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Draco wasn’t sure how long he’d been pacing.He knew, though, that Potter’s patronus had arrived 37 minutes ago, that the hurried, “Beginning extraction now, healers are on-site,” had not done a damn thing to soothe his nerves, but seemed only to have heightened them.In fact, if there was anything he knew, it’s that he’d have to apologize to basically everyone who had come to sit with him the past four days—Theo, Pansy, Ginny, Molly, his mother, his aunt—once everything was alright again.Everything would be alright again.(He didn’t know that.)But he did know that Hermione was the smartest, bravest person he’d ever known, and he hoped that was enough.”Draco, your stomping is upsetting the aged cat,” Ginny said, missing some of her requisite snark.Crookshanks, for his part, flopped onto one side and began licking his undercarriage with gusto. Apparently he was unconcerned with Hermione’s absence, given that it wasn’t uncommon for her to be gone for long stretches. And his bowl stayed full regardless thanks to her muggle automatic feeder that whirred to life twice daily.“It’s been almost an hour,” Draco muttered, checking his watch perfunctorily. As if he hadn’t checked 30 seconds ago.”I know,” Ginny said, more gentle than she should have been.Draco physically jumped when the floo roared to life, adrenaline pumping from his fluttering heart to his fingertips as a tall figure emerged from the glowing green embers, arms encircling a smaller one.He raced forward toward the fireplace and was met with Potter’s hand, raised as if in warning. He stopped short, a few feet away from his wife, who wore the same clothes she’d been wearing when he bid her farewell for her 24-hour raid three days ago, now dirty and torn in places, and a vacant, dazed expression on her face.”Hermione, look. You’re home now,” Harry said, his tone placating and out-of-place in the usual banter of their friendship.Hermione did not look up.”Draco’s here,” he intoned quietly, pointing as he led her to sit on their worn sofa, her feet stumbling and uncertain. “And Ginny, and Crookshanks.”“What’s wrong with her?” Draco whispered, although Hermione certainly could hear him from where he crouched in front of them.“The dungeon she was trapped in had a curse that kept prisoners awake indefinitely.””What do you mean?” Ginny asked. “You’re saying she’s been awake since—?”“At least Tuesday,” Harry said grimly.Horror dropped Draco’s stomach, nearly making him light-headed with a heady mix of disgust—for what she went through, for what dark magic could do—and relief, that she was home, now.He looked closer at Hermione’s face, watching as her eyes seemed to glaze over, partially closed, then pop back open like she was fighting to stay awake.“It’s not still—?””No,” Harry said, looking at Hermione, then at Draco. “She broke the curse this afternoon. Saved six other people, too.”That sounded like the Hermione he knew.”Clever girl,” Draco said, feeling a smile pull at his lips and his throat tighten. Before he could think about it, he reached up to tuck one of her tangled curls behind her ear.A moment passed where nothing happened. Then, Hermione jumped like she’d been shocked, wild terror in her eyes, arms flung out to her sides defensively.”Shhh, shhh Hermione, you’re alright,” Harry murmured, rubbing her back, like he’d done it before. “You’re safe.”Hermione seemed to relax incrementally, but didn’t lean into the couch, as if she was waiting for another threat.”She wouldn’t let the healers come near her, wouldn’t take their potions. They said it’s normal for severe sleep deprivation to have hallucinations, paranoia, that it’ll go away once you can get her to sleep.”Draco’s memory latched on something Hermione had told him, probably. Muggles used sleep deprivation to torture people.“It doesn’t help that she’s probably dehydrated and has low blood sugar, if her bag is anything to go on,” Harry said, tossing the beaded bag onto the table, alongside her wand. “We’ve just gotta get her to sleep.””And she was probably scared out of her mind,” Ginny murmured, looking at her friend sadly.Harry nodded, and Draco noticed the dark smudges under his eyes. He reckoned Potter had got about as much sleep as he had over the last few days—which, while more than Hermione, was certainly not enough.“Hermione,” Draco said, as gently as he could. “Let’s let Harry and Ginny go say goodnight to James and Albus. How about we get ready for bed?””You sure?” Harry asked. “I don’t want to leave her like this.””You got her out, Potter,” Draco said with a sigh. “Thank you. But you don’t look much better than she does. I‘ll take it from here.”Harry nodded, grasping at Hermione’s shoulder, before crossing toward the floo with his wife.