Ronald and Ginny made themselves scarce after the blowout with Sirius. The utter disgust on Harry's face when Ginny threw herself at him was almost comical. Not as comical as her reaction though.

"Harry! I missed you soooooo much! This place was absolutely dreadful without you here!" she pouts and puffs out her chest.

"Cut the crap Gin, I know." Harry mutters while he tries to eat his food.

"Well I'm sure I have no idea what your talking about!" she sputters.

"Like brother like sister." I chuckle and Michael joins me.

She glares. "What's that supposed to mean?" she says with a sickly sweet voice.

"Oh nothing, just that you and your numbskull brother had the same reaction when we told you that we knew about the money. The sputtering I mean. Though I do have to admit, you did better than Ronald. He couldn't even get words out. So tell me Gin, how much did you steal from Harry's family? Oh wait, never mind, Sirius has the bank statements." I smirk victoriously as Harry joins in on the laughter. This felt good. Laughing with your friends. Too bad we were laughing at the fact that our supposed best friends were stealing thousands from Harry and not laughing at an actual joke.

"You little mudblooded bitch." Ginny shouts. The great hall gets shockingly quiet and all eyes are on us. I can feel Blaise, Draco, Teddy, Jace, Ersilia, Janet, Pansy, and Leona ready to rise from their seats.

Michael's hand stops them.

"Your arsehole must be jealous of all the shit that comes out of your mouth." He smirks in a very Slytherin way. "Oh and by the way, your family tree must be a cactus because you are all a bunch of pricks." He then quietly goes back to his meal.

The slow clapping starts at the Ravenclaw table and soon enough the entire great hall erupts in applause as Ginny storms out.

I hug Michael with all my might. "You really are a Gryffindor!" I wipe away a fake tear. "I am so proud!"

"Don't look now but, Snape is smiling!" Harry whispers to the both of us. I look at the teachers table and sure enough, shape has a small smile on his face.

"Do you think he knew? About the money I mean. It would certainly explain why he hates the Weasleys so much." I took another look at Snape and I nodded. He definitely knew.

As the feast ends I trudge my way back to the Prefects dorm. Glancing towards Blaise briefly I faintly nod and he smirks. The closer I get to the room the more I smell something… burning?

"THE EGG!" I yell. That catches the attention of Leona, Blaise and Pansy. We glance at each other and start running.

We barely make it to the common room on time to see it happen. The egg shakes and cracks getting faster with each passing minute.

"Is this what being pregnant is like?!" Pansy asks excitedly. Her words hold no malice but they still sting my heart. I missed my little brother. I so clearly remember being there when he was born. I was excited then too.

Soon enough a whistling escapes the egg and steam erupts from the cracks, eventually, the whole egg caves in to reveal…

"No fucking way." Blaise mutters.

"What do we do?" Leona jitters

"Yeah Hermione what do we do?" Pansy says and the entire group looks at me.

"I-I don't know exactly… Pansy write a letter to Hagrid and sent it immediately. Leona you get the food ready and double it. Blaise get another blanket off of my bed. I'll open up the shell more?" they each set upon their appointed tasks. This wasn't exactly the same thing as helping cut my brother's umbilical cord but, I'd have to make do.

I looked into the egg again just to make sure we weren't seeing things.

Nope.

There were two dragons in the egg.

That was almost a month ago and Halloween was just around the corner. The preparations for the masquerade ball had me frantic but not as much as the search for my brother did. Sirius had feelers out in every possible country but, other than a few dead ends, nothing came up. But I will not give up hope.

"Don't worry Sebastian. I will find you." I say to myself as I glance at the still unopened birthday car on my desk. I'll open it when Sebastian is in my arms. Then my parents can rest peacefully.

Over the past month things have changed around Hogwarts. Things seemed brighter and the students seemed happier. Harry had become close with our little group of vagabonds, even he and Draco have learned to tolerate each other. Our weekly excursions have been successful. Becoming animagi wasn't easy but we powered through it. Harry and I started teaching everyone how to fight using weapons and our wits just has the Aurors had taught us.

Blaise and I were nearly inseparable at these times. Today's would be one of those days.

