[Bill tells Hermione what's going on.]

[barelybitten]

Bill had debated bringing the letter with him when he went to go see Hermione, but decided against it at the last minute. Burning it, like he told Hermione he had done, seemed like a good enough idea. So before he came, he had tossed the letter into the fire, watching as it shriveled in the flames. The words were burned into his mind, so it wasn

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[muggle_lioness]

Hermione looked up from her seat on the couch when she heard the knock. She knew it was Bill. He'd said he'd come by to talk to her over dinner, and had kept true to his word. Dobby had just let from placing their plates on the table and now Bill was there. She ran a hand through her curly hair and slowly walked to the door.

Opening it, her face stayed expressionless as she looked up at Bill. "Come on," she said quietly, turning around and walking back to the couch.

[barelybitten]

Bill watched as Esmond barked and moved into the room, sitting in 'his' spot on the edge of the couch. Letting out a sigh, he entered as well, closing the door behind him. This was going to be the hardest conversation with Hermione that he could remember having.

"I see dinner's here," he told her, pointing to the table. "Let's eat, then... Okay?"

[muggle_lioness]

"Okay," Hermione said, petting Esmond on the top of his head. He had claimed an end of the couch when he stayed with her. She'd kept him for a few days before sending him back to Bill. She'd grown quite fond of the little Crup, and had spent those nights lounging on the couch, reading by firelight and stroking his back.

She got up and walked straight past Bill, not looking at him, to the table.

[barelybitten]

Bill sighed, following Hermione to the table. "I'm sorry, all right? I didn't mean to just run off like that, but it was ... the owl was just surprisingly, that's all." He rested a hand on her back. "Will you please look at me? This is hard enough with you already upset with me."

She was going to be upset at him either way, but it would be somewhat easier if she wasn't already upset.

[barelybitten]

Bill opened the door, taking a small step inside. The tears was not something he wanted to see, not with anybody. He rubbed the back of his neck, moving further inside. "Can we talk, please? I don't want to leave with you being this upset."

[muggle_lioness]

Hermione glanced back at him, then returned her attention to the window, and the snow falling to the ground. "How did he know where we were?" she asked in a hushed tone.

[barelybitten]

"I don't know," Bill told her honestly. "He knew my movements from when I left to when I arrived. He might be lying, but I can't chance that. If he comes here, there's no reason why he wouldn't bring everybody that's lost a slave. Including his son."

[muggle_lioness]

"No, no, not him," Hermione cried, leaning her head against the window. "I won't go back to him. I can't."

[muggle_lioness]

"But what about you?" Hermione asked quietly, brushing her hand over Bill's cheek. "Who's going to keep you safe? Bill, I love you. I don't want to know that there's nothing I could do to protect you."

[barelybitten]

"I'll keep me safe, you don't worry about it." The words moved through Bill's mind, making him think of a thousand different things at once. Hermione loved him, had said it more than once, and she was repeating it again. But he couldn't return anything, not now. Not when he was going to have to leave. "I'll be fine," he repeated.

[muggle_lioness]

"Why are you ignoring what I'm telling you?" Hermione asked, backing away from Bill and moving to her bed.

[barelybitten]

"I'm not ignoring what you're telling me," Bill insisted. "You want to keep me safe and I'm saying that I'll be fine. It'll all be okay."

[muggle_lioness]

"Too many people would be like a death trap. Besides, who knows the ins and outs of that mansion better than us?" She tried to offer him a reassuring smile, but failed.

[barelybitten]

"We don't know all the hiding places," Bill pointed out. "Besides that, Lucius would take extra measures to see that I don't run again. You know Malfoy would do the same thing if you got caught."

[muggle_lioness]

"I know," Hermione said, never wanting to let him out of the hug. "I just don't want to be helpless in my attempt to save you."

[barelybitten]

"Just be patient with that. There are other people that need to be saved, too. Focus on the easy ones for now, okay?" He knew Hermione could help more than just himself, especially if she stayed.