"Sorry I woke you," he whispered.

"What time is it?" Her voice shook.

"Half-four. I was just up to use to loo."

Her heart pummeled against her ribs. She'd fallen asleep.

She scrambled for Draco as soon as he came within reach, grabbing him by the shoulders.

"What—"

"We have thirty minutes, Draco. Please listen to me." Her lungs constricted. "Italy's been attacked."

Draco went rigid. "How do you—"

"Your mother told me yesterday." She struggled to get out the words. "It won't be long until the Great Order falls, and she wanted me to tell you that you have to—you have to—"

The words choked off in a sob. They wracked her body.

"Easy."

"You have to leave with her, Draco. Now."

His hands cupped her face, his eyes searching hers in the moonlight. Tears slid down her cheeks and between his fingers. "Hermione."

"I promised her you'd be ready. But I have to stay." Her chest heaved as she wept, clinging to him. "But before you go, please let me tell you I—"

The walls of the Manor shook. The windows rattled as the floors groaned, like something from deep below the earth had awakened.

Draco grabbed her tightly. Hermione's eyes widened with terror as they darted to the indigo sky beyond the curtains. Nothing.

"Voldemort—?"

Draco moved swiftly, lunging across the room—

The bedroom door blasted off its hinges, wood splintering everywhere. Hermione's body jerked, scrambling for the sheets as she tried to follow Draco, but then his body was flung backward with a bang!

Terror gripped her as she pushed to her knees, bracing for a flash of green.

"Draco—"

Two figures burst into the room, glowing in the wandlight.

"Accio wand!"

Hermione shrank backward as a small figure charged at her.

"Hermione!"

Ginny, her face pale as the moonlight beyond her wand tip.

Her hair was gone. Shaved off. She threw her cloak over Hermione's bare shoulders. Hermione blinked at her, waiting for the apparition to fade.

"Hermione," Ginny said again, her voice thick as she gripped her arms. "You're going to be alright—"

A hissed curse from the corner. A strangled cry.

"No!"

Hermione stumbled off the bed. "Stop!"

Draco moaned, writhing on the floor as Hermione hurled herself at the attacker.

She screamed at him, nails scratching and fists pounding him.

Ginny yelled something, and an invisible hook tugged her back.

Hermione stumbled, preparing to launch again, but then her eyes focused to see Ron on the other side of the wand.

Her entire body trembled. His freckles were just as she'd remembered them. A thick bandage over his left eye.

"Hermione," he said, and it sounded like a melody she'd long forgotten. "You're safe now." He swallowed. "Voldemort is gone."

Hermione staggered. She waited for his words to make sense.

"It's true."

Hermione whipped around to Ginny. She followed the wandlight to her hand — holding the Elder Wand.

"I killed him myself." Her eyes burned like Cho's had. She arched a brow. "Snake first. Neville did the honors."