"Are you all ready?" I ask our group. Nods all around. Today we were sneaking out of Hogwarts and into Hogsmead for a day out.

With the Headmistress' permission of course. We all shift into our animagi forms, Harry's being a black dog just like his godfather.

"Persephone, Hades, let's go." I whistle. The sound of heavy flapping wings follow us as we head through the forest.

Hades and Persephone.

Our two dragons.

Hagrid had been just as flabbergasted as I when he got the letter. Neither of us were expecting this. Nor were we expecting the dragons to ignore us and take a liking to Teddy and Draco of all people. Persephone, with her Pearly white scales and striking silver line starting at the crown of her head and leading all tree he way down her back to the tip of her tail, had pounced on Draco the moment he entered the dormitory. If we tried to separate them, she'd cry. Not that Draco complained, he was fond of having the, now, Great Dane sized dragon following him around.

Hades was obsidian black, so unlike his sister, where as she was energetic and reckless, he was more timid and, dare I say, calculating. He looked around the room for five minutes before finally settling on Teddy, sauntering over to him, and plopping down on his lap. If we moved him he'd just saunter back.

Pansy pitched a fit. "No fair! We took care of the egg all this time and THEY get the dragons? What are you even doing here Theo?! You're not a perfect."

"Blaise invited me." He said simply and grinned at his new friend.

Don't get me wrong Hades and Persephone loved all of us. They just loved Draco and Teddy a bit more.

I'm broken out of my thoughts when I smell a familiar scent. I stop in my tracks and nearly cause Blaise to crash into me.

"What's wrong love?" he asks me without talking. I'll never get used to the telepathy we all share while in our best form.

"Fenrir is back!"

I let out a loud howl and the crashing of branches get closer and closer. No matter how many times I see him, Fenrir's size always catches me off guard. He was three of my wolves put together without a doubt.

I laugh internally.

"What's so funny Miss Thang?" Jace chuckles

"What a sight we must be huh? Two dragons, a sun bear, a white tiger, a peregrine falcon, a lynx, a jackal, a black dog, a polar bear, a fox and two wolves running through the forbidden forest."

"It sounds like the start of a corny joke." Janet laughs. " Do you know what would make it even better?" That always meant trouble.

"Why, I think I do." Even in this form, Jace's mischievous grin causes me to shudder. Oh well, if you can beat me, join em.

"On three?" I ask, Jace and Janet both nod.

"One"

"Two"

"Three!"

We change into ourselves just long enough to cast the same hex that brought us together.

"There is nothing more satisfying than seeing a real live pink panther!" I laugh. Blaise must have heard me laugh, he looked down to see his normally black paws were not a soft pink. Draco has yet to notice he was now green and Leona was purple.

Jace's favorite color.

"Aw how sweet!" I tease the aforementioned Ravenclaw.

"Hermione!" Blaise bellows and I grin.

"Uh oh! Gotta blast!" I race ahead with Blaise in pursuit.

I almost make it to the outskirts of Hogsmead before he catches up to me and pounces. We tumble on the ground until he pins me and we turn back into people.

"Pink, really?!" he growls "This calls for some payback."

My eyes go wide "Now we don't need to act so hastily. Blaise please. No. Blaise!"

It's no use his fingers find my sides and the unstoppable ticking ensues viciously. I laugh with chopped breaths.

"You" I gasp " arsehole!"

"Oh I'm the arsehole?! Who dyed whose hair pink?!"he grins before leaning down to kiss me.

"Woah guys keep it PG I'd like to keep my eyesight!" Draco hisses not realizing his hair was a violent shade of neon green.

"PG? We can bump it up to rated M if you keep complaining!" I smirk and go in for a deeper kiss.

"Ew lord no please no!"

Teddy follows up behind, and seems we're far enough away from the school to resume being human.

"Where are the others?" I ask Teddy.

"They wanted to frolic a bit longer." he shrugs

"I hardly believe Jace used the word frolic." Blaise scoffs

"You don't want to know the words Jace used to describe what he wanted to do to a certain fox. Janet took the little one to the stream so they didn't hear the explicit details."

"All I'm hearing is don't go looking for Jace and Leona for a good half hour." I grimace as I try to block the images from my head. I love my friends but not that much. Wait.

"Where's Harry?!"

"He seems to have a penchant for younger redheads. He followed Janet like a lost puppy. Don't worry Hermione, we are completely safe." As soon as the words leave his mouth the bushes near us begin to rustle.

"Completely safe, you say?" Draco grimaces while pulling out his wand. "This is still the forbidden forest mate. I am fully suspecting an acromantula to come out of that bush." The rustling gets louder and we all ready our wands. Finally something crashes through the brush.

It's a small, clumsy little thing, pure white with long legs. It finally rights itself and we all gasp at the beginning of a spiral horn perched on the center of its head.

"That's a unicorn foal." I smile

"Really? I would have thought it a werewolf. Brilliant deduction Hermione." Draco says dully, putting his wand away. "The poor thing's all alone, where's your mum and dad?" he moves closer.

"Draco, you fuck, you cant touch it. Don't you read? If anything not completely, truly pure touches a unicorn foal, it dies. Not Trying to be mean or anything but none of us are pure." I school

Especially not me.

"Leave it to know it all Granger." Draco sighs

"What do you mean by that?!" I holler and the bickering match begins.

"Uh Mione?" Teddy sheepishly starts. I ignoring him in favor of hurling more insults at Draco.

"Love…" Blaise puts a hand on my shoulder and I look at him. He nods downward and I follow his lead.

"My My, Miss Hermione Granger, pure of heart and soul." despite his mocking tone I can hear the awe in Draco's voice.

"This is almost disgustingly adorable." I grumble as I look down at the foal asleep on my feet. "You got the wrong person little buddy." I gently take the creature off of my feet and sit down next to it. It groggily gets up and sticks it tongue out at me in a very human like matter.

I don't deserve such an honor.

Its wobbles towards Theo, who is now laying on his side across from me, and decidedly cuddles up to him.

"No fucking way." Teddy chuckles. "This is too weird."

"Out of all the things that have been happening since the year started, you think this is too weird? You gotta learn to just go with it." Blaise grins.

"Is that how you managed to stay sane so far?" I ask him.

"I wouldn't call it sane, love."

"More so than I am"

"We should head into Hogsmead soon, getting ready for the ball." Draco huffs. We had planned to venture out early, get our outfits and be back in time for dinner. That way, while the other students are out shopping, we could stay behind and set up.

"I'm taking the foal with me" Teddy grins

"No, you're not." Draco huffs. Pansy shifts behind him having just arrived.

"Is that a unicorn?!" she gasps and reaches out to pet it. There wasn't enough time to warn her, her hand barely touches the foal's ear when an inky substance dyes it black. It spreads down its head and across it's small body.

"What's happening to it!?" Pansy gasps "What did I do?" she looked sick. The foal collapsed onto the ground an everything was quiet.

"Pansy… you…" Draco starts but a gasp broke his sentence into pieces.

"The foal…is getting back up?" Teddy gasps.

Sure enough, the foal was clumsily getting back on its feet. It opened its eyes that were now a striking emerald green against its black fur.

"And those who bond with the foal change its appearance to match their soul." I breathe happily. "It bonded with Pansy!"

"What?" the question was unanimous.

"In one of his books- Newt Scamander wrote about it. It was on the reading list for the Holiday!"

"You actually do the Holiday reading? Nobody actually does that." Draco deadpans

I glare at him before continuing.

"Its apparently extremely rare as in only two cases in recorded history. The first with an unnamed witch from the time of Merlin and the second with Newt himself. If a unicorn foal binds with a witch or wizard, they become sired for life and change their appearance to match their bonded's soul."

"So my soul is black…lovely." Pansy laughs nervously.

Shes trying so hard to not be freaked out right now.

Blaise picks up on her nervousness.

"Black is for new beginnings." He says "Its an old Wiccan saying."

"Wiccan?" the two purebloods ask confusedly.

"Oh uh. Think of it as a muggle religion, their way of doing "magic" they believe the earth and everything on it has a certain energy and doing certain rituals or spells can either dispel or bring new energies to them."

"Do you make it your business to know everything Mione? Cause you are exceedingly good at it." Teddy laughs.

"So do we keep it?" Pansy asks hopefully. cradling the small creature.

