Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy arrived the next morning at breakfast to air their grievances, bringing along Prime Minister Fudge to watch as the Lady of House Malfoy went into hysterics over her petrified son.

There was something profoundly false behind the woman's tears, a hollow statue pretending to be human, and Nasrin was once again immensely grateful for her mother.

Once Narcissa ran out of steam, Lucius pulled Professor Dumbledore, Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall aside for a quiet conversation, no anger or frustration bleeding through as the Head of Gryffindor began to scowl.

After so many months, feeling nothing from a person was…worrying.

All of Gryffindor turned to watch when the Partnership Professor led the way towards them, clearly unhappy.

"Miss Granger, Mister Malfoy here has made a rather…unusual request."

"Professor?" Hermione voiced, confused.

"Yes. You see, the thing is…"

"Oh, do stop coddling her." Professor Snape snapped. "Miss Granger, Mister Malfoy has got it in his head that you're somehow responsible for his son's condition, as foolish as that is."

Lucius scowled, but the Potions Professor merely shrugged.

"He's asked to interrogate you with the aid of his Kadabra-"

"Bullshit!" Ron exploded, leaping to his feet.

"Fifty points from Gryffindor!" The Head of Slytherin shot back.

"Sit down, Mister Weasley!" Professor McGonagall ordered.

"Such language." Lucius purred. "Of course, considering your family, I shouldn't be surprised."

Percy, Fred, George and Ginny jumped up to glare down the Leader of Dagonet Gym, and Nasrin reached out to ease Eevee and Pongo into stillness, gaze flickering between them.

"Ten points each from Gryffindor, and another ten for every minute you waste standing there." Professor McGonagall demanded, glaring back until the Weasleys slowly retook their seats. "Now, if I may continue?"

A touch startled by the anger being displayed by her House, the professor turned her attention back to Hermione.

"Miss Granger, Mister Malfoy feels that your confrontation with his son before the beginning of this year warrants this line of questioning."

"And if I refuse?" Hermione offered.

"That's entirely within your right, my dear."

"But that will only postpone things." Narcissa added as that skinny, traumatized Kadabra was called in. "We're taking the time to approach you and allow you to do this privately and with dignity. You will answer our questions. It's merely a question of where and how."

Harry felt the steel-cord flex of muscles tightening under his hand, and squeezed Nasrin's arm.

"Do you know who this is?" Lucius asked, gesturing to the Prime Minister, and Hermione shook her head no. "This is Minister Fudge. I assume I don't need to tell a smart child such as you just how important the Minister of Avalon is."

The bushy-haired girl went a touch pale then, wide-eyed, but there was no such awe or intimidation for anyone else.

"Mister Malfoy explained to me the situation, and while highly unusual, I do feel that his concerns are valid." The bowler-hat wearing man voiced. "Personally, I think you should just go along with our request, my dear."

"Actually, I don't think she will."

Nasrin smiled as everyone's attention swung to her, standing with easy grace to offer a hand.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Prime Minister. I haven't introduced myself." She apologized breezily, expression going blade-sharp when said man paled at the revealed sight of her Gem. "I'm Nasrin Quartz Universe. My mother will be so pleased to hear that you've had such a quick recovery from your debilitating disease. Polio, wasn't it?"

Fudge made Snow and Ludwig seem colorful in comparison, and Lucius' knuckles went equally white on his cane.

"But I'm afraid that I can't allow you to accuse Hermione Granger of such a crime without evidence." Nasrin continued, polite as anything. "She is, after all, an Honored Friend of my House. If that incident, which I was personally involved in, is all that you have, I'm afraid you've come all this way for nothing."

The rose-haired girl turned that smile onto Lucius, who was unnervingly still now.

"While I sympathize with your situation, Mister Malfoy, lashing out blindly will not bring the perpetrator to justice."

She paused here, the pleasant veneer cracking to reveal a flash of fangs.

"So, I will warn you that any further insults against the Weasleys will be taken very personally. You'll find that I take after my grandmother in these sorts of things."

Sputtering fearfully, Fudge retreated speedily out of the Great Hall, and Nasrin just smiled as the Malfoys followed, the Persian that had gotten the cream.

Biting back a laugh, Harry reached out to twine their fingers, smiling back when she turned.

That's my girl.

Amelia Bones, head of the Avalon Police Force and member of the Elite Four, arrived at Hogwarts a few days after that clash with a team of Officer Jennys, locking down the school as they tried to hunt down the Beast of Slytherin.

Gauntlet matches and outdoor classes were cancelled, along with trips to Le Fay's Landing, and the strict curfew forced everyone to stay in their dorms when not in class or forced study periods.

Even poor Hagrid had been moved out of his cottage and into a spare closet, since there was no space for a man his size.

As the days dragged on, Nasrin almost wished that something, anything, would happen…

She should have remembered to be careful what she wished for.