Draco opened his mouth but she shook her head, rushing to get this out before he could try to convince her that she was wrong, that she was good, that she was brave. "I knew—I knew in my heart that they were gone to me forever. I could feel the magic work. A piece of me, of the family that existed in my very DNA, cleaved away. It was— they were gone. But after the war, I still—" A choked sob cut her off but Hermione squeezed her eyes shut, determined. "I still let myself think there might be a chance." 