Disclaimer: Neville would've been the star of the show. He's just adorable.

Her Lucky Break

Mass Confusion

The first day of October fell on a chilly Tuesday. The sun had hidden behind some dark clouds for they day, signalling yet another storm was going to hit. Hermione was sitting at her desk rereading a letter Draco had given her that morning at breakfast. They had gotten the okay to visit Azkaban the upcoming weekend as the rioters were finally all rounded up and returned to their cells. She wasn't exactly ready to go there but they needed to see Monli Getain's corpse for the dark mark.

When she got to her classroom that morning a letter from Ron was waiting on her desk and she felt the ring in her pocket like it was red hot, burning through her pockets and into her skin. Even after sleeping she still didn't feel all that bad about the rocky state of their relationship. Was she ready to forgive him? No, but she wasn't facing the huge dramatic pain movies and books had predicted she'd feel. It actually wasn't much worse than when she was jealous of Lavender back when she was dating Ron. She wasn't ready to hear his explanations to her though. Maybe that's what would make it all real, make it hurt.

Shoving the dreaded letter into her bag she returned her focus to the class who, for the most part, were steadily working on their project. Some were finished early. She was having trouble keeping up with how fast some of them were finishing their work. She wondered how some of the teachers in her past had dealt with her. Normally she'd just read or do something for another class but these guys preferred to socialize amongst one another.

Jasper was talking to a few other Slytherins and a Ravenclaw in the furthest corner.

"I don't understand why they need the age restriction. I mean, what are we going to do? Get lost in a sweet shop?" Jasper complained.

"Well, we just aren't considered mature enough to wander around on our own out there. It's not like they have some personal vendetta."

"It's not like anything bad is going to happen to us. We're not one of the muggles being murdered." another Slytherin boy chimed in.

Jasper was silent now and looking down at his shoes. Hermione looked away, instead focusing on her own pile of things that needed to be marked. She had barely passed the halfway mark when a quiet voice broke her out of her reverie.

"Professor Granger?"

"Yes?"

"May I be excused to go to the washroom?" Jasper asked.

Hermione nodded and returned to her work, devoted to getting it done before her next class started. She was so immersed that she didn't notice the time until the shrill shriek of the bell resounded through the room. She said goodbye to her class and welcomed the new one as they sat down in their seats. She started the lesson to the older N.E.W.T. students about vanishing and conjuration. She was almost disappointed when the lesson was over and awestruck as her day flew by faster than ever.

When Hermione joined the head table for dinner she was one of the last to arrive. She took her seat only to be caught up in a conversation with the two to her right and the man on her left.

"I'm telling you, I haven't seen him since Friday last week. I was supposed to have him last period."

"I had him in class yesterday and he was acting fine. I've never had him skip a class before, even though he calls it dull and complains about his plants dying."

"Neither have I. That's why it worries me." the potions master said with an odd look on his face.

The dark arts professor turned to Hermione as she sat down.

"You haven't happened to see Jasper today, did you?"

Hermione looked at Blaise quizzically as if he'd grown a second head. "Of course, I had him first thing this morning. He was one of the few people who handed in the assignment I gave them early. He seemed quite proud of it actually..."

Draco was staring intently at her as if she was missing the point. In all truth, she was. Did she seriously not understand why they were questioning her? "Did you see him after that?"

Hermione thought hard back on her first class that felt like forever ago.

"He asked to go to the bathroom towards the end of class. Why?"

"He skipped the rest of the day. If he doesn't have a valid excuse then he has to serve detention with me tonight. He didn't even show for dinner." Draco said, motioning to the table. The familiar dark-haired boy was nowhere in sight in the great hall. "It's not like him..."

"Do you suggest we look for him then?"

Blaise nodded as if to say he was up for the idea. "I can ask Madame Pomfrey." The young man left without another glance in their direction.

"'I'll check the Slytherin common room and the bathrooms. Hermione, can you check the Library and the halls on the eastern side?" after receiving a nod he moved on to Neville, "I need you to stay here until dinner ends in case he shows up later. Check the west halls after, I imagine Blaise will be there."

The group split and began searching for him. It wasn't something that was particularly necessary. After all, where could he have gone? They're an alarm for students who try and leave school grounds without permission. They installed it after Harry kept sneaking out with the invisibility cloak. They didn't really have any reason to search for Jasper either, at least most of them didn't. Only Draco had watched out for him since he didn't want him to grow up like him and Hermione was looking since the two had grown quite close. They checked top to bottom in all the regular hiding places, ones that they had discovered as students themselves. The library was empty as was the bathrooms. Jasper didn't show up for dinner and Madame Pomfrey had not seen the boy all day.

Hermione was freaking out at this point. When they had all met back up outside of the great hall and shared their lack of discoveries she started to worry. It wasn't like Jasper to just disappear. He had grown to be quite bubbly and attentive in class. Still a little brash but over all only displayed the positive traits a Slytherin is known to posses. Running away was not one of them.

