☾ Chapter 35

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That early afternoon they walked to the health center.

Hermione insisted she was fine, but Draco forced her to walk the distance anyways. He needed to know her hand was both uninfected and properly healing.

After receiving extra drops of essence of dittany and a fresh bandage, they returned home to continue their research.

"Why are we researching horcruxes? Haven't you read all of this already?" Draco muttered, watching with furrowed brows as she sorted through nearly fifty books scattered across the floor.

"Once you understand something completely, it's easier to research," she exclaimed hastily, placing another book in it's organized pile, "It expands your knowledge, Draco. You must study the basics before the advanced. Why would I research something further if I have no previous understanding of it at all?"

He sighed, collapsing down onto the sofa as he watched her sit criss-crossed on the floor, curls tied up in a large messy bun, "English, Granger."

"I'm saying we have to understand how horcruxes work in order to figure out how to destroy them," she exclaimed, making him flinch as she chucked another book towards the door, "Read this... Read this one..."

He kicked his feet up on the table, hair brushed carelessly to the side, "But you already know that basilisk fangs destroy them. Shouldn't we be researching basilisk venom and not the horcruxes if we already know how to get rid of them?"

"That is why you are going to be the one researching horcruxes, while I research basilisk venom. It'd be a waste of time for me to reread all of the information I learned during eighth year, as it's already in my mind. Maybe you'll get something out of it that I missed."

"Alright," he huffed, running his fingers through his hair, "Where do you want me to start?"

Hermione grunted as she lifted a large stack of books from the floor, placing them by his feet.

"These are some of the books mentioning horcruxes. Unfortunately they don't go into much depth... All of the ones pertaining real, useful information are, well..."

"Are what, Granger?"

She grimaced, looking towards him nervously.

"Inside the Hogwarts library."

The bomb had been dropped. The books were inside crumbled ruins with hundreds of guards. Supervision lurked in every corner.

"How in the fuck do you expect us to attain those, Granger?"

She tapped her foot, chewing on her lip in thought.

"You're on the inside; perhaps you could arrange something. But please, don't go too hard on yourself. I don't need you pulling too many strings."

"Right," he muttered, watching as she picked up books retaining basilisk information. Beastology, A Natural History of Dragons, Book of Poisons, Magick Moste Evile.

Hermione was in heaven. He'd summoned her nearly every book under the sun.

That night she fell asleep in his arms under the warmth of his bedsheets, soft pillow tucked beneath her head as his hand rested around her waist.

He knew Hermione would never agree to it, so he'd have to keep it a secret. He knew the sacrifice, and he was willing to make it for such valuable information.

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