sekkoon

CHAPTER 11

The Beginning of a New War

Luna threw herself onto her bed, and dropped her head onto the other side, rummaging through her pile of things under her bed.

"What're you looking for, Luna?" Cho asked, as Luna threw a stuffed elephant behind her back and onto the floor.

"Ah ha!" Luna suddenly said, and sat up on her bed, holding a fluffy pink journal, "The first time I came here, Ginny gave me this so we wouldn't forget each other..." She opened it up, and flipped through the pages. Then, she dropped the journal, and turned back to Cho.

"The only person that can help is..."

"Harry Potter," Cho finished the sentence, smiling.

Both their eyes were sparking happily as they rushed down the moving stair cases at the Gryffindor painting. The fat lady. "Froodle and Whisky" Cho murmured, and the fat lady gave her a look, but opened any way. Harry had told her the password so they could visit each other often.

They stumbled in, and there was Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville. "Harry!" Cho shreiked, "Luna needs your help!" She looked at the others. "She needs all of your help!"

"Wha-?" Ron stuttered, but Harry hushed him, and stood up.

"Oh, Harry Potter!" Luna shrieked, "My Daddy's been kidnapped!" She turned to Neville and hugged him.

Harry turned to his friends, who were confused as he was. But Hermione simply said, "We'll help!"

"Apparently Voldemort's stolen your Dad to start a war, Luna!" Harry said to Luna as they were flying on brooms to the Graveyard, "I had a dream like it last night!"

"Thanks for tellin' us now, Mate!" Ron screamed as his broom flung lower.

Luna noticed Neville staring at her, and she smiled, holding her broom tight, but laying on her stomach. She grinned at him, and he blushed, his long brown hair flipping in the wind.

"What is all this, Harry? I don't get it!"

"It's waaaaaaaaaaaarr!!" Harry yelled as they all plunged into the Graveyard, falling to the ground.

CHAPTER 12

Protecting your true love

As they got off their brooms, the six of them searched round the dark graveyard searching for any sign of movement. They gripped their wands tightly and lit them up. Suddenly a loud creak of metal was heard and the graveyard door swung open.

"Who's there?" Harry asked, looking around. There was no reply. "Alright, Luna, Neville and Cho take that part of the graveyard and Hermione, Ron and I will take the other part. If you find anything send red sparks up with your wand."

They moved off in the directions they were given and Neville inched closer to Luna for protection. He wouldn't let anything harm her. A low cackle was heard from somewhere near the right and the three of them swiveled round quickly.

"What was that?" Luna asked nervously, still dreamy even in a situation like that.

"I don't know," Neville replied. "But stay close otherwise it could be dangerous."

"How courageous!" A cold, high pitched voice mocked. "Just like his parents." Cho gasped, but Luna choked as she saw Voldemort, Bellatrix Lestrange, Lucius Malfoy and her captured father emerge from the darkness.

"Stay back!" Neville warned them, gripping his wand tighter.

"Daddy!" Luna exclaimed as she saw him struggling to stand up. "What have you done to him?" She asked Voldemort. He smirked evily and flicked his wand lazily, thick black ropes wrapping themselves around each of them. Neville managed to shout "Perriculum!" Before they disarmed him.

Minutes later Harry, Hermione and Ron came running, trying to unfree Neville, Luna and Cho but failing miserably.

"Let my daddy go, please!" Luna begged, tears running down her cheek. Voldemort, Lucius and Bellatrix cackled.

"I'm surprised you don't want to know why I took him in the first place?" Voldemort smiled horribly again and turned to Harry.

"Long time, no see Mr Potter!" Harry raised his wand and narrowed his eyes.

"What do you want with Xenophilius?" He asked.

"Well you see I was planning to steal someone for information on you Harry and who better than Mr Lovegood here? Editor of the Quibbler and someone you asked to put a headline of my returning in their magazine, no one better I'd say."

A smile curled on Bellatrix's lips as she saw her master torment the six of them.

"I pity them my Lord," she said smirking like Voldemort. "Have no backbone!"

"No backbone?" Neville spat. "Coming from a coward like you?" Her smile turned into a grimace.

"Shut it Longbottom!" She sent a spell at him and saw him writher in pain.

"No!" Luna screamed. Suddenly, without knowing she had the strength, she broke free of her ropes and shot a spell at Bellatrix. Then spells were flying everywhere, as Neville and Cho were freed and dueling with newly arrived Deatheaters. Luna realised the power of her love for Neville gave her the strength to break free.

CHAPTER 77

Hermione had been gone for about twelve hours by now and Draco, nor anyone who had grown very close and fond of Hermione, was far from calm. No one had seen her since she had left. To be quite honest, no one had even known that they had come back to Hogwarts. They had believed that she was still holed up in the Malfoy Manor, upset that her best friends didn’t exactly like her or her decisions at the moment. No one had seen her and they didn’t exactly care at the moment. Hermione, in some peoples’ eyes, was a traitor. She was nothing but a little cheat, leaving her friends and Ron behind for the blood-sucking, snakes. A lion and a snake; it was far from a good match in their eyes. But most people, basically anyone but the Gryffindors, were doing their best to help find Hermione. Even Ron, who was still rather bitter about everything that had been going on, was helping.

Draco laid on his bed upstairs, away from everyone, trying to think about everything that was going on. “We need to find her,” he whispered to himself as he stared up at the dreary, off-white ceiling. “We have to find her…”

Downstairs in the Heads’ Common Room, the words that were being spoken were pretty much the same as Draco’s. All anyone could think about or wanted was to get Hermione back there, safe and sound. Everyone was so antsy, or so it seemed.

But while everyone was freaking out in the Common Room; Hermione was relaxing with an old friend, having fun. “Viktor, you are seriously amazing,” she said with a soft smile coming to her face. “You really should come to the wedding.”

Viktor gave her an unreadable expression for a moment before turning to look away as he grabbed a random shirt from a pile of clothes. Looking at it for a moment, he decided that it wasn’t the right one and tossed it back on top of the pile. “Hermione, I don’t want you to get hurt by that ******,” Viktor said as he continued to rifle through the pile of clothes, looking for the right shirt. “He will do something terrible soon and you’ll be heartbroken. I would never be able to be happy if you aren’t happy.”

As Hermione’s cheeks flushed a soft shade of red, she got the feeling that something was going on at Hogwarts again. Shrugging her shoulders, she pushed the feeling aside as she watched Krum. “He won’t hurt me,” Hermione said defiantly, pushing the memories from earlier that year far from her mind, trying to keep them hidden completely.

“How do you know that for sure? You never know with a Malfoy.”

Hermione shook her head as she looked up at Viktor, completely taken aback that he would say such a thing. Yes, he was a Malfoy but at least he was trying to make a very grand life for himself so that he didn’t have to be looked down upon because his father was Lucius Malfoy, the death eater. He was trying his best to get away from that look because that was slowly beginning to eat at his insides. Why on Earth would anyone want to be looked down upon because of their father who had made some extremely foolish choices over the course of his life; certainly, not anyone who was even remotely aware of their surroundings. “Just because his father was a useless man who made very foolish choices doesn’t mean that his son will do the same thing,” Hermione retorted.

“They share the same DNA!” Viktor replied. “He’s going to fallow his father’s footsteps to make him proud, there’s no doubt about…”

“His parents were both put to death,” Hermione said. “He wants nothing to do with what they had done to get them placed on Death Row.” Running a hand through her hair, she stood to her feet and pulled her bag over her shoulder. “Viktor, it was great to see you again, I did enjoy talking to you. Unless you aren’t going to try to sabotage my wedding, then don’t even bother coming.” Viktor held tightly to the invite, not allowing her to take it back. “I’ll see you then, then,” she replied before apparaiting out of the hotel room.

CHAPTER 52

“Whats wrong Malfoy? You look shaken,”Rodolphus Lestrange said, eyeing Lucius Malfoy, drinking out of a bottle of fire whiskey. He frowned annoyed that there were three of Lucius, there really should be one of him, he shouldn’t do that.

“I think you’ve had to much to drink Rodolphus,”Lucius drawled. Rodolphus snorted into his cup.

“Lucius my old friend, you can never have to much to hic drink!”Rodolphus said swaying in his chair slightly. They were in that bar,still, deatheaters were lurking through out Diagon Ally in there victory over taking it. Voldemort was currently at the weasley shop of all places.

“Besides, doesn’t matter how much whiskey I drink, I can tell whens yous is upset,”Rodolphus said licking his teeth experimentally. Lucius raised an eyebrow at him. “I mean yous havent hic havent drank anythin...”Rodolphus said frowning at his empty bottle.

“Because I don’t want to end up talking like you,”Lucius said shaking his head.

“Your upset about your son aren’t ya?”said Roldolphus. Lucius looked down. “Don’ts show it around the dark lord,”Rodolphus advised, probably the only good advice Lucius would get from him for the night because now Rodolphus seemed much more perplexed by the emptiness of his bottle than anything and he staggered off. Thats when Bellatrix and Snape decided to sit themselves down at the table of Lucius Malfoy.

“Bella I suggest you go after your husband before he hurts himself,”Lucius drawled.

“Oh he’s fine,”Bella said and frowned as a loud thud came from the next room. Lucius raised one blonde eyebrow, a quick look of amusement passed over his features but it quickly vanished.