Draco otherwise wasn't too worried. He cared for the boy more than he cared for anyone else at the school besides maybe Blaise, but he wasn't worried. More so frustrated and it showed as people made sure to stay arms length away from him. It was just their luck that a student would go missing in this giant castle of a school. They'd probably have more luck finding him in a muggle mall.

He wasn't exactly sure why he cared so much for the small boy either. He wasn't much different than Draco was at his age when he first arrived at the school. He had been superior and was sure to flaunt it. Only, the world was already on the fast track to changing. Purebloods' statuses were beginning to be irrelevant. Slang such as 'mudblood' was becoming a word that everyone despised and found socially unacceptable. Did it stop Draco? No. He was raised with certain views and they wouldn't change overnight. He was working on it though. He just didn't want to see Jasper grow up and have to change his whole lifestyle when he was older and already well-adjusted.

Truth be told, Draco had pushed the new ideals that the world had upon the younger students. Nobody should have to go through all that he did. Being dragged into the work of the Dark Lord. Being assigned a task while it was already known he would fail. Only accepting it to keep his family safe but unfortunately they were taken from him in the end. Switching sides wasn't good enough to keep his parents out of Azkaban. A lot of the children were facing this dilemma. The only people they had thought they could count on had been ripped right out from under them. Any standing they had socially was also taken away as nobody wanted to associate with them. Getting back an influence on this new world was proving to be a troublesome task as Draco worked to right the Malfoy name.

He wanted the new generation to restore the good name of Slytherin as well as that of their families.

It was the least he could do to make up for his crimes.

That's why he wanted to find Jasper so badly. The boy had been the best example that change was possible. That the wizarding world would be fixed.

So the quartet of the youngest Hogwarts professors stood in the middle of the hall looking like a bunch of idiots. They didn't have a clue as to where the student had gone to. They thought of asking the older teachers for help but they quickly shot that idea down. They'd probably just leave the idea alone, saying that he wasn't missing until he was missing from classes tomorrow too.

"Maybe we shouldn't look until then. He might of just gone somewhere to sleep." Neville said, trying to be optimistic.

"Yeah." Blaise agreed.

"Neville, you'll tell us if he's in class tomorrow, right?"

Draco drowned out the rest of their conversation, already heading back to his rooms. Maybe they were right. Maybe there was nothing to worry about. If only his luck was that good. When he opened his portrait he was met by sobbing.

Sitting on the black sofa in his common room was the 'missing' boy.

"Jasper! How the hell did you get in here?"

Hermione had a mug of hot chocolate in her hand, Crookshanks on her lap, and a pile of work to to graded on the table in front of her. Overall she was feeling pretty good of the already marked pile. The classes she taught were doing remarkably well in her class. She felt a certain amount of pride over helping these minds become adjusted to new things. She absently stroked Crookshanks' head while reading over a paper on the uses of being an animagus that a third year had turned in.

She was halfway through when her portrait person called for her attention.

"You have visitors!"

Hermione was confused for a second. It was past curfew so it couldn't be a student. The only people she could think of that would visit her at this time of night were Professor McGonagall and Draco about a new development in the case. She gave an annoyed sigh as she stood up. Surely he could handle it himself, he was capable. He told her so many times.

She was slightly surprised by the scene she saw when she opened the door. Draco was there, looking awfully uncomfortable but that probably had something to do about the young boy who was standing half behind him crying quietly. The black hair and green tie was all she needed to know that it was Jasper.

"May we come in?" Draco asked through slightly gritted teeth.

Hermione motioned them in while studying Draco. Yes, he was uncomfortable but it was a mask. Underneath she could see rage written clearly through his features, smouldering beneath the surface. Something had definitely gotten him worked up and it worried her. Did Jasper do something to upset Draco? Where did he find him anyway? Was he doing something offensive?

She summoned up another hot chocolate and offered it to Jasper as he sat down in a chair. He took it and looked at her through tear filled eyes. She gave him a small smile before joining Draco over in the far corner of the room.

"Listen, something important came up and he's in no state to go back to the dormitories. I'll explain everything later if he doesn't first but I'm asking you to keep an eye on him for the night. I have other things I need to do."

Hermione didn't even notice all the vagueness as she looked over at the small boy. He looked almost... broken. It was no wonder that he wanted her to look after him.

What could have done that to him?

"Do you promise to explain everything later?" Hermione asked.

"Yes. Just, don't push him to tell you. I know you like to get information out of people at almost any cost." he gave a small smirk at her, "He should be fine in the morning to go to class."

Hermione watched Draco leave her rooms, a look of concern briefly flashing over his face. Hermione found it odd to see him caring so much for someone else. Sure, it was a nice change and she wasn't going to complain but it still seemed weird.

She moved to sit back across from Jasper and continue on with her activities. Crookshanks had disappeared when the two males entered her room and was probably hiding under Hermione's bed. She worked through the pile of work, occasionally sneaking a glance up at the boy across from her who remained silent. The tears had stopped rolling down his face but his eyes were still red and were looking straight forward, empty.

She made up her bed and tugged him into the bathroom to brush his teeth. He complied but it was all robotic, as if he wasn't even realizing what he was doing. She took his robe off but left his clothes underneath on as she tucked him into her bed. He may be eleven years old but he looked so helpless and frail at this moment that he didn't seem older than six.

