A/N- Here we are again, my friends. After thanking you guys for your continued support, I want to let those that read this story on AO3 know that I'm well aware that my formatting on that site sucks. I really don't care. I haven't started posting on that site until recently and that's only because my friend begged me to. Since I simply copy and paste, I don't have the time to go through and make sure the line breaks are all there. If you want chapters as quickly as you've been getting them, something has to give. I also rarely check my comments on that site either so if you really want an answer, you'll have to review on ffn. Sorry if this inconveniences anyone but I try to answer every review, pump out a 7000-word chapter every other day and still take care of my family around having a full-time job that I work overtime at. I would literally get nothing done if I checked and replied to those comments as well. I wish I had more time but right now in my life, it just isn't possible. To those that didn't get responses to their reviews, I apologize. I wish that just once fanfiction would let me reply to every single review.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything about this story. I have just manipulated J.K.R.'s characters into a story I wanted to write. I have made no money from this story or any others. Trust me, I'm far too broke for anyone to try to say differently.

Chapter 54

February 21, 1994

Hermione waited impatiently for Draco to finish his meal. Lunch had been shepherd's pie today and she knew that it was one of her cousin's favorites. However, since he was now finishing up his second helping, he had had enough. She nudged him with her elbow and glanced at the permanent tempus on the wall. He rolled his eyes at her and sighed.

"Alright, alright, I get it. Hurry up and quit feeding my face because you're ready to go to class." She grinned at him unrepentantly. It was clear he knew her well. Pansy scowled at her but Hermione acted like she couldn't see her. She understood that she was still angry about Hermione telling her to get off her cousin's lap but she needed to get over it.

Pansy was still almost scandalous in her actions to Draco. Hermione said nothing as long as it was in a semi-private setting, especially since her cousin didn't seem to mind most of the time. However, if she put the image her family tried to uphold in danger, Hermione was quick to put her in her place and that was never anywhere near Draco.

Hermione had had a talk with her cousin just two days before regarding his behavior. He had agreed that while he did enjoy Pansy flirting with him, he let it get out of hand in public and he wouldn't allow that anymore. She did believe that he meant it at the time but she was sure that he would slip up again. The interesting thing was that since Draco and Pansy had been getting closer, Pansy and Daphne had been growing further apart.

Daphne had finally confessed to Hermione that she had a crush on Draco, that she thought he was handsome and very intelligent. However, she was confused by Draco's blatant flirting with her and then inviting Pansy to sit on his lap and keep him company on the couches in the common room before they retired to bed. Hermione couldn't blame her; she would have been confused as well.

Hermione had also told her cousin that if he was going to take up with Pansy then he needed to start leaving Daphne alone because it wasn't fair to her. He had looked genuinely confused at her words but had agreed that he wouldn't flirt with Daphne anymore. Hermione didn't understand it; he had told her that he thought Daphne was pretty and he seemed to like her but he kept Pansy around, flirting with her shamelessly. However, it was his life and she wasn't going to dictate his life as long as he wasn't embarrassing himself or her aunt and uncle.

Hermione knew all about getting mixed signals. She couldn't forget that Harry had come to check on her while she had been in the Hospital Wing following the dementor attack on Hogsmeade. Her heart had soared at the thought that he might care but had quickly been dashed the next day when she had seen him snogging Brown sloppily outside the Transfiguration classroom. It was just another knife in the heart that she did her best to ignore and distract herself from. Draco had steered her away from the scene quickly and then told her over and over how Harry didn't deserve her and she was going to find someone so much better than Potter.

Honestly, it was easy enough to ignore as long as she didn't have to witness it. She merely tuned the students that were talking about it out and got caught up in a book. When she was confronted with seeing it herself, however, it was a very real pain. Hermione really didn't understand why it was so hard since she knew that she was only fourteen and had plenty of time to find someone that would love her. Honestly, she had never been in a rush to find love. While Harry was acting like this, though, it was easier on her that they weren't friends. Then she wouldn't have to stand next to him and watch him with other girls, pretending not to care.

