Something twisted in Hermione's chest. "Alright."

The guard raised his wand. "Wait," Pansy snapped. There was a long pause. And then: "Is there any chance you won't be watching these? Perhaps someone else— "

"No." Hermione bit her lip. "I have to review them first, Pansy. There's no other way."

Pansy dropped her hand, and the huffing guard stepped forward. "It was for Draco." She closed her eyes. "Not for you."

The guard tapped his wand to her temple and pulled forth the delicate threads of her thoughts.

~*~

Hermione had exactly one hour before she needed to arrive in Edinburgh. Whatever was in this vial, she had to watch it before she turned it over to Hestia.

She slipped inside quietly and rushed to Lucius's study. After unlocking the cabinet, she tipped Pansy's memories into the basin, watching the threads swirl inside. And with a deep breath, Hermione tilted downward, plunging into the past.

Her feet landed in an unfamiliar room — a drawing room, with dark wallpaper and large windows. No furniture. Voices echoed beyond the door, and when she spun around to take in the whole room, she found a figure just behind her. She gasped.

It was her.

She was hanging midair, unconscious, her trainers hovering a few inches off the ground. Her head bobbed on her shoulder. She was in the pink hoodie she'd been wearing at the Battle of Hogwarts.

Her heart beat a thunderous rhythm against her ribs. She dug her nails into her palms to center herself as the voices came closer.

She startled when the door banged open to reveal Yaxley, wearing a smug grin. "—caught her in the corridors just inside the castle," he was saying. He held the door open and stepped to the side. "After you…"

A shuffle of footsteps, and then Draco walked into the room. She staggered, searching for something to hold onto as Draco's gaze drifted over her floating form, as if taking stock.

Her eyes widened as Pansy and Blaise strolled in behind him. Pansy froze at the sight of her, clapping a manicured hand over her mouth. Then she laughed.

"Merlin." Hermione watched her walk in a leisurely circle around her past-self before turning to Yaxley. "How long has she been out?"

"Two days," Yaxley said, leaning against the doorway. "It's the first day I opened her for viewing, though. You're the fifth group."

"Really?" Pansy smirked. "Clearly the Mudblood is more popular than I gave her credit for."

Draco's eyes were cold and dead as he looked up at her limp body, walking a circle like Pansy had. His expression was blank. Occlumency.

Hermione's throat choked. Staring at him felt like a knife in her chest, burrowing deeper and deeper. She wanted to reach out and touch him. To sink her fingers into his hair, and feel his warmth as he wrapped his arms around her.

Her tears dropped from her cheeks and vanished before they hit the floor, disappearing in the Pensieve.