Welp, I got this out sooner than I expected, though I suppose the numerous misunderstandings regarding why Nox didn't ask Hermione made me want to get this out quickly because it explains everything. But I hope you all like it. Nox's relation with Hermione will be a bit slow going, even now. He's never had anyone who's liked him like Hermione and he's never liked anyone that way either, so they're both going to be figuring things out.

On the other hand, thank you to all those who sent such positive reviews! They really helped me get this going. There will be more Nox and Hermione moments now, more teasing, more smiles. Nox is finally starting to relax more emotionally with his father out of the picture for good, and I've got plans to help him become even happier as this book goes on ;)

And yes, Nox is starting to drop lots of hints for Harry now. He plays it off as pretending to not know—though in some cases he really doesn't know—but things are starting to move into place for him now. Just waiting for the right moment.

So please review and let me know what you think!

"Is he all right?" Hermione asked Harry and Ron worriedly early Christmas morning.

Nox had gotten breakfast early it seemed and rushed off by the time they'd gotten in there, muttering an apology and something about his morning run. He'd been avoiding Hermione as much as he could since they heard she was going with someone to the ball and was very downtrodden when they did see him. It was the most upset anyone's ever seen him and, as far as anyone knew, he was the sole person who didn't have a date to the ball.

"He's—"

Harry nudged Ron harshly, silently telling him to keep his mouth shut about Nox being upset about Hermione and Ron shot him a dirty look before making up a lie.

"He's a bit upset about not having someone to go with to the ball."

"Really?" Hermione questioned, looking genuinely concerned and possibly guilty too. "I… I didn't think he'd like that sort of thing. I was surprised he didn't go home for the holidays, honestly. I just assumed… I-I thought he wouldn't go to the ball with anyone anyway."

Oh… Harry realized. He'd thought it odd that Hermione had said yes to someone else taking her when she obviously liked Nox as much as he liked her. It seemed a large misunderstanding had occurred between the two without their knowledge. Hermione hadn't thought Nox wanted to go to the ball at all, and therefore, didn't expect him to ask or care about asking. When, in reality, Nox just hadn't been able to ask her right away because of his own insecurities.

"You think I should talk to him?"

"No!" Harry blurted out, hastily trying to play it off, knowing Hermione was the last person Nox wanted to see currently. "I mean, he's exercising, isn't he? I'm sure he's just blowing off some steam."

"Do you think he'll even go tonight?"

Seeing her slight hope, Harry nodded and kicked Ron under the table to get him nodding too.

"Yeah."

"Oh, yeah."

"We'll make sure he comes."

As the day dragged on, they didn't end up seeing Nox again until it was time for them to get ready. The boy was sitting in the window, curled up around Dubh and fixing the bird's plumage.

"Nox, Hermione didn't know you wanted to go to the ball. It's just a big misunderstanding," Harry tried to explain to him. "I'm sure she would have waited for you to ask if she did."

"Yeah, mate," Ron attempted as well. "She looked worried when we said you didn't have a date. You should go. So, that way, you can steal her back, yeah?"

"No," Nox murmured, not lifting his gaze. "If someone likes her enough to ask her out before me, then they deserve a chance, especially if she agreed to go with them. I'm not going to mess up her date for selfish reasons."

Ron shrugged at Harry, a silent "I tried" and Harry stepped up to take initiative.

"Come on, Nox. Least be there for us."

Nox lifted his eyes before sighing, giving in. "Okay."

The group changed into their dress robes—Ron thanking Nox again and again for making his look less like discarded curtains and more like proper robes. Harry was a little surprised how much effort Nox put in to dressing up though. His normal ragged, slightly dirty appearance was cleaned up and his hair straightened. His robes were black with a deep red inner lining, lacking wrinkles and his dress shoes were shined. Ron said something about him looking even more like a vampire now, but Nox wasn't really listening, still dazed.

The trio left their rooms, ducking downstairs where Parvati—Harry's date—was waiting. She informed Ron that her twin would meet him at the entrance hall, so the group started to head out. The entrance hall was crowded with students in various colors, all dressed up and edging towards their partners from other houses. Padma joined Harry, Ron, and Nox and soon the front doors opened, allowing in the Durmstrang students. He probably wouldn't have thought anything about the girl walking at Krum's side, if Nox hadn't stiffened and refused to look anywhere else.

"Nox? Everything okay?" Harry asked, concerned with the expression that had come over Nox's face.

