It was now March 21, 1998.

Almost three months had passed since the visit to the Lovegood residence. In the time being, Hermione had spent much of her time trying to analyze the Deathly Hallows and why Dumbledore had written it in her book. Ellie stayed quiet for the most part, eventually filling the wooden table with her sketches of her girlfriend. She enjoyed watching her girlfriend read, as it brought a sense of peace at such a troubled time. At night, the lovers slept together on the cot; although its meager size made it difficult to rest comfortably, the two made it work.

Ellie awoke to Hermione's hand on her back, rubbing it up and down comfortingly. Ellie groaned in pleasure as a smile crept upon her face, feeling the the sunken area beside her where Hermione sat. The Hufflepuff rolled over to her back to see Hermione smiling down at her, the other hand holding her book open.

"Good morning, my love," Hermione greeted softly as she placed a kiss on her girlfriend's forehead, her hand moving to rest on her stomach.

Ellie smiled widely, humming in response as she squinted her eyes at the sunlight peering through the open tent flap. Ellie brought her hand around Hermione's waist, pulling her down to lay with her. The Gryffindor dropped her book and yelped in surprise, giggling as she adjusted herself to hold Ellie.

She brought her hand to Ellie's chin, lifting it up to her face as she leaned in. Ellie jerked away, earning a frown from her girlfriend.

"Morning breath," Ellie muttered as she shook her head.

"I don't care," Hermione countered simply, cupping Ellie's cheek as she brought her lips to connect with the Hufflepuff's.

After a few moments of slow kisses, the two broke for air, smiles plastered on both of their faces.

"How'd you sleep, darling?" Hermione cooed, her thumb stroking over Ellie's cheek.

"I slept just fine. Though I'd appreciate if you didn't hog the blanket," Ellie joked as she pulled Hermione's thigh over her, entangling their legs together.

Hermione opened her mouth in shock, seeming to be surprisingly amused.

"Me hogging the blanket? That was all you!" Hermione scoffed. "Besides, you wouldn't even feel if I had taken the blanket. You'd sleep through a bloody earthquake, given the circumstance. Plus, if it weren't for me, you'd wake up on the floor. And-"

"Hermione, love, if you don't close that pretty mouth of yours, I'll do it myself," Ellie smirked as she cut off her girlfriend, gripping the Gryffindor's thigh playfully.

Hermione's cheeks flushed into a deep shade of red before a wave of confidence washed over her. A growing smirk toyed at her lips as she opened her mouth once more.

"Oh, yeah? Well, if you don't like me talking about the way you sleep then you-"

Hermione's words were cut off by the suddenness of Ellie's action. Ellie had swiftly pinned Hermione's wrists down on the bed, towering over her as her legs straddled the Gryffindor's hips.

"I know what you're doing, Granger," Ellie confronted as she leaned closer to Hermione's face, making her breath hitch.

A voice called out from just outside the tent, his voice growing nearer with every passing second. Ellie and Hermione frantically separated themselves, adjusting themselves to sit on the edge of the cot.

Ron ducked his head as he entered the tent, waving a letter in his hand.

"Ellie! You've got a letter. Just got dropped off by the biggest owl I've seen. Bloody creature nearly scared the living daylights out of me," Ron commented as he approached the Hufflepuff. "Anyway, don't know how it got here. Harry's paranoid we were followed, considering the owl flew right by my enchantments."

"You probably didn't do it right," Hermione muttered under her breath, making her girlfriend stifle a laugh.

"What's so funny? Never mind, then. Here you go."

Ron handed the letter to the Hufflepuff before walking away, returning to his conversation with Harry outside.

The parchment felt as smooth as silk, its weight and design revealing it was that crafted with the most expensive material. Its folds were creased down neatly, sealed with a dark green wax that had been imprinted by a monogram featuring the letter M.

Ellie gasped lightly as she touched the wax seal with her index finger.

"What is it?" Hermione inquired.

