Disclaimer: I only own Liliana Grey, her family, and some of the plot. The rest belongs to J. K. Rowling. I am not making money off of this and have no intention of doing so. Just for fun. :-)

*Chapter One*

"Ooh La La," exclaimed Luna Lovegood, as a glossy centerfold fell out of the copy of the Quibbler that she was reading.

"What is it Luna?" asked Ginny Weasley, raising an eyebrow at Loony Luna. The latter only blushed and stuffed picture back into the magazine, setting it down carefully beside her.

"It's nothing really," she said blushingly, turning to look out of the window.

"Let's see for ourselves then Gin," said Harry mischievously, as he made the magazine levitate off of the seat and float toward Ginny.

"You'll be disappointed…" warned Luna.

"Where is it," mumbled Ginny as she opened the magazine to its middle. She pulled a face before nearly throwing it to Harry.

"Luna, what is this all about?" he asked, folding the picture properly before handing it back over to her. The fold had shown a full-grown giant frolicking in the sun, wearing a disgustingly tight swim costume.

When Harry looked back to Luna the blush had long faded from her face and had been replaced by an indignant frown. "It's a story about how the ministry is working to get the giants on our side by turning them into mindless beasts."

"Whatever you say Luna," said Ginny quietly, turning back to the window.

Harry sighed quietly and wondered how much longer Ron and Hermione would be. They had gone off to the lavatories a good twenty minutes ago and had yet to resurface. As if on cue, they strolled into the carriage. "Took you long enough," smirked Harry as he slid over to make room for them between him and Ginny.

"I can take a hint," she said, moving to sit next to Luna.  

 "Well what have you three been up to?" asked Hermione, looking from Ginny to Harry and back again.

"We could ask you two the same thing," mused Harry, "but I think you'd rather see this." Luna had been slowly moving the magazine behind her, but Harry gave her an extremely pitiful look and she acquiesced.

"See what?" asked Ron curiously, as Luna passed him the magazine. He flipped the pages innocently for a moment or two before screaming and dropping the magazine in revulsion. "You lot are lucky that the cart hasn't come round yet, or else I'd be spewing sick on every one of you right this moment."

"This is pathetic," tutted Hermione, examining the fold.

"Pathetic?" exclaimed Ron, "Pathetic? I'll tell you what's pathetic, the feeling in the pit of my stomach. I'll be in the loo… again… if anyone needs me."

"What a drama queen," said Luna gloomily.

Ginny all rolled her eyes while Harry and Hermione sighed in unison.

"Look, he was probably faking, I bet he's standing right outside the door," said Ginny, as she reached into one of her pockets. "Ha, wrong one," she laughed, showing two of her fingers peeking out of a hole. "I'll have to remember to mend that." She put her hand in another pocket and pulled out a handful of dungbombs. "Watch this," she whispered, magically opening the compartment door before pelting the bombs with all her strength.

"What the…" came a familiar voice from the hallway.

"Oops," said Ginny, sitting innocently next to Luna. The door slid open and Draco Malfoy leant on the doorframe, absently toying with the dungbombs in his hand. The shadows of his bodyguard like friends, Crabbe and Goyle, were the only parts of them visible as they lurked just out of sight.

"Who's responsible for this?" demanded Draco coolly.

"They belong to me," said Ginny, standing up. "Give them here," she added, extending her hand to him.

"And what do you plan on doing with them? Are you going to sell them in Hogsmeade, going to try and make some money to support your family? Maybe buy some new robes, or new hair perhaps," he drawled, lifting a strand of Ginny's hair roughly with his wand.

"If I were you, I'd watch my food carefully tonight," she retorted, snatching the bombs out of his hand and snapping her hair out of his grasp.  

Draco sniffed. "Where's your brother Weaselette? Your parents decide that they could only afford to send one of you to school this year? Pity you don't all just die of starvation and get it over with…"

"Sod off Malfoy," said Hermione, deciding that this had gone far enough.

"I'll 'sod off' when I'm good and ready, thank you… and what's your problem Potter? Too busy having a conversation with the Dark Lord in your head to say anything?" he taunted.

"Just go ahead and leave ferret-boy," said Harry threateningly, rising slowly with his wand extended.

