Disclaimer: Look at my previous chapters.

(A/N) All I can say is a great big THANK YOU to all my reviewers! I'm speechless at how you all love this story (and to the flamers, well thanks for reviewing)!

Queen of the Clarinets: LOL Thanks! I'm not reading any new fan fiction for awhile. :-D

Nicks-Amy: I know, but hey, schools normally don't care! They want you there and they want you there NOW. I'm hyper so forgive me!

Dreamer22: I'll never forget this story, since I'm close to ending it.

RoseFyre: Oh Lord! The e-mail! If I forgot anything, please tell me! There are too many Gryffindors to remember!

Maddie: As much as I hate to admit it, yes, Arissa is really dead! *hands tissues* It'll be okay, though.

HarryPotterFanFicGirl: You can't wait? I'm still thinking about it!

Tap Dancing Widow: *blushes* Aw, gee thanks!

Cinnamon-eyes: I liked Arissa too! She was a little like me, but hey. What can I do?

Starry: I'm not going to say! *hands out tissues* I think I'm out of Kleenex!

BraveSpiritGryffindor: I think she will too.

Draco Alexander Lucius Malfoy: *sniggers* Awwww, thanks! But what do you mean you can't see yourself with Granger? Is it because of the RPG (private joke)? Oh and Dragonsbane, dry up!

FanFicCool: I can't reveal much about Simone's condition. All will be revealed in due time.

Crazy Luvolee: Yes, Lucius killed her, but I have my reasons. I'm sorry I did kill her. Anyway, here's the next chapter.

????????: I know it makes people cry, but that's what I was going for! Thanks for reviewing!

Any one else? *looks around* No? ON WITH DA FIC!

Chapter Thirty-three: Twelfth Birthday

I was released from the hospital wing about 2 weeks later. I attended my classes as any normal student. I didn't break down after that.

Today is my twelfth birthday, May 16th. My parents sent me a birthday card and a single white rose. Lisa and Jordan went out somehow and bought a small gold moon-shaped bracelet to go with the gold star my mother had given me when Arissa died.

Christina hasn't been talking to me, and in a way, I'm glad. She's been acting weird ever since Arissa died. She always has a smug smile on her face. It makes me wonder…

Now, I'm sitting in Transfiguration. As much as I like the class, something seems wrong. I know Lucius' trial is tomorrow, but that's not what's feeling wrong. Evil is in the air. I can feel it.

Jordan noticed my unusual behavior. "What's wrong?" she asked me out of the corner of her mouth.

"Nothing," I quickly answered.

"I don't believe you," she hissed.

"Jordan, leave it!"

"Miss Malfoy! Miss Rodriguez!" Professor McGonagall yelled. "Do you have something to share with the class?"

I blushed, while Jordan hid her head in her hands. "No, Professor," I finally whispered, lowering my eyes to the floor.

"Well if you two don't mind, I'm trying to teach here," she said.

"Sorry, Professor," I mumbled, while Jordan gave me a look that said "Wait until we're out of here."

The bell rang and we started filing out for lunch. I practically ran out of the room. I just wanted to be alone. Couldn't anyone see that? No, I thought, as Lisa and Jordan caught up with me.

"Come on, Simone," Lisa said. "Lunchtime."

"I'm not hungry," I said, lowering my eyes to look at my shoes.

"That's not true and we know it, Simone!" Jordan exclaimed as my stomach rumbled. "Come on!"

They both grabbed me by the arms and dragged me to the Great Hall. After a small struggle, they sat me down and joined me.

"Simone, come on, talk to us," Jordan said.

"I have nothing to say."

"We're your friends, Simone!" Lisa said as Christina came by. She ignored us and sat with a bunch of second years.

Adrian and Alexander walked in the Great Hall, with Justin and Landon following them. They sat across from us.

"Simone? What's wrong?" Justin asked as he sat across from me.

"Nothing!" I exclaimed, jumping off the bench. "Can't you all just leave me alone?"

"Simone!" Lisa said, grabbing my arm.

I pulled my arm free from Lisa's grip. "Leave me alone!"

I know they wanted to help, but they just couldn't. I ran out of the Great Hall, past a smirking Christina.

I ran back to Gryffindor Tower, up to the dormitory. I flung myself back on Arissa's bed, which was still there, even a month after her death.

I heard footsteps coming towards the girls' dormitories. I didn't really care.

"Well, well, the mighty Simone Malfoy, crying on her twelfth birthday. What's the matter, Simone? Afraid that your sister's killer is after you too?"

I looked up, wondering who could be so cruel to me. And for once, I wasn't crying. Christina stood in the doorway, with that same smirk on her face.

"Shut up, Christina!" I said.

She glared at me. "How do you suppose your grandfather managed to kill Arissa?"

I stared at her. She wasn't making sense. "And I suppose you know?"

She narrowed her eyes. "As a matter of fact, I do."

I snorted. "Please. How could you be in the same league as Lucius Malfoy? You don't even know him."

"Oh, but I do. See our families have been friends ever since the Dark Lord's downfall. When he found out I was going to be in the same class as you, he told me to tell him your every move. And for the past few months, I have. But he wasn't really interested in hearing about you, Simone, far from it. He was interested in Arissa."

"But you were saying that you were having dreams about someone's death."

She laughed. "I lied about the whole thing. I knew he had made Arissa his target. I only had to 'warn' her about her death."

"But her dreams?" I asked. Surely Christina was talking nonsense. "Those dreams were real for her!"

She smiled evilly. "She must have been really stupid to believe me. She should not have been in Gryffindor. She's nothing but a Hufflepuff!"

I narrowed my eyes. "Take that back!"

Professor McGonagall came in. "Well, well, Miss Ellis. I believe your confession will greatly help those on the jury. Let's go to Professor Dumbledore, shall we?"

Christina paled. I laughed inwardly. Her behavior explained a lot.

McGonagall led Christina out of the girls' dorms, while I just sat on the bed, watching. Lisa and Jordan came in soon afterwards. "What went on in here?" Jordan asked.

I smiled for the first time in a month. "I just found out something useful for Lucius' trial."

Lisa's eyes widened, as did Jordan's. "What is it?" they asked in unison.

"Christina has been working for Lucius."

"WHAT?"

I started laughing. I don't know why, but I did. "Why is that so funny, Simone?" Lisa asked me.

"Just think, Lisa! Christina has been acting strange ever since I came back!"

She thought about that for a minute. "I guess you're right."

Jordan laughed. "You know, Simone, that might mean that Christina might be put in Azkaban for this."

"Like I care!"

Jordan and Lisa just shared looks. "Just what you wanted to hear on your birthday, right, Simone?" Lisa asked.

I shook my head and laughed even more. "Not really, but it will help me tomorrow! So help me God!"

(A/N) I am so sorry for the lack of updates, but I have been busy. Since I started this semester at school, my time has been dedicated to papers, psych quizzes, and sinus headaches. Not to mention, writer's block! I'm sorry and hope to have this finished by June!