Hermione felt her heart sink to the floor. She had hoped for some support from her elf, but to hear her speak with such assured sincerity ... it sliced right to Hermione's heart. For the first time, she allowed a grain of doubt into her mind. She trembled all over as it took seed, blossoming quickly to all parts of her. She felt as if something had broken inside her and she flung her hand to her chest, to massage the ache which had stabbed at her there.