“How is Draco?”Lucius asked.

“He should be alright, we sent him back to the order. He came to tell us Potter is leaving tomorrow and he’s not on the invite, no one is but the Granger girl and the Weasley boy, he says Potter will be gone for months and he fears tomorrow is his last chance to kill him to save Narcissa,”Snape said gently. Lucius looked sick. He was silent staring off in the distance.

“Are you alright?”Bella questioned.

“Oh i’m fine Bella, my wife is petrified and will be killed tomorrow if my son, who I whipped today and who hates me now, can kill Harry Potter in the order of the phoenix, and if he does manage to do this he will never get out of the order and will probably be locked up in prison for the rest of his life,”Lucius snapped.

“Could be worse,”said Bella.

“I don’t think it could.”

“I’m sure everything will turn out alright,”Snape said slowly. Lucius sighed. Rodolphus swayed in holding a bottle of hot sauce which he seemed to have mistaken for fire whiskey.

“Cheers,”he said before chugging the hot sauce, he screamed some words that didn’t seem to be real words and ran out of the room.

“At least you don’t have him for a husband,”Bella muttered to Lucius. At last Lucius cracked a smile.

CHAPTER 52

“Whats wrong Malfoy? You look shaken,”Rodolphus Lestrange said, eyeing Lucius Malfoy, drinking out of a bottle of fire whiskey. He frowned annoyed that there were three of Lucius, there really should be one of him, he shouldn’t do that.

“I think you’ve had to much to drink Rodolphus,”Lucius drawled. Rodolphus snorted into his cup.

“Lucius my old friend, you can never have to much to hic drink!”Rodolphus said swaying in his chair slightly. They were in that bar,still, deatheaters were lurking through out Diagon Ally in there victory over taking it. Voldemort was currently at the weasley shop of all places.

“Besides, doesn’t matter how much whiskey I drink, I can tell whens yous is upset,”Rodolphus said licking his teeth experimentally. Lucius raised an eyebrow at him. “I mean yous havent hic havent drank anythin...”Rodolphus said frowning at his empty bottle.

“Because I don’t want to end up talking like you,”Lucius said shaking his head.

“Your upset about your son aren’t ya?”said Roldolphus. Lucius looked down. “Don’ts show it around the dark lord,”Rodolphus advised, probably the only good advice Lucius would get from him for the night because now Rodolphus seemed much more perplexed by the emptiness of his bottle than anything and he staggered off. Thats when Bellatrix and Snape decided to sit themselves down at the table of Lucius Malfoy.

“Bella I suggest you go after your husband before he hurts himself,”Lucius drawled.

“Oh he’s fine,”Bella said and frowned as a loud thud came from the next room. Lucius raised one blonde eyebrow, a quick look of amusement passed over his features but it quickly vanished.

“How is Draco?”Lucius asked.

“He should be alright, we sent him back to the order. He came to tell us Potter is leaving tomorrow and he’s not on the invite, no one is but the Granger girl and the Weasley boy, he says Potter will be gone for months and he fears tomorrow is his last chance to kill him to save Narcissa,”Snape said gently. Lucius looked sick. He was silent staring off in the distance.

“Are you alright?”Bella questioned.

“Oh i’m fine Bella, my wife is petrified and will be killed tomorrow if my son, who I whipped today and who hates me now, can kill Harry Potter in the order of the phoenix, and if he does manage to do this he will never get out of the order and will probably be locked up in prison for the rest of his life,”Lucius snapped.

“Could be worse,”said Bella.

“I don’t think it could.”

“I’m sure everything will turn out alright,”Snape said slowly. Lucius sighed. Rodolphus swayed in holding a bottle of hot sauce which he seemed to have mistaken for fire whiskey.

“Cheers,”he said before chugging the hot sauce, he screamed some words that didn’t seem to be real words and ran out of the room.

“At least you don’t have him for a husband,”Bella muttered to Lucius. At last Lucius cracked a smile.

CHAPTER 53

Draco laughed grinning at Neville they had been talking for awhile, some way or another they had gotten into the subject of Neville’s rememberall.

“Yeah I may have been slightly, only a little bit, of a **** back then,”Draco said.

“Slightly?”Neville demanded. “Yes,”Draco said with crossed arms.

“Are you going back to Hogwarts this year?”Neville asked curiously.

“I hope so,”Draco said.

“Harry, Ron, and Hermione aren’t,”Neville sighed.

“This is the third time you’ve repeated the obvious. I know, there going after something to stop Voldemort,”said Draco. Neville looked around and smiled.

“I heard them say something,”Neville said. Draco’s ears perked.

“What?”

“They said the word ‘horxcrux’ what do you think it means?”Neville asked. Draco shrugged.

“I have no idea,”Draco said with a small frown. It would probably be in the Malfoy library after he killed Potter he could- Draco shuddered. Right, he still had to kill Harry.

“Whats wrong?”Neville asked.

“Nothing, i’m just tired,”Draco lied.

“You should get some rest,”Neville said and the croak from Trevor seemed to be an agreement. Draco nodded and shut off the light, tossing and turning all night.

Harry sighed stuffing his invisibility cloak into his back. He took one final look around the Order of the Phoenix. He was ready to leave. He looked at Hermione and Ron. They nodded grimly. Harry turned towards the order members.

“This is goodbye then,”Harry said softly. Tonks hugged him tightly.

“Not goodbye forever,”she said gently. Harry hoped she was right. McGonagall dabbed her eyes with a hankercheif before she finally hugged the three.

“Aw Professor, we’ll be alright,”Ron said though he wasn’t to sure.The order went through many hugs and tearful goodbyes, everyone was there but Malfoy. The trio headed for the door.

“Harry wait,”Neville said. Harry looked at Neville.

“Malfoy said he wanted to talk to you before he left,”said Neville. Harry blinked in surprise. “Alright,”said Harry.

“In private he’s in the room says he has something important to tell you about a thing called a horxcrux,”said Neville. Harry’s eyes widened and his heart beat sped up.

“Did he?”said Harry. Neville nodded confused. Last night Draco told him he didn’t know what one was, but today, Draco told Neville he knew somethng about one and needed to talk to Harry alone and it was important that they were alone. Neville shrugged as Harry walked down the hall towards Draco’s room. Hermione and Ron exchanged curious looks. Harry opened the door and was surprised to see Draco standing looking out the window looking upset. He was holding the sword of Amarra.

“Hey Malfoy,”Harry said slowly and he forced a grin, “You should be careful with that sword, Moody would have a fit if he found out you were fooling around with it,”Harry said. Draco gave a ghost of a grin he turned towards Harry. “Neville said-“

“Do you believe there are good people in the world?”Draco interupted. Harry blinked.

“Well yeah, sure,”said Harry.

“Truly good?”said Draco.

“Sure,”said Harry.

“Everyone has a bit of evil in them come on Potter, admit it. I definitely have it, the deatheaters, Weasely, Granger, even you. I guess some people control it better than others, or some people just have more. So if everyone has evil they all must have good, at least one spark. . . right? A hero, you’re a hero Potter aren’t you? I’ve watched. I’ve learned. Being a hero doesn’t mean you climb up a tree and save a cat, or you save someone’s life. That’s part of it, but the thing that makes you the hero is the risk. The danger. A hero is someone who risks their lives for complete strangers. A hero is someone who would sacrifice things for the greater good. There aren’t many people who would risk their lives to save a complete stranger. That kind of person, I guess there a bit above the rest. Maybe that’s why you’re so annoying. But there are lots of people who would give up their lives for a friend, for family, for a love. I guess it’s the people, who would rather live than save those they love that are the real bad guys. The ones you really should watch out for. I’m not one of them. Most people think Slytherins only care about themselves. We are so different from Gryffindors. Were the ones who wouldn’t risk our lives for a stranger Potter. Were the ones who wouldn’t sacrifice it all for the greater good. Is that selfishness or common sense? I don’t really know anything really, not anymore. But we all aren’t the bad guys. Because a great deal of us would lay our lives down for the ones we love. Wouldn’t you?” Draco said looking sick fiddling with the sword of Amarra.

“Yeah I guess so Malfoy,” said Harry bewildered as the blonde boy’s hands began to tremble.Harry frowned, something clearly had Draco upset.

“And you’d do anything to keep that person alive?” Draco said slowly. Harry stared at the blonde boy with a frown as Draco started to sweat.

“Yeah sure, anything, Malfoy is there something wrong?”

“Then you understand. That I’d do anything to save her. It’s not about good and evil Potter, it’s not about hate, and I’m willing to do anything to save my mother I’d die for her if it would help. But that’s not what’s going to help is it?” Draco said growing ever paler and he pointed the sword of Amarra at Harry. Harry’s eyes widened.

“Malfoy!” said Harry backing up reaching for his wand. Draco advanced at Harry putting the sword to his throat. Harry stared in bewilderment.

“The dark lord promised, that if I killed you, if I killed you…he’d let her go. She’d be safe.” Draco said his hands still shaking the sword against Harry’s throat cutting him a little.

“Malfoy there are other ways to save her! Don’t do this! “Harry hissed still trying to reach for his wand.