 Minutes after Draco left, Hermione adjusted herself in the seat so that she faced Harry.

"I was wondering," she began, "why didn't you do anything about Draco before?" she asked, trying to make the topic seem casual.

"Because Ginny was doing a fine job of fending him off on her own," he answered, giving Ginny a look of approval. "Why do you ask though?"

"No reason," she answered quickly, perhaps too quickly because Ginny nodded in understanding before frowning at Hermione.

"Malfoy's just a git. He doesn't matter," she said decisively, shooting Hermione another glare. Harry frowned, not understanding the silent exchange between Ginny and Hermione. And instead of bothering himself with it, he resignedly looked back to the window. He couldn't help but grin though when he heard Ginny whine, "but where does he get off talking about my hair? Have you seen the amount of Sleek- Easys he uses?"

"Harry!" exclaimed Ron in a half-whisper, half-shout as he skidded into the car, closing the door quickly behind him. Dean's on his way here, with Cho! I tried to distract her, we even sent her in the wrong direction twice but she's determined!" he said breathlessly.

"Merlin, just what I need right now… I'm asleep," said Harry, thinking fast. He laid his head down on Hermione's shoulder and curled his legs up onto the seat. He closed his eyes and tried to ignore the clicking noises of disapproval coming from Luna.

"Hi you guys!" yelled Dean, obviously trying to warn everyone of his and Cho's arrival.

"Shhh!" scolded Hermione, pointing to Harry on her shoulder.

"Oh. Sorry," he said, nodding vigourously before turning to Cho and putting a finger to his lips.

"Hullo…" she said cautiously, meeting reproachful glares from Hermione and Ginny. The former offered a small greeting and Ginny just continued to glare.

"This is your last year here isn't it?" Ginny asked politely.

"Yes," answered Cho, almost sadly.

"Oh. Well. Then we'll be seeing you around then. And since you obviously came for Harry and since he's unavailable you'll be on your way now…"

"I suppose," she said, turning to leave. "But would you tell Harry that I came by when he wakes up?"

"I suppose," mimicked Ginny as Cho left.

"You can get up now Harry," said Hermione, wiggling slightly under his weight. "Harry?" she called again, nudging him. It proved to no avail though, because Harry Potter had actually fallen asleep on Hermione's shoulder.

"Those must be some shoulder pads you're wearing there Herm," said Ron sarcastically, prodding Hermione's free shoulder.

"Very funny Ronald…"

~*~*~*~

Harry was walking in Forbidden Forest, or so it seemed. He saw Firenze off to his left, standing amongst a group of centaurs, the hoof mark on his chest glowing in the moonlight. Harry wanted badly to go and help him, but his legs carried him away, farther into the night. He came to a small pond and for a moment lost himself in his reflection. Only across the pond he saw a gallant stag, prancing gaily about, bucking its head for Harry to come join it. He walked casually through the pond, whose waters were surprisingly shallow. He reached out and touched the stag, but as soon as he did, he felt that familiar tugging sensation behind his navel. The stag had been a port key.

Harry felt himself soaring unsteadily though space. A loud cackling filled his head as he landed with a soft thud on the muddy ground. 'Stop it' he called to the laughter, 'just stop!' And it did. An eerie voice filled its space.

"Your hands Potter. Your hands are stained with his blood. It's your fault. It will always be your fault." Harry looked down at his hands. They were covered in blood. But it was his own. His own hands were bleeding freely, mixing with the blood of someone else. He was beginning to feel light-headed, and the tugging was no longer in his stomach, but on his cloak. Someone was trying to wake him up.

Harry sat up straight and opened his eyes wearily. He instinctively looked down at his hands. They were perfectly clean, but he felt the urge to clean them. He rubbed them vigourously on his knees before turning his head up to look around.

"That was some nap Harrry," said Ron, "we've been trying to wake you for ages… I told Hermione you were just sleeping but she went ahead and owled Dumbledore."

"I'm really sorry Harry… but we've got to go to his office as soon as we get to Hogwarts," said Hermione quietly.

"It's fine Herm. I've got some things to talk to him about anyway…"

"I swear there's something odd about this train," muttered Ron in amazement.