If it was possible, since she was distracting herself with schoolwork and reading, her grades had improved. Most of her teachers had taken to giving her extra assignments since they weren't able to give her more advanced ones. She always did them even though she knew she didn't need to; she told herself that it was more practice and that it would pay off in the end.

The Slytherin had heard through the grape vine that Harry was getting extra lessons from Professor McGonagall. It made her so angry that he was trying to cram as much information in his head as quickly as he could because her father had been denied his right to care for his godson. If Harry had been allowed to go to her father, he would have been at the same place in his education as she and Draco were.

She was also happily surprised with how Professor McGonagall fit into the dynamic. Yes, she gave Harry his assignments and made sure they were graded. Dumbledore had asked it of her and who was she to refuse a task that would help the savior of their world? However, she had joined Hermione, Draco, and Uncle Sev several times since returning to school in her uncle's quarters. As nervous as it made Hermione to be herself in front of the Transfiguration professor, it was getting easier. In time, she could see Professor Cat as someone that she could go to if she needed someone to talk to. Once that layer of prejudice against her father had been removed, McGonagall really was a wonderful person to talk to.

Hermione stood and followed her cousin out of the Great Hall, heading to Ancient Runes. It was a class that they didn't share with Pansy so she was grateful she wouldn't have to listen to the girl simper on her cousin's arm. She had to admit at first that it was difficult for her watch Draco shower Pansy with attention but she had quickly gotten over it. He would drop the girl in a heartbeat if Hermione needed him and she believed that one hundred percent. However, it was still nice to have her cousin to herself for just a little while each day. She wondered if he would feel the same way if she ever started courting someone.

They took their usual seats in Ancient Runes and pulled out their texts, parchment, and quill. Today was supposed to be a lecture with an assignment at the end. Once this class was over, Hermione was supposed to use the time turner and go back to attend her Magical Theory class. Draco would go on to Potions and she would meet him there. The time turner had been getting to her, she was constantly exhausted. Reliving the hours for class and then several more to make sure all her homework for school and Madam Cambridge was finished made for a long day that she couldn't hardly stay awake for.

Draco had urged her to give it up, to drop some of her classes but Hermione couldn't even imagine quitting like that. Sure, she planned on dropping Divination and Muggle Studies at the end of the year but there was no way that she would just quit. Between Magical Theory, Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, and Care of Magical Creatures, she would still be busy but wouldn't require a time turner. In the privacy of her own mind, she could admit that she wished she could quit the other two classes.

It wasn't that she hated Muggle Studies; actually, she found it quite fascinating. What got to her was that they learned the subject in theory only. She knew how electricity worked but she had never seen it. She doubted that she ever would. If it would be possible to go the muggle world and see these things for herself, she would love to continue the class but the truth of the matter was that as long as they had to keep the image of being pureblood bigots, it was never going to happen. There was no point in losing sleep over a class she couldn't truly enjoy to the fullest extent.

Divination, however, was a joke. While she knew that prophecies were real, that they usually did play out, Professor Trelawney clearly had no idea how to teach the subject. Hermione was quite sure that the woman was a fraud but since there was no proof, she had to hold her tongue. If she had to hear the woman predict Harry's death one more time in class, she might just scream. Dropping her class at the end of the year would be a wondrous occasion, though Draco said he planned to continue it. Why, she wasn't sure but she supposed that it was his choice and she wasn't his parent, even if she sometimes forgot that while bossing him around.

Professor Babbling started her lecture, over Greek runes. Hermione checked her notes against the words her professor had spoken. She was thrilled to add several new things to her existing notes, always something she enjoyed doing. Once they were given their assignment, Hermione started it since she was sure to have plenty that night to take care of. When the bell rang, she gave her cousin a hug and stepped into an alcove while nobody was watching. With a quick turn of the dial, she vanished.

Hermione reappeared in the same alcove but the people around her were different. She caught sight of herself and Draco heading into the classroom and once they were past, she hurried out so she could make it to the Magical Theory classroom just two corridors away. She was the last one to enter but it was still before the professor so she was safe from detention.

