I know my radio silence is grating and I do apologize for the gaps in my chapters. My life has been CRAZY.

Though, I am AGAIN making a concentrated effort to finish the three stories I have going, my plan is AT LEAST before May, and my even more aggressive goal is by the end of the year. Thank you, everyone, for your support and your love, it really helps motivate me to continue. Please, let me know of anything that you would like to see in the coming chapters, any smallish plot arks, etc.

DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter is not owned by me, at all.


"They've stepped too far, Albus." McGonagall was pale with rage as she finished reading the letter. She set it down on Albus' desk and walked around the room, her eyes scanned all the portraits of the past Headmasters around them, all curiously watching them.

"Yes." Albus had been very quiet these last few weeks-he spent most of his time alone in his office. The end of term was approaching and Tom Riddle has hidden himself most successfully. There have not been any attempts to free the Deatheaters from Azkaban, and any and all advice Albus has given the Ministry has been laughed at. Either double the security in the prison, or begin delivering the Kiss to the Deatheaters sentenced to it anyway. Tom Riddle wouldn't be near the adversary he was without his army and a large portion of it was rotting inside the prison right now, waiting for a rescue or death. Albus suggested Death so this second uprising of the Dark Lord would be over before it began. And there haven't been any muggle born disappearances like before.

Yet the fool Cornelius refuses to see reason-to listen to Longbottom's eye witness account or to Barty Crouch Jr.s confession. The Dark Lord couldn't possibly be back, he says.

And now, in this letter on his desk, carrying the official seal of the Minister... has all but forced Albus into retirement. The letter mentions his age, his entire successful academic career, and a strong push of retirement. In the fall for next year the Minister has decreed that a representative of the Ministry will walk the halls of Hogwarts to ensure that the curriculum is taught as dictated by the Governors of the school as well as the Ministry.

This overstepping of boundaries announces that Albus is senile and no longer capable of making good decisions. The Daily Prophet is only backing this up by slandering his name for claiming Tom Riddle has risen from the dead-and did so in the Forbidden Forest, under 'his watch.'

"What are we going to do about this, Albus?" McGonagall had finally stopped pacing the room and turned to her old friend. He drew in a deep breath and slowly pulled himself to stand.

"We must focus on what is important. I will not be able to change their opinion of me, what we must do is work with the Order to find him, and to stop him."

"How do you plan on doing that?" She asked, as the twinkle in his eye seemed more mischievous than normal.

"First I am going to go see how Professor Slughorn is getting on, being back in school." Albus smiled and offered his arm to his second in command and the two of them left his office.


Professor Slughorn had known this conversation was coming. He hadn't been brought out of retirement just because Hogwarts needed a Potions Master immediately-that raise he had received HAD seemed too good to be true. Yet he it hadn't occurred to him why Dumbledore had gone straight to him-at least, until now. He drew in a deep breath and shook his head sadly at Dumbledore.

"I can't, and don't have what you are asking for." Slughorn pulled his night robes tighter around him and leveled his gaze back to Albus, who was likewise dressed for bed and sitting across his desk from him.

"Old friend I have not asked anything," Albus smiled delightedly. Slughorn's unprovoked admission revealed that he could and did have what Albus had come for. The clever man. The Potions Master sighed and shook his head again.

"What memory you have is the memory."

"He came back because he had help." Albus was calm and folded his hands across his chest, "and he must be stopped."

"Yes, I know! The horrible things he has done...I know, I know! But I can't."

"How have classes gone for you so far?" Dumbledore asked with a small smile and a curious tilt of his head. Slughorn pounced on the chance for a change in conversation and he visibly relaxed into his chair.

"Well, its gone quite well. I have seen a remarkable improvement in all Hufflepuffs, it seems a certain dark hair professor intimidated them far too much." Slughorn chuckled, "and I have just begun picking out the invitations to the first Slug Club dinner." Albus chuckled faintly along with his old colleague.

