Victorious.

She tried to remember if she'd ever seen him catch the Snitch.

He held the jar in one hand, pulled his wand in the other, and cast the Virginity Detection spell. The scan hummed over her head and toes, scanning towards center. When the magic reached her abdomen, the four of them watched with bated breath.

And nothing. The scan stopped.

She didn't know what was supposed to happen if she wasn't a virgin. She hadn't seen it.

No one moved. She heard Draco swallow.

"Did it work?" she whispered.

A pause. And then: "It seems so," Narcissa breathed into her hair.

Lucius pulled his wand, cast the charm again, and watched as the same results happened.

A buzz from Draco's wand. "2:10," he said.

Lucius stood abruptly from the bed, looking down at her, and then up to Draco. "You won't be able to contact me if there's an issue."

The light from the glass jar in Draco's palm cast eerie shadows across Lucius's face, and she watched his throat move and his lips part in unspoken words. "You'll hear from me soon." He turned and exited through the fireplace without a backward glance.

With a wave, Narcissa lit the sconces low. She slid off the bed and gathered the ritual candles. "I apologize for all this fuss, Hermione, dear," she said, still not looking at her. "Get some rest. We'll talk in the morning." She sent Draco a stern look before leaving, the door clicking softly.

Hermione took a few breaths before she jolted upright. She sat in a bed in a white gown, blood from her chest dripping on the sheets, and stared at Draco Malfoy, who held her virginity in his hands.

The relief on his face dissipated, and he paled as looked at her. He placed the jar delicately on her bedside table.

"This should stay here." He swallowed. "It would… it can catch quite a price on the Black Market, so it's best to keep it hidden in your room."

She blinked at the light, still the brightest source in the room, even with the sconces lit and the fireplace back to roaring. She wondered if she should feel different.

"I apologize for the suddenness," he said, shifting his weight. "I was only notified yesterday afternoon. And the spell required my father, and I wasn't even sure if I could—"

"I want to see your research." She tore her eyes from the ball of light and looked up to him. "I want to read up on the spell."

He nodded, eyes distant but directed at the jar. "Of course. Tomorrow, after they—"

She scowled. "Now. I'm awake. You're awake." She stumbled out of bed, the long silk nightdress twisting around her legs in an awkward constriction. Unraveling it brought her close to him.

He glanced quickly down to the cut on her chest and then at her face. "You should get your rest."

"Give me the book," she demanded.

He was always keeping information from her, especially if it pertained to her directly. Irritation sharpened and bubbled in her chest.