"What's your starting bid, Yaxley?" Blaise stepped up to her body, crossing his arms.

"You already know it's ten thousand Galleons."

Blaise lifted his brows and turned over his shoulder.

"Fifteen," came a cold voice. Draco stepped around her body and hummed, "What? You don't think swotty Mudblood Granger is a virgin?"

The sound of his familiar drawl sent shivers racing down her spine.

Pansy giggled. "Draco is right. I'm sure it'll be fifteen." She tilted her head up and appraised Hermione before scrunching her nose. "A terrible waste of five thousand Galleons, if you ask me." Her eyes flicked to Yaxley, and a coy smile crossed her lips. Hermione watched something strange pass between them before Pansy reached for one of Hermione's curls.

"No touching, Pansy," he said.

Pansy pouted. "Why? Am I not allowed to inspect the goods?"

"No one's touching her until they sign the paperwork after the Auction. I have about a dozen wards on her."

A muscle in Draco's cheek twitched.

"Anything else?" said Yaxley, checking his watch. "I have another viewing in fifteen."

Cold horror pricked through Hermione's skin. She tried to focus, reminding herself that none of it had mattered—

Draco pivoted to face Yaxley, and Hermione saw his walls flicker. "What is your asking price?"

Yaxley pushed off the doorframe. "I already told you. Starting bid is—"

"And what is your price?" Draco rolled his shoulders back. "What price would you find acceptable to buy her prior to the Auction?"

"None." Yaxley gave him a tight-lipped smile. "First, I expect she'll go for much higher a price than I could name—"

"But you could name it," Draco said. "And then I could pay it."

"Second," said Yaxley, his teeth gleaming, "The Dark Lord has made it clear that Potter's bitch must be made an example of. You're not the first asking to buy her outright, Malfoy. Why your father thinks I'd give you a different answer than the one I gave him, I have no idea."

Draco sucked in a sharp breath, and Blaise spun around. Hermione's heart pumped heavy in her chest as she watched the last fragments of Draco's Occlumency shatter.

"Now if you'll excuse me." Yaxley gestured to the door. "You've had your viewing, and I'd appreciate the chance to take a piss before the next visitor arrives."

Draco paled, his fists clenched at his sides. He swept from the room without another word. Hermione watched Blaise glance with Pansy before excusing himself and exiting the room.. Pansy moved to the door to follow them, but she stopped in front of Yaxley.

Hermione stepped closer to them as something clicked into place.

"Pans?" came Blaise's voice from the hallway.

"Coming," she sang. Her eyes locked on Yaxley's as her tongue wet her lips, and Hermione felt her stomach churn as his eyes followed the movement.

"Later," she mouthed. Then she sashayed away from him, following the boys into the corridor.

The room spun again, the shapes swirling like a thousand unanswered questions. Her legs steadied on an expensive rug in an unfamiliar corridor, and then she was staring at Pansy as she pounded on a door. Blaise yanked it open and wedged a shoulder in the opening, blocking her view inside.