"Of course, and who are the lucky few?"

"Those Weasley Twins amuse me quite a lot, and their attention to detail and care they put into their potion making is astounding-I've also heard about their...ah little experiments that they have created. If those two don't create something grand after they get out of school, why, then I am Mandrakes uncle!" Slughorn may or may not have been involved in one of their more...affectionate experiments and he had been most pleased with the results the twins had shown him. Slughorn had already told the boys if they ever needed a business investor-after Hogwarts of course-that he would be more than happy to help.

"Yes, brilliant those too. And wild."

"Yes and I've also become quite interested in that Hermione Granger." Slughorn admitted, though he generally didn't invite fourth years into his club, he saw wonders in her. "Why just in her first year she helped get that Dueling Club together and she's quite unbeatable. Her marks in class are perfect, and from what I hear they are perfect in every class. Her potential...why should could one day rule the Ministry." Slughorn chuckled and noted Albus' nod of agreement.

"Why I've only just realized the time, Slughorn, I do bid you a wonderful evening and I hope the Club gets together smoothly." Albus exited politely and left Slughorn at his desk slightly confused, though when he did check the time, it was nearly midnight!


Class, food, library, sleep.

Class, food, library, sleep.

Class, food, library, sleep.

Class, library, food, sleep.

Class, library, sleep.

Class, library.

Class, library.

Classlibrasleep.

"Hermione!" a book was slammed onto the table in front of her, causing the exhausted girl to jerk away, she sat up and looked around momentarily lost.

"What?!" Hermione demanded.

"You slept here all day! It's two in the afternoon! You weren't at any of your classes. When was the last time you ate?"

Hermione blushed with embarrassment and tried to remember. "I had a roll this morni-er yesterday morning."

"Come with me now." Fred Weasley didn't often look mad, but right now Hermione didn't argue with him. She gathered her books and piles of notes, all the while Fred glared at her and tapped his foot impatiently. He led her directly from the library to the kitchens and quickly got her a plate of food from lunch. He sat the food in her lap and watched her, to make sure she ate everything.

"You don't have to stare," she murmured after she swallowed a mouthful. Fred opened his eyes a little wider at her.

"I thought this behavior during exam times was over with, Hermione." Fred was chiding now, like a disappointed parent.

"It's importan-"

"You don't get to talk, you get to eat." Fred pointed at her plate and then back at her, "I do have to power to force feed you. And don't think I won't. Everyone has had enough of this, and it has only been a week! They are just exams. You know everything there is to know and then some. You're doing this because you don't want to see Draco or Ron. It is obvious and everyone can tell." Hermione's face pinked with shame and she looked down at her food.

"So you have some drama right now. Guess what? Everyone has drama. You can't just ignore it for it to go away. You have to be honest and direct. And stop starving yourself for godsake." Fred folded his arms across his chest and leveled her with a look.

"I...I know Fred. I'm just...I don't know. I never wanted any of that stuff to happen-I never even wanted to drink but George made me! Now everything is so complicated!"

"No! No it isn't complicated, hon. Unless you are telling me you have feelings for Ron now?" Fred arched an eyebrow and she quickly dismissed it with a shake of her head.

"It was different because..." Fred began.

"Because I've only ever kissed Draco..." Hermione really didn't want to have this conversation with him-with anyone. But she was literally pinned down in the corner of the kitchen with her back to the wall and Fred planted right in front of her. "And I don't have feelings for Ron, but Draco wants me to tell him that I love him."

"And do you?"

"I'm fourteen! How am I supposed to know?! No, I haven't felt like this about anyone before, but there hasn't BEEN anyone before. And he's said about how after we are out of school and everything and I...that's all so serious! And there is so much we don't know."

"Then tell him that."

"I...I don't want to hurt his feelings."

