Chapter 7

Hermione watched as the Weasley's said their goodbyes. It reminded her of her own parents not being present. Something that nobody had noticed.

She had left the Pucey's two weeks ago for the Quidditch World Cup. She would have said no but Ginny really had wanted her to go with her since it would have all been just boys plus Harry.

Hermione had sent Harry a lot of cakes over the summer as well as other food with Sunmie. All summer she had practiced and had gotten closer to the Pucey family along with Marcus Flint. But they had known that once school started again they would have to act like total strangers. At least in front of others. But in private...

She had been briefed by Dimitry (who had asked her to call him by his given name a few weeks into her lessons with him) about the Triwizard Tournament that was set to take place in Hogwarts in the upcoming year.

She had known what the adults at the Burrow had been trying not to say and would have said something to Harry and Ron but she had known they would have let it slip by accident. Especially Ronald. She knew she had to be careful as to what she said to them.

Over the course of two months, she had surprised Dimitry and Zephrine with how quick she picked up things. They had taught her the basics and she had poured over every book in their house on Occlumency and Legilimency. After two weeks of practicing she had finally broken past Adrian's defenses and had been able to withstand double mind penetration from both of his parents. She was going to practice until she perfected it. Or at least so that she could protect her mind from Dumbledore himself.

The night of the attack at the World Cup had been a wake-up call for her and for everybody else. During the time they had been in the box watching the game, she had felt the touch of somebody's gaze; which was impossible since it had only been the Weasley's and Diggory's. Harry didn't count or the elf that had been saving a seat for it's master.

One who had never come to claim his seat.

The whole accident with the Dark Mark had shaken her. She had seen something in Lucius Malfoy's gaze at one point.

Almost glee but not quite.

Hermione had realized once she had run into Draco Malfoy later that he hadn't had a clue as to what had been going on. His father had asked him to stay behind or at least that's what it seemed like when she had broken into his mind.

Draco Malfoy had goaded her about the hooded figures coming for her if she wasn't careful. He had been right. A muggle family had been tortured and killed. Something he hadn't known about. He was just as scared as the rest of them. He had frowned after a while so she had left his head, feeling dirty for doing something like that, even though she hadn't done anything to him. All she had wanted to know was if he had anything to do with his father. The final answer was no, he was just playing the role of a Death Eater's son.

Hermione had almost used the time-turner that night. But hadn't since she had known that Dimitry would be amongst the hooded figures. He had sent her a letter the night before when everybody had been sleeping. The only thing he had said was that the "Death Eaters" were going to act out something big and to not go back since he wasn't exactly sure what. All he had been told to do was to meet at a certain spot after the game. She had seen them a few boxes down and had wanted to head towards them but had known she couldn't.

Hermione had also written to Dimitry about Harry's scar. He had told her the night of the attack but she hadn't been able to write until the day after. He had said he would look further into it. During the weeks that she had stayed with them, she had written to her parents almost every day. They were happy as most parents would be knowing their only daughter was doing something or would be doing something dangerous. She had missed them but the having the Pucey's had made it a bit better.

She sighed as she opened the door to an empty compartment near the back of the train. She pushed her trunk in and set it on the top where the rails were for luggage. Crookshanks had stayed back at the Manor with Zephrine and Dimitry. He had grown attached to them and hadn't wanted to leave them so she had let him stay. Which left her without a familiar.

Peeking out of the compartment she saw Adrian making his way by with Flint at his side. He looked around casually before pushing her in along with Flint.

She raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

Barely back in the "real" world and they were already breaking the number one rule in their book. No meeting in plain sight. Uh, boys.

Adrian shrugged, "I just want to tell you that something is definitely up. Malfoy keeps making comments about something big coming up but he won't say. But I don't think he's talking about the tournament since he won't be able to enter it. Just be careful and watch anybody around Potter."

Hermione nodded as she glanced out of the window. She could still see the Weasley's and Harry talking. A little to the side she saw Dimitry and Zephrine watching them. She smiled at them before turning back to Adrian.

"This might not mean much but something that Percy Weasley said the day of the game still nags me. He said that Bertha Jorkins is still missing. She disappeared for a month but soon it will be two months. He said she had gone to Albania for a vacation and never returned." she said as she passed him a file she had taken from Percy's room while he had been at work. It not only had information on Jorkins but other information as well. She had worked in the Department of Games and Sports alongside Ludo Bagman. Adrian frowned as he looked through it.

"I'll let father know." He turned towards the door and opened.

Before stepping out he spoke in a low voice. "Take care."

Hermione's smiled, "You too."

He walked out and had to pull Marcus with him since he had been nodding off when he had been pushed in. Marcus looked around with a familiar scowl before sending her a bored look as he followed Adrian out. The others came in as soon as the Slytherins had left and she ignored them all as she pulled out a book. A book that had the wrong cover over it. Dimitry had charmed it so that it would look like any other book but in reality, it was a book on wandless magic.

