When she regained consciousness, Draco was leaning over her once again. She stared up at him. There was the taste of something bitter and herbal in her mouth. Her whole body felt numb and her brain sluggish.
She blinked, trying to think. Everything came rushing back with almost violent anguish.
She'd passed out from shock and a lack of oxygen.
She swallowed, and her tongue tingled. He'd dosed her with a sedative while she was unconscious, so she'd be pliant and cooperative.
She stared up at him as she tried to find words.
“I'm never going to forgive you for this,” she finally said. The words were vaguely slurred, giving the sentence an irregular lilt, as though her mouth wouldn't quite cooperate with her.
Draco didn't flinch, his hand ghosted along her cheekbone. “You'll be alive and away from the war. Those — were always my terms.”
Hermione pressed her lips together for several seconds as she tried to think through the potion clouding her mind. Whatever he'd given her, it had been a large enough dose that she was surprised she'd managed to regain consciousness. The fact he'd dosed her while she was passed out meant the potion had activated fully before she was conscious to fight against it.
There was a cold rage seething through her that she couldn't quite reach.
She forced herself to think slowly.
It was theoretically possible for an occlumens to make themselves immune to any mind-altering potions, although it was preferable if they were conscious at the time of dosage. Draco had likely known that fact and intentionally given it to her while she was unconscious because of it.
Veritaserum, sedatives, Love Potions, an occlumens could potentially wall them away if their mind was already compartmentalized enough. Hermione stared up at Draco as she laboriously gathered up the effects of the potion he'd given her and walled in it around the events of the day.
Her mind was suddenly crystal clear.
She studied him, calculating.
She could see all the emotion behind his carefully guarded eyes.
“If you force me to leave, and then you die, we may never find the horcrux,” she said, still using the slow sedated lilt.
His eyes flickered, and his expression grew cool. “If the Order had wanted to win, they should have made better choices. If the Dark Lord kills them all, perhaps they will finally realise the consequences of their ideology. I did everything that was asked, but I cannot save an army that will never be willing to pay the price that victory demands. I am sick of watching you try to pay it for them.”
Hermione sat up slowly on the bed.
Draco stepped back and offered his hand. “We're going now.”
“No.”
His eyes narrowed and grew flintlike. “Granger, you gave your word.”
Hermione clenched her jaw. “I know. I will go — per your demands, but I need to speak with Severus first. He'll be the only one left who can find the horcrux, there's — research I need to share with him.”
“No.” The word was snarled.
Hermione stared up at him, her expression deadened but determined. “You know I will always choose the Order first.”
He flinched. His mouth pressed into a hard line and his gaze dropped as he released a short breath and he stared at the floor. She saw his throat contract and the corners of his mouth twitch as he swallowed, his silver eyes looked away from her.
Hermione continued speaking. Slowly. Doggedly. “If you force me to leave without speaking to Severus, it could qualify as a violation of your Unbreakable Vow to aid the Order. You might just collapse and die before we get there.”
Draco looked at her sharply, and she met his gaze coldly and continued. “And — the last thing you will do is betray me. If you let me do this, maybe someday I'll be able to forgive you.”
He stared at her, and she didn't blink until he wavered.
“Fine.” His voice was bitter, and he looked away from her again.
She nodded slowly and stood up, reaching for her wand and tapping twice on the charm on her wrist.
While they waited, she crossed the room to re-examine Ginny.
“You should take Ginny first,” she said after several minutes. “The stasis she's under is going to last a few more hours, I don't have the materials to make the counter-potion, and it will be difficult if she wakes up and I have to explain everything to her here before we go. Especially when I'm drugged like this.”
Draco gave a low scoff in the back of his throat. “You expect me to leave you here with Snape?”
Hermione shrugged. “She's pregnant, and when she wakes up she's going to find out that Harry is dead and her entire family is lost. I won't have much time to say goodbye to you if I'm calming her.”
There was a muffled crack outside. Draco turned to open the door.
Hermione wondered if she could move fast enough to stun him. She shifted, and he immediately looked back at her.