"We'd have to ask the Headmistress and probably Hagrid. But we can't just leave it here now that it's sired to Pansy." Blaise pauses "I really never thought I would ever say that sentence in my life."

"So I'm taking him to Hogsmead with us?" She squeals

"Pans, I'm not sure that's-" Draco starts

"We're taking him to Hogsmead with us."

"Okay we're taking him to Hogsmead with us everyone." Draco scurries away from his...girlfriend?

Leona, Janet, and Ersilia meet Pansy and I at the dress shop.

"So this is a costume masquerade ball correct? I wish we could do matching costumes, but that'd be too obvious." Janet pouts

"Well what if we keep a common vague theme? It's not the same at matching but, it's something." I suggest.

"I'll take it!" The redhead grins.

"How about Goddesses?" Ersilia throws out quietly. "Its vague enough to not be outwardly obvious."

"The first Ravenclaw Zabini. I'm so proud!" Pansy sniffles, while cuddling her foal. The rest of the group was shocked but not surprised when we told them what happened.

Because of course with how this year has been going, why not just throw a unicorn into the mix.

Was what Harry said.

"So Goddesses. Good plan. Any ideas?"

"I call Neiman!" Janet says quickly.

"Who?" Pansy looks at her confused

"Celtic warrior goddess…" Janet, rubs the back of her head sheepishly.

"So we're going celtic? Good." Leona sighs.

The shopkeeper finally comes out and appraises us. "So Celtic goddesses? That's easy, at least you didn't pick Roman. Everyone picks Roman. Let's see now… You" She points ar Ersilia "Little one, come with me. You're first."

Ersilia takes the shopkeeper's hand and is taken to the back.

"Should we just have let her be taken away like that?" Janet asks after a moment.

"I'm sure she'll be fine." I say cautiously.

Sure enough a few minutes later, out come the shopkeeper who looks decidedly pleased with herself.

"I give to you… Eirene The Peace Goddess!" She says with a flourish.

Ersilia shyly steps through the curtains White gold heels peek through a floor length pale Mauve chiffon skirt. The bodice and Sweetheart neckline are detailed with white gold lace. Her, what looks to be laser cut but I'm sure is done with magic, lace mask covers the upper half of her face matches her shoes.

"Why couldn't I look like that when I was eleven!" Pansy pouts.

"Because our head boy and girl sucked and made all the first years wear robes…" Leona chuckles

"Hermione?" Ersilia looks at me "Does it look okay?"

"You look beautiful. Absolutely beautiful." and I mean it. For someone so young she holds herself like an adult. She looks positively regal.

"So you'll be taking it, I guess?" The shopkeeper smiles.

"Most definitely she is taking it!" Janet shouts.

"Me next!" Pansy laughs, giving me the foal, and skips towards the lady who ushers her and Ersilia to the back.

Ersilia comes out a few moment later with a dress bag and a big grin on her face.

Pansy comes out with a beaming smile wearing a two piece floor length gown. The haltered top has a mandala like design with delicate flowers in the center. Her gold heel compliment the deep red, blue and gold designs. Her skirts is white with a small band of matching fabric to define her small waist. He gold filigree masks is complemented by a spiraling horn.

"Epona, protector of horses and foals." The shopkeeper explains.

"You look like such a babe!" Leona cheers

"Thank you, thank you, I know!" Pansy giggles. "I am most definitely buying it. It's perfect!"

"I do a good job, don't I?" The shopkeeper grins. She pulls Leona back next and spends a decent amount of time with her.

"Okay I'm worried." Pansy mutters after a while.

"I'm right here calm down." Leona chuckles.

"Damn" Janet says in shock. "You actually have legs for miles. I'm jealous."

"Áine, Goddess of Sovereignty" The shopkeeper hands Leona her mask.

She looked divine in her elegant long lace dress with a sleeveless halter bodice. It is adorned with delicate floral lace appliques over sheer mesh fabric. Her l low cut v-neckline and open back gave the dress a flirty look. The beaded band at the natural waistline gathers the flowing chiffon overlay before it cascades loosely over the floor length skirt. The blush color complimented her silver blond hair. She slips on the gold venetian mask with diamond embellishments and the look falls together.

