Turning on her heel, she flew down the stairs to the potions laboratory. The door was unlocked, but the room was untouched — likely due to its Notice-Me-Not charm. The vials and cauldrons were just as she'd left them, her instructions and list of ingredients still on the workbench. Taking a deep breath, she filed away her memories, grabbed all of her notes, and shrunk them down. She went through the bottom shelves, where she knew she'd find a small leather pouch for carrying ingredients. She emptied her pockets on the table, shrank down the black vials, and cast an Extension Charm on the leather pouch. Just like the one on the beaded handbag she'd used while on the run with Harry and Ron.

Clicking the door closed, she went upstairs to her bedroom for the first time since she'd returned to Malfoy Manor. It was also untouched. Almost as if Draco could appear at any moment, making a snide remark about dinner and "practicing."

She crossed the room to her nightstand, and a bright white light flooded the dim room as she pulled open the bottom drawer. The glass jar holding the magical signature of her virginity glowed like a firefly. She shrunk it down, and added it to the leather pouch. She extended the straps and slipped it around her neck, resolving never to take it off.

She looked around her old room, clutching the pouch to her chest. Compared to the Burrow, it felt closer to easing the ache in her chest. But it still wasn't enough.

Hermione plucked a nightdress from her wardrobe, and moved through the panel to Draco's bedroom. She jumped when she found Boppy folding the sheets.

"Miss! Boppy is expecting you. Boppy didn't change the pillows for you, just as you like."

Hermione's cheeks flushed, but there was no point in denying it. She smiled, warmth sparking in her chest. "Thank you, Boppy."

Boppy nodded solemnly. "And Boppy knows Miss likes to see the Prophet, but Boppy did not want Mistress to see. It arrived this morning."

He moved to Draco's desk, and held up the copy of that morning's Prophet.

LUCIUS MALFOY DEAD, MURDERED ON THE STAND

Hermione clutched the bedpost before her legs gave out. "Yes, very good, Boppy. Let's not share this with Narcissa. And I'd like to see the New York Ghost as well, if you have it."

Boppy bowed and wobbled out. Hermione collapsed in Draco's desk chair and unfolded the Prophet with shaking fingers. The cover photo was a picture of the guards leading Lucius to the stage. His spine was straight, his lips curved.

She closed her eyes and breathed deeply before reading.

After surrendering himself to the True Order last week, General Lucius Malfoy of the Great Order stood trial yesterday morning before the Provisional Government of England's Justice Tribunal. Malfoy's crimes included mass murder of Muggle and magical lives in Canada, conspiracy to commit mass murder in Italy and Switzerland, and the murder of over a dozen True Order members and British citizens. But before the presiding judge could finish reading the charges against him, Lucius Malfoy was killed by a Killing Curse from the crowd.