The scream runs down her spine, agonising and familiar. It reminds her of lying on the ground in Malfoy manor, it reminds her of the echo of nightmares in her Visions and the pulse of the Jabberwock that called for her, it reminds her of how Rizhao had cried for her father when the monsters had come, all these times Hermione had failed, all the times where all she had were screams and no power, no relief. She is powerless, the arrow going deeper into her flesh and her arms shaking as she leans back.

Dorian, her mind shouts, Dorian, she has to save Dorian, she has to fight for him, if she can distract for a moment she can grab a potion, she can do something to give him strength, enough for them to get out of here, why hadn't she taught him apparation, they'd be fine -

"Leave him alone." Hermione steps forward, head held high, expression tight, pained and angry. She keeps her eyes glued on the woman, her chest heaving even as she tries to block out all the things she's feeling. "You want me? Take me. But hurt him and - and you will regret ever coming here. You've already taken Adela and she was innocent. Don't hurt someone else when you have the chance to be merciful."

She thinks that all she can hear is the echo of the woman's laughter and another sickening crunch as her shoe twists, a shift of her leg to press the hard edge of a blunt heel against the side of Dorian's head.