Thenswiftly，inaflamethatdrencheddownherbodylikefluidlightningandgaveheraperfect，unutterableconsummation，unutterablesatisfaction，shebroughtdowntheballofjewelstonewithallherforce，crashonhishead。Butherfingerswereinthewayanddeadenedtheblow。Nevertheless，downwenthisheadonthetableonwhichhisbooklay，thestoneslidasideandoverhisear，itwasoneconvulsionofpureblissforher，litupbythecrushedpainofherfingers。Butitwasnotsomehowcomplete。Sheliftedherarmhightoaimoncemore，straightdownontheheadthatlaydazedonthetable。Shemustsmashit，itmustbesmashedbeforeherecstasywasconsummated，fulfilledforever。Athousandlives，athousanddeathsmatterednothingnow，onlythefulfilmentofthisperfectecstasy。
Shewasnotswift，shecouldonlymoveslowly。Astrongspiritinhimwokehimandmadehimlifthisfaceandtwisttolookather。Herarmwasraised，thehandclaspingtheballoflapislazuli。Itwasherlefthand，herealisedagainwithhorrorthatshewasleft—handed。Hurriedly，withaburrowingmotion，hecoveredhisheadunderthethickvolumeofThucydides，andtheblowcamedown，almostbreakinghisneck，andshatteringhisheart。
Hewasshattered，buthewasnotafraid。Twistingroundtofaceherhepushedthetableoverandgotawayfromher。Hewaslikeaflaskthatissmashedtoatoms，heseemedtohimselfthathewasallfragments，smashedtobits。Yethismovementswereperfectlycoherentandclear，hissoulwasentireandunsurprised。
`Noyoudon\'t，Hermione，\'hesaidinalowvoice。`Idon\'tletyou。\'
Hesawherstandingtallandlividandattentive，thestoneclenchedtenseinherhand。