She stumbled out of the flames into Draco's bedroom.

Draco grabbed her shoulders. "Are you alright? Did he hurt you?"

There was still a hollow wind in her chest as she stared into his eyes, grey and warm.

She shook her head. "I'm fine."

She wasn't.

Tears blurred her vision as he ran his hands over her, casting Tergeos and healing bruises. But the pain wasn't on her skin.

She wept, her chest wracked with sobs. She'd failed Ginny. And Draco was being taken from her as well.

She might never see him again.

The clock on the mantle read ten past midnight. Less than five hours left.

He stroked her hair, his thumbs gathering her tears. She tried to breathe him in. Savoring him.

She gripped his shoulders as her breathing evened out again. Her eyes stopped flowing over.

"Granger." His hands slid to her arms. "The Dark Lord will be angry about Dolohov. When he questions me, he might…"

She heard his throat click.

"I'll Floo my father in the morning. It might be safest for you and Mother to go to Grimmauld Place. If he finds the truth—"

A sob tore from her lips, and the dam burst again.

He wrapped his arms around her, whispering apologies in her hair.

Any wild dream she might have had was gone. He and Narcissa had to leave at first light, before the Dark Lord could summon him. There was no other hope, no other option.

He had to go.

This was her last night with him, the minutes dwindling like sand between her fingertips. She could have spent a lifetime asking him questions. Telling him all the secrets she'd kept locked away, like notes in her jewelry box.

She lifted her face from his robes.

He didn't meet her eyes, still inspecting her jaw for bruises. His fingers were light on her cheeks, gathering her tears.

"You gave up Malfoy Manor for me."

He nodded slowly. "Upon my father's death — presuming Dolohov had nothing to do with it — the Manor would be his, as would my inheritance."

"Why?"

He was silent, and still. His ribs ceased moving.

"Draco."

He swallowed, and when he glanced at her, his eyes were clear.

"I had feelings for you at school." It rushed out of him, like a tap opening. A fluttering in her chest. Like something inside her was trying to reach him. "It wasn't…I'm sorry to have you find out this way."

His eyes drifted away, like it was painful to look at her.

"Draco—"

"But it wasn't meant to….it shouldn't have been anything. Potter was supposed to win. And you were supposed to be with Weasley." Draco pressed his eyes closed, and they were wet when he opened them. "But Potter didn't win. And you…you weren't…"

There was a melody in her veins, dancing to the pace of her heartbeat. Her head spun. The piece of her that had broken seemed to not matter anymore.

"You tried to buy me at the Auction…because you have feelings for—"