A/N OK! I'm back! After a REALLY long wait. How long has it been? About a month? Well that's way too long for me! I've been inspired to update REALLY fast in order to make the deadline for a fic contest. This hasn't been beta'd cuz I wanna get this out REALLY fast. I'll get my beta's to…beta it when this is up!

Disclaimer: I own nothing, I have nothing for you to take, so don't sue!

Chapter 24: Crazy Captain

After a while, people still continued to sneer at Draco, but not as much as before. There had been several Lucius sightings over the next few weeks, all of them had the strange pattern of moving north. They also seemed to be more frequent and closer together. Aurors suggested that the constant traveling was wearing him down, as well as the lack of 'luxuries'.

One unfortunate morning, Dumbeldore made a sad announcement. "Students, today, Hagrid shall not be teaching you. He has taken a day off, in light of some – er – personal, emotional problems. Because of this short notice, we were unable to find a substitute professor. Therefore, all Care of Magical Creatures classes have been canceled for today."

Some people cheered at the free period, the Slytherin's grinned evilly at Hagrid's leave and the Gryffindors were anxious to find out what happened (or more like Harry, Hermione and Ron).

During their free afternoon, they headed down to Hagrid's hut. After knocking several times, all without an answer, they creaked open the door and saw Hagrid sitting at his scrubbed wooden table, holding a picture frame. They first thought it was the photo of his father, but when they crept behind Hagrid, they saw a different face. It was Hagrid, holding a small puppy, obviously Fang.

"Hagrid, what's wrong?" Hermione asked silently.

Hagrid jumped at and looked at them, wiping his eyes with his dustbin-sized hands. "I didn't hear yeh come in. Sit down." He gestured to three stools around the table.

"Why are your classes canceled?" Ron pressed.

"Couldn't find any new creatures for yeh to see." He was a horrible liar.

"We know that's not it Hagrid. What's wrong?" It was Harry's turn to ask.

Hermione used the blunt approach, which she was famous for, "Hagrid, does this have to do with Fang?"

At her sudden question Hagrid burst into tears, and lay his head on the table, bawling. Harry and Ron looked shocked at Hermione, who handed a large hankerchief (which would've been a bed sheet) to Hagrid. He blew his nose, and it sounded like a truck horn. "Yeh're right Hermione! He's gone! My baby Fang's gone!"

"He probably just ran off and chased a Kneazle, Hagrid. He'll come back later tonight." Hermione soothed.

"No. It's not that. He's dead! Killed! Bloody murder! Some snake killed my Fang!" Hagrid sobbed.

The trio stood ashen faced. Fang was dead. Not a death-while-sleeping type of death, it was a a-car-ran-over-my-dog kind of death. No wonder Hagrid was so distraught! Harry asked in a croaky voice, "When did you find out?"

"This mornin'. I went out to tend to my giant daisies and I saw Fang, lyin' dead between the paddock's and the forest. He was Avada Kedavra'd. Had that glassy look in his black eyes." Hagrid sniffed, "Brought him back, gave him a proper burial. Near the daisies, he always wanted to dig them up, but I said 'No Fang.' Now I wish I let him!" a fresh wave of tears escaped Hagrid's beetle black eyes.

"Oh Hagrid! I'm so sorry! We all are!" Hermione said. Ron and Harry both nodded. "You should've told us; owled us or something. We would've come down to see Fang at his burial."

"Oh well. Nothing yeh can do now. Thanks for comin' down though. Yeh all should get back up ter class now."

"I'm sorry Hagrid." Ron said, while opening the door for Harry and Hermione.

They both followed suit then left the hut, a haunting silence surrounding them.

~*~

Back in the castle, they all trekked to the Gryffindor Common Room to discuss recent events. "Who could've done such a thing? Fang may have been a dog, but really, who Avada Kedavra's a dog?" Ron murmured.

"A sick weirdo, that's who. But just which sick weirdo is the question." Harry said back.

Hermione sat contemplative. "Harry, when was the last Lucius sighting?"

"I dunno. I forget exactly. I know it was in the Daily Prophet a few days ago. Friday I think. And it was in…um…slightly south of Hogsmeade I think. Why? You think Lucius killed Fang? Why would he kill Hagrid's dog?"

"I don't know why, but it could've been him. I'll see you guys in Herbology. If Professor Sprout asks where I am, tell her I'm doing Head Girl stuff. I need to check a connection or two." She picked up her bag and left the common room, leaving two concerned wizards behind.

~*~

While roaming the 2nd floor Ancient Runes corridor, she saw Draco walking towards her. She jogged up to him and before he could greet her, she pulled him into an empty classroom. "Is there a problem, or are your just going to snog me senseless here?" he drawled.

"Cut the comedy act, I'm not in the mood. Hagrid's dog was killed today, or last night." She pressed a finger to his chest.

"And this concerns me how?"