It was almost a cold fury. It sent a shiver down Harry's spine and before he could get a response from the boy, Professor McGonagall summoned the champions. When Harry joined the others though, he suddenly understood Nox's reaction. The girl at Krum's side was Hermione, and she'd dressed up to the point that she was near unrecognizable. Her hair was straight and tied up in an elegant knot at the back of her head, her robes were light and floaty, and her once slightly large teeth had been reduced, leaving her smiling confidently and bright.

"Hi, Harry. Hi, Parvati," she greeted.

Others in the hall were stunned too—those who once teased her unable to make any snide comments, and Krum's followers glaring in jealousy. Harry wondered how Ron managed to get Nox moving past them with everyone else, but Hermione missed seeing him in the crowd. Then, once everyone was settled in the Great Hall—which had been altered into a nice dance hall with lantern-lit tables and a starry night sky—the champions were led up to the head table where Dumbledore and the other judges waited. The odd thing was, Mr. Crouch had been replaced by Percy.

"I've been promoted," Percy informed Harry before he could even ask. "I'm now Mr. Crouch's personal assistant, and I'm here representing him."

"Why didn't he come?" Harry asked, getting a lengthy explanation that he was sick and hadn't been right since the Quidditch World Cup.

Everyone then picked from their menus and Harry glanced over at Hermione, who was deep in conversation with Krum, and then over at Nox, who was prodding at his pork chops with far less enthusiasm than he's ever had. I feel bad. Wonder if Hermione's even noticed… She had, it turned out. Harry caught her gaze drifting across the tables in search for him during her conversation with Krum. Nox was covered though, being just short enough to remain mostly out of her sight by a rather tall Ravenclaw sixth year seated at the table next to theirs.

Once the food was gone, Dumbledore stood, getting everyone else to do the same before he moved the tables to the walls and conjured a stage for the band to play. Distracted by the band, Parvati had to remind Harry that the champions were supposed to have the first dance. It was nerve-wracking. He'd never dance before in his life, but thankfully, Parvati seemed to have an idea and had the two of them slowly revolving on the spot. Others stepped out onto the floor to dance as well: Dumbledore with Madam Maxine, Moody with Professor Sinistra, and even Neville with Ginny. The latter were talking amicably about how Neville's dancing had ended up decent since Nox had taught him on the days leading up to the dance—something Harry didn't know about.

For one, he didn't think Nox danced or knew how at all. Like Hermione said, it just didn't seem like his sort of thing and Harry wasn't sure when he could have learned considering all his time up until now was spent dealing with his father and the creatures. Harry wasn't sure when Nox had managed to teach him either. Perhaps it was at night? Once everyone went to bed? He's been known to stay up late anyway—more so now that he's doing this new exercise and magic practice thing. Then, the song ended and Harry made a break for it, heading towards the table that Ron, Padma, and Nox were sitting at.

"How's it going?" Harry asked eyeing the trio and wincing at the number of empty butterbeer bottles on the table. "I hope those aren't all yours."

Ron pointed to Nox. "Talk to him. He's been downing them like mad. He doesn't even like butterbeer."

"It's the only thing with alcohol in it," Nox grumbled, downing another with a grimace of disgust. "Someone told the house-elves there's no stronger alcohol allowed." His gaze drifted to the dance floor. "Think I could pickpocket Moody's flask?"

"Not a chance," Ron scoffed. "Not with his weird eye that can see right bloody through you."

Nox grumbled something incoherently and Harry looked to Ron, leaning in to speak so Nox couldn't hear.

"You think we should do something?"

"Yeah? What?" Ron hissed back. "He hasn't got a date, and the one he wants found someone better. Honestly, I say let him drink."

"Ron, we can't leave him like this. Think about how he'll be after the ball. He'll be completely useless."

"So?"

Harry had to come up with something to get Ron to help him. "So, you've got exams, don't you? He always helped before, but he won't do anything like this."

Ron hesitated. "…I can ask Hermione."

"And cause a bigger fight between them? Ron, we've got to do something."

Ron sighed. "Fine. I'll go around. See if there's someone who'd want to—"

Their conversation was cut off as a familiar face wandered over. The boys were rather dumbfounded as Fleur stepped up to their table, missing her own partner who'd gone to get a drink for her, and eyeing Nox, of all people.

"You are de boy who handled Madam Maxine's horses, no?"

Nox lifted his gaze and nodded, unaffected by her beauty like the others. "Yeah."

Fleur eyed him further. "I 'eard you ver handling the dragons too."

Nox nodded again, eyes flickering to another bottle of butterbeer briefly before Fleur held out a hand, expecting him to take it.

"Come. Let us dance. You can, no?"

Nox nodded for a third time, surprising the group by taking her hand gently and rising to his feet, allowing her to lead him to the dance floor. Ron smacked Harry in the arm, mouth gaping.

