Draco's throat bobbed.

"Perhaps she tried to run, and you had no other choice. I'm sure your little friends would be more than willing to testify."

"Bella—"

"I'll get you another one," she whispered. "A Muggle girl who looks enough like her. This one has poisoned you."

Hermione's muscles screamed, her blood whipping beneath her skin. Her bones felt like they would splinter under the pressure—

"That's not necessary." Draco's voice cracked. "I have this under control—"

"You're still weak," Bellatrix hissed. "I've been more than patient with you, Draco. But there's still too much of your father in you. Your weak, lovesick heart will destroy this family."

The crowd cheered, and when Hermione blinked, she saw Harry and Luna's faces behind her eyelids.

"Keep on this road, and by this time next week, your Mudblood will be the one tortured and killed in front of a crowd. Or worse"—she leaned into him—"your mother."

Draco took a shuddering breath. Hermione's heartbeat faded in her ears.

"I'll be damned if I let that happen. So say goodbye, Draco." Bellatrix spun back to her, her eyes glittering. "Feel free to look away. I know the Killing Curse doesn't suit your delicate stomach—"

A green light splashed along the wooden arches. Bellatrix's eyes centered on her, frozen in time, until with a push of the wind, she collapsed forward at Hermione's feet, revealing Draco with his wand outstretched — the tip smoking.

He stared at his aunt's body, and then back to her. Hermione's limbs tingled, and it took her a long moment to realize she wasn't Petrified any longer. Because Bellatrix was dead.

Draco had killed her with a curse to the back.

There was a movement behind her, and Blaise was suddenly beside her, gaping down at the body.

Hermione still couldn't breathe. A hollow wind whipped through the bridge, disturbing the black curls at her feet. Fire arced through the sky again.

"She—she said she was going to Hungary, right?" Hermione turned around to see Pansy cupping her forehead. "Maybe there's time. Maybe n-no one will miss her right away."

Hermione had never heard Pansy Parkinson stammer.

Draco still hadn't lowered his wand.

Hermione's legs propelled her forward. She bent down and snatched the wand Bellatrix had taken from her. She turned to the woods and cast a Presence Revealing spell in each direction. They were alone.

"You need to go." Blaise stepped over the body. "Pansy and I will take care of this."

Draco's fingers shook as he lowered his arm. "What?"

"We'll transfigure the body and hide it in the woods." Blaise looked back to Pansy. She nodded, dazed. "If you don't go off and kill whatever it is you need to kill, then this is all worthless. So do it now."

None of them moved.

"Go!"

Hermione startled back into her body as Draco transfigured her dress into lighter fabric — her heels turning into flats. Draco reached for her as she stumbled forward, and she slipped her hand in his. With a nod to Blaise and Pansy behind him, he dragged her toward the woods.