Something she had been interested in learning and now that she was going back to Hogwarts, she could practice it.

She kept the spare wand wrapped around her wrist. Zephrine had charmed it into a bracelet so that she wouldn't lose it or get it stolen. All she had to do was tap it once at the base and it would untangle itself. The first time she had seen it, she had hugged Zephrine tightly.

Zephrine had frozen in her grasp but only for a second before letting out a beautiful laugh that had brought both men in the house into the room both women had been in.

After arriving at Hogwarts they all headed straight for the Great Hall. She watched Adrian and Marcus take their seat in the Slytherin table. She made her way to her own house table and sat down with Harry and Ron, who were talking about the first years. During the sorting, she noticed two chairs behind the Head Table, both were empty. Not long after the sorting was over she realized why. A tall frumpy looking man came in through the door Snape usually came in and out of.

Usually bellowing his robes dramatically.

This man walked with a limp, had an eye that couldn't possibly be real. He had mud on his shoes as well as his coat that was dragging the floor.

Something about him made her feel like he could see through her clothing, which made her want to hex his fake eyeball out!

Dumbledore introduced him then, "This is Alastor Moody. Also known as Mad-Eye Moody. He will be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts…" She turned him out after that. She had known that somebody else would be teaching that position since that it was cursed or what not. Everybody knew who Mad-Eye was. At least in the Weasley household they did since Arthur was close to him.

Hermione watched as the man lifted what looked like a flask? Was he drinking alcohol in front of the students? None of the teachers were looking at him as they applaud politely. Professor McGonagall did briefly look over at Moody disapprovingly before looking away. Hermione continued to gaze at the man when she felt a familiar nudge.

"Don't look directly into his eyes. Or an eye for that matter. He'd try to read anybody that looks directly at him. I don't know exactly how skilled he is so careful never to meet his eyes. Just act like any other fourth year, okay." Adrian said as brushed against her mind.

"I know. I saw several kids who dared look at him grab their heads." She whispered back, her mind open wide to him. But her eyes kept wanting to lock onto Mad-Eye's.

"Stop! Hermione, don't look at him, he's either looking at you or at Potter who keeps rubbing his scar." She stilled before leaning to the side and grabbing Harry's arm. She distracted him with mindless talk and watched him slowly forget about Moody.

Shortly after that, Dumbledore introduced Crouch who began explaining that instead of Quidditch they would have the tournament. She clapped alongside others and frowned as well when he mentioned that only students seventeen and up would be able to enter. Fred and George laughed and jokingly said they would find a way around that. They were then dismissed to head to their dorms. They were at the doors of the Great Hall when a harsh voice spoke up from behind.

"I see you survived, Granger."

She didn't react to it but Ron did like she knew he would. He turned with his wand out but she stopped him with a shake of her head. Turning back towards Malfoy who was smirking maliciously at them and stared blankly at him before feigning anger. "Oh, do shut up, Malfoy. I'm more surprised your father didn't get caught."

Malfoy's smirk turned into an ugly sneer. Before he could say anything degrading a large hand landed on his shoulder. "Move it, Malfoy." She looked up at Adrian and Marcus. Both who carried the same expression they were known for. Adrian stared down blankly at Malfoy while Marcus just scowled at everybody.

Malfoy did indeed shut up but only after making a comment about the mudblood loving elf. Marcus growled and pushed Malfoy forward, making Malfoy stumble.

Hermione gave a large sigh and pulled both boys along. Harry continued to stew with anger while Ron continued to say not so nice things. Something Molly would have hit him for. At one point she would have said something about the elves but living with the Pucey's over the summer had slightly changed the way she viewed elves. Not by much. She still thought that they should have free will.

Hermione glanced back once towards Adrian who had also slowed his pace as he glanced back.

"Good night."

They both spoke quietly before heading away from each other.

They missed the figure standing a few feet from them. Watching them and sensing the silent parting.

o0o0o

After a couple of days filled with endless boring classes and homework, she had already learned and done, she was getting impatient. She hadn't used the time-turner since the night she saved her parents. She was planning to use it soon to go looking in the restriction section in the library for extra research.

Hermione actually had the time-turner wrapped around her waist under her school clothes. She didn't want it slipping off her neck in case she got cursed in Defense class. She also had to change three sizes of clothes since all of her clothes fit a bit tight around the waist and chest.

The time-turner lay twice wrapped around her waist right above her skirt line. When Adrian had asked her where she had placed it, she had pointed at her waist. He then proceeded to name many other places that she should have put it at. She had poked fun at him for knowing some funny places he had suggested. He had stared at her unamused before flinging a tickling charm at her.

