The rest of the train ride was uneventful until it pulled into Hogsmeade. The prefects helping to usher the first year students towards Hagrid and the boats before splitting off to rejoin their friends at the carriages. Draco was relieved to see that Usagi, Rikki and Blaise had all waited on him before getting into a carriage.

"So, heard that you met Slughorn. What is he like?" Draco asked as the carriage they were in started towards the castle.

"Eh. A bit full of himself really. Talk about someone who tries to align themselves with what he believes are the right people. He seemed to be trying to suck up,make connections and such. He went on and on of his connections with former Hogwarts students like the captain of the Holyhead Harpies. He did seem quite enamored with Harry though. Almost on a personal level."

"Well he did meet Harry over the summer. Apparently Dumbledore took Harry with him to convince Slughorn out of retirement." Usagi explained.

"Not surprised. Though Usagi and I should have been invited since we are the- Ow!" Draco rubbed his arm that was freshly punched

"Draco! That is the exact reason why we did not have that publicly announced. So that people do not try to take advantage of us. And we definitely do not need word of that getting back to the dark lord." Usagi glared. "We have been lucky that that one youma attack in the alley has seemed to turn out to be a one time fluke. We won't always be able to slip away to henshin without anyone seeing us and it'll be good if we can keep those abilities from the Dark lord as long as possible."

"Right. We do not need to become even more of likely targets than what we are." Draco nodded in agreement before he looked to Blaise again. "So any idea on what Parkinson is planning?"

"Wait? Parkinson is planning something?" Rikki spoke up. "I expected her to hate Usagi even more than last year but I did not think she would actually have the brains needed to even try to plan something."

Blaise sighed and looked between Draco and Usagi. "Draco, should we really-"

"Do not start Blaise. It would be unfair and ridiculously stupid to keep something like this from her."

"He is right. If she has it in for me, I have the right to know and help protect myself against her. Everyone plotting protective measures without keeping me in the loop is just going to annoy me in the end. So you might as well keep me in the loop from the beginning. Now, I believe we are all waiting for your answer to Draco's question." Usagi smirked.

Blaise sighed. "Fine. Not that there is really anything to tell. If she has anything planned already, she definitely was not going to tell me. Granted Crabbe and Goyle were also in the compartment but they definitely would not have told. She has clearly guessed that I would be too likely to get word back to the two of you, especially considering my perceived fondness for Lels and how much I hung around you two last year. I can say this though; she definitely did seem keen on the mental image of Usagi being at the feet of the dark lord, even if it is nothing more than a fantasy. She also has some sort of mission from He who must not be named, a big one if she is not just bluffing. One that she claims would likely have her not be here next year."

"Parkinson not being here next year would be quite the improvement and the best early graduation gift in my opinion." Rikki muttered.

"Even if the reason for her not being at Hogwarts means someone loses their life?" Usagi questioned.

"He would not really expect her to succeed at such a mission, would he? I mean that could basically be suicidal. I mean, I would not be surprised if he knew about my betrothal contract to her. And Lucius is in Azkaban, Mum is protected by the outer senshi so by process of elimination, the only one he could "punish" so to speak for losing me as a prospect is Pansy. If he really has given her such a mission, I doubt he expects her to succeed." Draco explained.

"But who could he have given her the order to kill for it to weigh so much?" asked Usagi.

"Someone whose death would be crippling to the side of the light but is not Harry. That people would be in an uproar about if they were murdered. No one fits that description so well other than Dumbledore." Draco sighed.

"Hopefully, she does not succeed." Usagi murmured.

"Now, back to Parkinson's vendetta against Usagi." Rikki spoke. "We have to set up ways to keep Usagi protected."

Blaise nodded as he looked to Usagi. "She will be going after you like you were more of a threat to their contract and a rival for his affections."

"Even though it was released that I am Draco's sister and not his lover?" Usagi raised an eyebrow. "For a minute there, I was actually beginning to be under the impression that she has some brains and just refused to use them towards getting good grades. Clearly I was mistaken if she honestly refused to acknowledge printed truth." She rolled her eyes. "So what ideas are there for keeping old Pug face away?"

Rikki snorted with a smirk. "And there's that quickness at insulting that I enjoy so much. Granted, best to stick around me in the dorm. And then obviously, you can not be in the common room without one of us. But going through the halls is a little different. Especially since we do not all have all the same classes. We might just have to wait and see how the others' schedules line up with ours and then we can plan for escorting."

Usagi sighed and nodded. "That makes sense. I know they will want to play a part in keeping me safe especially since it is their duty and all. Oh the carriage stopped."

Blaise and Draco nodded before they stepped out, then helped the girls down. Usagi of course rolled her eyes as Draco helped her. "Too many times you've done this dear brother." She teased.

As they walked the rest of the way to the castle, Usagi sighed. "Totally not looking forward to dealing with the senshi being all protective around me all the time again. On top of that, I have to make sure they do not slip and address me as Princess. This is going to be a fun year. The only thing that will not make it suspicious is that the senshi and I are all friends that transferred over together."

Draco chuckled. "Oh relax. You get more time with them than you did last year. Though I think if possible, I might just try to tag along when I can just so I can spend some time too."

"Like you are not gonna be patrolling the halls with Ami at times due to you both being prefects?" Usagi grinned. "Not to mention you are going to end up patrolling with Hermione. Which reminds me, how is that crush of yours? You still have yet to say if it is Hermione or Harry." She burst into giggles at how red Draco's cheeks got at the suggestion.

"Must you tease me with that?" Draco muttered.

"Oh come on Dray, surely you are not still too shy to approach whichever one of them it is?" Usagi asked in confusion.

Draco held his head down and muttered something as his cheeks got even redder. He then started walking faster.

"Wait, what?" Usagi hurried to catch up to him. "What was that Dray? Come on, you can tell me. If you want, I will not tell Rikki and Blaise. You have my word as a senshi and as your sister. Deal?"

He sighed and nodded. "Fine but no telling anyone until I am ready for them to know." He looked to her and waited for her nod before he took a deep breath. "What I had said was that my crush likes that Cho Chang. Even kissed her." He had a look of disappointment on his face and waited for her to put two and two together.

It took Usagi a couple of minutes to figure things out but when she did her eyes widened before softening. "Oh Dray...you like Harry, huh? Well I can tell you this much, he did like Cho at one point, but after she ratted out the D.A. to Umbridge last year, he no longer has those feelings for her. Actually, he was quite happy today to see that she still has the outline of pimples on her face that spell out 'Sneak' that Hermione had charmed into the parchment that everyone in it had signed. So that is a start in your favor. Granted, we still are not sure if he is even attracted to guys but we will find out and work from there. Okay?"

"Okay." He smiled softly. "Thanks Usa."He hugged her with one arm. "Do you think that if he does happen to like guys that he will actually consider dating me?" He asked.

"I do not see why he would not consider it at least. It is not as if you are still the giant prat you started out as your first year here. He knows that and can see that you have changed. Things will work out. You just have to try and have faith." She kissed Draco's cheek and ruffled his hair, giggling at the groan the hair ruffling caused. "That is what you get for primping. Now let's get some seats at the table while we still have a chance to sit together with Rikki and Blaise. Race you." She giggled as she hurried on inside with Draco close behind her.