Magical Theory was a class that wasn't overly popular. It was only a two-year class, then Spell Crafting usually came after. Most people couldn't handle two years of what they called a "boring" class but Hermione loved it. She had always been stronger in theory and couldn't wait until she got through it so she could learn the basics of crafting her own spells. She knew that her father and uncles had made their own spells here and there but they weren't anything too special. She wanted to make spells that would be taught for decades to come.

Since there were only two classes all week in the subject, Professor McGonagall taught Magical Theory. She recommended the class before anyone attempted to become an animagus, something that Hermione wanted to try to do later in her school career. She wasn't quite sure that her magic was powerful enough at the moment. Her father assured her that it was but she didn't want to take the chance of harming herself or her core because she couldn't wait a couple years.

After listening to her lecture for the whole hour, Hermione wrote down her assignment and left with a wave to Professor Cat. She had accidentally slipped up with the name that the Slytherins called her and to her great surprise, the stern professor had laughed. She said she didn't mind the name as long as they weren't disrespectful. Hermione could only agree to her terms and breathe a deep sigh of relief.

Once she had left the classroom, Hermione started for the dungeons. Potions was next, her all-time favorite subject. They were brewing Confusing Concoctions today and while Hermione hadn't brewed one in quite some time, she wasn't worried. Since Draco had told their family about what Harry had said to her that day in the Hospital Wing, her godfather had done all he could to keep them apart. To her knowledge, he hadn't told anyone that they Boy-Who-Lived had visited after her run-in with the dementors but it didn't matter. The less everyone knew about her feelings regarding Harry, the better.

Since they had already lectured over the potion, they would go straight to brewing. While Hermione was thrilled that she wasn't paired with a Gryffindor, she still groaned inwardly when she realized that Pansy was her partner. She was downright terrible at potions and she was still angry at her for her actions over a month ago. Hermione just sighed and straightened her spine. She was going to get through it no matter what Pansy said to her.

To make a point, Hermione refused to move from her seat. Draco knew exactly what she was doing and chuckled softly before kissing the side of her head and moving to his spot by Parvati. Pansy glared at her as she slid into the seat he vacated but Hermione pretended that she didn't notice. Getting into an argument in Potions class with her godfather present was not something that she wanted to add to her "survived through" list.

Hermione told the girl to ready the cauldron and bank the heat while she gathered the supplies, mostly because she didn't trust the girl to get the right ingredients. Draco had had the same idea and was getting ingredients as well. Hermione noticed that Harry had followed suit, leaving Millie to ready their cauldron. A decent idea since potions was Millie's best subject. She still wasn't great, but she was certainly passable.

Once she had gathered her ingredients, Hermione went back to the table and started readying them. Pansy just watched her until she finally snapped at her and told that if she didn't start helping, she was going to get a failing grade. Pansy realized she was right and began mincing the daisy root.

The hour passed by better than Hermione had expected. Pansy remained mostly silent, followed directions, and they had turned in a perfect potion. Sure, Hermione had caught the glares coming her way but she hadn't commented on them. As her aunt had told her during her training, there would always be people who hated her because of her wealth, family, and station. Her job was to be the best woman she could and ignore those that sought to bring her down. Unless they took it a step too far, of course. Then she was to strike back hard and fast, leaving no proof that she had done so. Just before the class dismissed, Pansy asked her a question, completely sullen.

"Why do you hate the idea of me with Drakey so much?" Hermione turned her expressionless mask to her friend and cocked her head to the side. This was a one-time situation and she didn't want to waste it.

"I'm not against Draco being with you. I'm against the image you portray. You come across like a tart, like you're trying to sell yourself to him because he's rich and influential. Whoever becomes Lady Malfoy is going to have to have a better image than throwing herself at a man because he was rich. Lady Malfoy is supposed to be respected, not a mockery. You grinding yourself on him just to excite and embarrass him is crass and trashy. If you decide to be intimate together, it should be in private and certainly shouldn't be flaunted. Sure, hold hands and exchange small kisses, but you don't excite him like that and leave him that way for your entertainment. Not only is it cruel, it's far less than he deserves." Pansy sputtered for a few moments, searching for words. Her eyes narrowed dangerously.

