A ghost of a smile tugged at Draco's mouth, and Hermione could have sworn he'd whispered an affectionate "swot" under his breath before his hand tightened around hers. "Well I never did, clearly, but I did meet Professor Burbage, when  he  kidnapped her and tortured her during a meeting. I don't even know why I was there, except maybe as a lesson. I don't know," he repeated. "He had her floating, just there, for hours." He gestured to the space above the table. "Told her how she was poison to young minds, teaching them that muggles were people. And then he killed her." He swallowed heavily. "I thought her body hitting the table would be the worst thing I ever heard, but then he let that fucking snake eat her. And we all had to just sit there. It took every bit of Occlumency I ever learned not to vomit on the spot, and the table was the first thing to go when we got back here."