The second hand ticked on the clock above the mantel, marking the passage of time that, despite the audible evidence to the contrary, had been standing still since the previous night. Hermione had been transferred to St. Mungo’s alongside Draco after being hit with multiple modified Stunners, amplified to take down a Veela. After a quick check-over and clean bill of health, she’d overseen Draco’s transfer of custody to St. Mungo’s  Being  department before returning to her office to quietly contact his solicitor and begin the mountain of paperwork surrounding the incident.