Hermione sucked a sharp breath. And another. Ron reached out for her, and she stumbled backward.

His hand fell. "Go with Ginny." He turned back to Draco, on his knees. "I'll take care of this."

"No!" Hermione threw herself in front of him. She couldn't breathe. "Ron, you can't hurt him—"

Ron stared at her over the wandlight. As if seeing her for the first time.

"Don't." Draco's voice was ragged behind her. "Don't, Granger. Go look after my mother."

"Hermione—" Ginny reached for her, and she threw her off.

"Please." Hermione was sobbing again. "He's on our side! He's—he's—"

Ginny caught her this time. She tugged with more strength than Hermione ever knew her to possess. "Come with me. It's going to be alright—"

The vice grip on her arm dragged her away. Hermione thrashed, and saw Draco staring at her like it was the last time.

Each step pulled her deeper into icy waters. Her limbs struggled. Her lungs seized.

Save Draco.

"Stop." Ginny yanked, but Hermione's feet were firm on the ground. "There's a spare wand in his drawer," she breathed out.

Ginny faltered.

Hermione looked to Ron, begging him with her eyes. "I could use one."

Her heart pumped once. Twice.

Ron inclined his head at her, and Ginny released her arm.

Hermione felt her pulse in her fingertips as she moved to Draco's nightstand, her feet silent on the carpet. She heard his harsh breaths in the silence.

Opening the drawer, her fingers passed over the knickknacks, wrapping around a handkerchief with a small orb inside.

"Draco." She spun on her heel and tossed it to him, the marble soaring in the air as it unfurled from the handkerchief. His eyes widened and his hand shot out, as if stretching for the Snitch.

They locked eyes, and she saw a flash of recognition in them the moment the Portkey touched his fingers.

And then he was gone.

Chapter End Notes

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Chapter 37

Chapter Notes

A HUGE thank you to raven-maiden and SaintDionysus.

Also there's been a huge influx of new readers due, in part I think, to TikTok (Bless DracoTok). So HELLO to you all, and thank you to the user @sirensreads for rec'ing this fic to THOUSANDS. You're a peach.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

The curtains fluttered. Sound disappeared in a vacuum.

Behind Hermione's eyelids was an imprint of Draco's silhouette — his eyes on hers and his hand reaching out.

"NO!"

Hermione blinked, and it was gone.

There was a ringing in her ears as someone stumbled forward, grabbing her wrist and ripping the handkerchief away.

"Hermione." Ginny's voice trembled. "Hermione, you just…"

She didn't finish.

Hermione turned, dazed, to watch Ron tip over armchairs and overturn her coffee table. He stormed to the window and threw back the curtains, as if Draco was simply hiding.