"Bloody hell. You've got to be joking."

Ellie awoke to the sound of Ron's voice. She fluttered her eyes open slowly, squinting as the early morning sun battered down on her.

Her first sight was the red-headed boy, his eyes wide with surprise as he crouched over the Hufflepuff. Ron gasped loudly and immediately turned around, his eyes franticly searching for help.

"Someone call Hermione! Tell her it's important!" Ron yelled to the faint figure lingering about the house, seeming to be observing the nature before them.

He turned to Ellie once more, his eyes struck with worry as he analyzed her state. "You look bloody horrifying, Ellie."

"Thanks, Ronald." Ellie muttered sarcastically, her voice raspy and hoarse. The weeks of minimal talking had clearly taken a toll on her, her usually smooth voice now resembling that of a toad.

Ellie proceeded to prop herself up on her elbows as the tiredness wore off, wincing at the movement as a painful sting distributed itself through her body.

"No, no. Lay back down. You're hurt," Ron commented, but Ellie didn't listen and continued to fully sit up, her weight resting on her palms behind her.

She took in her surroundings, noticing the cottage Narcissa described from a distance, illuminated by the sunlight's reflection emitting from the water. The tides were low, yet the wet sand stuck to Ellie's body. She never appreciated the sunlight like she did now, realizing that it was her first time seeing it in two weeks. She basked in its warmth, feeling the rays hit her skin in a familiar and comforting manner.

Luna came running towards the two, her face expressing disappointment.

"She won't come. Hasn't showed herself in weeks," Luna told Ron solemnly. Her innocent eyes flickered to Ellie, who gave a weak smile towards Luna.

"Bloody hell. I'll go get her myself then. Stay here," Ron ordered as he broke into a fast sprint towards the cottage, kicking the sand behind his shoes.

Luna took his place and crouched besides Ellie, smiling down at her. She carried a bruise just underneath her right eye, though it didn't seem to bother her.

"Glad you're here, Ellie," Luna greeted. "We've all been worried sick about you. But Hermione's had it the worst. She's been... keeping herself busy these couple of weeks. You know, with finding a way to save you. I hear her every night, crying behind locked doors."

A deep sigh came from Ellie's mouth as she thought about her girlfriend's method of coping with her failed escape.

"Glad to see you too, Luna. Thank you for telling me. And... thank you, for keeping an eye on her. You're truly a great friend. I've really missed you," Ellie croaked, smiling at her warmly.

"Of course," Luna chirped. She glanced behind her, watching as a figure sprinted towards them, wind coursing through her tangled locks as she desperately pushed one foot in front of the other.

"Well, I'll see you inside, Ellie. We can chat more once you've recovered."

Luna stood up and gave another innocent smile before she returned back to the cottage, dazing up at the clouds as she walked slowly.

Ellie watched as the figure became more clear, her face sharpening with every nearing step. She had tears of relief streaming down her face, though Ellie couldn't help but break into a small smile at the sight.

A few more seconds passed. They were painfully slow as Ellie waited for her. She began to grow more impatient and attempted to rise to her feet, but were held down by the overbearing pain that dictated her body.

The seemingly stagnant time finally came to an end as Hermione came crashing into Ellie's arm, embracing her tightly. The Gryffindor broke into a sob on Ellie's shoulder, kneeling at her side as her arms were flung over Ellie's shoulders. Ellie sunk into Hermione's arms, and in that moment, tears returned to her eyes, falling on the Gryffindor's sweater. The moment was bliss, and their reunion was long awaited.

"Ellie, darling... I'm here now. I'm here," Hermione reassured through her cries.

Hermione's voice only brought another wave of tears upon Ellie, her body trembling in her arms. Having felt Ellie's reaction, Hermione only clutched her girlfriend tighter, stroking her matted hair.

"Shh, my love. You're okay. You're safe with me," Hermione whispered through her quivering breaths as her other hand rubbed her girlfriend's back gently.

Hermione pulled away temporarily, the tears staining her cheeks. She readjusted herself to sit more comfortably, accidentally grazing her hand across Ellie's arm, causing her to wince and suck her teeth loudly.

A pang of worry overcame the Gryffindor as she immediately darted her eyes to Ellie's arms. Much to Ellie's dismay, Hermione brought the sleeve up of her girlfriend's tattered clothing, gasping at the sight. Her eyes scanned the wounds quickly, in which she frantically lifted the other sleeve, revealing similar carvings.

"I'm okay," Ellie spoke, her throat itchy from the torture she had endured at the manor. "Don't worry about me, okay? I'm fine."

"Who did this to you?" Hermione demanded, her eyes unable to peel themselves from the word repeatedly etched into Ellie's skin.

"Bellatrix," Ellie answered reluctantly, flinching at speaking her name as she painfully rolled the sleeves of her clothing back down to cover the wounds.

"I'm going to bloody kill her," Hermione spat angrily, earning a disappointed frown from her girlfriend.

"Don't, please. I'm alive. Besides, she's not worth your magic," Ellie reasoned, shaking her head at the sudden darkness that overcame her girlfriend.

"Her death will be worth every bit of my magic. I can't let her live knowing what she did to you," Hermione growled, glancing at Ellie's covered arms.

Hermione's expression suddenly became softer as she finally took in Ellie's appearance. Her clothes were dirty and tattered as her tangled waves fell at her shoulders, her fingernails harboring dirt from her time in the cellar. Her eyes seemed to be sunken from the lack of sleep, her body just beginning to grow thin from the food scraps she had lived off on.

"I'm so sorry, darling," Hermione gasped lightly, bringing her hand to cup Ellie's cheek, rubbing it over with her thumb. "I'm sorry I didn't find a way to you sooner. And I'm sorry-"

"I'm sorry, too," Ellie interrupted, earning a confused expression from Hermione. "I would've returned to you like I promised. But they forced me to stay there, and I couldn't do anything."

"No, no. Don't apologize, my love. I should've been the one to get you back. I really have been trying, you know. Bill and Fleur's collection of books aren't exactly the most expansive, and there wasn't much about breaking your girlfriend out of the 'Death Eater Convention'."

A smile played among Ellie's lips as she watched her girlfriend talk, basking in her presence. In the weeks of her absence, Ellie always longed for Hermione, the mental image being the only thing from keeping her sane as she was tortured.

"Why are you smiling?" Hermione sniffled, slowing her speech to a stop as she examined Ellie's expression.

"I'm just happy to see you, that's all," Ellie replied warmly, her teasing smirk returning to her cheeks. "Told you I'd make it back alive to marry you."

Hermione's lips curled into a smile, a deep red blush forming on her cheeks. She placed a loving kiss on Ellie's forehead, lingering her lips on the skin for a second longer.

"Let's get you inside, okay?" Hermione cooed gently.

Ellie nodded, wincing as Hermione helped her rise to her feet. Pain shot through Ellie's entire body with every movement, causing Hermione to only feel more helpless.

"It's okay, darling. Take it easy... one step at a time. There's no rush," Hermione eased as she slowly helped her girlfriend stand straight.

Hermione brought Ellie's arm to wrap over her shoulder, holding it in place with her own hand. The Gryffindor then wrapped her arm around Ellie's waist, supporting it as they hobbled back to the cottage, wet sand sticking on their clothing.

For the first time in weeks, they were happy. The overwhelming bliss of Ellie's return saved Hermione from actions far worse the Hufflepuff could ever imagine.