"D-Did he just… Did Fleur just ask him to…"

"Yeah. Yeah, I think she did," Harry breathed, stunned himself as the two started to dance. "Is this… good?"

"Good? He's literally dancing with the prettiest girl here!"

Padma and Parvati huffed at the table, jealous and annoyed with the lack of attention the two were giving until others went to ask them to dance. Harry and Ron let them too, not really holding any feelings for the girls. Then, Hermione wandered over, resting from her own dance and looking at the table with a slight frown.

"Did Nox come?"

Ron nodded, pointing towards the dance floor. "Yeah and look who he's dancing with."

Hermione looked over and Harry wondered if he should have stopped Ron from saying that. She looked angry and hurt, and before anyone could stop her, she was storming across the room to get to them as they left the dance floor.

"Uh, oh," Harry breathed. "This isn't going to end well."

"What do you mean?" Ron asked, looking a little smug. "Isn't this the best plan? If they get jealous of each other, then they've got to realize that they like the other, right?"

"I really don't think that's how this is going to go. Look."

Hermione had interrupted the two and appeared to be saying something sternly to Fleur. The two boys couldn't quite hear over the band. Then, Nox went to say something only for Hermione to round on him before Fleur stepped in. After that, it was like a rubber band of tension had snapped. Hermione said something that made Fleur's face turn bright red and her hand snapped out, making Hermione recoil instinctually. Harry got to his feet despite being too far away, then the snap of a hand meeting flesh rang out even louder than the music.

For a moment, everyone stopped. The band went silent and the dancers stopped moving, looking to the center of the floor to see what had happened. Nox's cheek was flaming red and his arm had tucked Hermione behind him. Fleur had paled at the cold look he gave her, dropping her hand quickly and eyes searching for an escape. Krum rushed through to the group then, grabbing Hermione from Nox and looking angry before suddenly, Nox apologized.

"Sorry," he said, voice calm as can be, and the chilly gaze gone from his eyes—being replaced by exhaustion. "It was lovely to dance with you, Fleur." He turned to Hermione and Krum then. "Sorry for upsetting you. I suppose… dancing is really not my thing. Excuse me."

Then, he swept out of the room, allowing the band to try and ease the tension as Madam Maxine went to discuss what happened with Fleur.

"Well, that could have gone better," Ron muttered, taking Nox's abandoned Butterbeer as Harry groaned and slapped a hand to his face.

"That couldn't have gone worse!" He spotted Krum nudging Hermione then, and she rushed for the door. "Then again…"

I sighed heavily, wincing at the throbbing ache of my cheek as I sat in the Gryffindor common room and Dubh swooped down to land on the arm of the chair with a tip of the head.

"I'm fine," I muttered to the bird, who squawked in disagreement before fluttering away. "Damn bird…"

"It's going to swell if you don't ice it."

I jerked my head out of my hand, standing and feeling uneasy as Hermione stepped in and cracked an awkward smile.

"Thanks," she said quietly when I managed to forget how to speak. "For…" She gestured to her own cheek, eyeing my red one with a hint of guilt. "I shouldn't have said what I did."

I couldn't even remember what she'd said to Fleur. The second she had swooped in and interrupted us, I couldn't take my eyes off her. It must have taken her ages to do her hair like that… And the makeup… When did she get her teeth size reduced? Were they that bad? I never noticed… God, she looks—The same thoughts were going through my head now, but they tacked on another that made my stomach roll. And she did it all for Viktor Krum…

"What about Krum?" I blurted out before I could bite my tongue to keep the bitter words in my head.

"He's fine," she waved off easily. "He actually…" Her eyes drifted, looking a bit embarrassed which added to the twisting of my gut. "He sent me after you."

My brows furrowed. Why? He likes her, doesn't he? It's why he hung out in the library, to try and get a chance to ask her. He took her to the ball, so… why'd he send her after me? "You should…" I cleared my throat, looking away and sinking back into the chair; knowing that if I looked at her, I wouldn't be able to send her back. "You should go back. I'm sure he's upset you left."

"Do… Do you want me to go back?"

No. I bite my tongue successfully this time, finding something else to say as I dragged a hand down my face. "It's not up to me. I… I won't stop you."

"Maybe I want you to."

Something cold touched my cheek, making me flinch and draw my hand away to find Hermione kneeling in front of me, her chilled knuckles touching my red cheek.

"I really am sorry," she murmured again. "When I saw you and Fleur, I just… I'm usually not like that. I just got angry and…"

"It's just a bruise," I argued pitifully, voice small and so quiet I barely heard myself.