"I think it's from Draco..." Ellie frowned as she motioned for her girlfriend to draw nearer, Hermione resting her hand on her girlfriend's thigh. "But the question is, why did he send it? And why now?"

Ellie sighed before handing her letter to Hermione, who took it reluctantly.

"You open it, love. Read it to me."

Hermione slipped her finger under the fold and attempted to break the seal that held it together. She tried once more, but the seal wouldn't come off.

"It's enchanted. Only you can open it," Hermione sighed as she placed the letter back in Ellie's hands.

Ellie slowly opened the letter, its seal breaking with ease. The letter contained a hastily written message, far different from Draco's handwriting.

Ellie Evans, your presence is requested at Malfoy Manor. Please come in a timely fashion as your father awaits your arrival.

A sudden wave of disgust overtook the Hufflepuff as she crumbled the parchment and threw it on the ground.

"That's it? That's bullshit," Ellie said angrily as Hermione bent down to pick up the discarded letter and scan over it. Ellie stood up abruptly and paced the room, running her fingers through her hair as she took a deep breath in attempt to keep her cool.

"You know what makes me angry? It's the fact he's been absent my entire life, and now, he wants to see me. Especially at a time like this? Knowing that everyone's lives are on the line? It's absolutely absurd," Ellie continued angrily, the tone of her voice increasing. Her heavy breaths worsened with every passing second, her hands starting to shake.

Hermione approached her girlfriend and cupped her face with both of her hands. She searched for Ellie's eyes worriedly in an attempt to provide a grounding point.

"Ellie, love. It's okay, I'm here. Just calm down... okay? We can talk about it afterwards," Hermione soothed as her thumbs rubbed Ellie's cheeks.

Ellie's anger started to subside as she locked eyes with her girlfriend, using her comforting gaze to ease her emotions. She started to control her breathing, eventually stopping her hands from shaking.

"There it is... That's my girl," Hermione congratulated with a gentle smile. "That's it, darling... you got it..."

Once Ellie's emotions had subsided completely, the corners of her lips curled into a small smile.

"Thank you," Ellie whispered, her eyes trying to blink away the tears that were ready to fall.

"I'm proud of you, my love," Hermione smiled warmly, the corners of her eyes crinkling in response.

Hermione proceeded to sit on the edge of the cot, patting the spot next to her. Ellie obliged as Hermione laced their fingers together, resting them on her lap.

"Let's talk about it, okay? We can think about it clearly now. No need to get angry, darling. I'm right here," Hermione cooed as she kissed her girlfriend's cheek.

Ellie nodded as she hung her head down.

"How do you feel about it?" Hermione asked gently, her thumb rubbing over the back of Ellie's hand.

"How do I feel? I don't know, to be honest. A part of me doesn't want to see him, especially after lying to me all these years. But I don't know... another part of me does want to see him, maybe ask him why he did that to me, why he abandoned my Mom and I."

Hermione's eyebrows raised slightly but immediately lowered them before Ellie took notice.

"You want to see him?"

"Well... I think it'd ease my thoughts if I did. It'd definitely answer a lot of questions, that's for sure," Ellie trailed, her voice hesitant. "But... I don't think I'll go."

"You hesitated," Hermione noticed, her voice expressing clear disappointment.

"T-That doesn't mean anything," Ellie defended.

"I know you, darling. You want to see him. And if you need to go, then go," Hermione urged.

"No, don't say that just yet." Ellie took notice of her girlfriend's state and frowned worriedly as she recognized her expression. "What is it, love? What's on your mind?"

"I just don't think it's a good idea. Besides, he's a Death Eater for Merlin's sake," Hermione reasoned.

"You know better than anyone that a person's status doesn't define who they are," Ellie countered in a matter-of-fact tone.

Hermione sighed as she turned to lock her honey-brown eyes with her girlfriend.

