Hermoine sat alone in first class staring out the window at the vast ocean below her. No one around her, or on that flight for that matter, had any idea she had no reason to fly like a regular muggle. She could just as easily apperate from Hogsmeade to her home, but alas she was still trying to blend. Whenever she had to deal with Jenna's anger or talk to Draco she wondered why he was so civil to her, it couldn't be because he actually still loved her, she wondered if she did the right thing leaving her husband when their world fell apart and she could not trust anyone around her anymore. The logical part of her said that she and Jenna were just as easily found in the muggle world as they were in the magical world, easier in fact, but the hurt and angry part said that the logical part was full of it and that she had taken precautions including having Dumbledore cast powerful protection charms on their home to make it safer. Then there was the problem of Jenna's anger, which ninety-nine percent of the time was directed at Hermoine. Draco and Hermoine had many disagreements after Aden died. Many of which were about what to tell their daughter about the circumstances surrounding her little brother's death. They had used the Malfoy name and clout to hide a lot from the newspapers, but the circumstances surrounding Aden's death were still being investigated by the Ministry of Magic, as for their daughter they told her the same things they told the paper, a witch or wizard had broken into their home and killed him. That story wasn't entirely true. Sadly at the end of their marriage their relationship had deteriorated to the same state it was in when they were eleven, they would shout "ferret" and "mudblood" at each other, their angry voices echoing through their large house. Hermoine had moved into a different wing than Draco when their relationship went south, she couldn't look at him. Thank Merlin Jenna was not around to witness most of it, although she saw enough when she was home for break.

Hermoine just sat and stared and hoped the longer she thought about her daughter, and her ex-husband and her old life eventually the answer would come to her. The way it used to…

________________________________________________________________________

Draco Malfoy had moved back into Malfoy manner after his wife left him. He was in the solarium thinking over his latest visit to Hogwart's and his current predicament with his daughter and ex-wife when his father walked in.

"Something troubles you Draco?" Lucius asked as he walked up next to his son.

"It's Jenna father. She's angry and taking it out on everyone and everything in her path and she has no regard for anyone or anything. I'm sure you heard about the quidditch match."

"I was informed."

"Were you also informed that she is close to being expelled?"

"A Malfoy has never been…"

Draco cut him off "Father this is not about being a Malfoy or the family name. My daughter is in pain. She is slowly spiraling out of control and in very real danger of losing her future. And I cannot fix it. I talked to Severus after Hermoine left. Jenna's been worse this year than even Dumbledore has let on. Severus has personally seen her intoxicated on school nights, she's been caught out after dark with male students. I will personally kill whomever they were. She has been in physical altercations, and fought the muggle way with most of the Slytherin girls in her year and won. Severus found her in possession of some muggle herb called Marijuana, I have to look that up, but she and her friends were smoking it. Apparently she lied to me when she said she wrote to her mother weekly. She hasn't owled her mother in over a year. Hermoine sends her letters every week, she doesn't even open them."

"Have you talked to Hermoine about any of this without Jenna present?"

"We only found out about it ourselves yesterday. I get her for the entire upcoming Christmas holiday."

"Oh, why is that?"

"With everything going on we felt it was best for her to stay with one parent this holiday instead of splitting her time between us especially since she's more likely to listen to me than Hermoine when it comes to talking about school and her behavior. Besides Hermoins can't very well have this conversation with her in front of her muggle boyfriend." Draco said the last part snidely.

Lucius smiled to himself. "Draco as much as it pained us to see Hermoine go, she left our world and rejoined the muggle world. It was her choice no one else's. She has a life of her own there. Although I know you apperate to her home from time to time."

"Well I need to see if the protection charms are still working." Draco quickly lied.

"No need to lie draco." Lucius drawled. "Love is a powerful emotion. It has bested the richest men and most powerful wizards."

"Then why didn't it save my marriage!" Draco left in a huff.

________________________________________________________________________

Jenna had some time to herself before she was to serve detention with Cameron for the night. Tonight they were to help Hagrid, what they would be doing no one knew, hopefully the Centurs were in a good mood tonight. She walked down to the forest herself to think for a bit. She was walking through the forest alone, making sure to keep her distance from the dangerous creatures and taking delight in the nicer ones when she heard a twig snap behind her. Startled she whipped around just in time to see something out of the corner of her eye, then she felt a heavy finger tap her on the shoulder "AHHH!" she yelped and whipped her wand out reflexively as she faced her attacker.

"Oh jeeze Jenna I'm sorry." Hagrid apologized with his hands in the air to show he meant no harm. "I didn' mean ta scare ya."

