Chapter 39

Hate mail continued to come through for Hermione. There was just so much of it that the teachers weren't able to get all of them.

Hermione was able to throw away most of the hate mail that did reach her. But some of her new 'fans' sent howlers. So everyone in the school soon knew about the Krum-Potter-Granger triangle in the news.

Harry was getting sick of having to tell people that they were not dating. I was internally giggling about the situation but I knew it wasn't good.

"It'll die down, though," he told her one day. "If we just ignore it… People got bored with that stuff she wrote about me last time -"

"I want to know how she's listening into private conversations when she's supposed to be banned from the grounds!" Hermione said angrily.

Hermione hung back in the last Defense Against the Dark Arts class to ask Moody something.

Moody had been enthusiastic about his test of hex-deflection. Harry had the case of the twitchy ears and I actually had some bruises because I would jump out of the way of the hexes rather than deflect them. Moody didn't like that, he threatened to give me detention if I didn't stand still.

I did get points taken away for dodging and running up at him though. He wasn't expecting it but his paranoia was the only thing that got him to throw up a protection spell. Though he did praise me for going for something that no one else would expect. And then he knocked me back against the desks that were lined up against the wall.

I was sore and I hated Moody.

"Well, Rita's definitely not using an Invisibility Cloak!" Hermione panted when she caught up with us in the entrance hall. "Moody says he didn't see her anywhere near the judges' table at the second task, or anywhere near the lake!"

"Hermione, is there any point in telling you to drop this?" Ron asked, rolling his eyes.

"You're only asking that because Skeeter isn't bothering you personally! She is getting information without consent! She is able to overhear private conversations and twist them for publicity! It's barbaric!" I snapped at him.

"Maybe she had you bugged," Harry said, putting a hand on my shoulder.

"Bugged?" Ron asked blankly. "What… put fleas on her or something?"

Harry started to explain about muggles and their hidden microphone equipment, and Ron was fascinated but Hermione was quick to shoot it down.

"Aren't you two ever going to read Hogwarts, A History?" Hermione asked in exasperation.

"What's the point? You know it by heart, we can just ask you." Ron answered.

"All those substitutes for magic Muggles use - electricity, computers, and radar, and all those things - they all go haywire around Hogwarts, there's too much magic in the air. No, Rita's using magic to eavesdrop, she must be… If I could just find out what it is… ooh if it's illegal, I'll have her…" Hermione started to mutter under her breath.

"Haven't we got enough to worry about?" Ron asked her. "Do we have to start a vendetta against Rita Skeeter as well?"

"You don't have to help!" I snapped.

"I'm not asking you for help!" Hermione snapped at him.

"We'll do it without you!" I shot again.

I put my arm through Hermione's and we started walking towards the library to figure out how Skeeter was getting onto school grounds.

We never really left the library for anything more than classes and meal times. Well, more Hermione than I. I was still sneaking off and spending time with Cassius. He was eager to find out more about how I managed to balance bags of powder sugar and flour on the top of doors without fear of them falling over.

The trick was to put the heavier side against the door frame and when it came down, there would be an open end and it would have the wanted effect.

He wanted to see it in action one day. And I promised him I would show him so I would soon have to figure it out again.

We were still sneaking around and almost getting caught by teachers and students as we made out in passageways.

He was enjoying the way I shivered under his touch when his hand would rub against my stomach.

Cassius was sweet in the way of how he took his time getting me used to all of these new feelings. I wanted him to show me everything he possibly could, but not too fast of course. I wanted to take my time.

It was starting to get harder and harder to get him to stop. I wanted him to keep giving me those feelings, but at the same time I really wanted to take my time.

It was getting really hard.

Hermione and I spend a lot of time in the library. How we had time to hang out with Harry and Ron. Cassius was usually at his own table in the library so I would sneak over there and give him kisses when I felt like it.

Krum would sit at our table and he enjoyed being in Hermione's company.

The day before the Easter holidays, I had to talk to Hermione.

" 'Mione, there's something you should probably be prepared for." I told her as we got ready to go to the library again.

"What is it?" She asked.

"Mrs. Weasley may not send you an Easter egg this year." I told her.

"Oh Cassie." Hermione sighed.