"You just don't him to spend time away from you." Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Oh yes, that's been an issue so far, hasn't it? Think before you speak, Pansy. Even though Draco likes quidditch and being social doesn't mean he's going to be happy with a girl that either is stupid or plays that way." Pansy looked ready to smart back but, in the end,+- her face fell.

"You're right. It's just hard because my parents are pushing me so hard." Hermione reached out and laid her hand over her friends.

"I know, but you have to do what's best for you. I know you genuinely like Draco. I'm not saying don't go after him but keep it classy. If you act cheaply, he'll treat you that way." Pansy nodded miserably. Hermione had a feeling that this would help for a little bit but Pansy would be right back to her old tricks within a month. That's how it usually went. She did decide to address her attitude towards herself before they were dismissed.

"For the record, Pansy, you should keep your looks of disdain in my direction to a minimum. Do you think Draco is going to be serious about you if you show your hatred for me so openly?" Her eyes widened and Hermione wanted to laugh but didn't. It was clear that the girl thought her hatred was well-disguised.

"How did you…I don't hate you…I'm not… -." Hermione waved her hand, silencing her.

"I know you don't like me, Pansy. It's no secret. Just a word to the wise. Hide it better if you want my cousin." She narrowed her eyes at Hermione.

"Why are you helping me?" Hermione stared at the girl as she gathered her things.

"Frankly, I don't really care how you feel about me. Aunt Cissy told me ages ago that girls wouldn't like me. Your obvious hatred, however, is creating tension within our group of friends. Either hide it better or get over it. We'll never be best friends and I'm alright with that." Hermione didn't give her a chance to speak before she threw her bag over her shoulder and flounced from the room.

Hermione had only made it to the staircases when Draco caught up with her. He was grinning at her unabashedly and she wondered just how much of their conversation had been heard. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and hugged her close.

"That was brilliant, Miney." She felt color flush her cheeks.

"You heard that?" He laughed.

"I think the whole class did. You know I don't want to end up with her, right? If I do anything with her, it'll just be fun." Hermione could only shake her shoulders since she really didn't want to get into an argument over equality between sexes with her cousin.

"I think you can do better and deserve the same but it's your life. If Pansy makes you happy, who am I to tell you she's terrible for you?" Draco chuckled at her words.

"You don't have to, I can tell you can't stand her. Whoever I end up with will have to love you as much as I do." She smiled at him and leaned her head down on his shoulder. He really could be quite sweet when he wanted to be.

They made their way to the Great Hall for dinner together. Their friends trailed behind them, nobody willing to interrupt them in the time they spent together. They took their usual seats and Hermione rolled her eyes as Draco served her a large helping of roast beef on her plate. She waved him off as he started to serve her potatoes. Hermione lost herself in a book while Draco started talking quidditch with his teammates.

Since Draco had quidditch practice that night, Hermione was planning to go to the library and work on her heaps of homework. Neville had made plans to meet her there so she could help him with his potions. She was sure that the twins would show up at some point since they were always looking for tips when it came to potions. Daphne had asked if she could tag along and Hermione had happily agreed.

After the meal was over, Draco hugged her close for a brief moment before he took off towards the pitch. Hermione rolled her eyes, gathered her bag, and started for the library. The night was going to be full of laughter if the twins had anything to say about it.

-O-

Harry really needed to get to the library to work on his homework. He had blown it all off the night before in order to spend the evening snogging Lisa Turpin but tonight he really needed to get his work finished. He was supposed to have his extra school work handed in by the morning and he had an assignment in Transfiguration that needed to be finished for the day after tomorrow.

He had had Transfiguration and Care of Magical Creatures that morning, though Professor McGonagall was the only one to give them an assignment. Even Professor Snape hadn't given them homework after brewing their potion. There would be no way to work on his homework the next day after class because he would have quidditch practice. It really was maddening trying to find time to fit everything into his schedule this year.

