It took hours before the buzzing in Hermione's ears finally dulled, and her limbs ached from being cramped in a bathtub for hours. But she dared not move, clutching her wand to her chest.

As Pansy bled, Hermione had dragged the nearly unconscious Slytherin girl into the bathroom joined in Fleur' room. Sitting her up in the tub, Hermione worked quickly, casting every spell and charm she could imagine on Pansy's limp form, every so often checking her wrist for a pulse.

Now the two girls sat huddled in the tub, Pansy's back pressed against Hermione's chest, her legs slightly spread as they watched in guttural silence as blood dripped from beneath her skirt and down the drain in a slow trail. Leaning back, Pansy pressed the back of her head against Hermione's shoulder, sobbing as she tipped her head up so as to not look at the life that was draining out of her.

"It should have been me," Pansy whispered, shaking, and Hermione wrapped her arm lightly across Pansy's shoulders and chest, bracing her to herself.

"It would have been me, if I wasn't pregnant."
Hermione could only hum in response. She had no words, no lie of comfort could console her friend, the scent of death and metal swallowing them.

Dropping her chin to her chest, Pansy sniffed. "I don't know what to tell him." With a wince, she shifted slightly in Hermione's arms, looking at her. Hermione felt a lump lodge in her throat as she looked at Pansy's face. She looked so old, so tired, her beautiful features pulled tightly across the planes of her face. "What do I tell him?"

"I don't know," Hermione whispered back hoarsely, trying to keep her tone steady. How did one go about explaining the premature death of a life not yet born? It seemed rude to just move on, to just watch Pansy's swollen stomach shrink back down flat beneath her clothing.

Pansy shifted back to her original position, her shoulders shaking as another wave of tears engulfed her.

It was silent in the house, aside from Pansy's sobs, and Hermione briefly thought of Kelly, still frozen on the floor outside of the bedroom, and angry tears pricked at her eyes. He would never understand the damage he had caused, the inevitable character breakdown he would put Pansy and Theo through.
"Will I ever be able to have children?" Pansy asked no one in particular, followed by more sniffling. "I've always wanted to. I wanted to be better than my mum." She gave a light laugh. "She was absolute rubbish."

Feeling her shake within her grasp, Hermione sensed Pansy might never recover, physically or mentally. She kept her mouth clamped shut, not knowing if any answer she could provide would be helpful.

A bang from outside the room vibrated the house, and the two girls froze in their positions.

"Hermione?" A female voice rang, and Hermione almost sighed in relief.

"In here!" She screamed back, helping Pansy sit up as Ginny entered the bathroom, closely followed by her mother. Voices were colliding and spewing outside the doors, and Hermione strained to identify the owners of the sounds.

"What happened?" Mrs. Wealsey demanded, kneeling beside the tub, going into full mothering mode. Her eyes widened as she took in Pansy's pale face and soaked through the skirt, placing her fingers against the girl's throat.

"Kelly shot me," Pansy laughed humorously, and waved her hand. "He fucking shot me and killed my baby."

Mrs. Weasley looked helplessly to Hermione, and Ginny offered the two girls a hand.Hermione stood, her thighs screaming in protest, and she gripped Ginny's hand hard. "I tried to stop..." Hermione started to say.

But Ginny cut her off. "I know you did."

It was unspoken, but the verbal affirmation that her attempts to help were not in vain made Hermione straighten her back and mentally set to work.
Mrs. Weasley waved her away, saying, "Go on, I'll take it from here."

Hermione cast Pansy a quick glance before she exited. Pansy was staring straight ahead, her eyes glossy, resting her hands on her knees that were pulled into her chest as Mrs. Weasley rubbed a slow motion on her back. What an odd sight, a Weasley helping someone who, a few months ago, wouldn't have even glanced at her direction. The sight gave Hermione a fleeting feeling of hope.

Ginny gestured to the crowd of people gathered in the small living room. Looking deathly thin, Cho Chang was sitting on the floor in obvious shock, leaning against a sobbing Penelope. Neville was attempting to cast a charm to Penelope's bruised face, but she kept shoving his hands away, screaming, "Where's Hannah? Where is she?" Maisie Williams was engulfed by her mother, the both of them crying into one another, the little girl's face a mix of joy and grief.

