When the four of them appeared before an iron gate, a black castle in the distance, a hooded figure swept down over her, mouth gaping and trying to suck warmth from her—

But it found none.

Chapter End Notes

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Chapter 34

Chapter Notes

Eyyyy. Let's do this. Thank you to Mar and Cat!

There's been some INCREDIBLE fanart done for The Auction in recent weeks! Check them out: Hiyas , theamaranthus , goodnight-fraublucher

CONTENT WARNING for this chapter: Torture

See the end of the chapter for more notes

A wind danced across her skin.

A line of carriages waited, led by dead horses.

The pale-haired boy lifted her up the step and guided her into a seat. Two other companions followed.

An older couple. They murmured to each other, their eyes darting towards her and away.

Her dress was a thick weight on her shoulders.

With the clicking of hooves, the carriage lurched down a path toward a castle. A cloud reigned over it — a skull and snake.

The carriage curved around a lake, and the moon shone from its placid waters.

As the castle loomed closer, Hermione focused on her shelves. Her fingers drifted across a book with warm sunlight beaming on a courtyard, and two boys walking with her to class. She pushed it deep in the center shelf, next to a book with screams and rubble and a dark-haired boy hanging lifeless in a half-giant's arms.

The dead horses came to a stop. Their carriage door opened, and a hand extended to her. She took it, and cold fingers twitched in hers as she descended the first step. Her eyes followed the hand up to a rounded face with gaunt eyes.

A shelf in her mind groaned. The boy mouthed her name and a book came tumbling down, its pages fluttering open to missing toads, clumsy potions, and stuttered invitations to balls—

Neville.

She felt her lungs collapse, black spots in her vision. And then a warm hand on her back— urging her on.

Drawing a sharp breath, Hermione dropped to the final step of the carriage. She squeezed Neville's hand before she released it, taking in his sun-weathered face and split lip. He wore long black robes, belted with a gold rope. His bruised eyes searched hers.

"That's enough gawking, Longbottom."

Neville jumped as though he'd been kicked. He swiftly stepped backward, limping to the next set of carriages. Draco pressed his hand to her hip and steered her in the other direction, moving them toward the courtyard. Lucius and Narcissa had already swept ahead of them.

Hermione tried to refocus, but each step she took from Neville was like an icicle in her chest. Her friends were being starved and beaten. And she was dripping in diamonds.