She lowered her hand then but kept her eyes on mine. "Why didn't you ask me?"

"What?" I questioned, a little confused.

"To the ball. Why didn't you ask me?"

I felt embarrassment fill me again, causing me to look away once more. "Ron heard from Neville that you were already going with someone."

"Before that," she countered. "Why didn't you ask me earlier? I wouldn't have gone with Krum if I'd known you were…" She trailed off for a second as my eyes moved back to her. "You've said before that you don't like crowds. And with your magic sensitivity… I-I didn't think you'd want to go. When Harry told me you were upset for not having a date, I felt terrible! I would have gone if you'd just asked!"

"I-I… I couldn't," I admitted painfully, watching as her expression faltered.

"What do you mean? All you had to do was—"

"I know," I grumbled, feeling ashamed. "I know. It was easy. All I had to do was ask, but I… I couldn't. I tried. Every day I told myself I'd finally do it, but my mind would blank a-and the words just wouldn't come out because if I asked, then that would mean admitting that I li—" I winced, cutting myself off before I could say it. Damn it. Damn it all! Why is this so hard! I know I've never dated before, even in my past life, but come on! I'm an adult! It shouldn't be this difficult!

"That you what?" Hermione pressed, standing up again and looking hurt.

No. No, don't. Don't look at me like that. "I-I…" Goddammit, just say it! It won't destroy the future! In fact, fuck the future! It's my turn to be happy for once! Mine! So just fucking say it!

Her eyes were tearing up now, adding to the knife of guilt in my heart. "I-Is it that bad? Am I that horrible that you can't even say that you—"

"No!" I shouted, on my feet as well, and grabbing her by the arms. "No. No, it's not you. It was never you!"

"B-But you just said—"

"I just never thought that I'd—" I grimaced again, swallowing back the pain in my heart. "I never thought I deserved… God, Hermione, don't you get it? Look at me. Look at the life I've had, at the person I've become because of everything that's gone on. I'm a werewolf, Hermione. I've spent most of my life standing on a thin line that could have very well killed me before I even got to Hogwarts. Hell, I'm still standing on that line now with what's going on with Voldemort. I'm not a good person. I try to be, but… but I'm not and there's so many things that you don't know—that no one knows about me. So, how could I take away your chances at having someone better? Someone you deserve?"

"You idiot."

I blinked, having not expected that. "What?"

"I said you're an idiot!" She snapped, tugging her arms free and hitting my chest rather harshly over and over again. "How could you…? How could you say that you're…? Nox, you big, stupid, idiotic, animal-loving moron!"

"Hermione, I'm not sure what you're mad abou—"

"Do you think I care about any of that?" She half-shouted at me, her shaking fists stopping on my chest. "I don't care that you're a werewolf. I don't care that, that you have scars o-or your magic sensitivity or whatever else you're so worried about. All you've ever done was be nice to me. You were kind a-and smart and funny. You protected me from everything you could, and I know you're a bit silly sometimes a-and that you have problems still because of your father and everything else. But did you really think I wouldn't look past all that?"

I fidgeted uneasily, shifting my weight slightly from foot to foot. "I, um… Is this a trick question? Because I can't really think of a good response."

She rolled her eyes and took a step back, folding her arms over her chest sternly—or as sternly as she could while whipping away tears. "Say it."

"What?"

"I want you to say it. Right now. I won't move from this spot until you do, because I'm tired of dancing around like this because I'm waiting for you to say it first."

"Um…" I felt that embarrassment creeping up again. "I… I like you," I murmured quietly, and I saw her lip twitch up a little.

"What was that?"

I shot her a mildly annoyed look, knowing she heard me but just wanted me to say it again. "I'm a big, stupid, moron who will always pay more attention to the animal in the room, turns into a wolf on the full moon, will keep secrets if I feel it will keep you safe, and… and I like you, Hermione."

Her face broke into a bright grin that had my heart skip before she rushed forward and jumped up, grabbing me around the neck in a tight hug. "I like you too, Nox."

I slowly reached around and hugged her back, clinging tight and finally feeling a knot in my body loosen. We stayed like that for a moment before pulling apart and Hermione fixed her hair idly as I reached up and rubbed the back of my neck.

"So… now what?"

She rolled her eyes again, reaching out and grabbing my hand. "Come on. Let's go for a walk and you can show me Madam Maxine's horses."

"Promise?" I teased, chuckling when she playfully smacked me, but feeling my chest warm when she wrapped herself around my arm and we stepped out into the night.