In the corner, Kelly was now bound and stupefied to the couch, his neck pulling to one side, and it took a great deal of strength for Hermione to not hex his unconscious frame.

A lump of fear grew in her throat as she took in the sight. "Where is everyone?" she asked quietly, turning to Ginny.

Ginny furrowed her brows, wringing her hands. "I don't...I don't know. Theo and Draco, they were right behind me with Ron. They allowed us to escape." She paused, her breath becoming shaky. "I-I don't even remember where Narcissa and Blaise went, or Luna."

Hermione pulled Ginny to her, swallowing her own fears and doubts. "I'm sure they're fine, they..." she trailed off, just holding her friend to her.

Crack!

The tell-tale sign of an Apparition reverberated within the room and Hermione nearly collapsed in joy as Draco, Blaise, Luna and Theo appeared. Another crack sounded and Narcissa and Hannah Abott appeared, both landing shakily.

There was a pause, everyone taking in the sight of one another. She caught his eye, a smile instantly blooming on her lips, and he stared back at her so intently she thinks she'll fall. She opened her mouth to call to him, and then all at once an eruption of voices sounded.

"Oh thank Merlin," Blaise sighed, pushing Luna in-front of himself and at Hermione. "Help her." Hermione gaped at the sight of Luna holding her own limb, her ghostly pale face mostly slack. In a calmer tone, Blaise added, "Please."

Hermione immediately set to work, yelling for clean wraps and water, and both Ginny and Blaise moved frantically to collect her requested items. She huffed in dismay that due to the overlap of time, it would be nearly impossible for Luna to have a working hand again, even if she was able to reattach it.

"Can you help her?" Blaise demanded, kneeling beside her. Hermione looked between him and Luna, watching as he cradled her face, his thumb stroking her cheek lightly. "Please, please help her."

"I don't...'' Hermione whispered, her mind racing. "I don't know if it's wise to do so." She glanced up, hoping to catch Draco's eye, but his back was to her and Theo was talking intently in his ear, his hand squeezing Draco's arm so hard his knuckles were white. "I can clean the wound to ensure it heals, but attaching it?"

"Let me dear," Mrs. Weasley pushed her aside, instantly taking over, and Hermione stumbled on her side. "We'll fix this in no time."

Hermione blinked rapidly as she stood, peering at everyone finally together once more, relief flooding her body as if for the first time. She caught his eye again, and her face broke into a smile as she dashed to him, looping her arms around his neck. He was stiff beneath her hold, but she just squeezed tighter, inhaling deeply.

"You came back," she mumbled into his neck, carefully avoiding his bloodied nose, and he slowly looped his arm around her waist. "I was afraid you wouldn't. I thought you were gone."

Stepping back, Theo gave her a pitying glare, his jaw set. "I guess I was wrong, Granger." Both Draco and Hermione turned to him, the same confused looks etched on their features.

"I told you we'd protect him," Theo said, staring at Draco. "Even from you. But...I guess we failed."

Hermione dropped her arms to Draco's chest, clutching his clothing. "What does he mean?"
Draco tightens his expression, grey eyes iced over.
"Draco?" she repeated, her tone becoming higher, more frantic, and she pulled his clothing. "What happened?"

A female scream cracks the sentiment of relief and the three of them whirl in horror, attempting to locate the sound.

"Pansy!" Theo called, dashing from his seemingly frozen spot, and Hermione spun in Draco's arms so she was facing him once more.

His young face looked so old, so worn down, and she cupped his cheeks, feeling her eyes fill.

"I did everything I could," she whispered, hoping he could understand, hoping he wouldn't blame her. "I'm sorry."

He hastily grabbed her hands from his face, crushing her fingers on his own. "Stop it," he demanded, and she snapped her mouth shut. "I'm the one who should be apologizing. Granger, I...I tried, and I'm so sorry. I didn't mean...I did it for you."

It was almost reverent, the way he said it, as he loosened his grip slightly, his thumbs brushing over the skin of her fingers. She wanted to collapse in his arms, the horror from the day finally tearing her down, and she almost did. She almost dropped her hesitate to feel relief, almost gave in to the exhaustion, but she paused, hearing her blood drumming in her ears.

"Did what for me?"