"He says he wants you," Malfoy tells her without preamble, and the words drive the breath out of her. Hermione can almost feel the blood drain from her face as she stares at him wide-eyed and horrified. "When he gets back from America. I don't know what for – I – I didn't want to ask..." His voice trails away and he rubs a hand over his face, drawn and weary. "I had to say yes. Of course. I didn't have a choice. "Who am I to refuse the Dark Lord', you know?" There is anger creeping into his voice, a controlled kind of rage, and he's pacing again, as Hermione just stands frozen and tries to process what he's said.