"Oh gosh Hagrid, I'm sorry, you scared me out of my whits." She said as she clutched her heart with her other hand.

"I know, I just saw you walking down here alone and didn't want you to run into anything dangerous."

"I know Hagrid, it's alright, thank you."

"How 'bout you come in and have a cuppa tea with me and ol' Fang?"

"I'd like that, thank you very much Hagrid." They started walking toward Hagrd's hut when she kicked up a dense black stone from the forest floor.

"What's that cha found there Jenna?"

"I'm not sure." She said as she picked it up to examine it further. It was onyx black and looked to be broken in half with something inscribed on it. She dug through the leaves some more to find the other half. "Found the other half." She said as she fit them together and showed him.

"Well that's a pretty stone."

"Yup." Without a second thought she put it in the inner pocket of her robes.

Hagrid put on a pot of water to boil. "So how have things been at school since well you know…"

"It's been you know, crappy. The two houses still hate each other, there's an underlying current of animosity covered by phony smiles but it's going to boil over again. The only problem is the first person to do anything will be expelled. It was never like this, before."

"Oh yes it was, maybe students didn't get into fights during Quidditch matches but they still fought in school. You just weren't alive yet. When your mum and dad were just wee ones, before the second war the Gryffindors and Slytherins were mortal enemies. Then after the war people learned to put their differences aside. People learned tha' blood wasn't what made a wizard or witch, it was talent, an' heart."

"Really? My mum and dad didn't get along when they were here?"

"Oh not only them, the whole lot, your dad and Ron Weasley got into some great rows, and Mad-eye Moody the great Auror once turned your da into a ferret in the school courtyard, bounced him around like a basketball he did."

"Hahaha. Why did he do that?" The girl asked between bouts of laughter.

"Because your dad was one of the meanest kids in school, well before the war of course, and he and his friends were having a good laugh at Harry Potter's expense. And no one laughs at Harry Potter, not at Hogwarts."

"It sounds like not much has changed at Hogwarts. You have seen the Harry Potter Portrait right?"

"Bite your tongue missy." Hagrid said as he went to fetch the tea kettle. "Before the war things here were very different, the whole wizarding world was different. You-Know-Who and the death eaters were rounding up muggle borns and half bloods, attacking muggles all the time, they attacked Hogwarts. The second war was fought righ' here on these very grounds and well the ministry, never had much faith in that lot. Hogwarts may have a few problems with a few bad apples today but it's nothing like it used to be. Your mum was a brilliant witch, but people used to call her a mudblood, and you know what that is. People used to think they were better than her because they thought themselves "pure" blood, whatever that is."

"People like who?"

"Well let's just say people."

"People like my dad?"

"Well he was mislead, and look they got together. The whole Malfoy family even fought with the Order in the second war."

She looked at him quizzically. "What do you mean Hagrid?"

Hagrid knew he had said too much, he did not want to educate Jenna in her family's sordid past. "Look uh Jenna, there are things...uh that I shouldn't tell ya…"

"Hagrid I'm going to find out anyway so just tell me."

"Like I said, I'm not going to tell you, all I'm going to say is people change and you come from a very old wizarding family that loves you and would do anything for you."

The teen knew she could get the information she wanted out of the half giant but knew it would be wrong to do so.

She was about to speak again when there was a loud banging on the door. "I'm here for my detention!" It was Milford.

"Alrigh' I here ye." Hagrid said as he lumbered to the door to let the boy in.

"I don't know where Malfoy is but I came anyway." The young man said it with an air of arrogance and deserving recognition.

"Well she's been 'ere for almost an hour." Hargid answered.

"Oh." The boy sounded defeated.

"Alrigh' then, let's get on with it." Hagrid said as he put on his moleskin coat and grabbed his walking stick.

"Umm Hagrid, not that we don't trust you but what exactly are we doing in the forest tonight?" Jenna asked warily, she knew what lived in that forest and didn't want to have any confrontations with anything.

"Tonight we're actually going to the hippogriff nests."

"Oh and what is there?" asked Cameron.

"Well funny animals hippogriffs. They have a habit of eating their own eggs, so we 'ave to take the eggs that the females are sitting on and bring them back here and put them in the haystacks under those dummy hippogriffs I made earlier."

The two detainees forgot their shared malice and exchanged worried looks. "Umm Hagrid, aren't hippogriffs extremely territorial, and won't the males attack us if we are seen near the nests? Let alone the females ripping our heads from our shoulders as we reach under them and steal their eggs?" Jenna asked worried that she would be beheaded by an angry hippogriff.