“No there isn’t! Don’t you think I’ve thought about this!? Do you think I want to!? I don’t know if this will mean anything, but I’m not getting any satisfaction out of killing you. I never really wanted you dead. But it’s you or my mum. Is that good or evil? I don’t really know. . .” Draco said. Harry stared at Draco wide eyed. He was in his mercy He’d be dead before he could try to fight. Draco removed the sword. Harry let out a laugh of relief and was still laughing as the sword plunged into his chest. Harry fell to his knees eyes widened in shock and pain and he gasped, tasting blood in his mouth. Draco pulled the sword out and Harry fell on his back staring up at the ceiling clutching his chest. Draco turned sharply and ran.

CHAPTER 54

Heart beating quickly than Draco thought humanly possible he ran down the hall holding the sword he had used to steal Harry Potter’s life. Luckily, no one was there. Draco took a deep breath and leaned against the wall closing his eyes, taking in deep breaths. The scene played over and over in his mind. Harry still laughing as he had plunged the sword into him as hard as he could, it was amazing how hard it really was to get a sword into a human being. The look of shock on Harry’s face as he pulled it out and Harry falling onto his knees before falling to the ground his life closing to an end. Draco shuddared he was still alive when he had left him, and no one should have to die alone, but he couldn’t risk being caught. Draco shivered the scene playing in his mind again. Draco took in a deep breath but it didn’t help, he leaned over and vomited. Draco’s hands were trembleing and he got sick again. After that he stood up, looking at the sword which held Harry’s blood.He picked it back up and closed his eyes attempting to dissaparate.

“Draco?”Neville was walking down the hall looking worried. Draco gave him a pained look. Neville was in shock. Draco was pale and sickly looking and he was holding a bloodied sword. Draco looked at Neville in remorse.

“I’m sorry,”Draco whispered and then he was gone. Neville frowned confused, his throat went dry. Draco holding a bloody sword and Harry wasn’t with him. Vomit and blood drops stained the hallway floor. Neville felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. Neville ran down the hall to his and Draco’s room and threw open the door. His blood went cold as he ran into the room. Harry was on the ground writhing in pain, bleeding everywhere. He was on Draco’s side of the room and Neville ran to him quickly ignoring Draco’s rule of not crossing the line, he didn’t belive that rule mattered anymore.

“Oh my god!”Neville cried kneeling next to Harry. Harry was staring up at the ceiling his green eyes sparkleing with a feverish haze.He stopped writing he didn’t seem to feel the pain anymore and a relaxing calm was taking over him. He was paper white, which made the blood stand out so vividly.Neville felt sick, there was no doubt in his mind, Draco had done this. He closed his eyes in horror.Harry’s robes were stained with blood and a puddle of it was around Harry, Neville was kneeling in it. cold sweat was dripping down Harry’s face.

“N-Neville?”Harry sputtered blood trickeling out of his mouth.

“Shh, don’t talk. I’m going to get help, Harry i’m going to get help, Harry stay with me,”Neville said alarmed as Harry’s breathing seemed to slow.Neville squeezed Harry’s shoulder gently. He couldn’t leave Harry not like this. Neville took out his wand, and waved it, he had never been able to preform this spell, but it was a matter of life and death now. His patronus ran down the hall away from Neville, off to find someone to get help. “Stay with me Harry,”Neville said looking down at Harry with worry.

Voldemort pet his snake Nagini his red slits for eyes looking at her with perhaps affection, or as close to affection as the dark lord could get. He looked up at his deatheaters with disinterest. They were in a meeting and he had been stupid enough to let Bellatrix talk. She was a good deatheater but a little. . . eccentric?

“And after the streets run with the filthy blood of the muggles,”she continued. Voldemort supressed a sigh glancing at the clock. Rodolphus was scowling at her holding his head, apparently he had a massive hang over and for some reason unknown to Voldemort had burnt his tongue on...something. Voldemort was sure he was better off not knowing. This was the last time he would ever ask what Bellatrix thought a good attack plan would be. It had been thirty five minutes now that she’d been talking. With a loud crack Draco Malfoy appeared. All fell silent. Lucius gazed at Draco with worry. Draco dropped a bloodied sword at Voldemort’s feet.

CHAPTER 55

The boy was pale and sickly looking. Draco attempted to look triumphent but it didn’t work out so well so he just forced a smirk. Voldemort looked to the sword, not just any sword either, the sword of Amarra then to Draco. Well well, how did Malfoy get his hands on this? Voldemort thought.

“Potter’s blood, I killed him,”Draco stated looking away to hide the guilt in his eyes.

“Why didn’t you just avada kedavra him?”Voldemort quipped. Draco’s eyes reluctantly met those of the dark lord’s, Draco’s eyes flashed angrily, momentarily, as he supressed a witty comment involving the avada kedavra failing the first time when Voldemort himself had tried and failed. Draco answered,

“I thought it would be more insulting to the Order of the Phoenix. I not only tricked them and killed Potter but I killed Potter with this sword. For some reason there very attatched to it,”Draco said with a forced sly smirk. Truth was he wouldn’t have been able to pull the curse off. The worse Harry would get was a bloody nose and then he’d have to deal with a very angry Harry. Not that he couldn’t take a very angry Harry but he would probably get kicked out of the order, than his mother would die, and Draco could go on and on about what could happen, but the one thing he knew was that he couldn’t preform the curse, not even to save his mother because deep down he had no desire to kill Harry. He knew it and Voldemort knew it.However most of the deatheaters seemed impressed. Draco’s eyes caught his father’s momentarily before he quickly looked away.

“You are sure he is dead?”Voldemort questioned. For Merlin’s sake the sword has bits and pieces of organs on it! Of course i’m sure! Draco thought bitterly. “Yes my lord, nothing could have saved him,”Draco said and he cringed slightly, because this wasn’t a lie. Potter was probably already dead. . . by his hand. Draco supressed a wave of guilt. The look on Harry’s face haunted him, he didnt dare close his eyes because he saw Harry’s face still laughing as he plunged the sword into him and the look of horror and pain slowly spread across Potter’s gentle features. He hadnt deserved that. Voldemort gazed at Draco still he didn’t look convinced.

“Then you wont mind this,”Voldemort stated pointing his wand at Draco. Draco froze. Lucius Malfoy stood up.

“My lord-“Lucius said clearing his throat.

“Sit down Malfoy,”Voldemort hissed and reluctantly Lucius sat down.

“Legilimens!”Voldemort snarled, and Draco let out a groan as the curse hit him. He hated this spell, he felt so invaded, if only he had bothered to pay attention when Severus and his father had tried to teach him occlumency. But no, he had told him getting occlumency lessons were about as useful as knowing how to play the piano and not having any fingers. He may have been wrong on that one. He shuddered, the room dissapearing around him into blackness. Voldemort invading your mind was like having the feeling of spiders crawling all over you. You know that the creepy crawly things are there, but there crawling so fast that you can’t catch them, and all the while a feeling of dread is over you. Suddenly Draco was back at Malfoy manor, outside, in front of it, Draco was looking at a younger version of himself riding his first broom hoverng over the wet green grass.

“Careful,”Narcissa Malfoy said with a warm smile to Draco. Draco felt a pang in his heart, he missed her so much. He hoped that once Voldemort saw that he killed Harry she would be returned to him.

“I’m fine,”the younger Draco stated raising in the air slightly.

“Sit up straight Draco, like riding a horse,”Lucius Malfoy instructed holding a rare smile. Draco smiled at the memory, he had had to have been at most about five. Then the memory faded away, Draco was a little older and he had stolen his father’s wand and was playing with it in his room making all his toys come to life. The younger Draco watched facinated as his toy owl flew around his room, holding his screaming quidditch action figure. Why Voldemort wanted to blip through these childhood memories before the death of Harry Draco may never know, perhaps because Voldemort never had a real childhood of his own, maybe it was curiosity. . .

CHAPTER 5

You'll Never Guess

"Harry? Really?" Pierre stepped into the coversation, curiously. "What for?"

"Over the summer two dementors-"

"Oh yeah! I remember my dad getting a letter from...i think you refer to him as padfoot, but my dad got a brief small letter," Desiree quickly said, cutting off Fred. "Sorry Fred," she added.

"Well, two dementors came and attacked Harry and his muggle cousin and no one believes him. The Prophet has been scuffling dirt on him that doesn't fit. Sayin' things that aren't true. Dumbledore and "Padfoot" say its because he is scared to admit or beleive the truth, even when its right under his nose."

Desiree shook her head and looked off in the sky. "Fudge has gone mad...he cannot be trusted anymore," she said in a trance-like voice.

"FRED!! GEORGE!! WHERE ARE YOU???" a voice called out from inside the shop across the way. A small, plump red haired woman stood in the doorway, looking around until her eyes finally found the twins. "Where have you been? Really, you think now that you're old enough you would..." her eyes moved from them to Desiree and Pierre. "Sorry, i am Molly Weasly, their mother. And you are?"

"Je m'appelle Pierre, chère dame," Pierre swooped down and kissed her hand. Mrs. Weasly blushed.

Desiree managed to twist her moth to a shy smile. She curtsied flawlessly and said "Desiree Adele Orane Malfoy," Mrs. Weasly looked confused. "Is my formal name," Desiree added with an unsure smile. She looked at the twins for help.

"Desiree, Mom," they added in unison.

