fervere

Chapter Forty 

Walking into the Department of Mysteries felt like going through that intrusive thought. That one funny thought of looking over the ledge of some high tower and simply letting go. The warning signals were going off in Draco’s head but a call deep within the Department of Mysteries beckoned him like a whisper only he could hear.  

The hair on the back of his neck stood as goosebumps rippled down his back as a cold sweat spread across his face.  

He took one breath and then another, slowly inching towards the accepting of his decisions. There was no backing out from this especially when Hermione clutched his hand tightly, roping in his happily obliging heart. 

She was nervous too.   

Draco shoved down the ominous lurch in his stomach to give her a reassuring smile before nudging himself in front of her, using himself as a shield. He didn't question the fact that a mere hour ago he had been battling his conflicting emotions. His primary focus was to make sure Hermione was safe.

Upon entering the Department of Mysteries, Draco felt underwhelmed. At first glance, their offices didn’t look much different from other offices. There was about ten oak desks paired with chairs, void of anything significant on top No ink bottles or quills or parchment. It was just bare. 

The unsettling feeling came back but Draco continued on to join their friends who stopped in front of an unassuming door. Draco was about to comment about how it felt like they were facing a broom closet when Harry pointed at the floor, pulling their attention to what he and Ginny had discovered.

It was the two Aurors that laid peacefully behind the cover of the desks. If it wasn’t for their foot sticking out from behind, Draco wouldn’t have noticed they were there. Hermione craned her neck and studied the bodies for a second before turning to Draco. 

“I think that’s Hestia Jones,” Hermione whispered, “And Dedalus Diggle. I’m sure.” 

Draco faintly remembered hearing those names at Grimmauld’s over the summer but he couldn’t, with confidence, recall what they looked like. 

Harry whipped around urgency etched on his stern face.  

“Listen,” He began, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose, “It would be amazing if we could get in and out without being seen but I rather be direct with everyone. We’ll be most likely facing Deatheaters if it isn’t obvious. I really appreciate your help but I also would hate if anyone is caught in any crossfire.” 

Ron snorted, “A little late to be pragmatic, don’t you think mate?” 

Draco felt his eyes roll over to Ron who was grinning sheepishly from ear to ear and back to Harry who was beginning to bare the weight of leading his friends into a precarious situation. Draco appreciated that Ron was trying to lighten the dark mood. Harry took a final breath to ground himself and resumed his speech. 

“Expel any spell coming towards you,” Harry pressed his lips together for a moment, “If you hear anything off in the distance; Disillusionment charm. It doesn’t provide complete invisibility but it’s better than nothing. And don’t worry about me. Pair up. Look out for each other. If anything, they’ll be coming after me if that’s any assurance to you.” 

“Just a bit,” Draco joked and was immediately scolded by Hermione who softly nudged her shoulder into his side. Harry glanced at Draco and Hermione, who were already clutching on to each other. It was clear they were going to pair up with each other. Ron reached out for his sister, who seemed annoyed but grateful that her brother was around. Neville gave Luna a silent nod, confirming his dedication to team up.  

“If we split up,” Harry gulped, looking at the ground.  

“We won’t,” Hermione assured.  

“But if we do,” Harry insisted, “If you’re in danger, please, don’t look back. Run.” 

“Doesn’t sound very Gryffindor of you,” Draco quipped.  

“The fact that you followed me is proof enough you are all brave,” Harry pointed out, “You don’t need to prove any more than that. Just promise me that you’ll give it a good fight if it comes down to it.” 

“I’ll give them a run for their money,” Ginny grinned. 

The six agreed, all taking their wands out. Harry licked his lips nervously and glanced at Ginny, who had the map in her hands. She took a quick look. 

“No one is in the next room.” She quietly said, turning the map so they could all see. Neville checked his copy and Hermione looked at hers.  

“They’re all congregating in the Hall of Prophecies.” Hermione muttered; Draco looked over her shoulder to see. 

It was clear. There they were seven dots roaming freely around the Hall in question and then about fifteen dots roaming around three rows in the Hall of Prophecies. The rest of the rooms were empty, left alone in favor of their objective. 

“So once we enter,” Ginny announced, using her pointer finger to show them the way on the map “We need to go through the Time Room. It should be the door directly across from us once we enter the next room. We’ll go down the length of the Time Room which will lead us straight to Hall of Prophecies.” 

Harry took his wand out, “By then, I ask to keep your eyes open for Sirius but don’t approach. It could still very well be a trap if we’re not careful.” 

“Ready?” Neville asked, placing a hand on Harry’s narrow shoulders. He gave a stiff smile and nodded, grateful for their company.  

“Let’s go fuck some shit up,” Ginny said enthusiastically. Harry placed his finger over his mouth to remind them all they needed to be as quite as possible.  

“Like ninjas.” Harry explained in a hushed whisper.  

Draco cocked his head, “What’s a ninja?” 

Hermione inhaled deeply, pressing her lips together to keep a smile from turning into something more. Now was not the time to be that love stricken teenaged girl, swooning at everything Draco did or said.  

She needed to be serious and while Draco’s ignorance was endearing, she refused to laugh at the most inopportune time.  

Hermione’s been here a few times before.  

Not literally, obviously, but standing firm behind Harry putting herself at risk. She could only blame her undeveloped brain that led her to repeatedly finding herself in the same situations since their first year. It was now a innate need to help Harry. It was her purpose, wasn't it? To aid Harry?

The danger around Harry Potter was getting worse every passing year, yes, but having someone guard her like Draco made this particular instance not as hard to do. She was not alone this time and, for once, someone was there to protect her.  

The idea warmed her core taking comfort of the feel of his touch.  

It wasn’t that Harry or Ron hadn’t been trying to keep her safe in the past. It was the simple fact that usually on missions, Hermione was always worried about Harry. She was keenly aware that Harry’s priority was to keep Voldemort at bay. Her safety ranked a little lower than that and she had unconsciously accepted it.  

If anything happened to her, yes, Harry would have been distraught but something about the thought of Draco and her deep seeded inkling that he’d follow her into the dark... 

Hermione squeezed his hand involuntarily, bracing herself as her heart engorged itself with hot blood as Ginny cracked the door open.  

Just as Ginny predicted from the map, there was no one inside when the door swung fully open. While the others walked past the arching door frame, Hermione held back for a microsecond relishing that Draco didn't seem so adverse to her especially when he could have walked away. 

He didn't and Hermione was going to make sure he had someone to look out for him. She was on hight alert when Draco led her through the door and into the pit of darkness.  

Once her eyes adjusted to the lack of natural light, her eyes drifted up, much like the rest, taking in the vastness of the first room. Draco thought it odd that the ceiling mirrored the effect of the Great Hall at Hogwarts, a brilliant night sky with twinkling lights that he was sure he could get lost in. 

The circular room was large and towering. The ceiling, that most of them were transfixed on, was just as impressive as the beautiful black marble floor.  