"Nah, they're gentle." Hagrid said. "But you do have yer wands on ya right?" They both answered affirmative. "Good. And you both know how to petrify right?

"Yes." Jenna answered carefully. "We learned that first year."

"Righ' righ' well off we go then." Hargid said cheerfullyas he grabbed a string of pheasants and his pink umbrella and lead them out of his hut.

"You realize he's leading us to certain death don't you?" Cameron hissed in Jenna's ear.

"What's wrong Milford, jealous that you're not the one to off me?" She teased back quietly.

"Oh shut up!" He growled at her.

"If you both keep talking you will get eaten by something so I sugges' you cool it." Hagrid said from a few yards ahead of them.

Suddenly there was a loud blast from nowhere and a flash of purple light then everything in Jenna's world started to spin wildly, then get smaller and smaller. She could hear voices in the distance then everything went black as her body fell to the ground.

Hagrid quickly looked around to see if anyone was around "Hey, anyone out there!" but no one answered. "Milford were you two dueling!" Hagrid accused.

"No I swear!" The boy answered, shaken.

"We need to get her back to the castle and to Madame Pomfrey."

"If she's not dead."

"DON' TALK LIKE THAT!" The half giant roared at the boy.

"Okayokay I can do this." Cameron took out his wand and cast the spell "Locomotor Jenna." With that the girl's lifeless body floated in the air and back to the castle with them.

They first took Jenna to Madame Pomfrey. "Madame Pomfrey help!" Hagrid said as they burst into her chambers with Jenna's floating body.

"Hagrid what happened? What attacked her?" She asked hurridly as she bustled around, putting the girl into a bed and taking her robes off, not noticing the scorch mark on her blouse near her heart.

"We don' know Madame, thas the thing. There was a loud noise and a flash of purple and she fell."

"Purple you say Hagrid." Dumbledore said as he walked into the room in his usual calm, regal manner.

"Yes, Dumbledore sir. Purple."

"Highly unusual." The old headmaster said, stroking his long beard, and looking at the now unconscious girl laying in the bead.

"I swear sir we were not dueling or anything of the sort, we know better. I did not hex her." Cameron pleaded with the headmaster.

"No mister Milford I believe you, please come here." He summoned the boy next to him. And cast a spell over the girl's body. "Do you see that light mister Milford?"

"Yes sir."

"It tells me that whatever happened to Ms. Malfoy in the forest tonight was the work of dark magic. We haven't had dark magic performed on these grounds in sometime."

"Can it tell you what exact spell was performed?"

"No, it will take a series of spells and a little light reading to do that. When you perform a spell on a person many things happen, and that's if everything went according to plan. If one thing went awry it can take much more time and work to know the exact spell."

"Sir what's that?"

"What's what?"

"That mark, on her blouse, it looks burnt."

"Very interesting Mr. Milford." Dumbledore said. "You are dismissed tonight, and from detention for the next few days. But I would like you to come see me after classes are out tomorrow afternoon."

"Yes sir. Good night sir. Good night Hagrid, Madame Pomfrey." Cameron ran out of the hospital wing and to the Slytherin dormitories.

Just after he left Professors Snape and McGonagall came running up the stairs into the hospital. "Albus what happened?" Profesor McGonagall asked exasperated.

"Minerva, Severus. I have already told young Mr. Milford what has happened, so I will tell you and Poppy and Hagrid at the same time. What has happened here tonight is the work of a dark witch or wizard. The spell that was cast upon Jenna was not a one of the 3 worst, but it is almost there. I cannot determine the exact curse or the origin yet but she is in grave danger."

"But Albus she is still alive." Severus said, looking down at the girl who was like a daughter to him, trying to be strong but secretly shaking inside.

"If this is the spell I fear it is the longer she is unconscious the harder it will be for us to bring her back. Until she does in fact pass on. And Cameron pointed out a discoloration on her shirt that could mean there was something in her robes that inter feared with the curse." Both professors got knowing looks on their faces. "Minerva, Severus I need you to go to Hogsmeade tonight and retrieve Draco and Hermione, and Lucius and Narcissa if you must."

"What about Hermoine's parents? I realize they are muggles and have never been here but they have supported her through all her studies and struggles in the wizarding world, and they love Jenna…" Dumbledore cut Minerva off.

"I know Minerva, and if it gets to that point the Grangers will be welcomed to Hogwarts with open arms, but we need wizards, wizards who are Jenna's blood but also…. Especially those who have dealt with the dark arts."

