." she said, repeating the words he spoke to her what felt like ages ago.

"I'll never leave you."

Lucius was held up in his office reviewing the final details before his evening departure to Vienna. It was early morning, and the death eaters selected to accompany him were scattered around the grounds until they had to leave. Hermione avoided looking at them as she walked to meet Anthony: knowing they would never make it.

"Are you sure about this?" asked Anthony, handing over the Order portkey for her to exchange. The wrapped chain felt like lead in her hand as she shoved it in the pocket of her cloak.

"If we don't do it today, Draco will challenge his father at the formal. I am not risking it," she said, her voice only trembling slightly.

Hermione's eyes reflexively looked to the hall where the five members were lingering. She knew them all by name: Pearson, Grant, Pavlov, Bennett, and Yaxley. Yaxley was acting as Lucius second on the mission. He was someone she had no guilt sentencing to death.

"Lucius is the key. Once they have him, they must get him to grant full authority to Draco," Hermione said, nearly as an affirmation. Anthony flickered his eyes to the hallway for a moment before nodding his head in agreement. "How many people in the Order know?"

"Enough. We can't risk anything going wrong," Anthony said. "It's airtight Hermione, the trap is going to work."

Hermione paused, taking a deep breath and as she and Anthony shared an honest, somber look. "That's the problem, isn't it?"

Hermione left Anthony to wait outside Lucius' study. She saw Anthony enter the lounge that was supplied with wine and liquor. He was intoxicated more than he was sober. Avoiding his grief would never make it go away, but no one could blame him for turning his back on it at least until they ended the war.

Once Lucius exited and walked to a sitting room, she silently vanished the gold chain portkey and exchanged it with the Order's duplicate. Lucius didn't flinch as she slipped it into his robes pocket, her months of antagonizing the death eaters gave her an expert slight of hand. When Lucius finally turned to begin the pre-deployment meeting, Hermione silently charmed his robes with green smoke, tagging him for the Order to identify. For the first time, an extraction rather than an execution.

Hermione walked through the kitchens, where the two remaining house elves were busy preparing food and drink for the various manor guests. Once she reached the mudroom that had a window into the back garden, she tucked her cloak away into her bag and hid it in a heavily disillusioned cupboard. The dementor's were fooled better by her animagus form, and the landscaping around the garden provided more than enough cover for her to avoid being seen by any person.

Hermione quickly transfigured and climbed out of the window, and scurried into the bushes beneath, staying hidden well until she could reach the cover of the forest. Passing the barn, she instantly recognized a regal looking fox, lurking on the other side of the veranda than Flint and Cyrus. Hermione stepped forward, slightly kicking a rock and making a sound that was too soft for human ears to pick up. The fox turned its head towards her, and Hermione quickly raced into the deep woods of the forest. She could hear it gaining on her and she had just reached a small clearing when a snip at her leg sent her tumbling into a shallow puddle.

"You bit me!" Hermione yelled at Blaise, out of breath and back in her human form. The fox transformed, his momentum causing him to fall on top of her. His weight knocked out the little breath she had remaining, and Blaise chuckled as he pushed himself to sit up.

"Beat you again. I don't know why you even try," Blaise said.

Hermione laughed and sat up, gulping breath. Taking care to look through the canopies of the trees for dementors. "What were you doing hanging around Cyrus?"

"Trying to get a listen," Blaise answered.

"Anything important?" asked Hermione. She looked at her sleeve and saw a tear where Blaise had nipped her in his fox form.

"He fancies he's got more people on his side than the Malfoys."

"Does he?"

Blaise stood and offered Hermione a hand to pull her to her feet. "Does it matter?"

Hermione shrugged. "Only to their ego."

Blaise grinned. "In that case, yes. Best break the news to Malfoy as soon as possible."

Hermione rolled her eyes, turning to look around the clearing for another moment before transforming back.

"Here, take this," Blaise said, popping open the first two buttons of his jumper to pull it over his head. Hermione vanished her muddy and torn jacket and gratefully took the clean jumper. "He started on about needing Draco to take Lucius' place when I saw you."

"Does Cyrus really believe he would be able to control Draco, just because he's courting his daughter?" Hermione scowled.

"Sorry for him, Astoria doesn't have the influence he thinks- given Malfoy gets his brew from a different witch," Blaise said with a wink and Hermione smiled and smacked his arm. "I should probably head to the apparation point. Draco is expecting me. Goyle has grounds patrol again, but Nott should be by later to keep you company."

Hermione nodded, looking at Blaise with a sad smile. "I don't think we'll have another night together before everything changes."

Blaise gave her a half grin back, looking from her to their surroundings. "This forest has been here for hundreds of years. I don't think I'm quite done running around in it yet."

After Blaise made it to the apparation point, Hermione spent the next few hours walking through the stacks of the library. No other death eaters were able to enter the room, so she let the hood of her cloak down enough to see each of the rows unobstructed. The library was the room she knew the least but admired the most. What a shame it would be if the ancient text did not survive Voldemort's wrath once he was trapped inside. Would the death eaters find their way into the library then? Would they force themselves into the piano room, potions lab, or any other private areas that have served as her sanctuary during her stay.

She returned to the bottom floor to find Anthony visibly panicking, pacing, and repeatedly running his hand down his face. She walked up to him silently and tapped his shoulder, and he instantly took off to one of the hidden alcoves towards her and Draco's wing. Hermione chased after him and whispered to him from beneath the cloak once they were inside.

Her heart started to beat out of her chest. "What's happened?"

"Did you switch the portkeys?!" Anthony asked rapidly as she pulled back the hood of her cloak. Once he could see her, Hermione nodded her head in answer.

"Yes, of course," she said confidently to reassure him.

"Fuck! Do you have a way to contact Malfoy?!" Anthony yelled, grabbing her shoulder. "Do you know anyone who can reach them?! How long does a patronus take?!" Anthony rambled; his arms were trembling from where he held her tight enough to leave bruises.

"I- a patronus can take several minutes depending on the distance. Zabini left earlier to meet him in London, I am sure you could find them quickly-"

"They aren't going to London," he whispered shakily. Hermione didn't understand, those were the orders they received the night before. "There was an uprising- muggles killed all the death eaters on post. The Dark Lord insisted Lucius handle it himself."

Time seemed to stop.

"Draco is leading the team to Vienna in his place."