There were about two dozen doors surrounding them but only one they needed to get through as Ginny reminded them, pointing dead ahead.  

“Let’s move,” She ordered.

They had barely taken a few steps into the direction when a violent jerk under their feet threw them off balance.  

They stumbled around in shock and although the doors remained in place, they didn’t. A small yelp escaped Hermione’s lips, tumbling her weight straight into Draco. He was quick to steady Hermione, grabbing her elbow. Neville’s balance knocked into Ginny who in turned slammed into Ron, who stumbled wildly back. He caught himself before he sprawled to the ground.  

The floor spun what felt like three times, although, it could have been less. 

When the spinning did stop, a heavy silence came over them as a devastating realization began to sink in. 

Neville spoke up first, “Is the door still straight ahead?” 

Ginny huffed, marching (slightly wobbly) over to the door that was now straight ahead of her, unsure if it was the original door. 

She swung it open and groaned, a greenish light tinting her skin. She slammed the door. 

“Brain Room,” She announced and quick on her feet, she raised her wand and marked the door with a green color, “Quick! Find a door and check it!” 

Immediately, six other bodies took action, rushing towards a different door to check.  

But before anyone could reach their door of choice, the floor began to spin once more. Shouts escaped their lips as they braced themselves, falling on the ground from the sudden force taking them by surprise.  

They rolled around gripping to the marble floor, waiting for the floor to stop moving. Draco was lucky to have not been knocked down. He had waved his arms around wildly to not be thrown off balance as it slowed down once again. 

Ron gulped, stumbling to his feet as he reached a door, “I think I can only handle another spin before I retch.” 

Ron swung the nearest door open revealing a brick wall, he marked it off with an X. 

“Woah,” Luna mused airily, “Look at the size of those planets...” 

“Never mind planets,” Harry shouted, marking off another door with an X, “Find the Time-” 

The marble floor creaked beneath their unsteady feet and, once again, they were spinning once more. Draco squeezed his eyes, his breathing unsteady as he could feel the sickening whirl of vertigo throw his foundation out. He felt exactly what Ron had voice. He was beginning to feel the effects and it was harder to shake off this time.  

The floor came to a halt.  

Faster than before, all seven of them stumbled towards doors and marked them off.  

Luckily enough, they had found the door this round.  

Neville had shouted at them to catch their attention. He waved his arm out to follow him in and just as Luna, Harry and Ron jumped through the door, the floor moved again.  

Hermione, Ginny and Draco were caught in another spin.  

This time, Draco forced himself to kept a steady eye on the opened door, walking against the spin of the floor to lessen his vertigo. When it did stop, Draco didn’t waste time. He sprinted until he saw Ginny trying to pull Hermione back on her feet from the corner of his eye.  

Hermione would climb and stumble over and over again, unable to find her balance. Draco skidded to a halt and changed course. 

“Ginny, go!” Draco shouted. Ginny’s expression that was filled with worry switched when Draco intimidating trudged approached them. Without another word, Ginny nodded and took off, knowing that Hermione was in good hands. 

He hooked his arm under Hermione’s arm as she struggled to remain on her feet. She was in the middle of thanking him when the that clunk of gears turning vibrated under them. Draco didn’t think. He simply scooped Hermione up in his arms and made a run for it. He knew they only had mere moments before the floor began to move and Draco didn’t have the stomach to endure another go at it.  

Ahead of them, Ginny had managed to jump through the door and just as the floor creaked, threatening to spin again, Draco slammed his silent feet against the marble and pushed himself through the door, panting heavily at his exertion.  

His friends sighed in relief circling around them, happy they all made it. Amongst cheers and pats, Draco gently put Hermione down as he leaned against a display window, closing his eyes as he felt his sight wobbling back and forth. He did not feel well.

His arms slipped away from Hermione’s waist to hold his head as if it would help stop the spinning.  

Hermione sheepishly let go of clinging on to Draco’s neck after holding him for a second too long after he released her. She gathered that everyone else was still recovering from that unexpected ride. Hermione was feeling dizzy for different reasons.  

“Mental this place,” Ron grumbled, holding his head, “I reckon no one has a calming draft just stashed in their pockets?”  

Neville frowned, shaking his head. 

They all took a moment for the effects to wear off. That’s when Draco was struck with an idea. 

“Not sure if it’s at all helpful,” Draco perked up, “But I have a new bottle of Beryl’s Bright Blinks.” 

Ginny let out a grinning scoff looking over at Hermione, “My, how useful this one is.” 

Draco fished through his pockets for the small bottle she had gifted him. He didn’t want to admit it aloud, but even in the mist of his outright anger towards Hermione, he had kept the bottle of eye drops in his pocket at all times. Every time his mind went into a rather pathetic pity party, he’d reach into his pocket and thumb the bottle’s raised lettering as a reminder that Hermione still thought of him.  

He was well aware it was breadcrumbs his love was feeding on but it was more than satisfactory to calm the aching throb in his chest when he thought of all the secrets that were kept from him.

Hermione avoided Ginny’s smirk snatching the bottle off her Draco’s offering hand. Ginny had been present when Hermione had thrown an extra chore in the middle of her OWLs, worrying about what to give Draco for his birthday. 

Ginny tilted her head back and squeezed out two fat drops.  

“Great idea,” Harry said giving Draco an appreciative smile, “From my recollection, the Hall of Prophecies is dimly lit so we have that working for us and against us. Being able to detect Sirius in the dark is an advantage. We can figure out how to close in on whoever is guarding him from a better distance.” 

Hermione being the meticulous person she was, took the map out and frowned. Luna was next with the bottle, dropping the serum straight into her bright blue eyes at first go. 

“Harry?” Hermione whispered urgently. 

“Row 97, that’s where we need to go,” Harry recited, blinking rapidly when he had his go with the eye drops, “Put your maps away and no Lumos, we don’t want anything or bring attention to ourselves. The darkness is our cover, let’s not blow it.” 

“We should split up,” Ron advised, taking the bottle as well, “Half of us should run up to the back and loop around to surround them.” 

“Great idea.” Neville whispered, as Ron handed him the bottle for his turn. 

“Remember,” Harry paused, “Anything that feels off, do not hesitate. Block. Disarm them.” 

They all nodded gravely, the bottle was passed back to Draco who, without hesitation, dropped the serum in his own eyes.  

He winced and blinked rapidly, noting how even more bright and shiny the Time Room was. He could count the amount of Time Tuners at the way end of the hall to a tea and be correct. There were other curious instruments he would have loved to contemplate on but they had no time. 

“Draco?” Hermione cleared her throat, “Can you-” 

“Sure,” He nodded, knowing exactly what she was asking for. He took the bottle from her as Hermione titled her head back. He squeezed two drops in her orbs of brown and he felt his throat tighten at the proximity once again. It was his greatest conflict being so upset with Hermione only moments ago and now having to protect her, without an ounce of hesitation.  

Harry hissed at them, “Can you stop gazing into each other’s eyes? Ginny, Ron, and Neville will go first. We’ll approach Row 97 from the front.” 