"Albus are you saying you can't bring her back from this yourself?" Severus asked carefully."

"Severus I am saying that the whole of this school cannot save Ms. Malfoy without Hermione Granger at my side. Now no more questions, you both need to apperate tonight. Minerva remember you are apperating to the states."

----Vermont---

Professor McGonagall apperated outside of Hermione's home in Vermont, she knew little of Muggle finances, but from the size of the house she could tell Hermione had done well for herself in the Muggle world. Noting that there were no lights on in the house and no cars in the drive way, presumably Hermione's car was in the garage, she knew she would look conspicuous in her traveling cloak and hat and hurriedly rang the doorbell. The upstairs lights came on, followed quickly be the downstairs lights. Then tentatively the front door opened.

"Professor McGonagall is that you?" Hermione asked as she opened the door, still half asleep, in her oversized robe, her hair fluffy from sleep, making her look much the same way she did in her first year.

"Yes Ms. Granger I'm afraid it is. I'm very sorry for the late disturbance, may I come in."

"Yes by all means." Hermione welcomed her into her house and showed her to the living room. "Professor I realize it's only 10pm, but I have work in the morning. If Jenna's done something can we please discuss this…"

"Hermione she hasn't done anything. I don't know how to tell you this but something has happened to Jenna and I need you to come back to Hogwarts with me tonight."

Hermione looked as if someone had punched her in the stomach. "Professor what?"

"There's no time to explain. But I need you to bring all of your wizarding supplies with you, this message came straight from Dumbledore he asked for you personally."

Hermone looked skeptical but respected her request. "Alright then. Please excuse me for a few minutes." Hermione ran upstairs quickly and dug her old trunk out of her closet. First she took out her old cloak, then her wand and put them on the bed. After gathering a few essentials from the bathroom and tossing them in the trunk, she shrunk the trunk to palm size, slipped it and her wand in a purse, slung it over her shoulder and threw her cloak on. She gathered crookshanks in her arms and went back to where professor McGonagall was waiting for her. "Alright professor I'm ready to go."

"Where are your things Ms. Granger?" She asked as she rose to meet her and follow her out the door. Hermione showed her the contents of her purse. "You always were the cleverest in my house."

With that they locked the house and apparated out of Vermont.

----Malfoy Manor----

Severus arrived outside of the gates of Malfoy manner and let himself inside. When he walked into the house he heard a fire in the downstairs library and knew someone was up, at least he wouldn't have to run through the house waking it's occupants up, or relying on house elves. When he walked into the library Lucius who was reading a book looked up at him. "Severus old friend, what troubles you so?"

"Lucius I don't know how to tell you this but someone has cast a dark spell on Jenna, her life is in grave danger. You, Draco and Narcissa are needed at the school right away."

"Why does Dumbledore need all of us?"

"There is no delicate way to say this either. He needs Jenna's family but also wizards with extensive experience in the dark arts and you all, even Hermione, fit that description."

"Her mother is coming too?"

"Yes she is."

"Very well. Let us rouse Cissa and Draco. We must leave immeadietly." The aging wizard rose from his chair to awaken his family.

----Back at Hogwarts----

There was a small crowd gathered around Jenna's bed. Draco stood silently holding his daughter's hand, praying to whomever would listen that she live.

Hermoine was sitting in a chair pouring through her books looking for anything that may cause a person to enter a catatonic state. Unfortunately everything she was able to find so far talked about sleeping spells and potions nothing about catatonia.

Draco looked over at her "Do you actually think you're going to find the answers in one of your books? You can't study this away." He snapped at her.

"I'm trying to help Draco! I don't know what else to do." She snapped back.

"You may have to feel for once!" He snarled at her.

"You know what, you can go to hell!" She yelled at him.

The two had been snapping at each other on and off since they arrived at Hogwart's

"Both of you please stop this childish bickering! You may very well lose your daughter if you can't put your anger aside and work together!" Narcissa snapped at them. "Hermoine, Draco like it or not, even though you two are divorced by law, the five of us are still a family by blood because of Jenna and we need to act accordingly. The blood that flows through both of your veins flows through hers, and she is the reason we are all here, remember that the next time one of you feels the need to make a rude comment."

"Sorry Mother." Draco said softly.

"Sorry Narcissa." Hermoine said quietly.

"Oh it's not me you two need to apologize to. Apologize to your daughter!" With a flourish of her robes Narcissa Malfoy spun on her heel and marched out of the room.

"I will leave you two to tend to Jenna, and see if Dumbledore has found anything useful." Lucius said.