The Auction

Chapter 31

Content warning for this chapter: mild violence

Draco blinked at her, his jaw tightening.

"Test it on you."

"Yes." She peered inside the cauldron. "I think there's just enough left over for one more dose." Spinning around, she grabbed a spare vial off a nearby shelf before returning to the table. "Once we know that it works, we'll get the directions to Charlotte with her memories-"

"Granger, wait."

She paused with the ladle dipped into the potion. He was still staring down at her notes, flipping through the pages.

"This potion is invasive Dark Magic. It alters your biology. If anything went wrong-"

"It works, Draco." He remained silent, and she lifted a brow. "You don't trust my potion brewing abilities?"

"It's not that." He closed the notebook and looked up at her. "Your subjects should be monitored for adverse effects. Where did these mice even come from, Granger?"

"They're teacups," she said, and a blush bloomed across her neck.

Draco scowled. "Alright. Well, let's get some real mice and-" He cut off, his eyes widening at the wand on the laboratory table. "Is that-you've been using my mother's wand?"

"Er, yes." Hermione twisted her fingers together. "I tried to get along without one, but it was too difficult. She's been letting me borrow it."

His eyes snapped up to hers. "Did you tell her why?"

"No, but..." Hermione cleared her throat. "She guessed."

Draco paled, taking a step backward. "If she tells my father-"

"She won't. I'm certain of it."

He began pacing, running a hand through his hair. "I have to go talk to her. Make up some excuse-"

Hermione wove around the table and grabbed his arm. "You have to trust me, Draco. She's in support. She even told me it was 'time.'" He blinked, staring at her. "I asked her why, and she didn't want to talk about it. You'd put her in an even more difficult position if you confronted her."

After a long moment, he managed a nod. Hermione released his arm, her fingers still tingling from the warmth of his skin.

Sighing, he pinched the bridge of his nose. "The point remains that it's too premature. We should run more tests and make sure the antidote is safe on an authentic test subject. And have you done enough trials to know the necessary dosage?"

She felt her ears grow hot. "No, not yet. I-I had just cracked it when you came in. But of course we should try to find the minimum amount." She rubbed her eyes, feeling the exhaustion of the night settling over her as the adrenaline left her.

"The mice should be monitored as well," he said. "We should check their systems for changes every day for a week-"

"A week! Draco, we don't have that kind of time-"

"That's the bare minimum-"

"Three days is sufficient-"

"Five." His tone was final.

Hermione rolled her eyes and snatched Narcissa's wand to conjure a large cage for the mice. Her fingers were still trembling with the excitement of her discovery as she collected and floated them inside. She knew the potion would work flawlessly, even if Draco wasn't convinced yet. She began cleaning up her workstation, clanging vials together as he watched in silence.

"Are you angry because I'm right, or because you're wrong?"

She paused in the middle of tossing ingredients back in their jars. "You are not right."