Harry couldn't seem to get away from Hermione Black these days. It seemed as though she was in all his classes, which he supposed that she was. However, where they hardly had interactions before, now it seemed as though they were constantly running into each other. They had tried to leave Transfiguration at the same time and had run into each other, literally. After Care of Magical Creatures, he had caught her feeding what looked like raw meat to a feral looking dog just outside the Forbidden Forest. During Potions, they had gone to retrieve their ingredients at the same time. He knew for a fact that she would be in the library tonight as well. It was torture.

Harry hadn't said a word to her, he had kept his word to the twins and done exactly as Malfoy had asked of him. He snogged a new girl each week, Ginny being one of them, though he had no plans to tell Ron that. He hadn't initiated it but he wasn't going to complain, that much was for sure. Besides, he knew for a fact that he wasn't the only boy Ginny was snogging. He had personally caught her with one of the boys in her own class just four days ago. Ron likely wouldn't believe him even if he had told him; he seemed to think that Ginny was a little angel.

Snogging girls helped him forget about Hermione. She fled from his mind almost instantly, until he ran into her of course. Seeing her in person was always hard. Guilt assaulted him every time he remembered her crying after they thought he had left the Hospital Wing. He had hurt her and he deserved to have thoughts of her torturing him.

Harry entered the library and found a table to himself. Ron had been doing good keeping up with his homework so if he didn't have to work on an assignment, he always begged off going to the library in favor of playing Seamus or Dean a game of wizard's chess. Pav usually stayed to watch him which left Harry to work in peace and quiet. He usually didn't complain about it.

Across the room, he caught sight of Hermione sitting with Greengrass, Neville, and the twins. Harry couldn't believe that the twins had been crazy enough to defy their mother; Molly was a frightening woman and Harry wasn't sure that he would want to willingly defy her. However, they did and they didn't seem to care that they would likely be grounded for the whole summer when they returned from school.

Harry tried to concentrate on his assignments, he had already retrieved the books he needed from the shelves. However, his attention kept fleeing to the girl he was doing his best to forget. The twins sat on each side of her while Daphne and Greengrass sat across from them, both working on something together. Hermione had a small smile playing across her lips while she listened to them. When she turned her attention to the twins, she quickly had to hide a full-blown smile. Both Fred and George threw an arm around her shoulders and kissed her on the cheek at the same time. She flamed red and started to hit them, clearly embarrassed at their show of affection.

Harry was happy to see her smiling and laughing. She usually looked so serious and he knew that she needed to let loose just a little. He turned back to his work to finish his Transfiguration assignment. He was unsure why he had to do his regular assignments when he was doing extra work as well but he supposed that it would just have to work for now. After he finished his assignment, he needed a potions book to work on his extra assignment. He rose to his feet and went to the shelf closest to Hermione and started to search the shelf on the other side for the book he needed. Just as he located the book he needed, he heard Greengrass speak.

"Putting Pansy in her place earlier was priceless! Her agreeing with you was the best part though. She does come across trashy when she throws herself at Draco like she does." Harry slid a book out of the shelf so he could watch them. Neville nudged her with his shoulder and grinned at her.

"You're only saying that because you have a crush on Draco. Everyone can see it, especially since you don't hang out with Pansy anymore." Harry grinned at the bright flush of her cheeks. Harry could admit that she was a beautiful girl; nothing compared to Hermione but he would snog her if she wanted to. Fred and George started howling laughter and the girl put her head down on the table.

"Please promise me you guys won't tell him. He doesn't like me that way and I don't want to lose him as a friend if he were to find out. Besides, we're only thirteen. Nobody makes life decisions at thirteen." Hermione gave her a soft look before she patted her friend's hand.

"The twins won't tell a soul, right boys? I wouldn't want to have to try one of my experimental potions on them." Fear crossed both their faces before they began shaking their heads in the negative quite vehemently.

"Your secret is safe with us, Daph. Weasley's word of honor." Daphne raised her head and smiled at them.

"Thanks boys." They all fell quiet again and Harry had just decided to go back to his seat when Neville spoke.

