𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐔𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍-𝘏𝘈𝘙𝘙𝘠 𝘗𝘖𝘛𝘛𝘌𝘙

Chapter 36

Lovesbitca8 TAKES CREDIT THIS IS HER WORK - FOUND ON AO3

The sun was high over the Manor. A May wind danced in trees near the gazebo, and the peacocks were sunbathing on the bank of the pond.

And Draco still wasn't home.

Hermione stood on his balcony, watching the grounds with a sickness in her chest.

Narcissa had left the room hours ago, yet she still felt the weight of the tremor in her voice — the tears in her eyes.

The three of us won't survive it.

Her heart wanted to protest. Insist that her word and her memories would exonerate them.

Her logic whispered otherwise.

She tugged her dressing gown around her stomach as a chill ran deep through her bones. A blood-splattered volume drifted forward from her shelves, opening to a page with Viktor emerging from the shadows, his jaw hard and his wand trained on Draco. On the next page was Cho, her eyes burning with fury as she swung the sword at Draco's neck. The spine shivered, the pages flitting through green flashes and bodies tumbling down the stones—

It's Malfoy! I found him!

With a sharp breath, Hermione snapped the book closed.

The truth sunk through her as she steadied her breathing, like a stone dropping lower and lower into dark waters. The Malfoys had to leave. If the True Order came for her, there would be no time to explain — no guarantee they wouldn't shoot to kill. But if the Malfoys were safely hidden, Hermione could focus on the task at hand.

If there were Lots who needed freeing, she'd free them. If there were Death Eaters in hiding, she'd root them out. And when the dust settled, she could explain the great lengths all three Malfoys had gone through to keep her safe and unharmed — and in Draco and Narcissa's case, to help the True Order.

But these were problems for another time. And for now, her time was running out.

Even if there were a good alternative, she couldn't deny Narcissa — not when she'd reached for Hermione's hand and pleaded for her son's life. Narcissa, who'd never asked for anything but her company; Narcissa, who'd saved her from Dolohov and shared her wand between the papers she slipped over breakfast.

Narcissa had asked something of her, and she would do it. She would keep her word.

Tomorrow morning, Hermione would say her goodbyes. She'd take the tattoo antidote, and Kreacher would Apparate her to Grimmauld Place.

According to Narcissa, the transfer of the deeds to Grimmauld Place had been sealed upon request. No one knew it had fallen back into the Malfoys' possession except for the immediate family and those living there.

"Bellatrix is aware, but believes the property to be unoccupied," Narcissa had told her. "Even if she does become suspicious, she won't be able to find it. It's under a Fidelius Charm."

The name had splashed over Hermione like ice water, but Narcissa didn't seem to notice.

"Blaise, Pansy, and the others need to leave the country immediately. There's a black market for International Portkeys in Norwich. It's the safest way. If that fails, they should cross the Anti-Apparition line at Liverpool."

Narcissa had squeezed her fingers, tethering her to her body. "Is this something I can trust you to handle, Hermione?"

Hermione had managed to nod. "Of course. I'll tell them when I arrive in the morning."

"Thank you." Slowly, Narcissa had released her hand.

There had been a long silence as Hermione contemplated looking out on Malfoy Manor for the last time. She'd tried to imagine what she might say to Draco, in those final moments.