Hermione detached herself from Draco, a heart burning at her cheeks.  

To collect her thoughts and relieve her burning eyes, her eyes rolled up to the bright lights illuminating the Time Room, blinking rapidly. 

The beauty of the suspended flames caught her eye before logic filled her head. In a rash decision, she pointed her wand to the four golden fires in the center of small sparkling chandeliers.  

“ Aguamenti! ” Hermione flicked her wand and a gush of water, rained down on them as the room plunged into darkness.  

Hermione’s warmth immediately returned to Draco’s side, dodging the water splashing back down. 

Before anyone protested, Hermione explained.  

“Anyone on the other side would see the light the second we open the door,” Hermione explained, “It’ll give us away.” 

“Thanks, I’m soaked,” Ginny’s voice said, wiping her face drenched in water. 

“I know a drying spell,” Luna pipped up. 

“Hurry,” Hermione urged, “They were magical flames, they’ll sprout up again.” 

“Let’s go,” Ron’s voice said, sniffing back the water that doused his face. He temporarily casted a Lumos charm, just so they could see the end of the long room. Ron put out his wand as they reached the door.  

Luna saluted back to Harry, Hermione and Draco, just before they were plunged back into darkness. Draco could feel Hermione shifting around, pocketing her map. Her small hand slipped straight back into his, as if she knew exactly where he was.  

“Hurry,” Harry urged, staring back up, “The lights are flickering back on.” 

Hermione doused the glimmers of lights back off as the three ran off towards the end of the narrow passage of the Time Room, the tip of Harry’s wand illuminated. 

There was something in Hermione's voice that didn't sit right with Draco. He observed her for a second before an unsettling confirmation rang alarms in his head. There was a palpable fear written all over her face. Draco tugged Hermione back slowing her down a few steps and cocked his brow up as if to say, ‘What is it that you know?’ 

Hermione pressed her lips together and shook her head.  

“What is it?” Draco hissed.  

Hermione shrugged him off, letting go of his hand to catch up to Harry who was waiting for them at the end. Harry looked at them expectantly, anxious to put out his wand and jump into the Hall of Prophecies.  

And that is exactly what they did. 

Within the next breath, they had slipped in quietly into the Hall of Prophecies. It didn’t have to be said. The sense of the unknown struck a chord in all of them, warning of the danger lurking within. 

It only made Draco that much concerned, reaching for Hermione again, refusing to let her out of his sight if this mission took a dangerous turn.  

Little did they know they were walking into a massive mistake. 

The Hall of Prophecies was eerie the second they stepped into it. The perpetual feeling of time stopping and holding one's breath sunk in immediately causing a flip in Draco’s gut that wasn’t calmed down with the feel of Hermione’s firm grip on him. Hermione carefully shut the door behind them, crouching down carefully as if it would help her dodge incoming curses she sensed before they were casted.  

It was just as Harry predicted. It was very dim, except for the glowing orbs on the shelves that towered endlessly up into the ceiling. Even the rows looked like it had no end, making the room feel deep, almost eternal.  

But it wasn’t simply the darkness that enveloped them, it was the off feeling that the room was swallowing up any noises, making it hard to detect if anyone was nearby.  

Draco could feel his anxious heart beat wildly, thumping against his chest, the hot blood in his veins rushing to his ears. However, he couldn’t hear his own heartbeat as he flushed from the feel of Hermione’s side pressing against his.  

She looked up at him, her features dimly lit from the soft blue glow. Draco gulped, dying at how beautiful she looked and how he would lose his mind if anything happened to this girl who often led him to make bad decisions.  

She drove him absolutely crazy, their argument now feeling like it was ages ago. The inkling of anger was still somewhere inside him. Draco simply didn’t have the energy to stay mad, not when he was busy trying to keep her safe. 

Harry rushed away, leaving Draco and Hermione to nearly run after him. Hermione was in a near sprint to catch up to Harry, her footsteps uncannily silent.  

They had just passed Row 62. 

“Harry,” Hermione whispered, “Harry!” 

“What?” Harry softly snapped back. 

“We ought to rethink-” 

Harry glared at Hermione as if she was betraying him but her worry was written all over her face.  

“No.” Harry shook his head, “We’re already close! This could be a matter of life or dea-” 

“The map isn’t working,” Hermione blurted out, pulling Harry back forcibly, unfolding it and dragging Harry under a dim glow of the orbs, “It was fine up until we entered the rotating room.” 

“Maybe they left,” Draco offered and fully knowing he was full of shit. 

Hermione shook her head, “It’s no longer detecting us. See?”  

Hermione fingers circled around the Hall of Prophecies on the map, not a single dot was being detected. Not even theirs. 

“I’m sure it has to do with the protective enchantments the Department has, the ones Ron mentioned to us.” Hermione continued. 

“So?” Harry asked, exchanging a glance with Draco who was equally invested in being reminded. 

“So?” Hermione said, shocked that Harry hadn’t remembered, “Don’t you recall what that means?” 

Harry’s face firmed up, “No.” 

Hermione’s face twisted in frustration but Draco answered for her, the detail popping into his head a second later and the rest of his assumptions followed after.  

“There are more than just memory enchantments for the protection and integrity of the Department,” Draco let out a scoff of disbelief. 

Hermione nodded, “We are going into this blind!” 

“I don’t care, we are already here,” Harry shot, trying his best to keep his voice at a whisper, “I’d still go in blindly if it was you they had captured, Hermione.” 

That stunned Hermione as Harry casted a look at Draco as if asking him the very same question in silently with his eyes.  

Draco understood.  

He had flipped his entire life out of love. Infiltrating the Ministry and putting himself at risk was nothing compared to the things he had already done. The danger he had not only placed himself but his family too. Draco gritted his teeth knowing that a little fight that hurt his pride wasn’t going to veer him off changing his life for good.  

“Let’s go,” Draco nodded. Hermione gave him a desperate incredulous look but he answered with a cold look.  

“You want to see the end of what we were discussing before, no?” He tensely teased, knowing it was not the time to bring that up but he couldn’t figure out another way to make her move. Hermione gave him a look that could kill if it wasn’t for the fact that he's already died a few times before from drowning in those pools of chocolate. 

Draco’s jaw firmed, offering his hand once more to Hermione. She rolled her eyes, reluctantly taking his. Draco hid his delight well. Hermione begrudgingly did as well, trailing behind Harry who was now crouching low. Draco mirrored him, holding his wand arm up, ready for any kind of confrontation.  

Hermione was no longer as willing to sneak around, unknowing of what danger lied ahead. Draco could sense her hesitation. She was not only worried but she was scared.  

Just before they made it to Row 97, Harry paused, peering around the corner of the row. 

“Conceal yourselves. No fast movements,” Harry reminded them of the disillusionment charm as he rounded the corner straight into Row 97. 

