Oldies(Bex Drake, Swurplekitty, IrishSodaBread, ElvenRareHunter, Forest Song) : Bex, thank you on accounts, good luck on yours too. Swurple I have to say that might well be as fluffy as it gets till right before they all die.... whoops gave the plot away wink. I'm glad you liked it. Soda I was being damn sarcastic and it takes a hellaalot to offend moi. Try harder next time. Niam name is still just as cool. Well I think there might be a lull in bloodbathing for a chapter or two. But fluffiness is rare with moi. Holly, I do thank you it is nice to know what you think and am v glad he wasn't too OOC. Forest, As I said I confiscated... i mean misplaced his balls. Voldie killed Hermione's parents as revenge for Draco's killing of the Zabini's.

Oldies 2 (Star 19, Mel 62, Shadders, Hotpinkflamingo, Haystack): Star thank and you're a star. Mass destruction will be temporarily on hold.... Mel darling I will pull you through if I have to write a sequel I will. I'm goulishly proud you liked my humour and my Draco. Talking off balls poor Neville who has none and I do not see fit to give him one; i agree with you 100%.Shady Ron is in this chapter and Draco is up to not much good. Darren Brown is cool so I thought I'd give him a mention. Flamingo, is that actually in OotP? Ohh I'm good dances. hem hem, