Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and am making no money from this.

Hermione

I'm home for the winter break. It's good to be back, both to see my parents whom I miss, and to be away from the oppressive environment at school. A private room, all my personal possessions, big differences from school. I think what might be the biggest difference is dinner though. There's actually people to hold an intelligent conversation with. Nothing against Ron (poor table manners aside), Harry or Ginny, but none of them truly qualifies for enlightened discourse.

"So how has school been? Your letters don't sound like it's been a good year, honey." My mother's question is an obvious one, yes. Still, I think I do need to talk to my parents about it.

"Yes, it actually has been a rather poor term. I'll see after the spring term, but to be perfectly honest I'm undecided on if I want to return after this year."

"What's going on there that's so bad?"

"I suppose the simplest explanation is government interference. The Minister of Magic is paranoid and insecure, and got it in his head that the Headmaster was seeking to remove him, which was absurd. But none the less, he sent in one of his minions and had her named High Inquisitor, and just recent she replaced our Headmaster."

"And this woman is that big of a problem?" my father asks.

"Yes. She started out as our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, and all she had us do is read the book. No casting, no practical applications, simply read and regurgitate the book. I could do that from home. Later on she created a student filled squad to enforce Ministry propaganda and basically terrorize the school."

"How do the parents tolerate this?"

"And isn't there some evil wizard lurking about you said?" my mother adds her question.

"It's tolerated because the parents with money and power are the ones whose children are in this squad. And the Minister denies Voldermort's return; he's practically made it his prime policy position. To him it's all just an excuse to undermine him."

"Is it really as bad as all that?" My mom's trying to be comforting. I wish it really was overblown.

"I'm afraid it is. The Ministry thinks Harry is a threat, if they have their way I can't see how he'll still be in school next year. Actually, they already tried to put him in prison once. I'm worried, and, honestly, quite convinced that they'll try again and this time succeed. Let that woman start changing teachers and I just don't think it will be the same school I enrolled in, and not a school worth attending."

"So what do you intend to do about your education?" My father's asking like it's my decision, which I really appreciate. I'm still their daughter, still a minor, so they have the final say, but they've let me make these sorts of decisions for a while now.

"I don't know yet. I suppose things at school might not turn as bad as I think. If they do, well, it gets harder. Home schooling maybe? There are a few other magical schools, though none as good or prestigious, not in Britain at least. Sadly, I'm not fluent in French or other languages, so schools outside Britain are out, unless I was to go to the States, but I don't know a thing about magical schools and affairs there."

"It sounds like you still have a lot of work to do researching your options. Is there any way we can help?"

"Thank you, but no. The research is a lot easier for me to do, and normal mail won't reach most of these places."

"Such a shame, first an evil wizard, now a ruined school. A girl your age should be worrying about boys, not all this." my mother comments.

"Yes, is there a boy in your life?" my father looks at me with the start of a grin appearing on his face.

"Um, yes, about that…." I trail off. I've always been honest with my parents and they with me, and I don't want to change that now, but this could be very awkward. "I don't actually know if I have any real interest in boys. I've found that I do, however, have an interest in girls."

"Come again?"

"Um, girls?" So that's both parents that are shocked. Lovely.

"Yes, girls. I'm attracted to them."

There's a very long silence. "Oh, well if that's your preference that's fine, of course." My father's trying to be supportive, that's part is good at least. The massive awkwardness in his voice is less ideal, even if I did expect it.

"Yes, of course it's fine." my mother agrees, having been snapped out of silence.

My parents sound supportive, or as supportive as can be expected I suppose. I think a lot of this might just be because they're stunned and tend to default to supporting me in most anything I do. Once they stop to think about it and realize this in effect ends their chances of ever seeing grand children I think they'll find it a much more difficult fact to support. I just hope they don't start on that while I'm still here; some discussions are a great deal easier to handle via letters than in person.

I can't say I really understand the desire for grandchildren, either. After all, I'm not a parent, I can only imagine what the urge to see your children have children of their own is like. Actually, if I do wind up with Pansy or even another girl the prospect of children is rather bleak. I suppose there's adoption, but somehow it isn't the same. It's a child in your life, but it isn't your flesh and blood, it isn't your DNA passed on to a new version of yourself, an amalgamation of my future spouse and I.

"So um, you said you like girls." my father starts. "Is there any girl in particular that brought that realization on?"

"I… well, yes, I suppose it is fair to say there is a girl that brought this on." How am I supposed to explain Pansy to my parents? She's every parent's nightmare to see on the arm of their child.

"So tell us about your girlfriend."

"Um, I'm not sure that's a fair characterization of her. It's, well, complex. I guess we sort of are together, but you see, technically she's engaged. Actually betrothed is the term."

"You're dating a girl promised to someone else?"

"It's nothing she agreed to or anything. It's a business contract. It was drawn up between her family and another family when she was less than a year old."

"This still sounds like something that isn't likely to end well."

"Sometimes the heart wants what the heart wants." My mother can't resist using such a horrible cliché. Still, she is right; every rational reason says this is a bad idea, but that logic doesn't change how I feel.

"I know that, dear, but I don't want to see Hermione get her heart broken." my father explains.

"I don't either, of course. But this sort of thing is part of growing up. Crushes, attractions, even seemingly doomed relationships; sometimes people just need to follow their heart and trust that things will work out for the best."

My father looks at me. "You said this was complex, and obviously it is. But how does this girl feel about you?"

"I'm not entirely sure, these sorts of things aren't something I'm used to putting in words; I don't know if anyone's used to trying to quantify emotions. I know she's interested in me and we've grown closer. Certainly we've kissed several times, which we both enjoyed. She isn't fond of her husband to be, and until their engagement is official both are free to pursue other interests, as long as it's discrete. So it's somewhat vague, but certainly there's mutual interest and attraction."

"All right, that's something. But try to remember, Hermione, first relationships don't always work out, and there's a lot going against this one."

"But just the same, good luck, honey." my mother smiles at me.

"Thank you, mother, I appreciate that."

Cho

It's the start of the spring term back at Hogwarts. Winter break was painfully pedestrian. Prescripted conversations with my parents about grades, am I preparing for my future and so on. Of course there was the obligatory concern about no longer being friends with Marietta. My parents stressed that a girl needs friends, but I think they were as concerned about losing an informant as my well being.

I suppose that sounds horribly cynical, viewing my parents as some sort of cardboard cutout villains, but sometimes they really do live down to the cliché. The fact it's well intentioned is no consolation either. The endless planning for my future feels like it misses the point to me. Of course it's important to plan, but if all you ever do is plan for tomorrow then all the today's become painfully irrelevant.

That's why it's nice to be back at school, no pestering, no concern, none of that. Of course there's the Ministry fool running the school and the Inquisition Squad, but I actually kind of like the fact they're here. It's like they're a challenge to overcome.

Hmm, someone's calling my name. I look down the corridor and there's Hermione Granger. "Cho, hello. How was your break?"

"About what you'd expect."

"Oh, um, is that good or bad?"

I shrug. "I've told you about some of my issues with my parents. My extended family is all in China, so it was just my parents and I. On the whole, I'm glad to be back in school."

"Ah, I see. Well, I'm sorry it wasn't the merriest of Christmases."

"Christmas isn't a huge thing in my family, so no great loss I suppose."

"Oh. In any case, do you have a few moments? I'd like to talk to you about something in private if we could."

"Sure. Where would you like to go?"

"The library is open and should be deserted. We can grab an out of the way table; it should work well since I need to show you a few things."

Just here and already something going on. That's why I like being back: always something unpredictable and unforeseen at Hogwarts.

As expected, the library is empty. No surprise there; it's the first night back, no homework assigned for the new term yet. Who besides Hermione Granger would want to be in here? We takes one of the most out of the way tables, where there should be no chance of anyone walking in on us or happening by to see or hear what goes on.

"All right, now Cho, I need you to promise not to tell anyone about this, Harry especially."

"Why can't I tell Harry?" A rather obviously concerning caveat there.

"I didn't actually ask him if I could talk to you about this. I told him I would do it myself, but I've hit a wall and, well, I need help. But he can be overprotective, which can be a good thing, yes, but I think here he'd worry about dragging you into this."

"Just what are you in to, Hermione?" Is there something criminal going on here?

So Hermione tells me about their adventure under the tower, the people who come and go there, what they found there, and how apparently this little outing got the entire castle sick.

"I have to say, I'm a little upset." I don't even wait to see whatever Hermione has to show me. "Why wasn't I asked to come on this trip?"

"Why weren't you asked to come? It just never occurred to me, honestly. I don't think it occurred to Harry or Ron either."

"It should have. I'm going out with Harry, I was in the DA, I'm one of the few who's still trusted for the little get togethers we have. I'm in it with all of you for plenty of things against the rules, I should be included for all of it, including things like that little excursion."

"Oh, I'm sorry, Cho. Like I said, I hadn't thought about it at all. I'll try and include you in things in the future. I can't promise Harry won't try to keep you away out of protectiveness, but I'll try."

"All right, thank you, Hermione. As long as you keep me in the loop for everything I'll deal with Harry and his overprotectiveness. So this trip was all I missed out on?"

"I um, well, I suppose there is one other thing. The Weasley twins have been conducting a bit of a campaign of terror against the Inquisitors. It was actually because of my encouragement and my turning a blind eye to their activities."

"Oh, so you're the one masterminding all the attacks on them." I wondered why the Weasley twins were so focused in their efforts; it seemed unlike them.

"Not that attacks, no, just the Weasley twins. The attacks actually are a bit of a worry for me. They may be well intentioned at this point, but they could draw a great deal of the wrong sort of attention. And that's assuming they don't move to some other target, which could be bad."

"Oh that. It's actually not some sinister evil conspiracy like you think."

"What do you mean? For that matter, how do you know?"

"It's me."

"You? You're the one attacking Inquisitors?"

"You make it sound like battles in the corridors, it's nothing like that, Hermione. Actually it started out as my happening upon some Inquisitors hassling Luna. They didn't notice me, I stunned one of them, the others ran."

"Ok, I can understand that. But once that was over, why attack others?"

"Because you see, I should have felt bad for what I did, shouldn't I? Some remorse at least? Inquisitors are students, but they're also authority figures. In a way it's not so dissimilar from attacking a teacher or even an Auror. So I was curious if it was a fluke or not."

"And what did you find?"

"With more attacks I didn't regret it anymore than the first time. Actually some, the ones where I summoned up a bit of black ice were kind of funny."

"You can't just go attacking Inquisitors at random like that."

"It wasn't at random, I only acted if an Inquisitor was acting in a way I felt was over the line, and I never seriously hurt any of them. A few stunners or some black ice or things like that. The worst any got was a few bruises. Well worth it to see if I found satisfaction out of some sense of justice or it was just enjoyment from hurting people."

"Cho, you can't go after Inquisitors just to see if you're a sadist."

"I should try it on my friends instead? Hmm, I suppose I could try on Harry, but I'd need a whip, some chains, and maybe something in black leather…."

"Cho, you can't do that!" Hermione's really flustered.

"Why not?" I look down at myself. "I think I have the body to pull it off."

"That's not the point."

"Ah, it's not? I don't know, maybe Harry would like it. Notorious for misbehaving, I think he might respond to a little discipline."

"God, Cho, this really isn't a conversation I can be having with my best friend's girlfriend."

"Why not? Oh, hmm, that's right, the Yule Ball; you and Pansy Parkinson."

"Um, what are you talking about?" She looks decidedly uncomfortable.

"The whole thing at the ball, the fake bet with Ginny Weasley for a start. A bit risky, don't you think, dragging Dumbledore's name through the mud like that?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about, Cho."

"Hermione, would you like to look me in the eye and tell me that bet wasn't staged; that you didn't do your research on Dumbledore and knew all about his background?"

"Well, no." She looks down.

"Actually it never would have occurred to me if I hadn't seen you dancing with Parkinson. The two of you were really into it."

"Um, ask anyone, Parkinson and I hate each other."

"Yes, I know that's what people say. But I've read books about how to read body language, Hermione. The way you two were closer than you'd expect for two people who hate each other. Actually you were leaning in to each other even. You held eye contact almost all the time, and your faces were relaxed, even smiling a bit. You two like each other, and that whole bet was just so you could have a date with no one the wiser."

"You haven't told anyone all that, have you?"

"Just Harry, he was there when I was figuring it out, obviously. I assume he knew though; he tried to deny it, but, well, Harry's not very good at denials."

"All right, fine, yes, you're right. There's something between Pansy Parkinson and I. It's a long story, and no I don't want to talk about it. But please, don't tell anyone."

"Don't worry, I won't tell a soul." It's then that an evil thought strikes me. I lean in and look Hermione right in the eye. "If you have a thing with Pansy Parkinson, that means you're into girls. Is that why you were so uncomfortable when I was talking about the black leather? Do you want me to take you over my knee, pull down your panties and give you a stern spanking?"

"Um… Cho!" Hermione sputters as I break up laughing. I know I pushed it far, and I've never been the sort to tease like that, but Merlin it was funny. I see why people do that sort of thing; I've absolutely been missing out.

"Seriously, Cho. I came here to show you something, see if you know what it is." Hermione totally sidesteps my offer of discipline. Instead she takes out a stack of pictures for me to look at.

"What are these?" I ask, looking over the pictures.

"It's the amulet the people wore, and then what we found at the base of the tower."

The amulet is just your average gold amulet with runes on it. Nothing inherently special in the thing itself. The runes on the other hand aren't ones I recognize. But it's only a marginally interesting puzzle; the thing that really catches my eye is this circle thing. The same sort of runes in a large circular array, several rows deep in most cases, and floating just above the floor, orbiting around slowly. The circle of runes seems to have energy of a sort (presumably magic) around it, like some sort of whirlpool. There's also lines of that energy leaving the circle in a few directions.

"All right, rather than try and make random observations that probably are just a duplication of efforts, why not tell me what you've figured out so far?"

"I've tried to decipher the runes, but they don't conform to anything I've found. None of them appears anywhere in my Ancient Runes textbook, they don't match to any Asian language I've tried comparing to either. My best guess is they're either extremely esoteric, or something so ancient it isn't covered in modern texts."

"What about the fact it's some sort of circular array, any significance to that? Or to these lines of energy?"

"I have no idea what to make of the lines. Circle magic I think I've heard of somewhere in passing, but most of the books in the library here are on traditional British magic; that is to say, wands, incantations, Latin based spells."

"Ah, I see." I look over the pictures more, seeing if anything seems to stand out or catch my eye. "This circle of runes looks like it it's moving slowly, but the lines aren't, that accurate?"

"That's correct."

"Have you looked to see where they go? They all intersect the tower's walls, but it stands to reason that they'd keep right on going through them."

"No, I haven't. But it's easy to do; Hogwarts: A History has maps of the castle." Hermione rushes off to get a copy of what's widely known as her favorite book. Personally, I'm not sure why; I've read it, but there's so many other wonderful books, to call this one the best seems truly odd to me.

Once Hermione gets the book and we're looking at a map of the castle a problem becomes obvious quite quickly: in a round room it's very difficult to determine directions with any certainty. Hermione's reasonably sure of the general direction these lines went off, but she could be off by dozens of degrees.

"This won't tell us anything." I hate when good ideas don't work. "The margin of error's too high to even try and guess where these things go."

"I know, I'm sorry, I didn't think of it at the time."

"And going back with a compass to take a few bearings is out?"

"I'm afraid so. We got most of the castle sick last time we snuck in there, and it felt like we barely had the strength to get out ourselves. Going back just isn't something I'm willing to do."

"But the outsiders weren't affected. So that must mean the spell you heard them cast was some sort of protection or sealing spell so the energy in that room wouldn't get out. That probably makes those pendants some sort of immunity talisman."

"That's a reasonable guess."

"Reasonable, but meaningless, since it doesn't actually get us anywhere." I stare at the picture more, hoping my mind will make some connection Hermione's couldn't. "Hermione, how much did you research this in books from the Restricted Section?"

"None. It was enough work looking blindly in the regular books without trying to sneak into the Restricted Section for more."

"Why sneak in?"

"Um, because it's restricted."

"Yes, so? You don't have access?"

"No. You do?" Hermione's expression is a mix of skepticism and disbelief.

"Of course."

"How'd you get access?"

"I asked."

"You asked? What do you mean?"

"I mean I asked. I'd read most everything in the regular library, so I asked Professor Flitwick if I could read books in the Restricted Section. He made sure I wasn't going to do anything reckless and then gave me a pass; I can go there as I please. Why, Professor McGonagall didn't let you in?"

"I, well, I never actually asked."

"Oh. Maybe you should have." I leave Hermione at the table and head for the Restricted Section. By now, I've been allowed in for so long and read most of what's in there that no one even asks to see proof I'm allowed in anymore.