She left the door open a crack as she returned to the couch. She shoved all the now marked papers into he bag. She noticed Ron's letter sticking out.

It wasn't right of her to not even be that angry about it but still refuse to respond to him. He meant a lot to her and she hoped that it was a mutual feeling. They were best friends who had attempted to take things further. She pulled the ring out of her pocket and held it in her hand as she reached for the letter.

Dear Hermione

I'm so sorry. I never meant for anything to happen. I wasn't in my right mind I wish I could take it all back. Ginny already chewed me out, as did Lavender when I told her what a mistake it was that we slept together. I know it was a mistake. I can't even begin to think of how much this had to of hurt you.

I would never hurt you, you know that. Please, please just say that you'll take me back.

I can't live without you 'Mione.

Ron

Hermione felt the tears streaming lightly down her face as she read the letter. It occurred to her that she wasn't angry or sad, these tears were tears of disappointment. Ron had been so sweet in his letter, as sweet as he could be... but she didn't feel any different. She still didn't want to forgive Ron and go back to being a happy couple.

It just didn't feel right.

She couldn't figure out why she didn't want to return to it though. They had been so happy together and had honestly enjoyed their time together. That's why when she wrote her response she was surprised at her own reply. Her heart already knew all the answers to her questions even if her mind didn't.

Ron,

I'm sorry too. I should have realized this sooner but I don't think it was working out. I'm not even talking about your actions with Lavender, we were having problems before that even if they weren't all that obvious. I think we were living in a fool's paradise. We both wanted something more but I don't think we could fill it with each other. We're best friends so of course I forgive you. I just hope you can forgive me for letting it go on like this for so long. It wasn't really fair to either of us.

We're friends and that's all we should have ever been. I hope you find another girl to suit your needs.

I miss you, best friend.

Hermione.

She was confused reading it over. She thought about it as she stuck it into an envelope, signalling the end of anything more by dropping the copper ring into it with the parchment. Even though they were dating it was always like a friendship with kisses and hand holding. Sure they loved each other but not in an amorous way. As clichéd as it is, they loved each other but were not in love with each other. The realization hurt slightly but not as much as she thought it would've.

She sat there for a moment in the utter silence of the room drying her tears off of her face. A small smile was on her lips when she felt a huge weight lift off of her. She hadn't even realized it was there until now. She enjoyed the silence, sipping from her now cold hot chocolate as she watched the fire.

She was alarmed when a loud sob disrupted the quietness as Jasper came running out of her room.

"I-i forg-g-got to t-tell Drac-co something!" he managed around his sobs.

"About what?" Hermione asked, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. The young boys eyes were wild and uncontrolled and for once she had no idea what to do to solve this problem.

"My dad." he sobs got louder before he covered his mouth to stifle them.

Hermione waited patiently for the boy to calm down. He kept muttering 'he needs to know' through his sobs but Hermione wasn't going to let him leave this room on his own, not until she told him exactly what was so wrong. She hadn't seen a boy react like this ever. Even Harry after Sirius died hadn't behaved in such an unmanageable way and it was terrifying.

When he finally calmed down enough to speak, Hermione wished that he hadn't.

"Monli used the imperious curse on those muggle women."

Jasper resumed crying but Hermione didn't notice. Her mind was racing at a thousand thoughts per second. Monli. That sicko had controlled the women. She picked up the mug she was drinking from and without thinking threw it at the wall. She was past angry, she was past pissed. She was at a whole new level. She had enough rage in her that it was consuming her very being and she knew she must look wild; must look like a monster.

She let of a string of choice words as angry tears flowed out of her eyes. She ignore the fact that all she could do recently was cry, instead focused on trying to calm down. One look at the young boy who was scared stiff of her was all it took. She fell to her knees in front of him and hugged him as tight as she could. Tighter than her mom did when her grandmother died before she came to Hogwarts.

"I want you to stay here. I'm going to go tell Draco, alright? I promise, I'll be right back." Hermione managed in a sing song sweet voice. She amazed even herself sometimes as she was still furious. She had enough fury inside of her at the simple sentence that it was pouring out of her in waves.

She got up and fled from the room, knowing just where to find the white-blond man. She ran through the halls, arriving to the library in a new record time. She wasn't ready for the sight she saw though.

Draco was there with his sleeve rolled u past his forearm, wand to the mark on his otherwise flawless skin. His eyes were unfocused as if he wasn't actually there.

Hermione knew this wasn't a good sign. Draco was working for them! She let out an ear shattering scream as she felt fear coursing through her veins, mixing with the anger.

So, 3000 views. Thanks to all of you! 650 of them came in the last 4 days.

IAmCalypso- You are 100% right, they do have it on the forearm. It's only when they guys were killed that they placed a 2nd one (more like a brand) into the forehead to identify them as someone who either a pureblood slept with and resulted in a pregnancy or they slept with a pureblood and got the same results. I hope this cleared that up for you. In the same light, women would get it on the stomach where they child was carried.