"There aren't many girls here that are private about their personal life. If I have to catch Harry snogging Lavender one more time, I'm going to hex him. Ginny too for that matter. I don't really care if he does it but I don't want to see it. I'm just waiting for Ron to find out. Ginny is snogging three or four boys right now and Ron doesn't know about any of them." Harry watched the amusement on Hermione's face disappear and she concentrated on the book in front of her. It hurt knowing that just the mention of his name brought her to that but he supposed that he had done it to himself. Not wanting to hear anymore, he found his way back to his seat.

Perhaps he should be more circumspect about his snogging. He wouldn't want to watch anyone else so he supposed that it probably went the same way. Vowing to do his best to keep his activities more private, he gathered his things and left the library, casting one last glance to the other table.

Harry let his mind wander as he walked through the school's corridors. His lessons with Professor Lupin were going well. He had finally managed a corporeal patronus, a stag just like his father's had been. It wasn't the strongest and he couldn't hold it for long but his professor was thrilled. He still needed more practice calling upon it whenever he needed to but he was pleased with his progress.

Harry never made it to the Tower; he was met by the Headmaster and a sea of Gryffindors on the sixth floor. The expression on the Headmaster's face was grave as he laid a hand on his shoulder.

"All students are to return to the Great Hall. Immediately." Harry nodded and fell in step behind the man but shot Ron a questioning look. Ron was nearly bouncing in his shoes as he gave him a grave look. It was definitely sending him mixed signals.

"What happened, mate?" Ron spoke low as he answered.

"I was heading to the Tower and found Rookwood standing in front of the Fat Lady. He was using a knife on her portrait, she's ruined. Dumbledore reckons she can be fixed but it isn't good. She told Dumbledore that the loon was asking after you, wanting to know if you were in there." Harry couldn't believe what his best mate was telling him.

"Before curfew and in plain sight, he was trying to get through the Fat Lady?" Ron gave a restrained nod.

"Yeah, mate, I couldn't believe it. He heard me and took off down the corridor. They aren't sure where he is, that's why we're all traveling together. He sent one of those patronuses to all the teachers and told them to bring us all to the Great Hall while they searched the castle. I think the aurors are going to come too." Harry nodded and watched the floor as they walked. It was nearing curfew and he couldn't help but wonder how long this search was going to take.

Once the Headmaster had them to the Great Hall, he gestured for all the students to take their usual seats. Harry slid into his spot and waited for someone to say something helpful. Dumbledore made a quick search of the Great Hall and shot sparks out of his wand. Everyone quieted and turned their attention to him.

"You're all to stay here until you are told otherwise. The castle must be searched and I have to go meet with the aurors. I want the Head Boy and Girl to assume order of the Great Hall. Prefects, you will help patrol your house and make sure that there is no trouble and no students sneak off. If you are found out of the Great Hall, you will be expelled. This is no game, children. Rookwood is a Death Eater and will not have a problem hurting or killing you to get what he wants." There were fearful looks on all the students faces but Harry kept his face neutral. He knew that he was the target of Rookwood. Likely the man wouldn't bother with anyone else unless he thought it would get him closer to Harry.

Harry caught sight of Hermione being hugged by her cousin. Malfoy was still in his practice quidditch robes so neither one of them had made it to their common rooms. Neville came up behind him and smiled.

"Alright, Harry?" Harry nodded and was happy that someone had asked him how he was handling the knowledge that an escaped killer was after him. Neville smiled again.

"You want to come over to the Slytherins with me?" Harry shook his head instantly. He wasn't going to go back on his word.

"No, I don't want to cause problems in this mess." Neville nodded and clapped him on the shoulder.

"I understand. Just remember, Ron isn't your only friend." Harry knew what he was trying to tell him but at the moment, he didn't care. Rookwood was in the castle and he wasn't allowed to go find the man. All he wanted was to keep the students safe and he couldn't.

"Thanks, Nev." His friend clapped him on the shoulder again and returned to his Slytherin friends.

Harry listened to Ron for almost an hour, telling his story repeatedly, bragging that he had come close to death. He was getting more and more irritated as the time went on to where he was just sitting there silently and scowling. He didn't get to tell Ron to stuff it because the Headmaster appeared on the dais that they High Table was located on and spot off sparks again.