Before Hermione charmed herself and followed Harry out, Draco pulled her back pushing her against the shelves. Draco caged her in, placing his hands on the wall, on each side of her. He leaned down to get a good look at her expression because if he detected an flicker of hesitation, he’d immediately take her away. 

“Do you want to continue?” Draco asked.  

“Wha-” 

“Answer, yes or no,” Draco softly demanded, “Say the word and I’ll tell Harry-” 

“We can’t abandon him now,” Hermione licked her lips. She could feel how close he was and her body annoyingly reacted, wishing her body could melt into the shelf but also twisted in need, pushing her chest out. 

“Right,” Draco agreed, his gaze firmly fixated on her eyes, “We can’t but you can. I’ll stay.” 

Hermione inwardly groaned, “I refuse to leave you two alone.” 

“You’re worried,” Draco said, trying to confirm.  

“Of course I am,” Hermione gulped, her eyes fluttered trying to focus. If only Draco could get his face away from her, she would be able to think straight, “Our only lifeline is gone but, as Harry said, we’re already here...” 

“Okay,” Draco moved back, but only an inch, “Just so you’re aware, ‘Mione, say the word and I'll do anything you say.” 

“We need to catch up to Harry,” Hermione said breathlessly, almost worked up at the mere fact that Draco was giving her autonomy as if she never had it before. Like if she needed someone to explicitly tell her she had the option to choose.  

She knew but she couldn’t imagine being disloyal to her friends, and much like Harry would stupidly try to save Hermione if it was her, Hermione would also blindly look for Draco even if it meant searching every inch of this Hall. 

Hermione casted the disillusionment charm when she was reminded by Draco. They both crouched down, closing the huge gap between Harry and them. 

His concern for her welfare washed a wave of heat, almost like a fever, over Hermione. It burned within her. She was conflicted with the timing of this discovery, that if she hadn’t fallen for Draco before she certainly was free falling now. Her body naturally found his in the faint blue glow, clinging on to his side. He threw his arm around her shoulders.  

Hermione was surprised to feel the warmth of his own body. It was almost burning as well.  

Draco glanced down at her when her hand found his forehead that was burning.  

“You’re burning,” Hermione whispered, blinking in surprise. 

“You get me heated,” Draco simply said, not intending to indicate anything other than the way Hermione set him off at times. 

They walked slowly until they caught up to Harry, inching their way deeper into the row. It felt like an eternity of slow steady steps, surrounded by shelves of prophecies that towered straight up in what looked like endless towers. Any quick movements and their concealment charm was easy to detect, warping their surroundings just enough to camouflage.  

Hermione’s body was glued against Draco’s side. She had slowly melted into him, allowing herself to be guided while she held her wand arm out ready to protect herself, as well as Draco.  

Draco stubbornly wished he could grab Hermione and leave. After she made that stunning admission of the map, his instincts kicked in and he wanted nothing more than to get Hermione out of there. But he couldn’t do it, not when she wanted to stay.  

Fear wasn’t the indicator to dictate what should or shouldn’t be done. Even if they all were in very murky waters now, Draco understood that stupid Gryffindor spirit but he’ll have Harry’s head if anything bad happened to Hermione.  

Voldemort be damned. 

In the dead quiet, they inched along. It was a painful amount of time that ticked away and covering almost no ground. It felt like miles and miles of glowing blue orbs stretched out in front of them with no end in sight. 

Draco squeezed his eyes, his head now throbbing possibly from his riveting experience of the Rotating Room. Having to go through that once more just to get out was something he was not looking forward to.  

An exasperated sigh left his nose, straining his vision to spot a figure or anything human like up ahead of them. Despite having the clarity from Beryl’s drops, it felt like they’d go a mile deep and still bump into nothing. 

“I think I see something,” Hermione whispered, “Up ahead.” 

Draco saw what Hermione pointed out seconds later. A shadowy figure, clearly a group of people, were meters away down the Row. They were still quite far but at least they were finally coming across something. Harry flinched in excitement.  

“At the ready,” Harry ordered, “The moment-” 

“Wait until we get a clear view,” Draco interjected, “It’s foolish to launch spells blindly into the dark.” 

Hermione nodded. Draco could feel her ragged breathing and instinctively pressed her closer to him, his grip on her tightened. She bit her lip hard, shamefully enjoying his body pressed against hers.

“I think I see them,” Harry softly announced, about to raise his wand high in the air.  

“Wait,” Hermione perked up, releasing herself from Draco. She stepped forward, in front of Harry, her head cocking to the side. Draco had expected to see Sirius or some stupid Deatheater tasked to keep an eye on Sirius. Even Voldemort would have been a reasonable sighting.  

No.  

It was the faces of their friends, glaring ahead past them. They hadn’t used the disillusionment charm to conceal themselves. They were openly walking around, surveying what they could see.  

“This doesn’t make sense,” Harry shook his head, flourish his wand to reverse the charm. The other group jump in surprise upon seeing the sudden appearance of Harry. Ginny rushed over, her chest heaving up and down, looking mildly confused.  

“What’s wrong?” She whispered, “Did we both go down the wrong Row?” 

Harry shook his head, “I’m sure this is it.” 

“Then,” Luna began, “Where is Sirius?” 

That question hung in the air as huge shameful slap in the face. Draco pulled Hermione back towards him, relying on the fact that this mission was moot. They both reversed the concealing charm and sat with the question, unable to answer. Hermione was dying to convince everyone to go back but waited for Harry to come to terms with it. 

“I-...” Harry gulped, “I saw him. Here. He must be here.” 

“Harry...” Neville said, his eyes transfixed.  

“They must have moved him,” Harry insisted, “What does the map say?” 

Ginny made a move to pull out the map but that’s when Hermione reminded him.  

“I told you, Harry,” Her voice cut through with a tiny waver, “It’s not working. The enchantments of the Department wiped away whatever aid we had.” 

Ginny cursed under her breath, her own eyes taking in her blank map. A ruffling sound that sounded like paper crunching was heard. Ginny had a fistful of crumpled up parchment in her hands. 

“Harry?” Neville called again, his eyes transfixed on the shelves. 

“What?” 

“We should go,” Luna pipped up, “Maybe if we can warn the Order... they’ll know how to find Sirius.” 

“It has your name on it,” Neville pointed.  

“We don’t even have to tell them we were here,” Ginny nervously added. Ron let out a soft groan.  

“Dumbledore is going have our heads.” Ron regrettably added. 

“What has Harry’s name on it?” Luna airily asked, focusing on Neville who was fixated on one of the shelves within his line of sight. 

Harry, overwhelmed with the fact he hadn’t found his godfather, was barely paying attention. However, Neville’s odd stillness was catching the curiosity of the rest. Draco stepped forward and saw that in a neat scribble, Harry’s name was labeled on an orb that was now glowing twice as bright as the others.  

Luna turned to Harry, with a knowing smile on her face.  

“I think it wants you to take it.” She smiled, “It’s calling for you.” 

