She slipped through her door, looking both ways as if she was about to cross a dangerous street. Her feet were soft on the marble as she descended the stairs, stopping at the bottom to stare at the fireplaces, expecting an entire dinner party to pour through the fire at any moment.

The drawing room door was closed. She suspected that was where Narcissa Malfoy entertained guests. But she was sure to be caught if she stood in the doorway with her ear pressed to the wood. She tried to think.

There was a rarely used ballroom attached to the drawing room. She suspected it was for parties and grand affairs. There was little chance anyone would be walking that direction if they were leaving the drawing room.

Hermione hurried through the corridor, sweeping past the kitchens and all the little hiding spots she'd memorized in the past two months. Pushing open the backdoor to the ballroom as slowly as she could, she saw there was no one inside and dashed to the door leading to the drawing room. It was cracked open.

Peeking through the door, she found Narcissa seated in an armchair, an untouched glass of brandy next to her. Draco stood to her side, holding a Firewhisky. A thin older man paced in front of them, using a cane but still moving deftly through the room. When he turned, Hermione saw his face.

Nott, Sr.

She searched the rest of the room and found a thin boy examining the paintings on the wall. Theodore. She watched him sip his Firewhisky and sneer at the taste while his back was turned to the room.

Her ears honed in.

"...project that needs quite a bit of research. Theo and I were hoping to spend the day in your library. Privately, if we may."

"I see," Narcissa said. "I do wish Lucius was here to assist you, but of course you're welcome to—"

"May I ask what kind of project?" Draco cut in coolly.

Theo turned to look at him. Nott took a long sip from his glass. "A confidential request from the Dark Lord," he said with a smirk. And then back to Narcissa, as if Draco hadn't spoken at all. "Wherever has Lucius run off to?"

A tense pause before Draco's voice lilted, "A confidential request from the Dark Lord."

Hermione watched Nott smile slowly.

"Our family is honored to serve him," Narcissa said.

Theo waved his glass carelessly. "Does it have anything to do with what's happening in France?"

Three heads turned to face him. Mistaking their reactions as impressed, he continued, "We're in his confidence as well, you know. No use in putting on airs around us." Hermione watched as Nott Sr. frowned at his son.

Narcissa took the lead and spoke softly. "I'm sure I don't know, Theo. The mission was between Lucius and the Dark Lord."

Theo nodded and sipped from his glass, oblivious to his father's exasperated glare across the room.

"As your husband has sensitive orders from the Dark Lord, so do I," Nott said smoothly. "I appreciate your graciousness as always, Narcissa."