"I need you and your connections. How fast can your Daily Prophet friends send over tomorrow's paper?"

"I still don't know why I should help you, you know." His brow was crinkled in confusion.

"Can you be any more stupid? The last time Lucius was seen was in Hogsmade three days ago. Three days is enough travel time to get from there to the forest. Are we on the same boat now?" she was getting frustrated.

"Yeah, sorry if it's captain doesn't throw the line out far enough sometimes." He glared at her, "And as an answer to your question, by tonight at the latest."

"Good. Get me one, and I'll reward you handsomely, young deckswabber." She grinned and left him with a peck on the cheek and a closed door.

"Crazy, crazy girl." He shook his head and left the room.

~*~

Later that night, Hermione was sitting in Gryffindor Common Room, with the special Daily Prophet opened in front of her. When Harry and Ron came in from one of their final Quidditch practices, they saw her, nose buried in the parchment pages. "There's no point in looking for clues in today's paper. There's nothing in it about Lucius. We already checked." Ron said this pompously, at knowing something that Hermione didn't.

Unfortunately, she rained on his parade, "Yeah I know that. This isn't today's paper." Before they could ask, "What is it then?" she said, "It's tomorrow's."

They stared at her dumbstruck. "How? Who? Huh!?" they said, acting like carbon copied Crabbe and Goyle.

She laughed. "I'll tell you later. But, it says here, that two days ago…or rather yesterday, seeing as this is tomorrow's paper, Lucius was sighted heading to the castle. But before Aurors could swoop down on him, he disappeared into the heart of the forest. So now, it was most likely him that killed Fang. And a wizard's wand was stolen, so that explains how Fang got the green light in the sky when Lucius isn't supposed to have a wand." She proved her knowledge once again.

"Why on earth would they wait until tomorrow! If it happened yesterday, then it should've been in today's paper!" Ron said exasperated.

Hermione laughed again, remembering only all to well of her own use of those lines. So she borrowed a few of Draco's, "True, but the blasted ministry wanted more facts before they printed anything. And to cover some things up." she added quickly. "And there you have it my friends, the great mystery of Lucius revealed before you. Now I'll be taking my leave, bye boys." She folded her paper and brushed past her friends.

Harry grabbed her forearm, stopping her from exiting. "Wait one second there Great Hermione. There is still one more mystery you need to reveal to us."

"The constant need for my presence amazes me. Do ask. Now!" she tapped her foot impatiently.

"How did you get tomorrow's paper, today?" Ron asked.

She smirked. "Connections." And she quickly vacated the common room, and for the second time in the day, left two wizards dumbstruck.

~ End of Chapter 24 ~

A/N: There you have it! That's an hour worth of slaving in front of the computer, all for you guys! It was rather fun writing that chapter. Tell me what you think!

Mediterranean Queen: Yes, you've been with me for quite a while, and I absolutely love all of your reviews! I don't know about a good fight scene, as I'm still working at the quirks of my ending.

waiting: I didn't notice it was so short until I saw it up on ff.net! I really thought it would be longer, it was about….4 pages on Microsoft Word. And this is about the same, so I hope this isn't too short either!

Calypso In Love: So sorry I didn't update fast. It's been ages hasn't it? Well you've inspired me to write this one fast, and here it is! Thanks for reviewing! *Updated review thingy* OMG! I'm writing these and I see your new review and I was like, woah. Nah I dun think I'm gonna win, maybe do well, but not win. It's not really original, maybe my whole eye mood thingy's but other than that, no way. Thanks for the…new review!!!

gnat: Glad you like it! I'm from Toronto. My grandmother lives in Vancouver. Lucky you guys, don't get too much snow.

The Charmed One: Thanks for the persuasion! I am most definitely gong to write a sequel!

Freakage: I really don't know how to spell it. I'll check later, but I always say Pavarti. And that's what it sounded like in the movie, "Pavarti Patil said that she was in the girls bathroom, cryin'." said Neville. So that's what I think.

Mione G: thanks for your feedback, and there is most definitely going to be a sequel!

Lizzie A: I'm definitely writing a happy ending. Really sad ones are really…sad. Lol! Thanks for the complement, realism always makes the fics betta!

porkypop: It was funny wasn't it? I liked this chapter, I think it was funny too. Hehe. What's a good fic without some humour once in a while, eh? Thanks for all of your reviews!

Billye: Thanks! All the complements make me feel warm and fuzzy. Lol! Yeah, I agree, I think he really does have gorgeous eyes.

Okedoke. Lucius will appear, I'm thinking about a good enough ending. About 4 more chapters until the end! I'll try and work like mad to try and get everything up in…6 days (end of contest). If your wouldn't mind, could you um…in your review…tell me what you'd like to see as an end? Like what to do with Lucius and all. I have a pretty good idea, but I want your feedback too. Thanks!

And P.S. I will write a sequel, thanks to the reviews of so many of you!