"Hermione, Mrs. Weasley completely cut me off because of Sirius. She may have read Witch Weekly and she may believe it." I told her, wanting to prepare her for the worst.

"Cassie, I don't think that Mrs. Weasley would believe something as stupid as that fake story Skeeter put out." Hermione said.

She had a lot more faith in Mrs. Weasley and I didn't want to see her get disappointed.

Hedwig didn't return with a response until the Easter holidays. Along with the chocolate eggs from Mrs. Weasley.

Mr. Weasley had sent me a small box of chocolates with a note apologizing again that he couldn't make anything for Easter with work and Molly being in the kitchen all weekend preparing her chocolate eggs.

Harry and Ron's eggs were the size of dragon eggs full of homemade toffee.

Hermione's egg, however, was the size of a chicken egg. I hated seeing her face fall in disappointment.

"Your mum doesn't read Witch Weekly by any chance, does she, Ron?" Hermione asked quietly.

"Yeah," Ron's mouth was already full of toffee. "Gets it for the recipes."

"What did Percy's letter say?" I asked Harry hastily.

Hermione perked up and read it first before passing it to me.

'As I am constantly telling the Daily Prophet, Mr. Crouch is taking a well-deserved break. He is sending in regular owls with instructions. No, I haven't actually seen him, but I think I can be trusted to know my superior's handwriting. I have quite enough to do at the moment without trying to quash these ridiculous rumours. Please don't bother me again unless it's something important. Happy Easter.'

"He's probably just happy to be in charge of affairs. I don't think he would try to get his boss back if it meant having to step down from what he's already doing." I huffed as I returned the letter to Ron.


The start of summer brought me the wish of flying. Normally, Harry and I would be training hard for the last Quidditch match of the season. Instead, I was in the library. Hermione and I were still trying to figure out how Skeeter was getting on school grounds. And anytime I had to use the beetle eyes, something was bothering me about them.

"I really think she's an animagus." I was trying to convince Hermione one day.

"But you have to register to be one!" She fought back.

This wasn't the first time we've had this discussion.

"We know of three unregistered animagi. One is dead, and the other two are out there! Not everyone obeys the law!" I hissed at her.

"Then what would her animagus be?" Hermione quipped back.

"A beetle." I shot back.

We paused for a second.

"Hermione, wasn't there a water beetle in your hair? And Viktor said something about it?" I asked her.

"Harry mentioned that there was a beetle on the statue he and Ron were hiding behind." Hermione's eyes started to widen.

"I think she's an unregistered animagus. And I stand by that!" I said, not thinking that she would believe me again.

"No. No, I think you're right!" She started to sound excited and walked away from our table.

"Where are you going now?" I asked in exasperation.

I looked around at the different books we had laying about and gave a sigh.

I started sorting through what we were using for homework and what we were using to research for Skeeter.

One of the reasons that I enjoyed being at the library was that the books knew where they were supposed to go. When we were done with the books we would just hold them up over the bookcases and they would sort themselves out. Made the putting away part so much easier.

Hermione came back with several more books and started to bury her head while I finished sorting through the book piles.

"Need a hand?"

I looked up and Cassius was smiling down at me.

"I think I got it, but I could use some help with this potions essay." I smiled back at him.

Hermione looked up when we sat down.

"Hello, Warrington." She said politely.

"Hello, Granger." He greeted Hermione.


I am still job hunting. With the world as it is, not a whole lot of places are hiring. And those work from home jobs? You need to have reliable internet and the place we just moved to has good internet, but I just can't seem to stream very well so I will keep looking.

Also I am super sorry that this is two days late! I was running errands all day Friday and it completely slipped my mind yesterday!

Shout out to RoannaBlack for adding the series to your favorites list!

Shout out to Awritingbookworm, Pamela Hutchins and RoannaBlack for leaving a review!

Awritingbookworm: I'm glad to know you're still here! I'm sorry about your situation though!

Pamela Hutchins: He's growing up amazingly isn't he?! I love him so much lol! Sometimes I miss George too and I'll even accidentally type his name instead of Cassius's name in those scenes.

RoannaBlack: Thank you! I kept getting the notifications that you were adding these stories to your list and I got all warm and fuzzy inside. Thank you so much!