Harry had not been looking forward to the day after the Yule Ball. For one thing, it meant he was just that much closer to the second task—which he'd not even bothered trying to figure out yet. Then, came the concern as to what sort of dynamic he was going to have to deal with between his own group of friends. Neither Nox nor Hermione had been seen after they rushed out the previous evening. Harry heard rumors and murmurs about their rather public fight, though he heard a few people say they thought they saw the two of them out on the grounds later. Yet, when he and Ron had stepped out for some air, they hadn't seen them. Though, we were a bit distracted. He only hoped they weren't arguing too bad.

When he and Ron headed downstairs though, the two appeared to be talking amicably—laughing even! Nox looked as though he'd just showered after his morning run, still in the process of drying his hair, but Hermione seemed as happy as ever. She spotted them then and waved, calling them over as Harry and Ron shot each other looks.

It was as if the previous night hadn't happened.

"How'd you get your hair all bushy again?" Ron asked her, mentally comparing her looks now to that of the previous evening, making Hermione flush a little as Harry rolled his eyes.

He wasn't sure Ron would ever have any tact when it came to talking to girls.

"Oh, well, I had to use a lot of Sleekeazy's Hair Potion. It's way too much bother to do every day though, unfortunately."

"I like your bushy hair," Nox commented idly, eyeing her curls now as Hermione flushed even darker and Harry looked between the two.

They were acting as they always did. Nox always seemed to make idle comments like that which were often taken as compliments or seen as plain old strange—like the thought that taking a girl out to see dragons was a nice date. Yet, Harry swore he saw him catch Hermione's blush and crack a slight smile, which was new. He was usually rather oblivious to her reactions to what he said or did. Still, Harry had something important to tell them.

He and Ron—while roaming the grounds the previous evening—had overheard a discussion between Hagrid and Madam Maxine. One that ended poorly after Hagrid mentioned being a half-giant and that she must be the same, given her relative height in comparison to other witches.

"I thought he must be," Hermione agreed, shrugging. "I knew he couldn't be pure giant because they're about twenty feet tall. But honestly, all this hysteria about giants. They can't all be horrible… It's the same sort of prejudice that people have toward werewolves. It's just bigotry, isn't it?"

Nox nodded, not having ever minded the werewolf comments.

"There's… one other thing," Harry mentioned then, looking a little sheepish since he knew how Hermione would react to this. "I… haven't really figured out what to do about the second task. I… I honestly don't know where to start."

"Harry! The task is coming up in almost two months!"

"All it does is screech when I open it," he argued. "I don't know if it's music if it's supposed to be words or what. It doesn't do anything else."

Nox hummed. "There's a few creatures that screech. Some almost Beings too."

"That's why I thought I'd ask you. I thought you might recognize it."

Nox winced. "Probably not, actually. Most of those creatures are… well, more than dangerous?"

"Mate, you own dragons," Ron reminded him and Nox rolled his eyes.

"What I mean is, most creatures with screeches like that are ones where you don't live once you hear it. I might have a number of creatures at home, but none that make a screeching noise like the one you're talking."

"Right," Harry murmured; a bit downtrodden before remembering something. "Um, Cedric said something weird about it."

"Cedric?" Hermione questioned and Harry nodded, explaining how Nox had helped both him and Cedric with the dragons. "I was wondering why he hid his wand."

"My dragons are more sensitive to them," Nox informed her. "He didn't face one of mine, but all the same. Most creatures that are held in captivity fear the tools used to keep them there. It's why zoos have to train their more dangerous animals into getting used to more contained areas so vets can—"

"I think we get it, Nox," Ron drawled, making Nox stop with a wrinkle of his nose.

Hermione lightly squeezed his hand though, drawing his attention to her and he relaxed once more.

"What did Cedric say?"

"Well, it was weird. He said something about taking a bath using the prefect's private room."

Nox tipped his head. "Well, did you do it?"

"You… You don't mean actually take a bath, do you?"

"Why not? Not like anyone will be there to make fun of you for taking a golden egg to the bath."

"But what's the point?"

"Dunno. You'll probably find out. I think Merpeople make screeching noises when they're out of the water. They might sound different in it. Have you tried dunking the egg?"

Harry blinked, rather surprised by the possible—simple—answer. "No. You think that's what he meant?"

"I think he was just trying to help you out since you helped him on the last one."

"You helped him more than I did."

Nox shrugged and they headed down for their private classroom for the afternoon. They'd all been so busy preparing for the ball that most hadn't started on their holiday homework. This meant they knew the library would be packed as well as the common room, so they grabbed Neville—who nearly sobbed when he received the offer of help—and slipped away. When the holidays were over though, something changed. Hagrid wasn't teaching Care of Magical Creatures, it was a Professor Grubbly-Plank who showed off a unicorn. This was quickly met with approval from the girls—the only ones the unicorn would let close—and Harry turned to Nox.

"You're not going to see it?"

Nox shook his head, eyeing the unicorn eagerly, but with restraint. "It won't let me. Like she said, they're more prone to liking girls approach. I could if given time for it to get used to me, but there's none of that here. Approaching heedlessly would mean a rather harsh kick to the head."

Harry winced at the thought, before looking at Ron and him uneasily, worried about the missing Hagrid. "What d'you think is wrong with him? You don't think a skrewt—"

"Oh, he hasn't been attacked, Potter," Malfoy scoffed. "No, he's just too ashamed to show his big, ugly face."

"What do you mean?"

Malfoy pulled out a piece of newspaper and handed it over smirking as the Gryffindors leaned in to read it. It was an article written by Rita Skeeter about Hagrid and Dumbledore's poor decisions. Eager to show off, Malfoy jabbed part of the page further down.

"There's even a bit about you, Nox."

Harry looked up, expecting Nox to show an interest, but the boy was still staring wistfully at the unicorn.

"Don't care," he muttered, leaning so far over the fencing that it was a wonder he hadn't toppled over into the snow. He stopped though, shooting Malfoy a dark look over his shoulder. "But if you say anything more about Hagrid, I'll turn you into a fish and feed you to one of my dragons."

Needless to say, after the performance Nox put on at the tournament, Malfoy didn't say another word the rest of class. Harry could feel frustration building up in him though. He understood now why Nox had jinxed Rita and tried to keep Harry away from her. She wrote something worse than lies. She wrote stories. Stories that had just enough in them to make people believe them without any real evidence. And the evidence she did get was stolen and edited in a way to make people look bad—make Hagrid look bad.

"How did that horrible Skeeter woman find out? You don't think Hagrid told her?" Hermione questioned after class once Harry showed her the article from the paper too.

"No. He never even told us, did he? I reckon she was so mad about Nox, she went ferreting around to get him back and took it out on Hagrid instead."

"Maybe she heard him telling Madame Maxime at the ball?"

"We'd have seen her in the garden!" Ron argued. "Anyway, she's not supposed to come into school anymore, Hagrid said Dumbledore banned her."

"Maybe she's got an invisibility cloak?" Harry offered. "Sort of thing she'd do, isn't it, hide in bushes listening to people."

"I'll stop her," Nox chimed in, drawing their gazes to him.

"How!"

"I think I know how she gets her information," he replied, stretching his arms above his head as they walked. "I'll just blackmail her with that to keep her away from us and Hagrid included."

"Again, mate, you're terrifying," Ron muttered as he shrugged.

"Whatever keeps her from spreading rumors in poor taste. You guys should go cheer up Hagrid after dinner. I'm sure he's upset about it."

"Where will you be?" Hermione asked, earning an easy smile from the boy that rather surprised the group.

"I promised Neville I'd help him work on some potions work."

"Well, all right," she mumbled, eyeing him almost suspiciously before Nox suddenly took her hand, making her flush as Harry and Ron exchanged looks.

"See you later."

She hummed and he bounded off, leaving her with the two boys.

"What was that?" Ron asked, as Hermione quickly started walking again with the two rushing to catch up.

"What?" She played innocent.

"Nox. The whole… smiling and hand thing.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"I thought you two were fighting after the whole… Krum thing."

Hermione whipped around, face red with embarrassment. "We're not—Viktor is—H-He was just nice and asked me to the ball!"

"Yeah, making Nox get all upset because—"

Harry kicked Ron, shutting him up before looking to Hermione. "Did you two make up then?"

"Well… obviously," Hermione replied, starting to walk again.

"So, you cleared up the misunderstanding? How you didn't know he wanted to go?"

She nodded. "Viktor sent me after him That's how you know he's really a nice guy," she emphasized to Ron, who had a brow raised suspiciously.

For someone who was a big fan of Krum and his flying skills, it was almost odd to see him attempting to back up Nox by accusing him.

"So, we went a-and talked about it for a while. Nox thought… well, he said he was hesitant about asking because he didn't think I deserved him."

"What?"

Harry hadn't known this. He'd just assumed that it was Nox being shy about asking, much like his own shyness towards asking Cho Chang.

"I know it sounds silly, but it's true!" Hermione stopped them again. "I really think that Nox is… He's just really good at hiding how he feels about things. He said… well, maybe he should tell you…"

"What did he say?" Harry urged, knowing that the two of them had an even less likely chance to get his feelings out of him.