Harry was pulled out of his internal panic, taking interest in what his friends were looking at. He reached out and picked up his orb. He studied it with intensity as soft whispers of something were vibrating softly inside, thoughts of Sirius momentarily forgotten. 

The second that Harry had touched the orb, the Hall plunged into deeper silence that gave Draco the chills as if the Hall had approved Harry of collecting his prophecy. Instinctively, they all turned their heads up, as if they threat was closing in on them from above. 

Like an unforeseeable weight was hovering right over them, hanging by a thread, seconds away from crushing them. 

“I think it’s time to go,” Ginny nodded.  

“Oh but why?” A disembodied voice pipped up, “The fun has just begun.” 

Draco’s insides twisted at the familiar voice that had scolded and molded him throughout his childhood. He didn’t have to see with his own eyes that his own father was leading a group of four masked Deatheaters. Everyone else whipped around to find themselves surrounded.  

Lucius's face was gaunt as if he hadn’t had a goodnights rest in months and his eyes had dark rims underneath them. His robes also swallowed him from the weight he had lost. Despite his father’s startling rough appearance, he looked joyful upon seeing them because that meant his hard work was about to be rewarded. 

His father’s gaze was transfixed on Harry, ignoring a dark haired Draco who pushed Hermione behind him, shielding her from the slight chance that his own father would target her. The group of seven began gather closer, back to back, their wands pointed at the stalking hooded figures. 

“We’ve been waiting an awful long time for you,” Lucius drawled, “We were beginning to worry you’d never show up.” 

“Where is he?” Harry demanded.  

“Where is who?” Lucius’s lips curled up into a knowing smile and that’s when they all collectively understood they had walked into a trap. Draco felt Hermione groan softly into his shoulder. “Oh you mean Sirius Black? How would any of us know? It’d be rather stupid to come out of hiding to roam these parts. Wouldn’t you agree children?” 

Ron was the first to react to one of the three Deatheaters closing in behind them. Ron lifted his wand to block the incoming spell before retaliating. 

“STUPIFY!” Ron shouted, stunning the lurkers.  

It only took a second before chaos ensued.  

Draco ducked to avoid the lightening sparks that shot of from the end of his father’s wand, his body covered Hermione’s when she jumped out of the way. Ginny blasted out a blocking spell before Neville jinxed some orbs to fly towards the group of Deatheaters that Lucius was leading.  

Their angry yelps of the heavy glass pelting them gained them some precious seconds, seconds that Draco refused to let go to waste. He immediately grabbed Hermione and ran for it, in the opposite direction of his father, where the stunned Deatheaters began to crawl onto their knees.  

“Petrificus totalus!” Hermione shouted, assuring that they remained down as they escaped, jumping over their stiffened bodies. 

Lights flickered around them, attacks nearly missing them as they all scattered trying to find safety. They nearly ran into another group of Deatheaters but Draco had spotted them before they were able to see them. 

He shoved Hermione into Row 82, crouching low and recasting the Disillusionment charm on them. Hermione curled up into a ball.  

“No,” Draco whispered, “Lay flat.” 

“Wh-” 

“Do it.” He urged, feeling her unfold herself to lay on the ground pushed up next to the shelves. Draco nodded to assure himself, before he pressed himself on Hermione using his body to envelop her. Hermione’s breathing spiked. 

“Draco,” She said.  

“Shh,” He responded. Draco was careful not to let his full weight collapse onto Hermione, baring most of his weight on his elbows dug that into the hard floor. Their faces only centimeters from each other.  

“Cover both sides of the Row. They need back up!” 

“Surely how much backup do we need against a group of kids, Macnair?”  

Draco closed his eyes, pleading to the universe that they were safe.

Their voices grew smaller as they rushed away, following the sounds of the fight still going strong. It took a full second for Draco to gather the courage to get off of Hermione and help her up. Her breathing was uneven but she remained firm, giving Draco a determined look.  

She was going to hold her own weigh and, despite Hermione’s growing anxiety, she performed amazingly under pressure. She wielded spells as quick as a whip, anticipating attacks like she could sense the spells that came their direction before they were casted.  

Hermione was fucking incredible, Draco thought, happy that he was not on the receiving end of her wand. 

Luck would help them so much. It wasn’t always present to keep them scratch free. There were some attacks they were unable to block.  

Draco and Hermione had been on the lookout for any sign of their friends when they came across a group of five masked Deatheaters. They had hurled curses at them while they mainly blocked, unable to get a second of breath to retaliate with a spell. They had dueled fiercely but the distraction of Harry Potter sprinting past Draco and Hermione caught them off guard. 

The Deatheaters deserted their fight in favor of chasing Harry down, but not before one of them sent a hex their way and hit Hermione square in the back causing a deep bloody bruise to develop under her skin.  

She gasped out in pain, doubling over. Draco’s heart stopped, seeing her eyes well up in hot tears. In a panic, Draco grabbed her face.  

“Are you alright?” He breathed out.  

She nodded weakly holding her shoulder.  

“It was an impact spell,” She choked out, “It felt like a boulder swung at me. I think my shoulder is dislocated.” 

And without warning, Hermione popped her arm back into the socket, gasping out in pain before she shoved her fist in her mouth to muffle her cries. The sound gave Draco enough material for his nightmares, shoving her face in his chest in hopes that her pain would transfer over to him. He felt sick. Nevertheless, Hermione insisted she was fine but her pace slowed down dramatically with the soreness of her injured muscles.  

Seeing a drop of helplessness in her had Draco trailing after her, begging her to climb on his back so she could find a bit of relief. It only took a sharp-tongued comment from Hermione to have Draco back off. 

“I'm not paralyzed,” She snapped, “I can walk!” 

“But your arm-” 

“It was not my wand arm,” She glared, “And if you keep pestering me, you’ll be wishing it was.” 

Hermione marched on in the dark, painful for her to move any faster than a slow jog. Draco was properly stunned. Having never been on the receiving end of Hermione’s irritation, Draco hated he had caused her to snap. But, something about her anger being directed at him casted a shadow of a smile on his zipped up lips. 

He had kept a careful watch on Hermione, but it led to Draco neglecting himself, forgetting to keep his guard up. There was a roar they both heard before Draco stumbled to the ground, a sharp shooting pain burned at his legs before it slashed deep into his left shoulder.   

Hermione flung a Deatheater into the air that had been tracking them using a levitation spell. His screams diminished as his launching pushed him deep into the darkness of the Hall. 

Well deserved, Hermione muttered to herself. Turning to Draco to see if he was alright, she swallowed a tight knot in her throat upon seeing a thick dark stain spreading on Draco’s clothes.  

Draco mustered enough energy to gulp down the pain and labor on, grabbing Hermione to hurry themselves into safety. The faster they were out of there, the better.  

“You look awful,” She frowned, taking note of the scratches from the shards of broken glass that had scrapped his face and arms, trying to shield Hermione from any more harm.  

“Noted,” Draco bluntly replied, hissing at the rub of the fabric on the wounds of the back of his leg.  

