Hermione's POV

I had barely tasted freedom before it was ripped away.

One moment, I was running—pushing my legs as fast as they could carry me, heart pounding in my chest as I darted through the forest, my lungs burning with every gasping breath. I had reached the old, abandoned Floo network just beyond the boundary line. I had the powder in my hand. I had been so close.

Then came the wands. The shouts. The crushing pull of magic that seized me mid-step.

The last thing I saw before darkness swallowed me was a pair of cold, familiar gray eyes.

And now, I was back in Malfoy Manor.

My wrists were bound, the cuffs gleaming as they reattached themselves to my skin like shackles. The bitter taste of failure sat heavy on my tongue. My body ached from the rough Portkey return, my knees scraped from where they had forced me to the floor in front of them like a criminal.

Narcissa stood beside Lucius in the drawing room, her lips pursed, her expression carefully neutral. She had yet to say a word, but her sharp blue eyes pinned me in place as if I were nothing more than an insect beneath her heel.

Lucius, on the other hand, was furious.

"You stupid, ungrateful girl," he hissed, pacing in front of me. "Did you really think you could escape?"

I refused to answer, refused to give him the satisfaction.

His eyes burned with cruel amusement. "Did you have help?"

I stiffened but kept my mouth shut.

Lucius leaned down, his voice dropping to a venomous whisper. "Tell me, did my son put foolish ideas in your head?"

A lump formed in my throat. No, no, no—

"Perhaps he thought his little infatuation with you could save you." Lucius sneered. "Pathetic."

I clenched my jaw, holding back the retort I wanted to spit in his face.

Lucius straightened, glancing at Narcissa. "She will not leave these grounds again."

She nodded once.

Lucius turned back to me, smirking. "You will learn, Granger, that we own you. You belong to this house, no matter how much you fight it. And you will never—"

"Enough."

Draco's voice cut through the air like a blade.

My breath caught.

He stood in the doorway, his expression pale but unreadable. His fists were clenched, his shoulders rigid. But his eyes—his eyes—they were burning with something I couldn't quite place.

Lucius smirked at his son. "Ah, Draco. Here to witness the consequences of disobedience?"

Draco ignored him, stepping further into the room. His gaze met mine, and for a moment, everything else disappeared.

There was regret in his eyes. Guilt. But beneath it—a promise.

Lucius exhaled in amusement, shaking his head. "You disappoint me, boy. I had hoped you would finally grow into the man you were meant to be."

Draco's jaw tightened, but he didn't respond.

Lucius turned back to me. "Get her out of my sight."

Draco's POV

She was broken.

I had never seen Hermione Granger look defeated before. Not once. Not even after the war.

But now, as I escorted her back to the servants' quarters, her wrists bound in the cursed cuffs, her steps slow and unsteady—she looked done.

Like they had finally taken the last piece of fight out of her.

My chest ached.

I locked the door behind us and turned to her. "Granger—"

"Don't." Her voice was barely above a whisper.

I swallowed hard, my hands clenching at my sides. "I'm going to get you out of here."

She let out a quiet, humorless laugh. "Again?"

"Yes."

Her gaze finally lifted to mine. "Draco, it didn't work. They found me." Her voice cracked slightly, and it killed me. "There's no escaping this place."

"Not if you go alone."

She frowned. "What?"

I took a step closer. "We leave together this time," I said firmly. "I won't just get you out—I'll get us out."

Her eyes widened in shock. "You're serious."

I exhaled sharply. "I can't stay here, Hermione. Not anymore. I won't let him win. I won't let him hurt you again."

She searched my face, looking for any sign of hesitation.

There wasn't any.

Finally, she nodded. "Okay."

And just like that, we had a new plan.

One that ended with both of us escaping Malfoy Manor—for good.