"Oh, well pleased to know that you know everybody, i remember all my boys coming home for winter break from school talking about you, Desiree." Mrs. Weasly replied with a large friendly smile and great sense of humor.

"I better get going," Desiree said as she was walking with her head turned and grabbing Pierre's arm. "Lets go," she mumbled to him as she dragged him away. He waved as she pulled his sleeve.

Behind them, Molly Weasly was questioning her boys about Desiree. After several questions, the twins have had enough and start walk away. "Wait! Be careful, she IS a Malfoy," she added caringly.

Desiree and Pierre finished at Diagon alley and hurried back to the Ministry. They walked to Aldaric's office to find memos and papers zooming through the air.

"Dad, i think we agreed on no work today...," Desiree said as she was walking in, doing her best to avoid the papers.

”I know, I know Des, but i am swamped. You will never guess who's trial it was," he addedas he looked up and pulled off his thick, black rimmed glassess.

"It was Harry Potter's i know...the Weasly twins told me. How did he look?"

"Well, he looked awful...pale, shaking, thin, and weak. Like he had the life sucked out of him." Desiree shirked back and sat in the corner chair.

After silence between all three, Pierre spoke up and said, "Who favored his side?

"More than half of us, he will be going to Hogwarts this year. Along with you two."

CHAPTER 10

Kyo:

Today, when I came to school, some guy was talking to Tohru. It took a minute for me to realize that it was Momiji.

"He's wearing the guys uniform." I muttered. I began to walk over to them, but stopped, when I saw Haru and Ratboy talking, staring at Tohru and Momiji. I listened to their conversation.

"Look at how all the girls are staring at Momiji, now." Yuki said, smiling.

"It really is amazing how much he's grown." Haru added. They watched Tohru and Momiji walk around, holding hands.

"No matter how you look at it, those two look like a couple." Haru observed.

I felt my fists clench.

"Stupid," I muttered. "Don't get jealous of Momiji. It's Momiji for pete's sake."

A Momiji who's a lot better looking, a voice in the back of my head murmered.

I sighed. Tohru was free to have him. I had no right to her. Because...it's my fault she's so sad. All my fault.

"Hey, Kyo!" a voice said, later, that afternoon. I turned to see Momiji walking toward me.

"What?" I asked, a little bitterly.

"Did you notice I was wearing the boy's uniform? Huh? Did you?" He asked, bouncing, a bit.

"Yes." I growled. Momiji smiled.

"Do you think...you know...since I'm dressed better...that Tohru might...accept my proposal?" he said slowly.

My heart stopped beating.

No way.

No way....

PROLOGUE.

Hermione Granger had just turned seventeen this year, and was about to begin her seventh and final year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. A thing many people don't know about Hermione, is that there are a great deal of things she doesn't like about herself. Indeed, more than she does like. This fact saddened her, but brought her closure, knowing who she was, and thinking that that couldn't be changed.

Hermione wasn't just talking about her physical appearance, although that did bother her immensely, too. Physically, she hated her hair more than anything; trivial, but true. She had tried spell after spell to straighten it, to defrizz it... strangely nothing worked. So this; the mass that was her hair, had become one of her self noticed faults that she had simply grown to live with. She also hated her figure, just in general. For anybody else to look at, she had enviable curves... but looking at herself. No. Her legs were too short and her stomach wasn't flat enough, her hips were too big and her chest too small. She would often dress in different outfits, standing in front of her mirror for hours in the Summer and Christmas holidays, turning this way and that... tugging tops lower, adjusting skirts and trousers... and why, oh why did nothing ever look right on her?
Seemingly, this was a side to Hermione that she would never, ever dare to show at school. Because at school, she was... well; Hermione.

And 'School Hermione' didn't bother with issues such as hair and weight and clothes, did she? Oh no. There wasn't time. She didn't have the energy. She was more concerned with obtaining top marks in any and every subject she could possibly fit into her timetable. And this was something else she considered a fault on herself, but couldn't change.

For so long she had given herself the reputation of... basically knowing everything. Or, maybe, other people had forced that reputation on her from a few high scores in first year, and ever since then, she had studied, worked, tiresomly hard to keep those grades at successful levels, astounding even herself with how well she could do when she tried.

No one knew, not even Harry Potter or Ron Weasley, her two best friends, that before joining Hogwarts, she had been quite... rebellious. She certainly hadn't been the 'Know-it-all' she was classed as now. At her muggle school, she had been the 'naughty' one in the class, and most of her memories of first school were facing the wall in the 'naughty corner', forbidden from making eye contact with any children during 'punishment time'. She laughed at this thought now, though. She wondered what her life would be like if she had kept the attitude she had held so close to her heart during her childhood? Would she be best friends with Harry and Ron? Would she even still be at Hogwarts? Would she have been sorted into Gryffindor?

Hermione didn't know the answers to these questions, but she did know one thing. She felt so suffocated in her life. She couldn't figure out why, but she did. And she felt guilty for having these feelings. Why on earth should she be unhappy with her life, when Harry... her own best friend... was now very rarely heard complaining about anything, even though... so much had happened to him. His parents... Voldemort... and here she was, feeling sorry for herself because-

Because why, exactly?

She didn't know. It couldn't be worked out through books. She couldn't find the answers to her life in a library. She had given up looking long ago. Hermione wondered how and why her attitude had changed so startlingly from first school, to Hogwarts. She didn't understand. She was so young at the time... She remembered her first day at Hogwarts... her very first lesson; potions, it had been. Snape. She shuddered just thinking about him. What an awful creature he was. Absolutely awful; really that was the only word to describe him.

But potions, that had been her first ever lesson... and it should probably have been enough to send her screaming back to her Mother and Father. But she found something... something incredible. Something astounding. Never before had she picked up a book containing anything magical, never before had she bothered to find out what it was she was attending Hogwarts to learn about. To be perfectly honest, when her parents had sat her down and handed her the letter from Professor Dumbledore when she was a tender eleven years old, she had laughed at actually torn it up, thinking her parents were trying to work out a suitable punishment for her recent wrong doing at school... thinking hard, she remembered vaguely it had something to do with a swinging chair and a girl in the year above her. Interesting.

But indeed, she had thought it a boarding school of some-sort, and had not bothered to do any research on Hogwarts. No. She had turned up with wide eyes to the castle, amazed by it's tranquil beauty and eccentric teachers and students. Potions, though. Her first lesson, yes... she knew all of the answers! It was as if stupid, silly words were forming themselves in her mind, letters jumbling into a mixed up order, and practically bursting from her mouth. Only when she actually called out an answer the her greasy haired teacher had she understood she was absolutely right... he had turned to her with a furrowed brow... and asked her to raise her hand before answering in a cold tone. And from then on, her hand flew into the air first for every question.

The answers she was giving, the words she was saying, they all meant nothing to her... she didn't know what they meant! All she knew was that the things she was saying were correct - and they were earning her points for her house; Gryffindor! For the first time in her life, Hermione felt good at something! And that something soon became extremely generalised as 'magic'. She was good at anything to do with it - not just good, excellent, fabulous, the best! No one could outspeak her in matters of Herbology, Potions, Defence, Transfiguration - she knew it all! It was all right there in her mind! It was all waiting for her to be in the right lesson, the right question to be asked and information just jumped to her mouth! It was amazing!

She admitted to herself from the very beginning she was cheating. Not intentionally though. It wasn't her fault she knew all of these things. But she didn't understand how she knew them. It didn't make sense. However, as long as she knew, she could use her knowledge to her advantage. And henceforth she was known as the 'Know-It-All'... and it became a reputation she felt she had to live up too. So then she began studying, began working extremely hard, fearful her puzzling knowledge would one day dissapear and leave her feeling and looking... stupid. Like she had been, like her peers and teachers had told her she was in muggle school. Stupid. Stupid Hermione Granger.

Her parents were so proud, and Hermione could feel guilt welling inside of her every time a good word was said about her across the table at dinner... when she heard her parents talking quietly of how impressed they were... when her Dad bought new clothes for his 'Angel' because she was doing so well. Guilt, guilt, guilt. She wasn't doing well. She felt distressingly feverish and regretful that she knew these things - but why should she? As said, it wasn't her fault. But where had her knowledge come from? Why did she know these things? Why were they so implanted in her mind?
Her magical skills impressed everyone around her, particularly because she had come from a Muggle heritage. But for the previous six years of her life, her magic has only helped her, has only done good. What would happen if her knowledge suddenly became extremely dangerous, again, through no fault of her own? What if she suddenly knew things she didn't want to know? Wanted to try things she knew were wrong... were almost evil? What would then happen to the 'Know-it-all', Hermione Granger?

CHAPTER 1

Last Impressions.

Hermione yawned lazily as she awoke slowly from a hazy night's sleep. All night her mind had bothered her with dark dreams and pleading screams - why? She didn't know. But she was already longing for bedtime, and she hadn't even gotten up and began the day yet.

Stretching, she pushed her covers away and moved to sit up, hanging her legs over the side of her bed, her feet landing on the wooden floor of her room, an instant chill running through her. Shivering slightly, she stood up and ran a hand through her mass of bushy hair, yawning widely once more and peering around her room.