“No,” Hermione shook her head, “I mean-” 

Her thoughts were interrupted when Draco opened the door they had been looking for. Draco was delighted to have found the door back to the Time Room.  

His internal celebration was short lived, revealing yet another group of silhouettes from the reignition of the flames of the Time Room. Before Hermione could finish her thoughts, Draco gently pulled back, blocking Hermione as fear trickled in. The menacing figures took a few steps towards them. Draco didn’t need to see the details of a face he was familiar with.  

Her hair was a clue in itself, wild and unmanaged. 

“Oh looky looky ,” Another strange voice floated in, one that Draco recognized very well, “Well if it isn’t the mudblood and...” 

Aunt Bellatrix Lestrange cocked her head at the unfamiliar boy, trying to figure out who Hermione was with. Draco didn't waste time, taking advantage of her hesitation to stun his own aunt.  

She, of course, blocked his attack only sending her into a blind fury, bellowing out a curse that rattled the orbs around them. Draco pulled Hermione, dodging the stream of lights that emitted from her wand and the cascade of broken glass now showering over them. Hermione cried out in pain but was grateful Draco was powerful enough to drag her, when she didn't have it in herself to sprint.

Bellatrix narrowed her eyes as she angrily marched forward, looking for the two once the glass settled. Draco and Hermione both stumbled farther back into the Hall of Prophecies, racing away from the incoming threat.  

“ Ava -” 

“Arresto momentum!” Hermione bellowed sending a devastating blow behind her. Draco looked over his shoulder, finding the group of Deatheaters with their wands high in the air, mouth gaping but almost frozen in time. Hermione had bought them dire seconds of time to escape the incoming threat of Draco’s aunt and a trio of feral looking men. 

Draco delivered the final blow.  

“Stupify!”  

Hermione whirled her arms around in a wordless spell, camouflaging themselves again before Hermione’s slowing spell wore off. The Deatheaters where back on the move, even more furious, than before. Draco and Hermione had managed to weave a good distance from them and stood still, waiting to hear what chain of events would happen next.  

The thunder of footsteps grew and they gripped to each other tightly as a pair of Deatheaters ran pass them without a single glance in their direction. 

Hermione exhaled, flinging her healthy arm around Draco’s neck, relieved from the stress mounting in her. She buried her face in Draco’s chest that rose and fell in rhythm, her heart lodged up in her throat.  

Draco understood the surge of adrenaline Hermione was riding through, panic now rushing around his own veins with no way to get it out. Draco cradled the back of Hermione’s head, as her breathing settled, narrowing his eyes at the pair of Deatheaters who frantically searched for them. He raised his wand about to send a spell towards the Deatheaters for nearly hurting Hermione but he was stopped. A soft hand covered his mouth as Hermione gently lowered his wand with her other.  

He turned back to her in surprise but she gave him a weary smile, motioning to a door they hadn’t seen before. There was no time to contemplate where it would lead. Draco simply knew he need to get Hermione out of this. 

Draco kept a careful eye on those two Deatheaters that shouted at each other for losing them, as Hermione led him to an escape. If it wasn’t for the fact that they had stood still for a moment, the door would have been impossible to notice if they were rushing.  

They inched toward it carefully, slowly reaching the door that was a mere two steps away.  

It was right at their fingertips when there was terrifying vibrating force that rippled through the air. The whole Hall stilled until the sound of light tinkling began to fill the air and shrieks from a few unknown people pierced their ears.  

The two Deatheaters stopped and pointed down the very aisle that Draco and Hermione were at, their hand on the door handle.  

“Look over there!” One shouted, pointing past them. Their eyes followed down their line of direction, where five figures sprinted away from what looked like the towering rows collapsing onto the next and orbs breaking as they rained down from the massive disturbance. 

Hermione and Draco were watching in horror. Harry, Neville, Ron, Ginny, and Luna managed to escape, rushing back into the Time Room as towers of Rows began to all collapse.  

Hermione gripped Draco’s hoodie, pulling him in the door she had manage to creak open. The two Deatheaters scrambled to get away. 

“Locomotor wibbly,” Draco whispered, moving his wand as minimally as possible, sending a damning spell to the Deatheaters. They fell comically to the floor. Hermione close the door, blocking the view just before the Deatheaters were crushed by the towering shelves. 

Hermione had casted a final locking spell to a row of doors. Fist began to pound on the other side shouting in panic. It seemed like there were more Deatheaters than they had known trying to escape a rather grim end. The two of them backed away, in fear, hearing the pounding slowly tapper off when the rumbling of the Hall stopped.  

Draco hadn’t seen it firsthand but he was certain the people on the other side were injured, or dead. His stomach churned violently. Draco felt unwell.

“Draco let’s go,” Hermione urged him giving him no time to think of the gruesome reality of they both ended up in.  

And to think Hermione wanted him to stay behind.  

They whirled around, finding themselves in another eerie room, like a small squared coliseum, swooping down into a pit where a raised untouched flat boulder held up a towering arch.  

Draco didn’t have enough time to appreciate what he was witnessing.  

But Hermione seemed to know enough to spook her.  

“This is the Death Chamber,” Hermione frantically informed. Despite recognizing it from the map she studied, it was the unknown that scared her. There was a thickness to the air they breathed as if they were tightly packed in a room full of strangers, whispering but not a sound was heard.  

Goosebumps, Draco shivered.  

Draco and Hermione managed to cross over to the other side of the room eager to get out of this particular room. Ahead of them, were doors.  

More doors.  

So many fucking doors that Draco was beginning to lose his mind. Hermione seem to have a level head to ground both of them. Just as they reach one of the nearest doors, she turned to him.  

“This should be the Brain Room,” She said as if it was enough to prepare him for what was next. Nothing really could have. 

When Hermione swung it open the greenish glow bathed the both of them. The light was from the large heavy tanks of bright green water that held floating brains.  

It would have made Draco sick to the stomach but his attention was torn off the tanks. 

They walked straight into a fight.  

At the corner, to the right of them Harry, Neville, and Luna managed to escape into another room as Ron and Ginny fought off some injured Deatheaters.  

Hermione launched a few attacks, catching them off guard which really pissed off Aunt Bellatrix who couldn’t exactly pin point who had casted the spell.  

A streak of light from Bellatrix’s wand hit the tanks of floating brains, unleashing them on the ground. The green water flooded the floor as the brains plopped to the floor with a sickening squelch. Some of them had bulging eyes attached to their soft pink lobes. Others had tentacles they used to rush after the Weasley’s. Ron pushed Ginny into the room just in time on had managed to grab ahold of Ron who was now shouting in pain. It seemed like the tentacles were leaving painful prints on his freckled skin as he fought them off. 

Bellatrix cackled as she shut the door, locking them in.

“Immobulus!” Draco cried, sweeping his wand around to get every single brain to stop moving. The squishing sounds diminished and Ron scanned over to them, squinting as to who helped him.  

“Run, get out of here!” Hermione shouted, knowing that under their disillusionment charm it would be hard to spot them unless they were moving.  

