~*~

It was five in the evening when the doors to the library finally opened. She was lost in the stacks, thumbing through a text on rare potions when she heard the hinges creak. Her head snapped up, and she reshelved the book before winding through the shelves.

He was staring down at her research table, turning a page in her notebook. He seemed taller, his profile stronger. His hair had grown just a bit — one more half-inch and it would curl at his neck.

"I see you're still here, with both arms attached." His voice was flat as he turned another page. "So you're still hard at work, I take it?"

She swallowed at the sound of his voice. Familiar, but distant.

He wanted to skip the hello. There would be no embrace, no kiss by the fireplace, no I've missed you. Just back to business as usual.

She stepped down from the landing, keeping her distance as she approached the table. She'd imagined him returning home a thousand times. But none of the scenarios in her head had played out like this.

"It's good to see you, too, Draco."

Silence.

"Yes, I've made a lot of progress, actually." Her throat felt raw. "I was… I was hoping to share it with you."

He turned to her, his gaze landing on her for the first time since New Year's. Since before that. He gave her the smallest of nods.

"But before we get to that, I—" She cleared her throat. "I wanted you to know that I'm glad you're home safely. That you're not injured, I mean."

He didn't flinch.

"And if you want to talk about it, I—"

"I don't."

The word was clipped. Final. Her stomach sank.

But then his eyes flickered, and he quickly looked away. His hand shook almost imperceptibly as he turned another page, avoiding her gaze. She watched him, wondering what he'd been through all those months. What he must be feeling now.

Her heart clenched.

She'd meet him halfway, if that was what he needed. She could wait for him to be one to close the distance between them.

Taking a shaky breath, she moved to her notes. "Then let's talk about the tattoos."

She spent the next half hour filling him in on her progress over the last four months. She told him about her failed experiment. About her chat with Pansy. She told him about the blood magic and the tattoo potion — how she was stuck trying to figure out what kind of potion Nott had used. Draco said nothing, but he listened attentively. He hummed at the right parts and furrowed his brows at the mysteries.

"Pansy said they signed for her in blood, but I wanted to make sure you went through the same process." She looked up at him from her notes. He was watching her closely. "Did you have to sign in blood as well?"

He nodded. "Yes."

"Was there anything special about the parchment or the quill used? Did you cut yourself for the ink?"