"So are you-" The shopkeeper begins

"You don't even need to ask, I love it." Leona smiles gently.

The shopkeeper smiles happily then looks at Janet.

"You wanted to be Nemain, correct?" Janet nods "It fits you, you have her hair. let's go."

And the process repeats.

I sit on the couch smiling dumbly. It's been a dream of mine to be able to go dress shopping with close friends and so far it's been everything i've pictured. the girl's happy faces make me want to smile too. and I do, without hesitation, for the first time in a long time. I feel at peace.

"Don't laugh you guys or I will hex you to oblivion." Janet says from behind the curtain.

"Just get out here!" Pansy encourages. "I want to see what you look like as an actual girl!"

"Fuck you Pansy."

"Love you too."

Janet begrudgingly steps out from behind the curtain and everyone goes quiet.

A few moments of awkward silence later, Janet snaps.

"Do I really look that ridiculous?! Thats it im taking it off."

"Don't you dare!" I bark "You look gorgeous! We've just never seen you in a dress."

"How were you hiding that body underneath your robes? Actually how do you have bigger boobs than me? I'm older than you!" Pansy gasps "Life isn't fair!"

Her sleeveless tan dress is almost completely covered in golden gems that sparkle when she moves and it hugs her figure like a sleeve. the gems disappear around the hem of her dress and a long slits allows her to move more freely. Her mask looks like its made with…

"Genuine dragon scales, from a Catalonian fireball kit. We kept her hidden here for a while. The mother was killed and the hunters wanted her as well. Each time she shed her scales we kept them as a reminder."

Just who was this lady?

"Who are you?! We never asked your name." Janets asks as if reading my mind.

"Oh. I'm just an old seamstress. My name is Camilla." She bows.

We all exchange glances of disbelief.

"Tut tut, Its your turn miss." She says, looking at me with a smile.

I follow her against my better judgement. I take her hand and images flash before my eyes. Images of beautiful people with pointed ears and expressive eyes. She gives me another smile and we sit down.

"You have a difficult path to take." she says suddenly. "Yet a difficult path you have already taken."

"Excuse me?"

"You, my dear, are shrouded with a thick black smoke of destiny that does not want to lift. You are going to have to endure many more dark trials. You'll have to raise an army." She carries on.

"But-"

"You are The Morrigan." She says with finalty "I'll be back shortly."

She comes back moments later with a long black dress.

"I'm not putting anything on until you tell me what the hell is going on." I demand

"All in good time." Camilla grins

She helps the dress over my head and charms it to fit me. Taking a look at myself in the mirror I gasp.

"What is The Morrigan, exactly?" I ask

"Goddess of War."

The A-line dress was beautiful with a long slit up the skirt. The sheer bodice had a deep V necklines with lace appliques that almost looked like feathers and extended down my arms. The back was cut out in a classy way that accentuated my less than slim figure.

"Your shoes madam." Camilla hands me black gladiator heels that wrap up just below my knee. "And your mask."

It was black and silver with feather-like designs and a distinct yet delicate beak. I slipped it onto my face and it fit like it was made for me. I gather my wits and walk through the curtain, trying not to trip.

"My Brother is going to drop dead when he sees you in that." Ersilia laughs

"Granger when did you get curves?! Is everyone in this group blessed with great bodies?"

"Careful Pansy, I might start to think your flirting with me." I laugh and she responds with a clicking noise.

"Hermione you really do look beautiful, The dress is amazing on you!" Leone smiles

"We are going to be the best looking bitches at this ball!" Janets quips

"Oh dear it's time for me to close up shop. You Ladies better scurry." Camilla orders. I follow her back behind the curtain and she packages up the outfit. I go to sit with the girls while she fixes everything up.

"How much for the dresses?" Pansy asks

"Oh, your headmistress took care of everything. Lovely lady, I remember helping her with her first ball." Camilla wipes a fake tear.

I mean she looked old but she doesn't look that old…

"You helped Headmistress McGonagall?" Janet asks dubiously.

Instead of answering, Camillia winks and slams the door in our faces.

"Rude" Leona huffs.

"That was enough weirdness for the day. Lets meet up with the boys and head home." Pansy sighs.

I take a last glance at the shop before following the others.