[fifty seven]

Draco was not happy.

He was not happy

He watched, from his seat at the head of the table, as Celine ran the plan through with their three other friends. Draco did not like the way Ron looked, which was lost and confused, or the way Ginny was gripping Harry's hand tightly. How was he supposed to feel comfortable with them rescuing the love of his life when only Celine looked like she was on top of things?

"You're going to set them on fire." Viktor commented lightly as he passed Draco to toss something in the cauldron of the healing potion he was brewing with Elena.

Harry, Elena and Viktor had ran to Hogwarts earlier to retrieve the cloak and some potions. Harry used the Protean charmed coins to get the help of Neville and Luna in slipping in and out of the castle undetected.

"Weasley will for sure fuck things up." Draco muttered, eyeing the cauldron of potion cautiously. If Theo assured them of Hermione's life, why did he ask these two to prepare healing potions?

He said , not unscathed, Draco. He thought to himself bitterly.

"Give him some more credit, Draco." Elena sighed as she stirred the potion-filled cauldron, giving Draco a look of defense "Harry and Ron were brilliant enough to find all those horcruxes. They'll surely be brilliant enough to pull this off too."

Draco rolled his eyes "Hermione was the reason those two didn't blow themselves up, Ivanova. She was their ." He scoffed, watching Ron nod at something Celine emphasized. "I wonder how do in a mission if didn't have your ." His reply was so snarky, Elena looked pissed.

"Alright, , we're all on the same team here." Blaise raised his hands in referee, before nudging Draco "They have Celine, the Wonder Twins will be fine."

As if on cue, Celine looked up at them and said "We have to get going."

"You have an hour, Cel. If you're not back—" Draco didn't bother finishing his sentence, because he was sure everyone knew what the look on his face meant.

"Get the aurors, get McGonagall, the DA or whatever." Harry nodded, handing Ginny his cloak of invisibility "We'll be back in an hour."

"Before we go, Draco, I need you to put concealment charms on all of us." Celine said "I'd do it myself but..."

"I'm better, I ." Draco walked over, his wand in his hand

"That's the only time I'm ever going to say that." Celine narrowed her eyes at him

"You don't need to tell me something I don't already know, Celine." Draco scoffed smugly "I know I'm the best at Charms."

"No, Hermione is." Ron rolled his eyes

"Yeah, well, she isn't here, is she, Weasley?" Draco snapped, angered by the reminder of his fiancée's absence. It was funny how Theo's fake-betrayal and Hermione's kidnapping practically cracked their little boat of friendship with each other. Suddenly, they were cautious of one another, reminded of the reasons why they weren't friends in the first place.

"I'll let your attitude slide just this once because Hermione's life is on the line, Malfoy." Ron glared

"As if you weren't also acting mental earlier." Draco muttered "Look, just bring her back in one piece, okay?"

"Agreed." Ron's eyes softened slightly, they were all just worried and on the edge because of Hermione.

Draco tapped on each of their chests, muttering the concealment charms. It was a brilliant idea, actually. Ron and Harry would be able to guard the area better if they don't have to worry about being seen. Even if Celine and Ginny would be under the cloak, they'd still be concealed. It was double protection.

He mumbled another charm on their shoes, silencing their steps "You four know how concealment charms work. There's only a certain—"

"We'll be back in an hour, Malfoy." Ginny assured him, her eyes determined. He doesn't have to worry about the charms wearing off because they'll meet the deadline. They will.

"." He breathed, stepping back. It took all of his willpower not to demand that he come, there was only so much he can do to stop himself from following "I'll see you five in an hour."

"We'll bring her back, Draco." Harry promised

"You better, Harry." Draco's voice was thick with emotion, the use of Harry's first name made the exchange heavier "Once you have her, tell her to let me know." Draco looked at Ginny, tapping on the band on his wrist.

"We'll be fine, Draco." Ginny gave him a small smile "You've got four brilliant wizards off to rescue her—"

". Your brother doesn't count."

"." Ron punched Draco's arm, earning him a half-hearted glare from the Malfoy heir.

"We'll be fine." Celine repeated "See you guys in an hour. El, keep that potion ready."

"Of course."

———

Hermione wiped the blood that had gotten on her bracelet as she read Draco's most recent message over and over. It had came a little over fifteen minutes ago, and Hermione couldn't help the relief and hope that sparked in her chest.

Theo was right when he said Rodolphus was coming, and that he was going to hurt her.

Hermione let out a shaky breath of relief as she read the message over and over again. She'd sent one to Draco earlier, telling him she was fine. It was a lie, but she knew him well enough to know how worried he must be.

If she was right, only Blaise and Pansy can keep him composed. So, whoever Draco meant by 'they', she hoped to Merlin that Blaise and Pansy weren't part of them.

Looking at the shattered glass on the floor, a reminder of the once elegant coffee table that sat in the middle of the room, Hermione picked a shard and carefully hid it in her bra, ignoring the sharp sting that it gave when it cut through her skin. She didn't have her wand, but she still had her Gryffindor courage and strength.