Back to school today! Yes! Oh she loved being home for summer, but she missed her friends, and got so bored she eventually began missing her enemies too, which couldn't be good. With a grin, she moved quickly to her wardrobe, and flung open the doors, wondering what to wear for her journey back across the country to her second home. Well, it shared prize of 'first home' with her Mother and Father now, she thought. She had completed all of her homework to first class standard, as usual, and was ready and raring to go, back into her final year at Hogwarts.

'Hermione! Breakfast!' Her Mother's voice called from downstairs, and Hermione shut her wardrobe doors, deciding she had plenty of time to get ready later. She pulled her dressing gown of pale pink on over her white pyjamas, and ran from her room, closing the door behind her, before joggin down the stairs, her hair flying behind her.

'Morning!' She smiled happily when she reached the kitchen, sitting down at the table as her Mother stood by the toaster, also smiling.

'Good morning! You're looking forwards to getting back to school, then?' Her Mother grinned, and turned to face her daughter. The likeness was quite startling. Mrs Granger had the same color and texture of hair as her daughter, along with pale skin and rosy cheeks. Her eyes were only a shade darker than Hermione's - they could be taken for sister's.
'Of course!' Hermione laughed, pouring herself some orange juice from the jug on the table.

'Of course.' Mrs Granger shook her head with smile and turned back to the toaster, picking up the ready toast and placing it on a plate, before walking to the table and putting it down in front of her daughter. She sat down opposite Hermione.

'Where's Daddy?' Hermione asked automatically, picking up some toast and sinking her teeth into it.

'He had to leave for work early. He said to say goodbye, and to have a wonderful first term back at Hogwarts. And to be good.' Mrs Granger grinned, and Hermione laughed.

'Am I ever anything but?'

'I think he still fears you'll one day turn back to how you were in First school.' Mrs Granger shrugged lightly, and Hermione swallowed her toast, not able to think of anything to say to this. 'So I'll take you to King's Cross in the car, before heading over to work.'

'It's okay, I can apparate now if you like.' Hermione offered, but her Mother shook her head instantly.

'Absolutely not! You may be all grown up in your world, but you'll always be my Little Girl, and no matter how old you get, I intend to be there to wave you off into every important stage of your life.' Hermione noticed her Mother had tears in her eyes as she said this, and thought it slightly strange.

'Mum... 'my world' includes you, you know? I don't forget you because I'm away at school...' Hermione frowned at her Mother's use of the term, and felt upset by it.

'I know, Honey, I just meant that... well, that I'll take you to King's Cross, no arguments.' Mrs Granger stood up and took away Hermione's plate before Hermione could say anything else.

'I'll go and get ready, then.' Hermione got to her feet again, and gazed at her mother for a moment, before walking away out of the kitchen and up the stairs.

'Now you've got everything?'

'I told you - everything I could possibly need!' Hermione sighed, pulling her trunk downstairs. She knew she could use magic now... but her parents were classed as Muggle's, and she wasn't sure if that would get her into trouble with the Ministry, performing magic in front of her family. Possibly. So she decided not to take the chance. Besides, this was the last time she would ever begin a full year at Hogwarts again, and she had dragged her trunk down those stairs so many times before... and old habits die hard.

'You're sure?'

'Yes, Mother!'

'Well come on then - we'll be late!' Mrs Granger took Hermione's trunk from her, and began pulling it along and out of the front door, throwing the keys for Hermione to catch over her shoulder. 'Lock up while I put this in the car.'

'Okay.' Hermione called, walking into the Living room and staring around, smiling slightly.

'Hermione! You're going to miss the train!' Her Mother called after a moment, and Hermione turned and walked into the hallway, her flat shoes snapping on the wood floor.

'I'm coming!' She shouted, and she stepped outside into the warm sunshine, squinting as it hit her eyes. She pulled her front door shut, and locked it quickly, stepping backwards and looking up to her house. She always felt a little sad when leaving it each year.

'Hermione!'

'Alright!' Hermione turned and threw the keys back to her Mother, and she climbed into the front seat of the car, tugging her seat belt over herself and flipping down the mirror to check her hair. Her Mother snapped the door shut and started the engine.

'You look nice. For travelling.' She observed, smiling cheekily.

'I do? Well I just-'

'Who you trying to impress?' Her Mother laughed as she pulled away out of the driveway, gravel crunching under the tyres. Hermione blushed furiously as she tugged at the cropped black jacket she had on over a blue strapless top. Dark jeans accompanied the look, and little fake diamonds glittered around the waistline. A small butterfly was emblazoned on the right of her black jacket, the same shade of flat blue shoes matched her top perfectly. Her hair was waved softly - and she was wearing make-up; for school! Only eyeliner and blusher, but still. Her Mother noticed every tiny detail, and no matter how good or bad Hermione looked at the beginning of every year, her Mother would always tease her about who she was trying to impress...

'Oh, you do this every year!'

'Now, this is your last chance - you're sure you have everything?'

'Yes Mum! Now go, you'll be late for work!' Hermione pushed her trolley with ehr trunk securely perched on top through King's Cross station.

'I already am - it doesn't make much difference now! But-'

'Mum. I'll be fine. I'll have a safe trip. I'll write every week. I'll be careful and safe. I won't break any rules. I'll stay away from fights no matter who they may involve. I'll do my work, I'll do my homework. I'll tell you which holidays I'm coming home for. And...' Hermione blushed as she read off the list her Mother reminded her of every year. 'And I won't let any boys take advantage of me.'

'Well, you remembered it all very well.' Her Mother smiled, satisfied.

'You do say it every year, and most holidays.' Hermione reminded, and her Mother nodded, looking sad. 'So you can go now; I don't want you to be too late.' Hermione let go of her trolley and hugged her Mother, who kissed her cheek. 'Bye - I'll see you soon!'

'Okay, darling... just... just have a nice time!' Her Mother called as Hermione walked away towards the wall that seperated Platform Nine and Three Quarters from the rest of King's Cross.

'I will!'

'And stay out of trouble!'

'Yes, I will!' Hermione couldn't help but laugh, and she turned and waved at her Mother, before heading through the barrier at a run, and materializing on the other side in an instant.

For the whole morning, Hermione had been sadly aware that everything she was doing would be for the last time - dressing for her last first day of attending a full year at Hogwarts; her last time for passing through the barrier to begin a new year, the last time to try and impress the person she had been trying to impress for over six years.

CHAPTER 2

Changes.

Hermione dragged her trunk onto the train, gazing around at the many students pouring in and out of compartments; now the hard part - finding Harry and Ron. Hermione excused her way through students, helping some of the younger and terrified looking ones to compartments along her way, delaying her slightly. But she didn't mind; she remembered her first time on the Hogwarts Express - petrifying, simply petrifying.

She carried on up the train, glancing into compartments on her way, hoping to find Harry and Ron in one of them. No such luck. She kept going, the remaining unchecked compartments becoming a lesser number by each step. She was third compartment from the back, and she turned to peer through the window - and there was Ron. But he wasn't alone. And he wasn't with Harry. He was with- Cho! And he was doing more with Cho than having a friendly but dull conversation... by the looks of it, he was having a lot of fun, kissing her softly and tucking her long, dark silky hair behind her ears lovingly, as she perched on his knee.

Hermione couldn't hold herself back, she slammed the compartment door open, the glass rattling in it's frame as the train gave a loud hoot and began chugging away from King's Cross.

'Hermione!' Ron gasped, at the same time as Cho.

'She's Harry's!' Hermione shouted automatically, her temper rising with each word. Harry's ex girlfriend? Awful! How could he?! Ron knew how much Harry liked Cho! And... and... AND! What was he doing?! But more importantly... why were tears shimmering in Hermione's eyes as she shook her head slowly from side to side as Ron pushed Cho away from him and got to his feet.

'Hermione - Cho and Harry broke up ages ago, and-'

'I don't want to hear it.' Hermione turned and began walking away down the train again, leaving her trunk where it was without a second thought. Did Harry know about this?

'Hermione! Wait!' Ron's voice called, and Ron tore after her down the corridor of the rocking train, grabbing at her hands desperatly, but Hermione pulled them away just as sharply.

'Does Harry know?' She asked sharply, stopping dead and turning to face him.

'Does Harry know what?' A smiling voice asked from behind Hermione, and she turned to find Harry grinning at her. All thoughts were wiped from her mind, and a smile split across her face. How she loved Harry - as a friend only, by means of saying. But even just seeing him... it reminded her nothing so terrible had happened yet; that he was fine and safe, just as she was - and Ron. Ron. Ron! Hermione's smile faded, and she averted her eyes to the floor as Harry stepped forwards and hugged her tight.

'Well? What should I know?' Harry asked, stepping back but keeping an arm around Harry's shoulders.

'You don't like Cho anymore, do you mate?' Ron asked, tactlessly. Harry's cheeks grew pink slightly... and Hermione swallowed hard.

'Well... I mean... Cho, she's... I mean... I haven't seen her for a while... why? Has she been talking about me?' The hope in Harry's eyes was evident as he said this last part, his eyes jumping to Ron's, then Hermione's.

'Oh she doesn't do much talking, does she Ron?' Hermione snapped, shrugging Harry's arm away and taking off down the train, not looking back for Ron or Harry's calls - she was far too upset to talk anymore.

Hermione pulled her knees up to her chest and hugged them tight, tears running down her cheeks as she stared out of the wondow of her empty compartment, her eyes fixated on watching the passing fields.

