Had he hoped to take it back from her once he'd guaranteed Dolohov couldn't have it?

She didn't want it. There was only one thing she wanted from the Malfoys, and he wasn't here.

Her eyes stung as she stopped in front of the portrait hall — a long room covered floor-to-ceiling with paintings of Malfoys past. She'd only been here once, less than eager to repeat the experience of being surrounded by pure-bloods staring down at her like she was dirt beneath their shoes.

Stepping inside, she felt hundreds of grey eyes turn on her. Portraits whispered to each other, running through frames, pointing fingers.

She ignored them, moving to the other end of the room, where a family of three blond heads posed for a portrait. Lucius stood behind a wingback chair that Narcissa was perched in, smiling serenely. A ten-year-old Draco scowled down at her from the other side.

Hermione smiled, remembering him that young. So pointy and pouty. It hurt to look at him for too long, so she turned away.

Her eyes drifted to the corner of the room, where Lucius Malfoy's official portrait looked down on her. It was a recent painting — perhaps done within the past few years.

"Why did you leave it to me?"

Lucius's painting lifted a brow. "I haven't the faintest idea what you're on about, Miss Granger."

The familiar drawl welled tears in her eyes. She looked to the blank space next to him — where Draco's portrait should have been.

He should have been here. Not her. It was his birthright. He'd lost his father, his friends, and now his home. She'd give him all of it, if she could. But he was gone.

In another life, she would have wanted this. With him.

But not all alone. Not when she didn't know where he was, or if he was ever coming home.

The floor creaked, and she spun to find Narcissa standing in the doorway. Hermione crossed the room to her, feeling the portraits' eyes follow. She twisted her hands as she stopped in front of Narcissa, wondering if perhaps she felt cheated out of something as well.

But Narcissa laughed softly instead. "Well. What now, Lady Malfoy?"

Hermione was spared a response by a loud tinkering, like the elves were cooking in the middle of the hallway. Hermione peered out the doorway, and followed the sound down the corridor.

The goblins stood in front of the library while Boppy and a few other elves worked together to lift something. Hermione moved like she was underwater, passing the marble bust of Armand Malfoy and heir after heir until she reached Lucius.

She joined the goblins, and watched the elves lift a heavy bust etched in marble onto the pedestal next to him. She stared back at her own face, her skin smooth, her hair wild. A soft smile on her lips, facing the doors to the Malfoy library.

Chapter End Notes

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Thank you to these lovelies for their beautiful art! Bookloverdream-blessedindeed drew this hilarious idea of what Draco's up to. psychedelicshiznit on tumblr created this lovely banner. And @lwaayys on Twitter makes these incredible manips of fics as Netflix series. See her The Auction one here.