It felt like having a brother, an older stern brother who occasionally acted like he knew what was best for her. Something that Zephrine had seen early on, bringing her to tears which she had discreetly wiped away when she thought that neither teen had seen it.

At the moment, she was heading towards Defense class alone. She had been in the library, reading up on wandless magic. Since nowadays it took her an hour to two to finish a week's worth of homework, she would practice it non-stop. She could shut things close or open things. Could also turn on candles and make small orb lights but they didn't last long. Soon she would be moving forward towards harder things.

She came to a stop near the class. Everybody was waiting outside the class and she saw Harry and Ron talking quietly. She overheard the name Sirius and lightly pinched Ron who had said it out a bit too loud. She knew Harry was worried since Sirius hadn't replied since the last time he had written to him. Even though his name had been cleared he still received certain looks. Ones that forced him to be cautious. Harry had noticed those too. Especially when Dumbledore allowed Sirius out with Harry.

Everybody jumped except her when the door banged open. A rough voice called out to them to come in. They did so, noticing that the room hadn't been changed since the year before when Remus Lupin had been the teacher. The room seemed lighter actually since the room had two windows opened, letting the sun in as well as cool air.

She walked over to her seat, next to Neville, who smiled nervously at her. She nodded and pulled out her textbook with muted boredom. She knew what he was going to each. Or so she thought as she watched Professor Moody write on the chalkboard with sharp jerky movements.

Neville jumped each time the chalk scraped across the board. She just sat back and watched him write. Once he moved away she almost stood up when she realized what he had written on the board.

"The Unforgivable Curses. Can somebody tell us what they are?" asked Professor Moody as he turned sharply to the left.

Near Harry. Moody's fake eye lazily watched Harry, expecting an answer. Hermione sighed as she raised her arm.

Moody's eye zeroed in on her and she calmly made her mind seem like that of the old Hermione's had been. Full of texture definitions, uninteresting to a legendary Auror.

His eye moved back to Harry's but spoke to her. "Yes?"

Hermione took a deep breath, "The Unforgivable Curses are three of the most powerful and sinister spells known to the wizarding world. They are tools of the Dark Arts and were first classified as "Unforgivable" in 1717, with the strictest penalties attached to their use."

Moody grunted as he moved back to his desk and looked at something before grunting once more.

"Tell me, Miss Granger, what ARE this three curses?"

"The three curses consist of the Avada Kedavra, Crucio, and Imperio," she said calmly as she avoided his gaze. She could only hold the image of the old Hermione, of a student so long. She was strong against intrusion but she had only gone against Dimitry and Zephrine. There was no knowing how strong he was. Moody hummed and moved back to his desk and took out a large insect.

She heard Malfoy whisper something to the left of her about being a know it all. She ignored him as she watched Moody bring the insect towards Harry. She knew what he was going to do and it made her mad that he would ask the fourth years to do it.

He seems to change his mind and turned towards Neville, who had frozen when he had seen the direction Moody had changed too. He became a bundle of nerves as Moody approached them. She waited until he was next to them and raised her hand.

He gave a growl to rival a dog and spoke harshly to her.

"What is it, girl?"

Hermione faked curiosity as she asked, "Can anyone of us cast this spells powerfully?"

Moody turned towards her, insect high in the air, and laughed, "Avada Kedavra's a curse that needs a powerful bit of magic behind it; you could all get your wands out and point them at me and say the words, and I doubt I'd get so much as a nosebleed."

Hermione nodded, "Can we at least try?"

She knew he would try to pair up the Slytherins against Gryffindor's, but she didn't like the way he was staring at Harry or at Neville. Moody lifted an eyebrow as his fake eye suddenly focused on her. She felt something probe her mind so she looked away as some of the Slytherins started talking. She heard Parkinson make a joke about muggleborns not even being able to cast the most basic spells.

Moody made them practice against each other. Gryffindor against Slytherin. At first, it was just trying to practice one of the spells. The Imperious Curse. But nobody could do it. So they changed it into a duel. Hermione had tied up Parkinson at the very start of the duel and so she had been moved back against the far wall to watch. She noticed that Moody kept glancing at Harry, who was busy hexing Blaise Zabini.

The class was dismissed but Neville still continued to shake, the fact that the three curses especially the Imperius curse had been the main topic had made him depressed. It was a known fact what his parents had suffered and who's fault it had been.

A week later, she sat beside Harry as they watched the Durmstrang Students sit with the Slytherins and the Beauxbatons sit with the Ravenclaws. Ron kept talking about Viktor Krum. The famous Quidditch player who they had seen at the game before the term. Harry kept glancing at the Ravenclaw table as he ate. She discreetly glanced at the Slytherin table but not to look at Krum but at Adrian.