So she had started out this morning willing to impress him - desperate to impress him; but he'd already been impressed by no one less than Cho Chang - Harry's old girlfriend. But for six years Hermione and Ron had been... well, at that awkward stage of smiling at one another and then quickly looking away. Hermione had hoped - she had done more than hoped, she had prayed - that this year would be significantly different. She wanted to start the year with something different... something she had wanted for so long. And her plan had been... what exactly? Well, okay, she hadn't had a plan. But she had known what she wanted! For once! And... and Ron obviously wasn't interested.

He just wasn't interested.

Hermione felt her sadness slip away and anger edge into it's place. Suddenly she was furious - more angry than she had ever allowed herself to get. Standing up, she kicked the seat opposite her with such force she thought she had broken her toe. Swearing, she grabbed her wand and started out of the cabin - only to turn and see Malfoy several compartments down, leaning in and shouting something to a no doubt horrified and terrified first year. A sick spark snapped to Hermione's eyes, and she turned back into her compartment; knowing Malfoy would soon reach hers, and he looked to be alone. Well so what if he wasn't?

Raising her wand, Hermione placed the tip to her forehead, and thought strongly of Ron, urging him to get to her compartment immediately. It was a new spell she had learned over the summer - owls weren't needed anymore, it was possible to communicate through minds alike. It was a breakthrough it magic; and she was grateful for it.

Right now, she wanted to hurt Ron more than he had hurt her. She knew he would be here any minute, so she took a deep breath, and walked back to the door of her compartment, just as Malfoy reached the other side. He opened the door with glee having found her to taunt her at last.

'Alright Mudblood? I was-'

'Shut up and get in here.' Hermione ordered, grabbing him by the front of his robes and pulling him into the compartment, as he uttered a startled cry. Hermione ignored him as she leaned back out of her compartment, watching for Ron eagerly. He wouldn't dare mess with her again after this - not ever.

'Oi! What's going on?! I-'

'Just shut up! You're going to help me with something.' Hermione murmured the last part over her shoulder, and Malfoy raised an eyebrow with a sly laugh.

'I don't help mudbloods-'

'Do you help blood traitors?' Hermione interrupted, still over her shoulder.

'No! Why would-'

'Then shut up and help me, otherwise you're helping a blood traitor. Weasley, actually.' Hermione whispered, and Malfoy stopped speaking, looking stunned. He quickly regained his composure.

'What you playing at, though? Why would you be trying to set up Weasel? I mean-'

'He's here!' Hermione turned to face Draco and grabbed him, placing him so as his side faced the compartment door. She wanted Ron to see her and Malfoy very clearly. She waited... she could hear heavy and rushing footsteps approaching as she stepped opposite Malfoy. This was going to hurt Ron so much... she was desperate to see his reaction - desperate! She would never have dreamed up something as awful as this last year - yesterday even! But she didn't care... something in Ron's kissing of Cho had triggered something deep inside of Hermione... something that made her feel oh so good... for doing something really, really bad. The footsteps got louder... and louder. Malfoy frowned down at her as she reached and placed her hands around his neck.

'Hey! What are you-' Hermione cut him off when the footsteps stopped, by kissing him full on the mouth, standing on tiptoes to reach him. She expected Malfoy to push her away instantly, but it wouldn't have mattered - Ron would have seen all she intended him too. But to her utter surprise, Malfoy didn't push her away - his hands fluttered to her waist and pulled her closer, his lips returning her kiss softly. Feeling stunned herself, Hermione pulled back, staring up at Draco, his hands not budging from her hips. With a click, she remembered her goal... and she turned to see Ron staring, open mouthed and mortified, into the compartment.

Excellent.

Cho who?

CHAPTER 3

Consequences.

Within a split second - literally - Ron had slammed the compartment door open in a fury, had dragged Draco away from Hermione, pinning him to the window behind with such force Hermione was stunned Draco remained conscious - but he did. The compartment was instantly filled with the sound of Ron's furious yelling, and a moment later, before Hermione could do anything but reach out her arm and open her mouth in protest, Ron had raised his fist and smashed it into Draco's face with deliberate venom.

Hermione had her wand in her hand in a second, and she spun in in her fingers, the effect being Ron was instantly torn back from Draco and flung into a seat, his head knocking sickeningly against the wood a top of the seat. Hermione ignored him, however, and found herself more concerned with Draco, who had slumped to the floor, looking dizzy, blood pouring from his nose and lip. Ron's shouting had subsided, and Hermione hadn't nothered checking whether he had been knocked out by her spell. Instead, she dropped to the floor beside Draco and raised her hand to his face, making him turn to the light of the window above so she could see the damage properly.

Raising her wand, Draco winced and raised a hand in front of his face.

'Get away from me, Mudblood!' He spat, wiping the blood from his face on his sleeve absentmindedly, creating the sudden pale and shaking image of a scared child. Hermione frowned at him, and was about to reply, when he cut her off. 'What were you playing at?! Kissing me?! Me! I'm a pureblood! And you're a Mudblood! You stay away from me! Do you understand?! You stay away and you tell no-one of what just-'

'If you'd shut up for a moment, I'd heal your broken nose and split lip.' Hermione cut across him in a perfectly calm, perfectly cold voice. He stopped ranting and glared at her, raising his hand to touch his broken nose tenderly. He winced, tears springing to his eyes. He quickly tried to hide them.

'Doesn't hurt.' He muttered, turning his gaze to the ceiling. Hermione tried hard to keep a wry smile from her face.

'Of course it doesn't, but I'm sure it's be a lot more comfortable if you'd let me help you-'

'I don't need your help!' Draco hissed, pushing her away from him, so she stumbled and reached for the seat to keep her balance on her heels. She glared at him.

'Well fine! I'll help Ron instead.' She turned her back on him whilst standing up, walking to Ron's side and sitting down beside him, about to waken him.

'No don't wake him up!' Draco called instantly, his voice sounding a little... afraid. Hermione turned to him with raised eyebrows. 'OKay, you can fix me.' He murmured, sounding defeated, and raising his hand to brush against his face again. 'Still doesn't hurt though.' He grumbled, as Hermione got back to her knees beside him.

'There. Good as new.' Hermione tilted back where she knelt, observing Draco's pale a bruise and blood free face.

'Yeah?' Draco groped at his face with both hands. 'Doesn't hurt anymore... Not that it did in the first place, of course.' He quickly corrected, and Hermione rolled her eyes as there was a mumble from behind her. Ron was waking up. Draco pushed her out of the way and scrambled past her, getting unsteadily to his feet. 'He's a nutcase - that one; and you know what? You're just as bad.' Draco hissed, his hand on the door, before turning and leaving, slamming it shut behind him.

'Oh, wonderful.' Hermione shook her head in dismay as Ron's voice began mumbling.

'Cho? Hermione? Malfoy? Ginny? Harry? ... Harry? ... Hermione? Hermione... Malfoy... Malfoy... Hermione... MALFOY!' Ron, his eyes flashing open, awoke with a start, and jumped to his feet, making Hermione jump too. Ron caught sight of her as his eyes roved wildly around the compartment. 'WHERE IS HE?' He roared, and he grabbed Hermione by the shoulders and shook her as easily as if she were a doll.

'I d-'

'WHERE IS HE?!'

'WHO?' Hermione screamed back, her temper flaring with such ease she scared even herself.

'MALFOY! HE WAS... AND YOU WERE... HE WAS KISSING YOU!' Ron exploded, almost lifting Hermione off her feet as he grabbed her and dragged her, throwing her onto the seat in the compartment. Hermione stopped herself screaming and pushed Ron's hands away from her.

'SO WHAT? YOU WERE KISSING CHO!' She retorted, trying to get back to her feet, but Ron held her there with ease, pushing her back every time she tried to get up.

'BUT HE'S MALFOY!'

'SHE'S CHO!'

'MALFOY THOUGH!' Ron turned and paced to the other seat, before turning to the window, raising his fist, and hitting it with all of his strength. Hermione screamed and ducked as there was a shattering of glass and a sudden burst of wind sweeping into the compartment, pulling her hair back from her face and making the glass in the door rattle. Hermione got to her feet and raised her wand.

'REPARO!' She screamed above the roaring wind, and the glass pieced itself back together immediately, the wind halting and the glass stopping. Everything was quiet once more.

'He's Malfoy, Hermione...' Ron almost whispered, turning to face her.

'Yeah and so what?' Hermione whispered back, glaring him steadily in the eye, although her own were filling rapidly with tears.

'He was kissing you...'

'No. I was kissing him.'

'Same difference.' Ron dropped into the seat opposite where Hermione was standing, putting his head in his hands.

'It's not the same at all.' Hermione breathed, sinking down into the seat behind her.

'He had his hands on you... he didn't look particularly uncomfortable...' Ron reminded, and Hermione frowned, about to deny this. But then she realized she could't - Ron was right, Draco had pulled her closer...

'You kissed Cho.' Was all Hermione could think to say, as she wiped at a single spilt tear that ran down her cheek.

'So? What does that matter? She's not a Death Eater! She's not a Slytherin! She-'

'She's Harry's ex girlfriend! And he still likes her!' Hermione interrupted, her eyes wide, her voice high.