"Everyone, the search continues. Since it is now after curfew, we will all be bunking down here for the night while the aurors and I continue to search. Your Heads of House will stay here with you and make sure that there aren't any problems. I'm going to vanish the tables and I expect you to spread out and use the sleeping bags that have been provided. Trouble makers will be punished heavily. That means you, Messrs. Weasley." The twins guffawed in laughter and there were several others that chuckled along with them. Causing trouble to earn laughter sounded like something they would do.

Harry stood and picked up on of the sleeping bags and walked to one of the empty corners of the Great Hall. Everyone else followed suit, Ron, Ginny, Pav, and the twins settling down next to him. Prefects were moving down the line and transfiguring school clothes into pajamas. Harry's flannel pants and tee shirt were much more comfortable. He looked over and caught sight of Hermione and Malfoy about ten feet away from them. He wasn't sure if they had moved so close on purpose but they didn't pay him any mind.

The sixth-year prefect, Miles Bletchley, came through and swished his wand, changing the clothes of the Slytherins to night clothes. Malfoy glared at him when he put him in boxer shorts and an undershirt. He waved his own wand and changed it to pants and a tee shirt. Bletchley moved on and waved his wand at Hermione, changing her uniform to the shortest shorts that Harry had ever seen and a low-cut skin-tight tank top. His cock hardened in his pants at the sight of her but he sat down quickly to hide his condition.

There were several whistles around her but Hermione waved her wand, not only giving herself pants and a looser tank top, but a robe as well. Malfoy stepped forward, hands clenched into fists, only to be separated by Professor Snape. Harry couldn't hear what was said but he was quite sure that it ended in Bletchley getting detention. Hermione settled into her sleeping bag and her cousin crawled into his next to her. Since everyone else seemed to be doing the same thing, Harry decided to follow suit and get some extra sleep. It was earlier than he usually went to bed but there was nothing for it now. There was no way he could concentrate enough to get his homework done in this environment.

Trying to ignore the thoughts he had of Hermione in next to nothing just a few feet from him, Harry rolled away from her, closed his eyes, and let himself fall to sleep.

-O-

Lupin hated being used. If it were for anything aside from keeping Harry safe, he would have told the Headmaster to piss off. However, even he could admit that his werewolf senses could help him find someone even in his human form.

Therefore, he was left to escort the aurors until the Headmaster returned. He knew that Albus wanted to keep the children together in the Great Hall, but he was sure that the Death Eater had already left the school. He had found Rookwood's scent and followed it to one of the side doors of the school where it had become so faint, he wasn't sure what had happened. He couldn't help but wonder if the man had cast a scent-deadening spell on himself, knowing that Remus was a werewolf. It wasn't a huge secret after all.

He listened to the aurors squabble about nothing while they waited for Albus to return. He let his mind wander to once again to seeing Sirius up close for the first time in forever just a month ago. Remus could admit that he looked fine as fuck. However, he couldn't allow those old feelings to resurface since the man had single-handedly killed their best friends.

Watching him have such strong emotions for his daughter was hard to take. That should have been Harry that he loved and cared for, not Hermione. Yes, he could admit the girl was powerful and smarter than anyone he knew, but he couldn't help but resent the girl for her place in his ex-lover's life. Harry should have been the most important person in his life, not his Death Eater brother's bastard spawn. Oh, he had heard the rumors that Regulus had married Erise Malfoy after their deaths but he wasn't sure that he believed it.

Remus tried to distract himself again with thoughts of Harry and his triumph in casting the patronus. He knew that the boy was only putting half his power into the charm; once he learned to channel all of it, he would be unstoppable, even stronger than Hermione Black. He grinned. Harry would show Sirius exactly what he had missed sooner or later. He was certain of it.

Lupin sighed as the Headmaster approached and barked out orders for them to continue searching. It was going to be a long night.

A/N- Another chapter, guys, look at me go. Nothing too terribly action-packed in this chapter but moving the story right along. Hope you all enjoyed it. Thanks to everyone out there that has been showing my story love. You guys are just awesome. Let me know what you think, your reviews make me smile.

Next chapter, Pansy's birthday and a chance encounter.

Love,

Alicia