Charlotte was dead. Her body was cold. Had she been smirking in the end, like Cho? Or had she screamed, like the strawberry blonde?

They could fill a graveyard with their bodies now. Headstones and headstones of witches and wizards and Muggles who had dedicated the past year of their lives to a future they would never see.

Swiping at her eyes, Hermione picked up the paper again. Determined to read about Charlotte and learn who she was before she'd been forced into a negligee and a silver collar.

She thumbed quickly through the pages, but her fingers froze on page seven. Three familiar faces stared up at her.

WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE
UNDESIRABLE NO. 1 — BELLATRIX LESTRANGE
UNDESIRABLE NO. 2 — LUCIUS MALFOY
UNDESIRABLE NO. 3 — DRACO MALFOY

Her eyes could only focus on Draco.

They'd used the picture of him that had been in the Prophet a few months back. His wand tip smoking, his eyes dead as he stood before the ruined Basler Münster.

Seeing him like this felt like driving in the knife already buried between her ribs. At first glance, he might look monstrous. But she could see the shadows beneath his eyes — the way his cheekbones protruded.

Heaving sobs wracked her body, like something was clawing its way outside of her chest. The Prophet fluttered to the ground as she pulled her knees to her forehead and wept.

Ginny had left her, Ron had shunned her. The Malfoys were lost. And one of the only people who could have helped her prove what Draco had done for the True Order was dead.

The fissure inside her grew deeper, rawer, until there was nothing left.

When her tears were finally exhausted, she stretched her legs out. She leaned her head back against the door and stared up at the ceiling, focusing on the quiet of the room.

The war outside was almost won. Her battle had barely even started. There was no time for despair.

She'd help punish the guilty. She'd share everything she knew to make sure they paid. But she'd also defend the people who had saved her, and helped the True Order in ways they could scarcely imagine.

She'd made a promise to Draco that she would exonerate him, and she intended to keep it. It was more than just loving him. It was the right thing to do.

Fresh energy pumped through her, narrowing her mind and pushing her forward. She reached for the paper, ignoring the pain in her ribs, and began to read.

Bellatrix Lestrange was last expected in Hungary. The last reported sighting of her was at Hogwarts Castle on the evening of 2 May. Lucius had disappeared in Italy, his last known location a bunker where Berge and Constantine Romano were found dead. And Draco Malfoy… could be anywhere. Evaded capture in Wiltshire, the paper said.

A reward of 10,000 Galleons for information leading to the capture or discovery of each.

Hermione's temple throbbed. Bellatrix was dead in the Forbidden Forest. Lucius hiding out somewhere — most likely safe. Draco was Merlin knew where, wandless, without a shirt on his back.