'Well so what?! For once I get something Harry doesn't! For once I'm the one getting what I want! For once-'

'God, shut up! You're unbelieveble! Do you know that? You have no conscience and no understanding of other people's feelings! Just... just leave me alone, please.' Hermione whispered the last part, drawing her knees up to her chest and hugging them to herself, letting her tears flow freely now.

'How can you say that? Other people's feelings? It's Malfoy!'

'SO WHAT?!' Hermione screeched, snapping her eyes to him. 'WOULD IT HAVE MATTERED IF IT WERE HARRY? OR DEAN? OR FRED OR GEORGE? RON YOU DON'T THINK OF ANYONE BUT YOURSELF AND THAT'S WHAT I HATE ABOUT YOU!' Hermione, instead of waiting for Ron to leave, got up and pushed him out of her way, leaving the compartment with such haste that Ron hardly had time to call her back, but he did anyway. It goes without saying that she ignored him.

'Hermione? Hermione, I brought your trunk into my compartment, where've you been? I can't find Ron, either.' Harry grabbed Hermione's hand, spinning her around to face him whilst saying this. Hermione tilted her head to the ground, hoping Harry wouldn't see her tears before she had a chance to wipe them away, but she could already guess her eyes would be flaming red, so why bother trying to hide it? She quickly wiped her damp cheeks, and then looked up to Harry with a smile.

'I don't know where Ron is. Should we go and sit down then?' She pulled her hand free of his slowly and began walking past him; he took her hand again.

'It's this way.' He nodded in the opposite direction to where Hermione had started walking - back towards where she had left Ron a moment before.

'Right, yes of course, okay.' Hermione mumbled, and Harry dropped her hand, and began walking. There were people walking the other direction, so they had to slow and squeeze past one another - the train wasn't exactly spacious. And worst of luck, Draco came strolling down the corridor, glaring at Harry, and then spotting Hermione. Hermione stepped to the side, turning her head and eyes away to look to the floor beside her as Draco stepped past her, not saying or doing anything. Hermione's heart was racing at an alarming rate - well what had she expected? For him to whisper something to her? For him to touch her in some way? Well none of what she may have expected in her subconscious happened, and she was glad... and strangely deflated, by this. Hermione stared after Draco as he carried on down the corridor, and Harry placed a hand on her shoulder after waiting for her a moment, without her moving an inch.

'Hermione? Are you okay? Did he say something to you?' Harry asked, saying 'he' as though he meant the Devil himself. Hermione jolted herself back to reality.

'No... no he said nothing.' Hermione swallowed, and turned back to Harry, who stared down at her frowning.

'Have you been crying?' He asked, as Hermione shook her head and stepped to his side.

'No. Now which compartment are we in?'

CHAPTER 4 (PART 1)

Threats.
{Post One}

Hermione dragged her trunk by her side as she and Harry entered the Entrance Hall of Hogwarts once again. No matter what had happened on the train, nothing could keep a bright smile from illuminating Hermione's face now; she was home.

'Do you want me to carry that for you?' Harry offered, suddenly noticing how Hermione was struggling with the weight of her possessions. She turned to him, still smiling.

'No it's fine, thanks.' She replied, but the smile faded from her face as Ron appeared beside Harry, looking uncomfortable. Harry, knowing nothing of what had happened, grinned at his best friend.

'Alright mate? Should we go in for the feast?' Harry offered, beginning to pull his trunk over to the mass pile of other things, which would be sorted and taken to the different hourses by Filch - and the Houselves of course. Ron followed, Hermione behind him. They stopped, and Harry pulled Hermione's luggage from her grasp and pushed it into place next to his, turning with a relaxed expression to the doors leading to the Great Hall, through which many students were now pouring, all excited and chattering gleefully.

'Listen, Harry, about on the train; about what Hermione told you-' Ron had already presumed Hermione had divulged all details of their... crossed words on the train, but of course; she hadn't. She snapped her eyes to Ron, glaring at him.

'About what? I've said nothing about the train.' Hermione said, as coldly but casually as she could manage. Ron stared at her for a moment, blinking stupidly, before clearing his throat.

'Oh... right... right then!' Ron seemed to instantly relax, and Hermione held herself back from mustering the filthiest look she was capable of, and instead turned to Harry.

'You ready?' She asked, her tone normal. Before Harry could answer though, Hermione was pushed sideways, stumbling and having to grab Harry's arm to keep her balance.

'Watch where you're going Granger.' Draco's snarling voice seemed to burn at Hermione's ears as she turned to glower at him threateningly; he had deliberately pushed her, and not just a nudge, he had almost grabbed her to throw her. Harry was in front of Hermione in a second.

'Keep your hands to yourself, Malfoy.' He spat, his hand reaching for his wand pointedly. Draco glanced to Hermione, a twisted smile lighting his lips, and he seemed to muse over saying something a lot more startling than an insult... but he didn't. He instead let the smile fall from his face and turned his eyes back to Harry. Hermione tried to calm her heart which had errupted into panic at his warning glance.

'It's fine; it was my fault.' Hermione said instantly, taking Harry's arm and trying to move him from the scene as quickly as possible.

'Your fault? How?' Harry laughed, but it was a cold laugh; he wasn't really listening to her.

'Harry; please, let's go - now!' Hermione pleaded, scared Draco was about to reveal what had happened on the train; to a packed Entrance Hall.

'Go on Potter; listen to the Mudblood.' Draco grinned welcomingly, and Harry went to start forwards, but both Hermione and Ron grabbed either arm, pulling him back as a few people began whispered and pointing conversations.
'Harry.' Hermione made Harry turn to look at her. 'Please, come on; he's not worth it. Please let's just go for dinner.' Hermione held his eye contact for as long as it took, before Harry nodded coolly and began walking by Hermione's side, shrugging his arms free of their grasp and leaving Draco without a backwards glance.

CHAPTER 4 (PART 2)

Threats.
{Post 2}

The sorting seemed to take a short lifetime to pass by, but finally it was done, and new students lined the benches of Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin, all eager to begin the feast and new school year. Hermione was sitting next to Harry and opposite Ron, and she kept her eyes trained on the sorting stool and hat at all times, never daring to glance at Ron, and feeling guilty if her eyes passed to Harry.

The feast began and ended, but Dumbledore got to his feet once more, tapping a spoon against a crystal goblet to gather the students - and Professor's alike - attention. Seconds later, all eyes were on the ancient Headmaster.

'Now, as always we must crown the new Head Boy, and Head Girl of Hogwarts. I will ask the two selected to please approach the front to collect your badges. So, I'll begin...' Dumbledore was smiling broadly to all tables equally, giving no clue of whom the priviledge would be bestowed upon. Hermione, strangely enough, didn't really care. She had more important things on her mind, things that may or may not fade away with time; but still, she couldn't just push them from her conscience because of this. So she didn't mind right now, all she wanted was for the ceremony to be over, so that she could go and take a long hot bath in the prefects bathroom, and then slip into bed; and hopefully into an undisturbed slumber.

Harry though, was obviously hopeful for her. He turned to her with a grin the moment Dumbledore had began to speak, but Hermione had shook her head and looked away. She suspected Harry was also wondering if he himself would be crowned Headboy... as were many people at the Gryffindor table; eyes were flickering towards Harry almost constantly now.

'Our new Head Boy - congratulations Mr Ronald Weasley!' A stunned silence greeted Dumbledore's announcement for a few long seconds, as Harry turned his wide eyes towards his best friend. Hermione couldn't hold back shaking her head and glarnig at Ron; as though he had known all along, when clearly he hadn't. The Gryffindor table then slowly bubbled into shocked clapping and cheering; Hermione joined in neither. Harry shook Ron's hand with a grin, as Ron - shaking - stood up and made his way slowly towards the front, waving in a more confident manner to people cheering him; loudest of all was Lavender Brown. Hermione carried on glaring at Ron's back, furious - it should have been Harry. And after Ron had kissed Cho like that... it should have been Harry up there for Head Boy. It was just obvious.

'Yes, yes well done Mr Weasley. And now, for our new Head Girl; congratulations Miss Hermione Granger!' Dumbledore beamed towards the Gryffindor table once again, but Hermione didn't even smile as Ron began making his way back to his place. The table errupted instantly into chaos for Hermione - everyone had already figured she would win anyway, but to have both Head Boy and Girl as Gryffindor's... well, there would be an amazing party tonight in the common room.

Harry pulled Hermione into a hug, cheering and clapping along with the other Gryyfindors - and all of the Ravenclaw's and Hufflepuff's as well. Of course, all Slytherin's were sitting still, many with their arms folded, lots just talking amongst themselves, still eating and drinking, completely ignoring the ongoing celebrations.

'Knew it!' Harry shouted above the roaring noise, letting Hermione go; to find her still glaring at Ron, who had taken his seat opposite her. The noise began to quieten.

'Miss Granger? If you'll come and collect your badge?' Dumbledore prompted from the front, and Hermione stood up slowly, pulling her eyes from Ron's. She began walking to the front, to renewed cheering and congratulations. But she didn't care. She was grateful; all of this was for her, the cheering - hundreds of people were all clapping, all stamping their feet and screaming stupidly; for her. But it didn't matter. Hardly any of them actually knew her; and one of the few people who did had betrayed her trust so completely on the journey here, that she found she simply didn't care. She collected her badge in silence and kept it clamped in her hand as she walked back to her seat, the noise finally simmering away to dull chatter when she resumed her seat.