“Make sure everyone gets to safety!” Hermione ordered. 

“Hermione?” Ron questioned.  

“Go!” Draco joined in, reversing the spell Hermione placed on him, “Don’t worry about us, we’ll manage!”  

Ron gave a single nod before jumping into the Space Room, looking like he was sucked up into the air, floating away, out of sight. Hermione looked around this room and made a face.  

“Why on earth would they keep these here?” Hermione shook her head.  

“They study thinking,” Draco informed, “The way ideas form in heads, the conception of thoughts, that kind of thing.” 

“That can’t be, thinking is abstract-” 

“I dare say, keep you mind open,” Draco informed, “Funny place, this Department. It’s like awareness being aware of itself.” 

Hermione winced, “I rather not wonder what they do in the Death Room.” 

Hermione gave him a long look but ultimately followed Draco once he was back on the move again, tip toeing along the perimeters of the Brain Room, avoiding any frozen brains, to reach the door that was surely locked by his aunt. It was the was the fastest way to get back to the Rotating Room and back into the offices for their escape.  

He wiggled the knob around, refusing to budge even a millimeter to the left or right.  

“Alohamora, ” Hermione said, checking the door carefully to pry it open. It remained shut. Fortunately for the both of them, Draco knew just the trick to reverse the locking spell Bellatrix had placed on the door. 

“Auntie Bellatrix is pretty clever when it comes to her spells,” Draco whispered, checking if the door was indeed locked, “She adds an extra layer of assurance to anything she does. Like her M.O.”  

Draco felt the sting of a wound on his cheek and smiled, swiping at the wetness with his finger.  

Blood.  

Draco smeared his own blood over the knob. There was a small click releasing its lock. Hermione gawked up at him.  

“Blood binding spells?” Hermione raised her brows.  

“With familiar ties... that sort of thing. She’s obsessed with it.” Draco grinned, “Not that she’s expecting me to be fight against it.” 

Hermione licked her lips, casting a worried glance at what was beyond the Rotating Room. Their freedom. 

“Draco,” Hermione began, “We should find our friends and make sure they’re safe. They can’t fight alone if they’re in trouble. They’ll need us.” 

Everything screamed in him to tell her no but Hermione was loyal, she would not accept anything but a yes, even if it meant endangering her life. She was used to it by now, wasn’t she? It seemed like Hermione always found herself in the thick of a threatening problem to help her friends.  

She knew it was stupid but part of her wanted Draco to ask her again if this is what she wanted. Of course she’d say yes, but hearing him give her a choice was becoming a weakness. 

Draco gulped, annoyed at how steadfast this infuriating girl he loved was. Putting herself at constant risk to protect Harry was, in Draco's eyes, Harry’s biggest weapon against Voldemort. Did she not see her value, that she was indispensable? Or did she see it too clearly that she knew her friends wouldn’t have gotten this far if it wasn’t for her? 

He gave her a single painful nod, agreeing to her decision and accepting the fate that he’d follow her, knowing that only Draco would be keeping an eye out because of his desperate love for her.  

“Okay,” He quietly said, “Let’s go.” 

Hermione gave him an appreciative smile, reaching out to grab his arm in thanks.  

Draco carefully opened the door, seeing that the floor was mid spin. He caught their friends running towards a door, fighting against the direction of the spin. When it finally stopped, all five of them jumped through a door only to be followed by group of Deatheaters who had been knocked down by the spin. Hermione sighed out.  

“I really hate that thing,” She muttered, her voice nearly muffled into his chest. Draco had her protectively under his arm and she clung on to him. It brought a small smile to Draco’s mouth although it should have been a bigger one if it hadn’t been under the attack they were under.  

The floor stopped and Draco took it upon himself to aid his friends by stunning the remaining Deatheaters who were barely crawling back on their feet. He pulled Hermione along with him and just as another door flew open. Draco panicked and ran to the nearest door to him.  

“Wait are you sure?” Hermione hissed at him. 

He squeezed Hermione’s hand bracing himself from the possible error of finding a dead end and having to going through another dizzying spin. Secretly, he didn’t mind being wrong. He wished above all else to have manage to find the exact door that led them away, out of the Department.  

Even if he agreed to help Hermione, there was still that weakness in him to throw her over her shoulder and blast his way out of this stupid mission. 

He had found the right door somehow.  

He swung open a door that led them back to the Death Room where a raging battle was taking place next to that giant towering arch.  

Ron and Ginny were putting up a great fight. While Neville raced after Luna who was blown back by an impact curse.  

Rumbles of thick rock crumbling off the walls.  

The zaps and blood curdling screams caused a fear to grip on to Draco like a frozen chokehold.  

“Hermione-” 

“Quickly!” She gasped, launching herself down the giant stone steps of the room. 

Draco pause and gritted his teeth, gripping his wand tighter.  

The pull of her.  

Her gravity roped him in and he followed her straight into the dark.  

He stood high above the battle ensuing at the bottom while his friends were dodging curses left and right. The amount of Deatheaters had now dwindled in number but five students was not enough to fight against them. Hermione was jumping down the steep steps as fast as she could to join in, casting protective spells at her friends.  

Draco jumped into action, following behind. A slew of spells and curses left his mouth, losing count to what he was saying as they both reach the bottom. 

They had only joined in for a long brief moment before a thick black smoke swirled around them, blocking their view.  

Draco coughed, about to call out for Hermione when a strong pair of arms hooked around his neck, nearly choking him.  

A thin wand tip poked the side of his forehead and a menacing whisper threatened him.  

“Don’t you move or it will be a quick kill,” A voice with putrid breath fell over his face. Draco couldn’t recognize who the voice belonged to but he recognized the genuine threat. Draco had been captured and within the next moment when the smoke settled, he saw all his friends at the mercy of the Deatheaters.  

It happened all too fast.

Draco watched in horror as his own father approached Harry who looked beaten up. Harry’s clothes were ripped up exposing the lacerations he had received. His glasses cracked and shattered making Draco wonder how on earth he was able to see.  

Ginny winced any time her Deatheater dipped down to whisper something in her ear. Ron was sporting a swollen bruised cheek and carried his knee up as if he couldn’t stand baring weight on his foot. Neville looked no better than any of them, even Luna who was as pale as the moon was bruised and bleeding. The Deatheater that held her, wrapped her long blond locks tightly in his fists. 

His frantic eyes searched for Hermione.  

Lucius cocked a tired head to the side and gestured to Harry’s friends.  

“It such a simple trade off, Potter,” Lucius began, “The life of your friends for the prophecy.” 

The hesitation was etched in Harry’s face, seeing all his friends held hostage. He looked at each one, even Draco, and casted his sights back to Lucius.  

Hermione let out a cry when a Deatheater twisted her arms farther back in the most unnatural angle.  

Draco lurched forward, his reflex forcing him to move but the Deatheater shoved his wand under the soft part of his chin and kicked the back of his knee forcing him to kneel.  

