𝐌𝐎𝐂𝐇𝐀 | 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘦

eighteen

"No."

Harry's world was coming down but he managed to bark orders at his Aurors, at Blaise- get them to St. Mungo's immediately. Search the house, find their wands.

Blaise, Pansy and Theo watched this all with gaunt faces, Theo holding onto Pansy. Even Luna's calm expression had morphed into hollowness, her mouth opening to speak but no words coming out.

When Harry's team had done their work, he walked up to them. "Come on. You need to be debriefed."

"What? We have to go-"

Harry interrupted Blaise. "It's procedure. If Hermione was here right now, she would want you to do it."

That shut him up. Harry sighed, and they Apparated back to the Ministry.

-

Narcissa, Lucius and Ginny stood when the five Apparated back. "What happened? Where's... where's Hermione?"

Pansy burst into tears. Theo put an arm around her, and an Auror asked quietly if they could follow him to their holding cells. They complied, Lucius looking at them with confusion. "Why are they taking her to the holding cells?"

Blaise shook his head. "Hermione and Draco are in St. Mungo's... Draco was hit with the killing curse."

Narcissa gasped, all color leaving her face. "No."

Harry nodded. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Malfoy. And Hermione... well, we couldn't find her heartbeat. I can't be certain what happened, but the magic she performed after Draco was hit caused her to go unconsious."

"Not both of them," Lucius whispered. Narcissa's eyes filled with tears.

"Hermione can't be- she can't be gone," Ginny whispered, hands covering her mouth.

"It'll be okay, Ginny," Blaise said, even though he believed the exact opposite. "After our debrief we're going to St. Mungo's."

The statement was aimed at Harry, who nodded. "I'm going with you."

"I- are we allowed to go?" Lucius asked.

"Yes," Harry nodded again. "You don't need to go through procedure. You may take Ginny if you wish."

"I'll wait for Blaise," Ginny said in a tiny voice. Harry wanted to stop and let everyone go to the hospital right away, but procedure was procedure. And like he'd said: Hermione would want this.

-

"How's the condition?" Harry asked quietly. The healer who had come out of the room wore a grim expression, and cast a look at the rest of the people sitting in the waiting room.

"Not good. Miraculously, Mr. Malfoy is still alive after being hit with a killing curse. Miss Granger used Oculumency to go into his mind before it stopped functioning and transferred some of her own life's force into him by doing so. However, it also transferred half of the curse to her, and... well, it is doubtful that they live through the night."

"Is there anything we can do?" Harry asked. There was no way that Hermione would die like this- she'd think of something. Something would happen, some miracle.

The healer shook his head. "We are trying our best, Mr. Potter, I assure you."

"Update me on the situation if anything comes up," Harry said.

The healer nodded. "Certainly."

"Thank you so much," Harry said, and Apparated away with a loud pop.

Blaise and Ginny looked up at the noise. Blaise asked, "Where's Harry gone?"

The healer shrugged. Lucius said, "He must have work. He is the head of the Auror department, after all."

"He's getting Hermione's stuff," Luna said, entering the room. They all looked up.

"That's-that's very thoughtful of him," Narcissa said thickly.

Luna nodded mutely. "All we can do is hope for the best."

-

Harry was met with a confused Ron, hands full of Hermione's papers when he opened the door to his office.

"I don't get it, mate. Thought you said I wasn't allowed on Hermione's floor?"

Harry took a deep breath. Ron had just gotten back from an international mission, and Harry quickly brought him up to speed. Ron's expression morphed from bemusement to horror. "No. You have to be joking."

"Would I joke about this, Ron?" Harry said, voice strained. Ron shook his head.

"Sorry. I just- hard to take in. They say she's still alive, though?"

"Barely."

"Best we can do is help with her work. For when she gets back."

What went unsaid was if she gets back, but neither mentioned it, divvying up Hermione's work to tackle with plans to meet up and go over it the next morning.

"Mione'd probably have a heart attack if she saw us doing all her stuff like this," Ron said with a sad smile on his way out.

Harry laughed. "Yeah."

The truth was, Ron had done a lot of thinking on his trip. Harry knew it, of course- he and Ron texted and called as often as he and Hermione. Ron had come to see the light and was appalled by his previous actions, understanding that he had crossed many lines and had no right to Hermione's friendship. Still, he asked Harry if the time was right to apologize. Harry had told him to wait a little longer- Ron had written out his letter to send after their mission in Scotland. Harry sighed. So much for that plan.