Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoat Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

I'm really paranoid thanks to my former Criminology Prof. (A man in a grey suit and silver metallic tie takes a bow while Rae glares)

o-0-O-0-o

Disclaimer - none of this is mine (except the plot) in any way, shape or form. I write to keep myself from doing schoolwork … but really, what sort of genius can't figure out that writing fan fiction is a lot more enjoyable than writing an essay or doing homework? Well, I used to, now I'm doing it to keep my sanity after working 12 hours.

o-0-O-0-o

Twenty-six

o-0-O-0-o

Over the next few days, the four of them researched dragons - fortunately it wasn't so conspicuous when Ron suggested they pretend to be looking up multiple types of magical creatures. Ron was the one who got the dragon books, pretending he had gotten a letter from his brother Charlie who was a dragon tamer in Romania.

"Horntails... Care of... Oh this is useless!" Ron exclaimed as he closed the book, it was nearing curfew and the lot of them were growing frustrated.

Blaise closed his book, "As much as I abhor agreeing with the idioto who gives a bad name to us decent purebloods... I believe he may be correct. We know nothing of use."

"Pureblood?" Hermione asked. "Am I the only one with the slightest amount of Muggle blood in me?"

Blaise frowned, "I don't know. I'm at least a 13th generation pureblood on both sides, my father was Italian and his line went back even further than that."

Ravyn shrugged, "Dad's family has been pure since the time of the Three Brothers, Mum's... she was at least tenth generation."

"What about you Ronald?"

Ron shrugged, "I don't really know, but my family's been pureblood for centuries."

Hermione frowned, "Aren't you worried about incest?"

Ravyn and Blaise looked at her as though her head had been cut off and yet she was still alive.

"What?" they demanded as one.

"Yes, aren't you?"

Ravyn frowned, "Hermione, just how many Pureblood families do you think are out there?"

"I don't know, a hundred?"

Blaise coughed, feeling a little sick. "What!"

"Well?" she asked, feeling a little pathetic by the reaction that she was getting from the lot of them.

"Hermione, let me put it this way, there is over ten million Pureblood families alone in the world and if the lot of us were all pure... I think you don't have to be so concerned."

"Why not?"

"Because only the Primary lines of the families are the ones that are expected to remain "pure"." Blaise explained, "For example, Ravyn and I would both be expected to marry pure if not ¾ magical. Ronald could marry whomsoever he wishes simply for the fact that he is not the oldest son."

Hermione looked between the two, "Really?"

Ravyn nodded, "Yeah, and my family isn't even so picky about the Pure thing. The Head of the Family could be potentially either me or my cousin Raphael so as long as one of us marries Pure we'll be alright."

Hermione visibly relaxed. "I guess I don't feel so bad now. But why do Purebloods not like Muggles?"

Ravyn and Blaise shared a look of slight annoyance, "Most of the Purebloods of the world were at one time open with those around them about their magic. It wasn't until they were persecuted for their heritage that the two sides began to have a rift. Besides, they are more annoyed when Muggleborns - who make up less than 5% of the entire population - decide that they know better than the ones who have lived in the wizarding world for centuries and want to make the world "a better place" by throwing their morals, religion and views down our throats. Face it Hermione, while there have been great muggle borns in the past - Heck, Bagnold even became Minister - you need to realize that change doesn't happen overnight. Everything takes time, especially when the wizarding world is wary of change after Voldemort's regime tore everything apart."

Hermione looked between the two of them, "Really?"

As one, they nodded.

"So, let's go back to the books and leave this mumbo-jumbo in the past. We really don't need to talk politics after everything that had happened." Ravyn said, obviously changing the subject but it was something that they needed done.

Hermione nodded her agreement, "What can we do about this… er, situation?"

"We need to find someone who has enough clout with the Ministry to get IT out of the way and to make sure that we are not harmed while it happens." Blaise noted in a voice barely above a whisper before he turned to look at Ravyn. "Someone with a lot of clout."

Ravyn looked at him, "Blaise, no." he whispered angrily back.

"Why not?" he demanded, still only whispering as they knew Madam Pince wouldn't hesitate to throw them out of the library.

"Because."

"That is not an excuse."

"Yes it is, especially if what you're implying turns out to be true. I can't use IT as an excuse to use up valued family favors. Why can't you?"

"Because I am only my mother's heir. She expects me to be the Black Widower to her Black Widow. She's far from unintelligent and she knows that as one so young I cannot be expected to cultivate her carefully planted seed."

"In other words, you have no influence of your own in the ministry and as the youngest accredited warder in Britain I do?"

Blaise nodded, "Now you're getting it!"

"No."

"But-"

"Blaise, I can't. They are not my favors to use."

"Well, don't you know ANYONE that can help us?"

Ravyn thought about it, "Xi Wu."

"What?"

"Xi Wu! I've got to go!" he said speaking normally as he grabbed his book bag and all but ran out of the library.

Ravyn ran out the library, speeding past Professor Snape only yelling, "Xi Wu needs my help!"

Severus just shook his head and took five points from Gryffindor for yelling at a Professor before he continued on his way to the first floor unused classroom that he was using for potions that couldn't be brewed in a dungeon environment. They were powerful restoratives that Dumbledore needed for the foolish students who tried to go up against the Cerberus on the third floor.

"Idiots." he muttered under his breath as he entered the classroom where four size 11 Cauldrons were bubbling merrily.

Xi Wu saw Ravyn running towards her, she had on a lovely white outfit as it was a bit warm for someone who'd spent the majority of her winter in Northern Canada - not for wards but for an inspection that the Canadian Ministry had requested she do. The joys of being a magic seer. As it was nearing sunset and she had a white wool knee length coat and soft charmed white suede gloves, altogether she was quite comfortable.

"Xi Wu!" Ravyn called out as he approached her and bowed lightly, panting even though he wore his fur-lined black cloak.

"Ravyn."

"Need… help." he gasped out.

She looked at him curiously, "Help with what?"

"IT."

Xi Wu could hear the capital letters in what he was saying, "Is this about the ward fluctuation near the forest?" she asked, thinking about how for the last week or so the magic in that area had been fluctuating even more so with the Care of Magical Creatures Class studying Unicorns.

Ravyn nodded, "Yeah."

She nodded, "Alright, let us talk." she said and Ravyn proceeded to tell her everything he knew about the Dragon Egg - promptly informing her that the Egg had yet to hatch, although he and everyone else who knew about it thought it might hatch at any time.

"That is disturbing. Do you know what type…" she asked before Severus Snape saw them through the window where he was brewing his potions. The windows were in the courtyard and were elegant arches with old, slightly warped, glass.

He came outside. "Ms. Chan, Mr. Parker."

"Professor."

"Mr. Snape."

Severus looked between them, "We have rules for a reason. I will not take points from Gryffindor - but I will have to assign detention."

Ravyn and Xi Wu nodded as the woman left the two of them to their thoughts. "I'll do a bit more research. Hopefully I will be able to help you."

Ravyn nodded, smiling. "Thanks Xi Wu." he said before Snape grabbed his upper arm and all but dragged him up to Gryffindor Tower.

"You will receive the owl soon. Do not count on Professor McGonagall to be able to get you out of it."

Ravyn nodded, "Yes sir, I am sorry Sir."