I'm not quite sure what I'm looking for, but those pictures got me thinking, some vague memory about something I read in one of these books. I immediately see why Hermione had problems. There's simply no good centralized place to search for things in the library. I wind up grabbing an arm full of books, hoping that whatever triggered that vague recollection is in one of them.

I set down the stack of books on the table Hermione and I are using. She gives me a rather curious look. "These pictures remind me of something I think I read, it might be in one of these books."

"That's a bit thin, Cho."

"If you have a better lead, we can follow that instead."

Hermione sighs and grabs the top book off the pile.

Spending the first evening back in school in the library with Hermione Granger was not exactly how I figured my time back at Hogwarts would start. Actually if I was going to be alone with anyone I'd have hoped it was Harry. Still, I'm participating in one of the adventures he and his friends seem to always find, even if in a rather literally bookwormish way.

After an hour or two and three books, my time and effort pays off. "Hermione, listen to this. Ley lines are lines of mystical energy that crisscross the globe. Their intersection points, called nexus points are places of great magical power. Magic users at these points can harness that energy for magical effect exponentially beyond their normal capabilities."

"Um, maybe. You think that's what the lines are I'm guessing? Is there anything about the runes in there?" Hermione doesn't sound that enthusiastic, but I know I'm on to something here.

"Apparently the energy in these lines was so strong as to be visible. These nexus points would flare up, have storms and a lot of raw magic raging at them, so hundreds and hundreds of years ago mages found a way to regulate them. They developed magic that could do it, calm them all down, and in some cases even use the magic to power all sorts of effects on buildings they put on them."

"You mean like the moving staircases and the ceiling of the Great Hall and all the other magical effects in the castle."

"That sounds exactly right. All the magic in the castle, I've always wondered how so much could be happening but I never see anyone recasting the spells for it. I mean, what keeps powering it all?"

"I never thought about it, but that's a good point. Normal magic doesn't last forever, spells run out of power and all. But if Hogwarts was on top of one of these nexus points it never would."

I flip through a few pages and find a picture of one of these nexus points, with the magic on top of it to regulate it. It looks exactly like what's in Hermione's pictures: a circular array of runes.

"So this is it then." Hermione states. "Is there anything in there about how to get rid of these runes? A counter rune or some such?"

"Even if there is, it isn't that simple. Remember, the castle is powered by this. If we just wipe them all out Hogwarts turn into nothing but a big pile of rocks. To say nothing of the unpleasant magical storms that would suddenly appear. Oh, and without any wards to keep Muggles from noticing them all."

"Ah, you're right of course. So someone, likely Voldermort is piggybacking some spells on top of the Hogwarts runes and wards to do, well, something. Some sort of effect that's long lasting, and like the book said, exponentially more powerful than what he could cast on his own."

"Yes, I think so. And there's nothing in here about that sort of sickening feeling that you felt there, so I think that's part of whatever he's doing."

"So now we know what the runes are; Just it isn't particularly helpful, since they're centuries removed from actual use."

"It helps knowing where to look. There might be something about the specific runes in here, if not there are other books in the Restricted Section I can look through."

"You're right, I know. After weeks of looking it's just gotten frustrating. And we have to fully translate these runes. There's no way to know what to remove otherwise. Oh, and the only person around who might have been able to help, Professor Dumbledore, is gone."

"Hmm, that's a good point. Why didn't you all go to him when you first found this?"

"Harry didn't want to. He's been rather frustrated with Dumbledore's lack of support and protection where Umbridge is concerned."

"Oh. A shame he's gone, like you said, we could use his help now. Can we contact him?"

"I don't know how. I suppose we could owl and hope it reaches him, but I don't know if Umbridge is intercepting the mail, and letters about this are bound to cause us trouble if she reads them."

"So just us then." I like a good puzzle, but this is sounding like a huge job. "All right, Hermione, how about you start copying the runes down, so we have them on parchment and it won't look as suspicious as these pictures do. I'll go see if I can find more research material."

"Of course. Oh, and thank you, Cho. I couldn't have done it without you."

"Sure, glad to help." It's not exactly a grand adventure, but it's a start. And if nothing else there's the idea of trying out black leather.

Author's Notes:

Thanks to that-fan for his help with editing. Also thanks to those who review, but more is always better. So please if you're leaving this do review. I appreciate it.