A brunette girl stood from her game of Exploding Snap. Her eyes were dark-circled and wide. Hermione staggered into a nearby pillar as Giuliana Bravieri rushed over to her.

"Granger!" She grasped Hermione's hands. "What happened to you? Where did they take Blaise? Is he alright?"

Hermione's chest felt like it was collapsing as Giuliana squeezed her fingers, firing off questions. From the corner of her eye, she saw the mediwitches watching them closely.

"I'm fine," Hermione managed. "Just a minor injury to my ribs."

"The Healers say I'm sick, but I don't feel sick!" said Giuliana. She pressed her lips together. "Blaise? Hermione, do you know what—"

"I'm not sure." A shadow fell across Giuliana's face, and Hermione's heart pumped faster. She tried to give her a reassuring squeeze. "How were you separated?"

"They caught us in Norwich. They took Blaise and the girls, but they brought me here." Giuliana's lip quivered. "I tried to stop them, but they wouldn't listen."

"I'll find out," she said faintly. "They're probably in Azkaban—"

"Azkaban! But he didn't do anything wrong!"

Hermione struggled to stay standing as the room tilted beneath her. Like a fog was lifting, she stared at the fifteen-year-old's shining eyes, seeing herself reflected in them.

"—certain he's completely innocent! Please, I love him! You have to help him!"

Stockholm Syndrome. That's what the Muggles called it.

Tearing her hands free, she ran down a different hallway, Giuliana's calls echoing in her ears. Her breath was short as she scanned for the lifts or stairs. She had to get out. She needed to get to the Manor.

Hermione whipped around corners until she finally found a reception area with a woman in a white nurses' hat at a desk, ruffling through paperwork. The lifts were behind her. A stairwell off to one side.

"Miss, can I help you?" The witch eyed her, taking in her mint green robe.

We're damaged. We can't be trusted.

"It's been a while since I've had fresh air. I fancied a walk."

The witch studied her. "Perhaps I can call for one of our mediwitches to escort you."

"No, thank you." Hermione wiped her palms on her gown. "I have a friend on the third floor. I was hoping to visit him."

She heard the lift arrive on the fourth floor. The witch's eyes widened at the slew of visitors rushing in.

"Let me just call a staff member to join you." She flicked her wand and a rabbit Patronus shot out of it, hopping down the corridor.

The visitors swarmed her desk, and Hermione slipped between their frantic questions and into the stairwell. She flew down the stairs, passing the third floor and sprinting to the first landing.

They couldn't keep her here. It was a violation of her rights. All she needed was a wand or some Floo powder, and she'd be off.

Jumping to the bottom of the stairwell, Hermione paused. She slowly pushed through the door, moving against the wall as she entered the first floor of St. Mungo's.