"Well, he mentioned his… his illness," she replied, being careful since there were other students about. "And how he has things—secrets—that no one knows about; that he can't tell anyone. He said he wasn't a good person."

Ron scoffed. "Not a good person? This coming from the guy who got beaten up by his dad every day just to keep his animals safe?"

"I know, but don't you ever just get the feeling he's not saying something?" She pressed, looking down the hall where he'd disappeared to in worry. "Like this whole exercising thing and the magic studying during lunch and after dinner. He says he's just doing it for no reason, but it's like he's preparing for something, don't you think?"

Harry agreed, having always got the feeling there was something more to Nox than the boy was revealing. He'd just chalked it up to how he was treated at home. Him being forced to mature early on because of his father. His father being gone though meant he had more chances to be… well, a kid. Yet, he hadn't really changed. If anything, he was even more adult-like now than before.

"Still doesn't explain the hand-holding," Ron muttered then, smirking when Hermione's cheeks flushed once more. "Did he tell you? Oh, he did, didn't he?"

"Ron!" Harry complained, knowing that if Nox hadn't told Hermione he liked her, Ron was definitely giving it away.

Hermione though grew even darker. "H-How did you—How long have you known!"

"Aha!" Ron cheered, smacking Harry on the shoulder. "I told you! Fred and George are gonna love this!"

"They knew too?" Hermione screeched as Harry tried to explain.

"W-We sort of spotted it a while ago. We were trying to get him to ask you too or tell you he likes you, at least. We don't know how Fred and George worked it out."

"But he did tell you he likes you, right? Aren't you two dating now?"

Hermione turned her blushing face away. "I-I don't know. Maybe."

"Maybe? You like him, he likes you, what else are you supposed to do?"

"Well, we didn't really… I mean, we admitted it, but we haven't really finalized anything yet."

"This isn't a test, you know," Ron huffed. "You don't 'finalize' anything, you just… date. You know, holdin' hands and going out together. You're just friends otherwise."

"Oh, butt out, Ron," Hermione grumbled then, storming off into the Great Hall for dinner as Ron leaned towards Harry with a smirk.

"We're so going to have fun teasing them."

It was getting late, but I couldn't sleep, scratching my head in the common room and scowling down at the book of healing charms I'd been given by Madam Pomfrey in my search of improving my physical condition with magic. That was where I'd gone the previous evening, not to help Neville—though I would have if he'd asked. And there's not much she could offer in way of helping me. I already know healing spells, which I could use to repair torn muscles now—thanks to her guidance last night. But enabling my body to be capable of speeding up? There's no potion, no spell, nothing, and that's key to what I want to do. I set the book down and mused my already tangled, messy hair. I might have to talk to Dumbledore. He's got the most experience, so he might have a clue. Maybe McGonagall too. God, but they'll ask questions. Ones I really don't have answers to at the moment.

I set the book down and leaned my chair back, nearly falling backward when I caught sight of Harry at the foot of the stairs. I barely caught myself on the table, startling Harry who rushed forward in case I didn't.

"Are you all right?"

"Yeah. You spooked me. What are you doing up? Nightmares?"

Harry seemed to relax, a soft smile coming over his face. He and I had slowly come to an understanding that nightmares were a frequent thing for both of us. So, if one of us woke up because of it, we wouldn't tell anyone else, just keep the other distracted until we were both too exhausted to stay up any longer. Harry usually fell asleep before I did.

"No. I was going to try out the trick you and Cedric mentioned." He lifted up the golden egg that he'd been holding under the invisibility cloak.

I spotted the Marauder's Map in his hands too and felt a bell in the back of my mind at the sight of it. This was important.

"Don't let anyone take that from you."

"What?" He questioned, my serious tone and the statement coming out of nowhere probably confusing him.

"The map. You saw what sort of trouble you got into the last time you handed it to a professor. Keep it to yourself this time." I lightly tapped it and Harry glanced down at the paper before frowning lightly at me.

"Do I… Do you want me to swear?"

I was rather surprised. I hadn't expected him to honestly remember my previous plea, and slowly, I nodded.

"I would like it if you did."

He stood a little straighter, nodding with equal seriousness, before cracking a smile. "All right. I swear. I won't tell anyone what it is or give it over."

"Even to a professor?" I challenged, cracking a teasing smile and he beamed back.

"Sure!"

I chuckled lightly. "All right then. Have fun in the prefect baths. Let me know how it is. I might have to sneak in every once in a while."

"Yeah, all right, Nox."

He only took a little while, as I expected, but I didn't predict his rather pale face when he returned.

