The four of them moved through the dimly lit room in search of a place to sit. They passed Theo, looking miserable as Cassandra ran her fingers over his shoulders. Oliver was nowhere to be found. Hermione spotted Dolohov with Pius Thicknesse at one of the back tables, and when his head swiveled in their direction, she quickly ducked her chin.

She searched for any sign of Ginny, but there were too many people — crowding the gambling tables, grabbing the girls.

"Draco! Blaise!"

Marcus Flint grinned at them from a nearby chair, Penelope sitting low across his lap. She didn't look up, too focused on running her fingers through his hair.

Flint jerked his head to his left. "These chairs just freed up—" The rest of his words were swallowed by Penelope, kissing him ravenously as she moved to straddle him.

Draco stared at them. Hermione watched a vein throb in his temple before he tugged her forward, towards a pair of empty wingback chairs. Blaise and Pansy followed.

Hermione had barely settled into Draco's lap when she caught sight of Avery. She went stock still.

Avery stood at the roulette table, Ginny on his other side. He turned to her, and Hermione watched Ginny lower her champagne glass and blow on his dice.

He rolled, and men cheered. Ginny kept her eyes firmly on the table through it all, as if she couldn't bear to look up. Hermione's stomach churned, remembering it was the first time she'd been back to the Lounge since her public "discipline."

A round of groans — Avery had lost his bet. He gave a lopsided shrug and he downed his drink, his hand sliding through Ginny's locks and trailing down to her backside. He slammed his empty glass on the table and stood, guiding her towards the doors leading to the Burgundy Room.

Hermione's eye twitched, but before she could turn to Draco, he was already setting her to her feet and standing from the chair.

"Blaise, I have some business to take care of." He watched the doors close behind Avery. "I'll be a few minutes. Keep an eye on her."

Blaise gaped at him, but before he could say anything, Draco was striding off in the direction of the Burgundy Room. Hermione felt both Blaise and Pansy swivel to look at her. She began to settle back into the chair, but Blaise patted his armrest and gestured for her to join them.

It took her a moment to catch his meaning. She stood quickly, stepping over to them and settling on the armrest. Crossing her legs, she leaned against Blaise's shoulder and let her mind drift.

Ginny tonight, Oliver in the morning. As for Ron — she'd have to hope.

Her lips trembled at the reminder of what awaited her in the morning. And her mind sharpened with a jolt. She looked over to Blaise, who was drumming his fingers on his glass to the beat of the music.

Shifting her legs, she leaned into his ear. He tilted his head up. "Narcissa is fleeing with Draco in the morning. You and the girls need to run before dawn."