She had been able to set a familial bond between the Pucey family and herself that had taken a blood bond. Something that nobody aside from the purebloods practiced anymore. Although, most of the purebloods now days didn't actually have them. Adrian had actually laughed as he imagined his ancestor rolling in their graves at the fact that a muggleborn had the "privilege" to be included. Hermione had laughed as well, but she did point out that it was better than having to initiate eye contact every time.

"You don't look so happy, Adrian. I thought you would be. Considering who's at your table." said Hermione as she sipped pumpkin juice. She watched as he leaned onto his elbow and picked at the food.

"Now, why would you think so? Oh, you couldn't mean the students from Durmstrang? Or perhaps Krum?" he replied in a bored voice. Under it was mocking amusement

Hermione bit back a smile as she pulled the French dessert towards her. She had tasted it when she had been in France two years ago. It was one of her favorite desserts. Which Adrian kept pointing out to her, would make her a bit bigger in the bum area.

Hermione looked up just as Adrian did and saw Marcus scowling at the both of them.

"Marcus is more excited about it but his scowl would scare even Krum away," said Adrian as he pushed his plate away.

She looked away in amusement as Harry nudged her. She ended her talk with Adrian as Ron began talking about the Beauxbatons girls. He made a comment about how they didn't make them like that at Hogwarts and almost hexed him in irritation.

In the past year, Hermione had been wearing baggy clothes. Something that had irritated Lady Zephrine to no end when she had taken a look at her clothes. But it had been important to hide the fact that her body had matured from one day to the next. She tried hiding it beneath clothes slightly too big for her body. But it seemed like she wasn't the only one with womanly figures since Lavender Brown, Susan Bones and a few others had developed certain curves this past year too. She wouldn't have to do it anymore.

Not with the Beauxbatons girls here.

That didn't mean she wanted anybody else to notice.

Once the tables were cleared Dumbledore clapped his hands, bringing the Great Hall to silence. He went on to explain in finer detail about the Tournament and introduced two others. One they had seen at the beginning of the term but the other was Lugo Bagman, Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports. Everybody clapped in polite welcome. Hermione kept a blank face as she watched him and Crouch sit down on the two chairs everybody had questioned about. Dumbledore explained what Crouch and Bagman had done in the past few months and the rules they had changed.

He then asked Filch to bring the casket. They all waited as Filch left to retrieve it. Many had already started to whisper amongst them. Ron was a little bummed that in order to enter one had to be seventeen. Harry shrugged and Hermione silently agreed. It would just be Harry's luck to be entered by somebody else and win a spot. Everybody became silent when Filch returned with the tall casket in tow. He set it in front of Dumbledore with a loud thud. They watched silently as he tapped it three times with his wand.

Hermione looked away as he continued to talk. She really wasn't interested in it. At the mention of placing an Age Line around it, she noticed the slightly disappointed look come across Harry and Ron's face. She would have to watch them and the Weasley twins in the next twenty-four hours. The moment Dumbledore dismissed them, they all stood up and headed towards the front doors. They came upon Headmaster Karkaroff, who had been asking Krum something. Karkaroff stiffened once his eyes landed on Harry, who had tripped next to her since Ron had frozen in place when he had seen Krum in front of them.

Karkaroff gave Harry a cold look as his gaze went to Harry's forehead. Hermione frowned as she grabbed Harry's arm. The other Durmstrang students behind their Headmaster also looked closely at Harry. Slowly one by one they realized who it was. Krum, who had been putting his fur coat on, paused as he also glanced at Harry. Krum's eyes looked down at Hermione's arm, which she had left on Harry, before looking away.

A loud scraping noise filled the air behind them. Karkaroff paled as he shifted his weight uneasily. Hermione raised her eyebrow at that. Moody's familiar voice filled the air, with the students behind them were parting to let him through.

His limping leg was making the scraping noise.

"Yeah, that's Harry Potter," Moody spoke in a gravely voice as he came to a stop beside Hermione.

Karkaroff nodded stiffly as he avoided Moody's magical eye. He didn't look at Harry again as he led his students out of the Great Hall. Hermione didn't want to stay and chat with Moody so she pushed Harry and Ron out of the Great Hall, all too aware of Moody's gaze on them.

She was going to ask Adrian later that night about Karkaroff and Moody. She just needed to get away from Harry and Ron. Hermione looked back to see if she could glimpse Adrian in the crowd but only saw a cluster of seventh years. She pushed back, away from Harry and Ron, who didn't notice. Once she was right behind the Ravenclaws she turned slightly to see Adrian and Marcus talking. She brushed against Adrian's mind and saw him stiffen.

"Meet me later tonight at midnight, near the Bell Towers."

She didn't wait to see if he heard her correctly or not and turned back towards the Gryffindor Tower. As she did so, the same gaze from earlier watched.

The figure had seen it all and had also heard exactly what she had said.

...0o0o0o0

Disclaimer in Chapter 1.

The story will be edited when it's finished.

Vanee