"Why not? It's not like I have anything to lose, except my life. And as long as – my master lives, my life isn't my own anyway." He looks down at his hands, releasing the bars and drawing them palm-up into his lap, staring at them as though he can see the bloodstains. "I'd rather not die. But...well, I'm careful. I don't stick my neck out when I think it's too dangerous. And I do what I have to do, Merlin forgive me." There is a long silence between them, the only sound their breathing, and the muted suffering of the other occupants of the dungeon. Hermione searches Malfoy's face, and sees nothing there but truth. She wonders if she would be able to spot a lie on Malfoy's face, dripping from his lips – and then she wonders why the other side would bother with a lie. She thinks she can trust him enough to let herself hope, just a little bit