'You should have got Head Boy Harry.' She said bluntly, still staring at Ron, who winced visably when she said this. Harry laughed awkwardly from beside her.

'Nah, Ron deserves it.' Harry grinned, but under the table, he took Hermione's hand and squeezed it gently; now she knew he was dissapointed.

'But you deserve it more.' Hermione turned to Harry now, as he pulled his hand back, shaking his head at her.

'I assure you I don't.' He smiled, turning away from her and sipping his juice. 'Well done mate.' He grinned at Ron, who was now in turn glaring at Hermione.

'Thanks.'

CHAPTER 48

Tuesday
February 19th, 2008
8:00 am
London England
Hermione Weasley's Law Firm

Hermione and Ron both awoke early the next morning. Ron called off of work and hurried down to Hermione's law firm with her. The aurors were all standing outside waiting. Hermione hurried to the door and unlocked it. She stepped aside and the aurors piled in. Some of the aurors searched downstairs while the other part of the aurors hurried upstairs to search around. Harry and Aly led them upstairs. Hermione and Ron ran after them. Harry walked over to the door that Hermione could never open. He grabbed ahold of the doorkn*b and twisted it. But the door didn't open. "I told you it wouldn't open." Hermione told him as she put her hands on her hips. Harry nodded and took out his wand. Aly copied. Harry pointed his wand at the door. Aly pushed Hermione and Ron gently back away from the door. She pointed her wand at the door too. "Do you care if I destroy your door?" Harry asked. "I don't care." Hermione replied. "But I'm expecting the aurors to buy me another door." Harry gave her a mocking smile. "On the count of three." Harry said. "One." "Two." Aly continued. "Three." Harry finished. Two beams of white light hit the door. It started to rattle before it exploded. Wood dust covered all four of them and the air around them. The wood dust in the air slowly started to fall to the floor. Hermione spit out a few wood chips. "Yuck!" she cried. "Nice one mate." Ron muttered as he gave Hermione a clean part of his sleeve to wipe her mouth.

Aly looked at the wood chips on the floor. "Yea...we probably could have done that another way." Aly said. Harry shrugged and flicked his wand. The wand illuminated. "I'll go first." he said. He walked into the doorway and raised his wand. Harry, Aly, Hermione, and Ron saw that there was a staircase. Ron looked at it. "That doesn't look to safe." he muttered. Harry nodded in agreement. He sighed and stepped gently onto the first stair. There was a loud creak from underneath. Harry took a deep breath and continued up the stairs. When he got to the top, Aly followed. Behind her was Hermione and then Ron. The four of them were greeted by a blast of cold air. Hermione shivered and wrapped her cloak tighter around her. They were standing in a big room. Straight ahead was a big window that was opened. Snow covered the floor by the window. The room was old and looked to be not finished. There were a few small holes in the wall that you could see the boards holding the walls up. However, some of the walls looked as if someone had started to remodel them. Plaster covered these walls. Aly walked over to the corner of the room and knelt down beside a big sheet covered object. She grabbed an edge of the sheet and pulled it hard. The sheet fell to the ground. Plaster was seen. Along with a shovel, hammer, and nails. "Well three guesses to where Blaise barried the bodies." Ron muttered looking at the walls that were plastered. Harry walked over to the corner and grabbed the shovel. He walked over to one of the plaster walls and drove the shovel through it. He pulled it back quickly and a large piece of the wall fell to the floor.

A decaying arm could be shown. Hermione gasped and covered her mouth. She looked away. Harry, Aly, and Ron hurried to the hole. "Help me out, Ron." Harry ordered. Ron nodded and they both grabbed a part of the hole. They started to pull the plaster from the wall. Aly walked over to Hermione to see if she was alright. Ron and Harry dropped the plaster onto the floor. Both were covered in the white plaster dust. Aly looked over to them. "Did you get to her yet?" Aly asked. "Ugh!" Ron cried as he jumped back. Harry wiped his face on his sleeve and hurried to the foot of the stairs. "Get up here, we found a body." he yelled down. Aly walked over to the wall and examined the body. "She's not decomposed yet." she stated. "Melody's mother perhaps." Harry said as he walked back over. "She went missing about two years ago." Aly nodded. Hours flew by and 5 bodies were found. All of them were the mothers of Blaise's 5 daughters. Near one of the far corner's of the room, Aly had found an open wall. They believe that Blaise was going to use it for Jessica. Harry assumed that Blaise was getting in by the open window.

CHAPTER 51

“Nice to see you still have that mouth of yours, but really, I need you to lay on your stomach,”Tonks instructed. Draco stared but did.

“Why here?”Draco asked.

“More private, thought i’d spare you from all the people watching,”Tonks said. Draco attempted to say thanks, but it simply wouldnt come out, thank you wasnt in his vocabulary, so he merely nodded. Tonks knelt next to him, holding the wet cloth and she began to clean and dress his wounds. The healing potion must have been a pain reliever as well as a healing potion because it didnt hurt, it actually felt rather soothing. Draco sighed closing his eyes.

“Your a very strong person you know,”Draco said quietly. Tonks blinked, not used to anything un insulting coming from Draco directed towards her.

“Really you think so? Thanks,”Tonks said slowly. She had lost Remus Lupin the love of her life, today and yet she was helping Draco of all people. Draco frowned, he may never understand people. If he had lost someone he’d love he’d barricade himself in his room for months.

“Your strong too Malfoy,”said Tonks.

“Weaker than you think,”Draco said quietly, thinking of what he was going to do to Harry tomorrow. Here the order was helping him, and tomorrow he was going to leave bits and pieces of Harry Potter all over their carpets. A very nice way to repay them. Draco surpressed a groan.

“You are and your not so bad,”Tonks said. Draco laughed.

“Thanks,”said Draco.

“Well you are a little obnoxious,”said Tonks.

“This is a compliment isnt it?”Draco asked with a raised eyebrow.

“I’m trying,”Tonks said with a sulk. Draco laughed. It felt good to laugh.

“There all done.”Tonks said. Draco stood up slowly, Tonks helped.

“Lets get you to your room,”Tonks said. Draco reluctantly excepted her help.

“Healing potion should do its work by morning, you should be back to your poncey self tomorrow.”

“I better be,”Draco said with a smirk. They went in to the room Draco shared with Neville and Draco laid on his stomach in his bed. Tonks stared at him for awhile before walking down the hall. Poor guy. She liked keeping busy it kept her mind off of Remus. She sighed sadly walking into the room where the rest of the order were talking.

“Can you believe this?”McGonagall questioned gravely.

“I never thought. . . man poor Malfoy,”Harry said.

“Is he going to be okay?”Hermione asked with worry.

“Physically he should be fine in a few days,”McGongall said with a heavy sigh.

“He’s an annoying little bugger but not that annoying. You know? Sure sometimes I want to turn him into a toad and throw him a blender but. . .how could anyone do that to their son?”said Ron and he shuddered.

“Oh very nice Ronald, toad and blender,”Hermione snapped.

“You know what I mean! I mean he’s annoying but he’s part of the group now,”Ron said. Hermione sighed and nodded in agreement.

“I know,”she said quietly.

“Poor kid,”Tonks said. Neville walked to the room he shared with Draco, a look of concern on his face. Draco was reading a book laying on his stomach, but his eyes werent moving so Neville knew he wasnt really reading.

“Malfoy,”Neville said gently. Draco’s eyes landed on him. “Is it alright if I talk with out being about to die just this once?” Draco smiled.

“Just this once,”Draco said.

CHAPTER 9

Kisa:

Ali-san says she's a witch. It actually wasn't that hard to belive. She's always seemed a bit...odd. A little stand off-ish. And I belive in magic. I am a zodiac member, after all. It must be magic that made me like this. But I had never thought of her being a witch.

I sat with Hiro, playing with Hinata-chan*.

"Hiro-chan..." I began, but I stopped.

"Huh? Kisa? What is it?" Hiro-chan asked.

"Do...do you...belive in magic?" I asked softly.

"Magic?" Hiro-chan asked, skeptically. I nodded. Hiro-chan was quiet for a moment, as he shook a rattle in fron of Hinata-chan.

"Magic." He repeated, slowly. "No, I don't really. It's just...not...belivable." He continued to play with Hinata-chan. Maybe, I was being gullible, beliving in Ali-san's story. But...I had seen the gold sparks. And why wouldn't I belive her?

Ali:

I chewed on my pen and continued my life story.

The girls, in the compartment, were all in saggy black pants and tight shirts and sweatshirts. Most of them had unusual hair colors.

"What'cho doin' here, girl?" one asked.

"I...I'm sorry...I just..." I began. Voices swarmed through my head, but none of the girls were moving their mouth.

"You just, what?" a girl asked. I shook my head, unable to speak. The voices grew louder, more insistent.

"What's wrong with you? You stupid or something?" another one asked. I felt like I was going to be sick. What were these voices? Who was talking? Why could only I hear them?

I clutched at my head and stoumach.

"Hey...guys...I think she's gonna hurl." one girl said. That was the last I heard, before I blanked out.

*Hinata-chan is Hiro's baby sister