"I'm just saying, it's dangerous. He's staying at Malfoy Manor... that means the other Death Eaters are there too. You could be walking into a trap, love. They've got a list with our names in big, bold letters. We're wanted out there. All four of us. Especially Harry. Going to see him is risky, darling. Who knows what's going to happen to you? I just don't want you getting hurt."

"You always worry about me, darling. He's my father. He's not going to hurt me. I know he won't," Ellie reasoned confidently as she watched her girlfriend hang her head down.

"So you've made your mind up, then?" Hermione squeaked, her voice cracking. "You're going to risk your life for someone who left you as a child? For a liar?"

Ellie brought her free hand to Hermione's chin, lifting it upwards to look at her once more. Her eyes were on the brink of tears, the water clouding her vision. Ellie immediately wrapped her arm around her girlfriend, bringing her closer.

"He's my only hope for answers. I'm sorry, darling. I'm so sorry," Ellie whispered as she rubbed Hermione's back, feeling a pang of pain as she held her girlfriend.

A silent cry erupted from Hermione, her body shaking as she tried to suppress her cry. Tears fell on her lap as Ellie continued to embrace her girlfriend.

"Please..." Hermione pleaded, her voice cracking. "Don't leave me."

"I have to," Ellie spoke softly. "I'll be back before you know it."

Now in a whisper, Hermione pleaded. "Please... stay with me."

"I'm here, okay? You don't need to cry, my love. Especially not over this. I'll be safe out there."

"How do I know that?" Hermione cried out, her eyes puffy and red. The look of Hermione's appearance only made Ellie's heart hurt more, hating that she was the reason for her sorrow.

Ellie didn't answer her question, but instead removed her own ring, placing it on Hermione's ring finger on her left hand. Hermione looked up with a confused expression.

"A promise," Ellie stated as she examined the ring now on her girlfriend's finger. "A promise that I'll come back to you."

"I can't take it. You need it more," Hermione sniffled as she attempted to pull the ring off her finger.

"If you're going to be left alone with Harry and Ron, I need to know you're safe. Can you do that for me?" Ellie asked, her hand squeezing Hermione's gently, stopping her from removing the ring.

Hermione didn't say anything as she wiped her tears from her cheek with her free hand.

"Darling, please. That's all I ask," Ellie pleaded, her eyes begging for an answer as Hermione continued to wipe away her tears.

A moment of silence filled the room as Hermione contemplated her decisions. Her tears had been wiped away, leaving only the aftermath of her cry.

"Fine," Hermione agreed reluctantly. "But that doesn't change the fact that I'll be worrying about you every second you're gone. And don't stay there longer than you need to."

"I'll leave at dawn. I'll try and make it back before sundown. I have to make it back alive to marry you, don't I?" Ellie reassured, a small smile toying at her lips in attempts of lifting Hermione's spirits.

Hermione suddenly crashed her lips onto Ellie's, taking her breath away. The Gryffindor desperately ran her fingers through Ellie's hair, pushing her body closer. Ellie could taste the tears on her lips, though she didn't care as she wrapped her arms tightly around Hermione's waist. After a few moments of passionate lip-locking, Ellie broke away for air, her lips curling into a smile.

"Feel better now?" Ellie teased, her naturally joking manner bringing a blush to her girlfriend's cheeks.

"Much better. I just don't want to think about it now," Hermione replied, her tone much more light-hearted than before.

It was quiet for a moment as the two of them caught their breath, their breathing moving synchronously. The emotions they had encountered seemed to be washed away by their kiss, though the uneasiness still prevailed.

"I love you, darling. So much that I can't imagine losing you," Ellie cooed as she tucked a strand of Hermione's hair behind her ear.

"Oh, Ellie... I can't lose you either. I love you... more that anything in the world," Hermione whispered as she gazed deeply into Ellie's eyes, eventually resting their foreheads together in an intimate fashion.

An uneasy feeling sank in the lovers' stomachs as the both of them thought about their separation and the dangers that may encounter the Hufflepuff.