Ron, her heart whispered. But she knew she couldn't reach him in time.

After the toast, the men would scatter to private rooms. The wives and daughters would leave through the fireplace, along with the male Lots who had no use in the Lounge.

Ron was standing by the fireplace.

Her mind always knew it was unlikely. There were too many unknowns — too narrow a chance. But she still felt acid in her stomach threatening to choke her as Theo lifted his glass and said, "To the Dark Lord's power."

"May he reign forevermore!"

She swallowed her champagne with everyone else. It rippled down her throat, harsh and biting.

Her limbs felt heavy as Draco guided her back into the circle with Yaxley and Travers. The crowd resumed its chatter, and Hermione tried not to flinch when she heard the burst of the fire as people left by the Floo. And again.

While she finished draining her glass, and the Floo flamed four more times. She couldn't bear to check for Ron again when she knew he must be gone.

She pasted on a smile as she closed the heavy volume inside her mind. Pushing up on her toes, she lost it somewhere on her highest shelf.

Ginny. She'd get to Ginny tonight. Oliver in the morning.

Draco excused them suddenly. He took her by the elbow as they side-stepped through the guests. When he released her, Hermione found herself blinking up at Blaise and "Giuliana." She blinked down again.

Blaise said something light — teasing. There was a clap of a shoulder, and a drawled reply. But Hermione's mind was already elsewhere, her head bowed and her eyes darting through her lashes.

She'd barely caught two words of the conversation when she saw finally it — a flash of fiery red hair. It fell down thin shoulders onto a thin body, a slinky fabric stretched tight across its curves.

A man leaned closer, whispering as his hand drifted down the girl's back. Avery. Guiding Ginny in the direction of the Lounge.

Hermione swayed on her feet. She let her shoulder brush Draco's, and he paused mid-sentence. It took three seconds for his head to turn in the right direction.

"Shall we go see what's new in the Lounge?" he asked.

Blaise hummed his agreement, and then the four of them were making their way to the double doors.

The crowd was thinning. Hermione's eyes passed over them, searching for red hair. They were almost at the exit when they bumped into Narcissa. Hermione had to fight the urge to crane her neck and stare down the corridor while Narcissa pecked her son on the cheek, giving a clipped excuse for leaving early.

The Lounge was already in full swing. It seemed the number of Carrow Girls had doubled. There were serving girls, girls in laps sipping champagne, girls dancing on the platforms. Draco led them toward the couches where they usually sat, but they were occupied by strange men in uniforms that Hermione had never seen before.