I know it is kind of a long time coming. I will be posting again very soon. Bare with me this chapter is a little slow. I thought a slow point is just what the doctor order considering the first and third chapters. R &R.

Hermione arrived back at the castle to find Harry sitting on the couch with the Marauder's Map in his lap.

"Harry, what are you doing up so late?" Hermione asked coming to stand in front of Harry.

Harry looked up and returned Hermione's gaze, "I could ask you the same thing."

"Why do you have the map? Are you watching for Draco?" Hermione asked taking a seat beside Harry.

Harry stood, standing over Hermione. "No, I was watching you."

"Why?" Hermione stood as well only inches from Harry.

"Because you have been acting strange, disappearing at all times of the night and when we go looking for you, you are nowhere to be found!"

"That still doesn't give you the right to spy on me."

"I will only ask this one time Hermione where have you been? I have been staring at that map for over two hours and for those two hours you were nowhere on it. So, that means that you were nowhere in the castle."

Hermione sighed and sat back down, "like I said before I left I needed to clear my head so I went to the Forbidden Forest."

"You what?!"

"Harry please, keep your voice down. Someone could hear!"

Harry sighed, running a hand through his ebony hair, "Hermione, do you know how dangerous it is to wonder about the forest especially now that we are in the middle of a war with Voldemort."

Hermione sighed once again, "I know Harry, but please know that I was safe," considering the fact that I was with Voldemort's most dangerous death eater Hermione thought and chuckled out loud.

"What the bloody hell is so funny Hermione?" Harry sat down beside her and took her hand in his. "I was just worried about you. You and Ron are the closet things I have ever had to a real loving family. I don't want to lose either of you. I love you too much not to worry about you."

Hermione blinked back a tear, "I love you too Harry, and don't worry I am not going anywhere. I am here, I will always be here."

Bellatrix arrived back at Malfoy Manor to find Narcissa in her room sitting on the edge of the bed. Bellatrix entered the room in a fury and slammed the door behind her.

"What are you doing here?"

"I had come to see you earlier but I found your room empty, so I waited." Bellatrix removed her cloak, "well, I am here now. So what do you want?"

"Nothing, I just wanted to know where you have been that's all."

"Out." Bellatrix replied lazily heading for the bathroom.

"I know that Bella."

Bellatrix sighed, "I had a mission. There was someone I needed to see. Now, will you please leave I am tired."

It was Narcissa's turn to sigh, "fine Bella. If you ever need to talk, you know where to find me." Narcissa exited the room and quietly shut the door behind her.

Bellatrix sat in the hot water and stared at the ceiling. She was in way over her head. She had spoken those three words. There was no turning back now, and she didn't want to.

Morning came quickly for the students of Hogwarts as they slowly made their way to the Great Hall for breakfast. Hermione sat at the table smiling into her scrambled eggs and toast.

"Geez, Hermione. What's got you so cheery this morning?" Ron asked scooping some scrambled eggs onto his plate.

"Who's the guy?" Ginny asked not taking her eyes from the Daily Prophet.

"There is no guy, Ginny. Now, stop and finish your breakfast," Hermione said blushing slightly. "Well, you guys know that Professor Slughorn is having his Christmas party for top students."

"Yeah, we know Hermione. I wasn't invited." Ron said with a mouth full of eggs.

"Yeah, we figured Ron" Harry said looking at Ron over the rim of his glasses.

The bell rang alerting the students that the day had officially begun.