He was still next to her. She played with a groove in the stone tabletop.

Her chest thumped when she finally lifted her eyes to his. "You could come with me."

His face was a mask. "I really couldn't, Granger."

"You and your mother." Her mind and her heart began to dance in time with each other. "We'll find the True Order, and I'll make sure you're both taken care of—"

"You couldn't ensure that."

"I could." Her voice shook. "I still have to think about your father, but if you and your mother safely delivered Hermione Granger to them—"

"Don't be naive." She flinched at the sharp edge to his voice. His eyes instantly softened. "Granger, that might have been true a year ago, but it's not enough anymore. Too much has happened."

"Yes, with you helping me! Helping our side!" She threw up her hands. "These are my friends, Draco. If I tell them everything you've done, they'll have no choice but to—"

"It's not about that anymore. Can't you see?" He stepped into her, gently taking her elbows. "Did you see the paper this morning?" Frowning, she shook her head. She'd been too busy thinking about the potion. "Canada, China, and Tunisia just pledged support to the True Order."

She searched his face, trying to follow his logic.

"The True Order has been traveling for months with those Portkeys. They're probably transporting in reinforcements as we speak." His throat bobbed. "My father and aunt are the two highest-ranking officers in the Great Order. If I just stroll into France with my mother in tow, there's a good chance your friends won't have a say in whatever they choose to do to us."

His eyes flickered as she pulled free. "Don't underestimate them. They're at the center of this. And I know George Weasley. I know Fleur and Angelina. They'll listen to me. They'll trust me."

She watched him clench his jaw and look down at his shoes. Unconvinced.

Her mind spun as she tried to create a plan. Leaving without the Malfoys would be as good as sentencing all three of them to death. Draco would be held responsible and interrogated for her disappearance. So would Narcissa and Lucius. Even if she managed to get to France, she'd be wondering all the while if Draco, Narcissa, and Lucius had been murdered. Perhaps Blaise and Theo as well.

Her heart shattered at the thought.

"Then I'm staying too."

Only his left eye twitched. His ribs expanded.

"For now," she clarified. "I'm staying until I can convince you to come with me."

"Granger, I can't ask you to do that."

"I'm giving them everything I know right now. As long as Charlotte can get it to them, staying a bit longer won't make a difference." She took a deep breath and filled two vials — one with the tattoo potion and the other with its antidote. She grabbed the parchment and quill she'd been using to create the tattoo on the mice.