The pain of his first injuries radiated in heat.  

“What’s with your face, ugly?” The Deatheater sneered into Draco’s ear. He couldn't be more relieved that Hermione had changed his appearance. 

The terrified faces of his friends seared into Harry’s mind. He whirled around, looking each one straight on and weight his decision. He knew handing over the very piece of information over to Lucius would only aid Voldemort but he couldn’t bare to lose his friends.  

Lucius’s hand was outstretched, waiting for Harry to decide. He nodded, devastated to freely offer his orb over to Draco’s father.  

Delight flooded Lucius’ face and then a wave of exhausted relief, like he held all the worlds answers in that ball that was now in his hand. Lucius held his one mission that would allow the forgiveness of the Dark Lord towards him and his family. 

Everything was alright in the Malfoy Household. 

At least for the three full seconds  

Then, as if it happened too fast and too slow, the Order swept in in a streak of blinding light. Draco’s Deatheater immediately fled letting him crash to the floor. Draco scrambled around when he lost grip of his own wand.  

A full fledge battle broke out around him as he pathetically crawled around, looking for his wand. The panic grew stronger after every passing second of being wandless.

In the height of tensions, Draco came across a pair of dirty old boots. He paused, heart lodged up in his throat as his wand was being waved in his line of vision. Draco slowly looked up and saw Sirius who was holding on to the collar of a very limp Deatheater, offering his wand back to him.

He cocked his head and punched the poor guy straight in the nose to free his hands. Sirius helped Draco back on his feet.  

“Aren’t you-” 

Draco lifted his pointer finger to his lips, watching his father like an eagle. He gladly accepted his wand back as Lucius was abandoning the fight, scurrying away with the orb. 

The spell that erupted from Draco’s lips without thinking hit Lucius square in his torso, pushing him into a stumble. His legs wobbled, losing his balance within his next step. He tumbled down and lost grip of the orb. The glass ball bounced once in astonishing resilience before crashing it into a million pieces. A small wisp of smoke released into the air.  

Sirius looked into the direction where the spell was flung and he grinned, “Looks like you’re fine on your own.” 

Draco blocked a purple flame from touching them, earning Sirius’s full appreciation. 

“Get out of here,” Sirius ordered, “You’ll be one less to worry about.” 

Draco hesitated when he couldn’t see Hermione immediately. He spotted Tonks was guiding Neville who was carrying Luna away.  

“Hermione-” 

“Go!”   

Draco took a final sweep of the Death Room and was gutted when he couldn’t spot her. Sirius took on two Deatheaters gaining ground on them, with a maniacal joyful laugh. Draco threw his hoodie back on that had been pulled off by his Deatheater and snuck away.  

For the first time since they arrived, Draco was utterly alone navigating around the Department of Mysteries. He began to panic when he felt her absence. Hermione had stuck to him like glue throughout the entire thing. His sudden loneliness moving in the darkness was palpable. He feared the worst. He didn’t want to think of the idea that she might have gotten seriously injured or worse.  

He felt his heart tearing and stopping, causing itself self-inflicting wounds at the intrusive thoughts. 

It was possibly his over active imagination but he couldn’t imagine wanting to continue on if she was gone. His breathing became ragged with the painful cry wanting to erupt his sore throat. 

Overwhelmed with the conflict of staying or leaving, he stopped, leaning against the cool wall of the Rotating Room. He knew he need to get out of there quickly before he was afflicted with a gut churching spin but he allowed himself to take another full breath, letting the fight fully sink in.  

He was briefly taken hostage, he attacked his own father, and he lost Hermione. It had been quick and unbelievable that it was hard to accept it had happened. 

“Fuck,” Draco groaned, his body feeling like literal hell as he cracked his eyes open, taking in the room he was in. The ceiling above him twinkled brightly down at him. It only made Draco wish he was actually outside, miles away from this mess. With a quick sweep of the room, he spotted four cloaked bodies scattered around the room, lifeless.  

Draco didn’t want to think if they were actually alive. He didn’t want to think at all.  

He was afraid of everything.  

He was being a coward but going back to see more devastation didn’t sound like he wanted to put himself through that.  

Leaving was also not something he wanted to do, Hermione’s whereabouts were unknown.  

The time ticked on and miraculously, the spinning hadn’t occurred. The more Draco waited, the more he expected it to start at any second.  

It didn’t come.  

He hadn’t noticed there was a huge chunk of stone that fell from the ceiling on the opposite of him, possibly weighing down the magical mechanics of it.  

He made a face when he spotted the grotesque disfigurement of a body that was half under the stone. Body number five.

He needed to get up to avoid being the sixth. 

While he began to steady himself up, stumbling back on his feet, a vision like a dream came to him, placing her hands on his cheeks surveying him.  

Hermione’s concerned eyes washed over him, accounting for each small cut and bruise over his face. Her eyes began to form pools of tears, threatening to fall and he felt himself foolishly smile.  

“You’re here.” He whispered out his throat tightened. He used the wall to steady himself, almost collapsing to his knees once more.

“Of course I am,” Hermione said, her voice raspy as if she had exhausted her vocal cords from screaming.  

Draco grabbed her hand that cupped his cheek, and let out a small laugh.  

“You’re alive.” He pointed, “Thank Merlin. Where did you go?” 

Hermione turned back to the giant stone in the middle of the Room and shrugged, “I was making sure it wouldn’t spin anymore.” 

Draco blinked rapidly, trying to figure out if Hermione had purposefully crushed that man. Not that he cared, impressed was not the word he was looking for.  

He was simply in awe of her. 

“Are you okay?” Hermione asked, pulling his eyes back to hers. 

“I’m perfect, now that I see you here.” Draco pressed his lips together, stifling the fact that wanted to sob from the roller coaster of emotions.  

“Promise me,” Draco added, “Please never leave my side.” 

Hermione’s wide eyes took him in, as he returned the gesture cupping her face gently, gingerly running his fingertips over a slash on her cheek. 

“I promise,” Hermione whispered.  

There was a deafening click.

A small door opened, unmarked. It was different from the other ones. Smaller and unassuming. It caught their attention, ripping their focus off each other.  

The door cracked open, creaking from lack of use. There was a pinky glow that outlined the frame and a scent, one that instantly calmed him, filled his head. He couldn’t exactly think of what this room would be. It was unlabeled in the map that Sephina had copied. He knew nothing other than the fact that it smelled delightfully wonderful and it was calling him in. 

Intrigued, he walked to it, pushing the door further open to peer in a deep-set room filled with a golden glossy pink glow.  

The scent was now in its full, hitting Draco with its power and lifting his awful mood. It was like he walked into a warm inviting room of his favorite memories; fresh linens, milky soaps, and earthy, like an aromatic tea shop. It also reminded him of dusty attics and hot fresh meals.  

Hermione held her hand over her nose and mouth, squeezing her eyes shut.  

“Come Hermione,” Draco sniffed, offering his hand to her, “You’ve got to see this.”