Hermione went still — her muscles frozen. Something shifted in the corner of her eye, and she gaped at the inky tunnel as another shape shifted inside. It split into two as it grew larger, and she watched a shadow of herself emerge from the black depths with Antonin Dolohov's arms wrapped around her middle, caging her. She was in black lace lingerie that barely covered her. Dolohov tangled his fingers in her hair, his palm sliding up her thigh.

Draco didn't move, his lips parted and his ribs expanding quickly.

"Leave this place at once, and she won't be a slave any longer." With a flick of Riddle's fingers, the shadow of Dolohov evaporated, leaving only her. Bare-faced and wild-haired, in denims and a jumper. "I'll let you keep her. Marry her. No longer a Mudblood traitor — Lady Malfoy."

Riddle's hand squeezed Draco's shoulder. Hermione's breath came in short pants as she watched Draco swallow. His fingers twitched.

Tom Riddle abruptly stood, towering over Draco. "Swear again your loyalty to me, Draco Malfoy, and Lord Voldemort will grant her clemency. Climb out of the cave, take her memories of this, and the Dark Lord will give you freedom. Both of you."

It was silent except for the swirl of the wind. Hermione felt like she was sinking to the bottom of icy waters as Draco rose to his feet, his jaw set and his eyes determined.

"Thank you, my Lord," he whispered. She could scarcely hear him over the tunnel surrounding her.

Tom Riddle smiled, his translucent head nodding in agreement. Her stomach roiled as Draco swept away from the Horcrux, moving toward her. Her legs swayed, unsteady beneath her.

She watched Draco take four steps closer and twitch his wrist. Something ivory flew up from the ground, and faster than a Snitch, Draco spun, casting it forward with his wand, hurtling towards Riddle and the Hat.

The basilisk fang shot through the middle of Tom Riddle's chest, flying past his shocked expression, and into the dark opening of the Hat.

An unearthly scream, like a thousand glasses shattering inside her mind. She covered her ears and watched Draco do the same. The walls of the cavern shook as Tom Riddle's apparition howled in agony, the Hat sucking him backward as it shriveled down to normal size.

The tunnel of broken furniture and gold coins halted, falling around them like hail. And the screaming stopped.

Hermione counted two heartbeats before she ran to him. He was staring at the spot Riddle had been, as if he couldn't trust he was really gone — the same way he'd stared at his aunt's body. She grabbed his elbow, and he jumped, spinning to her as she threw her arms around his neck.

"You did it. Draco, you—" Her voice shook. "You were amazing. For a moment, I thought you'd—"

She broke off as he removed her hands. They fell limply at her sides.

He wouldn't look at her as he took a step backward, glancing around the destruction. "You're alright?"