She reached forward to examine the mechanism, and as soon as her fingers touched the silver, the tumblers turned.

She stumbled backward, her mouth falling open as the lock twisted until it unlatched. Looking over her shoulder to make sure it wasn't a trick, she whipped her head back in awe as the cabinet doors slowly swung open, revealing a granite stone basin within.

A Pensieve.

Lucius Malfoy had a Pensieve.

The shelves in her mind trembled, her heart pumping so fast she could barely think. Draco had said his father never had use for one. Had he been lying to his son, or had he discovered a new necessity?

Memories swirled in the basin like morning mist as she stepped closer. The threads at the surface morphed into a pale-faced man in military robes, begging in a thick accent, "I don't know anything! Please!"

Was that what he'd come to his study for? To leave behind a recent memory?

Hermione's eyes caught on a set of black-tinted vials on a high shelf. Silver threads danced inside of them. She peered up at them, but the silver cloud below began shifting again, catching her gaze.

Her own face rose from the bottom of the basin, pale and terrified, before sinking back again. Her breath left her as she stared down at the Pensieve, the image still burning behind her eyelids.

What purpose would Lucius have to extract memories of her?

Before she could second guess herself, she gripped the edge of the Pensieve and plunged her head into the shallow waters.

Draco's bedroom materialized before her eyes. She landed next to his bed at the exact moment Lucius Malfoy released his grip on her jaw and said, "You stupid girl. If you love him, stop trying to get him killed."

She watched herself slide down the wall, shrinking back from him. He glared at her with ice in his eyes and threatened to hand her over to Dolohov.

It stung just as it had the first time.

He swept toward the fireplace, and Hermione was swept along with him, arriving in the dungeons at Edinburgh. Lucius took half a second to get his bearings before slipping through the door and striding down the long corridor where Rabastan had dragged Charlotte. Hermione followed him, still tiptoeing, as if she could be heard.

A light flickered behind a gate, and Lucius stepped quickly toward it. He pushed the gate open with a creak, and a spell shot at him. She jumped while he deflected, and she rushed into the room with him before it closed.

Draco was hovering over Charlotte, his wand pointed at his father with dawning terror in his eyes.

"Father. I can explain—"

"Are you quite finished?" Lucius's nostrils flared. "We don't have time for your lies."

Charlotte's eyes flickered between the two of them with apprehension. She was on her knees, her arms and ankles chained to the wall.

"I—" Draco's voice cracked. "I'm almost done with her. But I still need to Obliviate him."