“If you need anything—“”I’ll send for you guys, I promise,” Draco said. Harry and Ginny nodded, murmuring Grimmauld Place and disappearing in a cloud of green smoke.Hermione seemed to startle from her half-sleep at the noise.”Harry—“ she mumbled.”He’s alright. He’s just going home.”Her eyes roamed about, not focusing fully on anything.”Have to— Ron—””Ron’s home with the new baby, remember? He and Lavender named her ‘Sage;’ you said it offended my posh sensibilities, but really I think you just don’t like the name.””Not safe,” she mumbled, shaking her head and seeming to search around weakly for her wand. “The spells, around the tent, I need to— I’ll take first watch—“Draco grasped hands gently in his, stilling her weak fidgeting with ease. “You’re safe. No one is coming to hurt you. Not anymore.””Have to— horcruxes—“”You already found them. It’s all done.”“Death Eaters—“”No more Death Eaters. I promise.”Hermione’s chin dipped down promisingly, her movement stilled for a moment or two, before she jerked back up, eyes hooded and bloodshot, but open.Well, two could play at that game.“How about some tea?” Draco asked, trying to keep his tone light as he summoned the requisite supplies.Hermione seemed to watch, dazed, as he heated the water with a tap of his wand, pouring it over the leaves. He checked that her eyes were fully glazed over in mini-sleep before adding the potions from his bag—a calming draught, and something to help rehydrate her.”I’ll add plenty of sugar, since you take it sweeter than should be allowed,” he murmured, seeing if her eyes would shoot back open. They did.He held out the steaming mug, watching as Hermione reached for it, missing by several inches, grasping at air. When her hand landed on it, she shook so badly that tea spilled in between them.”Allow me,” he whispered, bringing the mug to her lips. She watched the cup, her eyes crossing, as her lips parted and she took a clumsy sip, some dribbling down her chin.Draco brushed it away with his thumb, and Hermione did not startle. He gave her another sip, this one, more sure. Her eyes seemed to focus, then, on his face.“Draco?” She asked, her eyes roaming his features as if taking them in.He cupped her cheek with his palm, bringing the mug to her lips again.”Hi, sweetheart. I missed you.”She swallowed, studying him with longer and longer blinks.”Missed you too,” she mumbled.“Let’s go to bed, okay?” He asked, giving her another sip. She nodded minutely.With great care, he set down the mug and scooped an arm under Hermione’s legs, the other behind her back, lifting her into his arms. Her head rested on his shoulder, heavy and trusting.He sat her on the edge of their bed and undid her shoe laces, pulling off her sneakers and socks, peeling off her top and summoning her sleep shirt. Tomorrow there would be time for clean skin and untangled curls, but she needed rest more right now.He undid her pants, coaxing her to stand to shuck them off, but once standing, her knees gave way fully. He caught her in an almost-embrace, steadying her, putting her back down with ease and pulling back the covers on their unmade bed.He guided her down gently, laying her head on the pillow she preferred, fluffing it how she liked. Hermione made a little, almost pleased noise at the feeling.Crookshanks, sensing that their bedtime routine had recommenced, hopped up onto the bed and turned several half circles before settling at Hermione’s feet as Draco pulled the covers over her. He quickly stripped down to his boxers and joined her in bed, tentatively positioning himself behind her, not wanting to scare her.He could tell when she jerked herself awake, even now, safe in bed, her breath catching. Unsure what else to do, he brought a hand to her curls, brushing her scalp with his fingers how he knew she liked.A few beats passed, then: “Mum?”Draco’s heart ached.”No, love, it’s me. Your mum and dad are in Australia, remember? You kept them safe.””Oh,” Hermione said, her voice, and his heart, splintering.She shook, then, with unselfconscious tears, like children cry. No fight left.He slowly slotted himself behind her, bringing his arm around her as she wept.“It’s alright, Hermione,” he whispered, brushing her curls. “I’m right here. You’re not alone.”She cried for a few more moments, before the gaps between her sobs seemed to lengthen out. Still sniffling, her lips parted, her eyes slipped shut.Draco waited for her to wake herself again. But she finally slept soundly.He thought it’d be ages before he joined her in sleep, worked up as he was, but before long, holding her close, he felt the relief of sleep, too.