"And you think just ignoring him is making him feel any better?" Fred asked and Hermione sighed. She knew he was right and that she couldn't just keep avoiding the situation, but at the same time it was just so hard to face her emotions. She'd rather duel all the seventh years. She had managed to finish her tray of food and Fred took it from her and set it on the floor next to him. Wordlessly a House Elf scuttled over and took the tray away. She drew in a deep breath and stood up. She did feel better with food in her belly.

"Sorry for the tough love, but someone had to do it." Fred ruffled her hair with a slanted grin. Hermione grinned back at him and shrugged.

"It was necessary, I guess."

"Now c'mon, lets find Draco." Fred led her from the kitchens and a pit of reluctance started to brew in her stomach.

Hermione figured Draco would be with his Ravenclaw lads in the common room so they set off in that direction. They had just gotten to the Staircase when Professor Slughorn appeared at the top of the steps ahead of them. He smiled widely and waved at the both of them.

"Ah! I was actually looking for both of you. I wasn't aware you were both friends."

"Well Professor, this little troublemaker is like my little sister-only this one gets into a lot more trouble." Fred smiled and Hermione grinned a little in embarrassment.

"Miss Granger? A troublemaker? I'll have to hear this." Slughorn laughed and reached into the folds of his emerald green cloak and pulled out two envelops.

"Here you go, one for each of you. Mr. Weasley, this invitation is also for your brother-though outside of class the both of you are highly elusive." The two males smiled knowingly at each other and that fact wasn't missed by Hermione. She'd find out what that was about.

The two students took the invitations with curiosity and the Professor quickly bid himself goodbye and continued down the stairs.

Hermione put the invitation in her bag so she didn't distract herself about their original mission and Fred put his into his robes. He'd read it with George.


"Okay, in you go." Fred gestured inside the Ravenclaw Commonroom and Hermione drew in a deep breath. Draco was indeed in there, she could see the back of his head. She nodded at Fred and walked inside. The room was mostly empty, save for Draco and a fifth year named Cho Chang. The two of them looked like they were studying together-or just happened to be sitting close together for some reason. Hermione didn't pay it any mind.

"Ah, Draco?" She asked in a voice that lacked the confidence she wanted. Draco turned to look at her, and Chang lifted her head from her book. Draco didn't look pissed, or surprised.

"A pleasant surprise, Hermione." He smiled and stood up. He closed the book he had been reading and crossed the room to Hermione. Chang went back to her work with a grin. Hermione noticed the grin and filed that away as well. She'd ask Draco what that was about.

"There is something I need to talk to you about," she said quietly. Draco smiled at her and took her hand and led her over to another section of the common room, where no one could overhear them.

"Firstly, I want to apologize again, about everything. I made a mess and then ignored it, instead of cleaning it up. Though I have come to realize that there is a lot of things that I don't understand. Emotions, mostly. They're complicated and half the time I don't know what I am feeling myself."

"That's fine Hermione, we're both still so young-"

"Yes, I know, Draco, please let me finish." He nodded his head and lifted his eyebrows for her to continue. "I let that kiss with Ronald confuse me more than it should and it meant nothing. It still means nothing to me. He was mean to me and horrid and we had only just become friends-and anyway it doesn't matter. I like you and I want to be with you. But I also don't know what love is. You're the first person I've ever been with and I don't want to get in over my head with anything. So I do want to be with you, but I can't be serious. I don't know how. Is that alright?"

Draco's face was blank for the most part, but when she finished he simply nodded his head, "Of course. I don't want you thinking I want to push you into anything you don't want or aren't ready for. Okay?" He asked, and it was her turn to nod. He smiled widely and pulled her into a hug. "Would you like to study with Chang and I? She was helping me with Runes because you have been absent and I've been able to help her with Charms, because of that fifth year book you stole."

"I didn't steal it!" She blushed and laughed faintly. She sat down with Draco and Chang and the three of them worked in a peaceful silence-until someone had a question that needed clarifying.