Once inside the flat, Alecto ran her hands over Hermione's face, searching for any marks or wounds. It was, unfortunately, not the first time she'd done the same. When she was satisfied that there was nothing physically wrong with her friend, Alecto wrapped her arms around the younger woman and hugged her tight. They hadn't seen each other in months. Not since she was sent to search for Hermione. Ordered to use whatever means necessary to bring her back to Hogsmeade to face her punishment from their Dark Lord, she'd almost been successful. Hermione didn't want to imagine what kind of trouble her friend had gotten in when she failed. Even if the Dark Lord didn't hurt her, she knew that Antonin wasn't apt to be kind.