"Nox, you won't believe what just happened."

I blinked, rather confused. All I remember is Barty Jr. wanting the Marauder's Map. Did something else happen? "What?"

Harry held up the egg. "It is Merpeople! They gave me some sort of riddle I have to figure out."

"We'll have to tell Hermione then. She's good with riddles."

"Yeah, but then I was coming back, and I saw something on the map." He hurried forward, setting the egg down on the desk—away from my papers, thankfully, as it was still dripping wet—and pulling out the map.

"You kept it," I noted, a little surprised.

"Well, you told me to, didn't you?" He said, before pointing at a moving speck on the page. "Look! Isn't this weird?"

I looked over at the speck, seeing Barty Crouch moving through the castle. "How's this weird?"

"Come on, Nox. Mr. Crouch is sick! He hasn't been in Hogwarts at all because of it. Not even attending the tournament as a judge. Yet, he's walking around the castle and I almost ran into Professor Snape—"

"Snape was wandering around?" I questioned, making him nod.

"He said someone broke into his potions cupboard. See, I was coming back for the bath, and I dropped my egg on the stairs. Filch came thinking it was Peeves, but then Snape showed up saying someone had been in his office, searching through it."

"Well, he's got a lot of potion ingredients in there," I noted. "But no student would risk trying to take it unless they're desperate."

"Right? But then Moody showed up. And his eye can see through my cloak, so I thought he'd give me away, but he didn't. Snape got angry too, saying Moody already searched his office and Moody said something about Dumbledore's trust in him and he grabbed at his arm."

I hummed, showing I was listening, knowing that Snape had the dark mark on his arm like the other Death Eaters.

"But I dropped my map too when I dropped the egg. Moody managed to take it before Snape did. Snape knew it was me though, nearly got me, but Moody covered for me until he left with Filch. He asked about the map, but I kept my promise, like I said. I told him I brought it with me to write down anything in case the egg gave me a clue." Harry smiled proudly.

"You didn't tell him anything else? About Mr. Crouch?" I asked, hoping he hadn't.

"No. I couldn't without giving away the map."

Thank Merlin, Harry has a brain.

"I asked him about the weird stuff going on though. Like what Sirius had said and… he got this weird grin on his face. I don't know. It probably wouldn't have bothered me usually, but I remember how you were saying you didn't trust him, so I guess it made me nervous. He was saying the one thing he hates, is a Death Eater who walked free. Could he have been…"

"Talking about Snape?" I finished, earning a small nod from the boy. "I mean, sure, but do you really think Dumbledore would put his trust in someone that's still a Death Eater?"

"Well, no…"

"My guess is, Snape is Dumbledore's spy to what the Death Eaters are doing," I said, knowing it to be true, but attempting to play dumb as my mind spun with possibilities now that Barty Jr. didn't have the Marauder's map.

"You think so?"

"It'd be smart, especially if Voldemort thinks Snape is a spy for him on what Dumbledore's up to. A double spy."

"But then, couldn't he be a, a triple spy?"

I shrugged. "Suppose, but Voldemort tends to offer things like power and money, right? The whole… pure-bloods will rule all thinking. And hate to say it, but Snape doesn't seem the type to really care about all that. He'd get more out of helping Dumbledore. The thing is, if he's not the one who put your name in the Goblet, then who is?"

"Did you narrow your list some more?" Harry asked hopefully.

"Most of the professors are in the clear, sans Moody himself."

"You still think it's Moody?"

"He's just not acting right," I tried to explain poorly, needing more evidence if I were to get Moody exposed should my plan later not turn out the way I want it to. "It'd be easier to figure it all out if it weren't for magic."

"Weren't for magic?" Harry questioned, making me grumble.

"Magic turns the impossible, possible. People can be tricked into doing things out of place. Controlled into doing them. People could be just like someone else with a simple potion. There's too many variables to consider to cross people off a list of suspects for certain. Honestly, the only ones I trust completely right now, are McGonagall, Hagrid, and Dumbledore… Well, and probably Trelawney, but she's bat-shit crazy, so…"

Harry snorted, making me relax somewhat. I'd been hoping to help him calm down since he'd come in all pale like that, but also needed to get what information I could from him first.

"Anyway, we best head to bed. If Dubh wasn't out getting mail from Lupin, he'd have pulled out my hair for being up so late."

"All right. When should I tell everyone?"

"How about lunch?" I offered. "We can practice charms while you explain. Ah, is it cool if Neville comes? He's probably too spooked by Moody and Snape to say anything, and you never know. He might be able to help with your egg riddle."

"All right. Sure."

Perfect.