"Two," he responded, his voice cracking on the single word.

"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir." Her voice was low and breathy. She ran her lips along his ear and said, "I won't disappoint you."

He pushed her back by her hips, and was out the door in seconds.

Hermione spun as the door clicked closed. Within two steps she had thrown her arms around Cho, hugging her close, the dark-haired girl returning her embrace with a tight squeeze.

"Hermione—"

"Cho," Hermione breathed. "Are you alright? I've been dying to speak to you—"

"You genius!"

"Listen — we don't have much time."

She pulled away and saw Cho staring wide-eyed at the closed door in amazement.

"I need to get information to Ginny, but it can't be written down."

Cho's blinked, and the eyes that snapped back to her hardened in resolve. "Tell me."

Hermione took a breath, feeling her entire world hang on the next words. "Fiendfyre, Basilisk Venom, Sword of Gryffindor."

She watched Cho's mind spin before she pressed her lips together and nodded. "Alright."

Hermione blinked. "Is that it?"

"The less I know, the better. Consider it done."

"How soon will you—" Hermione broke off, refocusing. Two minutes. That's all they had. "Who's going to tell her? Do you have contact with her?"

"Charlotte," Cho said simply. "I can't tell you more than that, but if I get this to Charlotte, Ginny will know within a few weeks."

Hermione drew a sharp breath and nodded. "Is she in contact with the Order?"

"I have my suspicions, but I couldn't say for sure." Hermione's face fell. "Trust me," Cho continued, "the less we know, the safer it is. All I do is get whispers and notes to Charlotte. The rest is in her hands." Cho looked to the door again and reached for the hemline of her short dress. She wiggled something from between the stitching: a small green pill the size of a mint. "Take this. Charlotte and I each have one. This one's for you."

Hermione took it in her palm and stared down at it. "What is it?"

"A worst-case scenario. A suicide pill," Cho said. Hermione's eyes widened and snapped up to her. "If you're caught, take it before they're able to read your mind. If any of them find out, it's all over."

Hermione swallowed thickly, the saliva burning down her throat. Then nodded. Cho reached up for the strap of Hermione's dress, turning it over and tearing at a seam until she could push the pill through the small hole for her.

"Keep it in your hem at all times."

They had maybe a minute left. Hermione ran through the other questions she thought she could get answered in a minute.

"Is there anything the resistance needs? Any supplies? Anything that needs researching?"

"No, Hermione," Cho warned fiercely. "It's too risky. Don't endanger yourself by stealing or sneaking around."

Hermione bit her tongue, nodding. There was no way she could reveal more about her situation without jeopardizing the Malfoys.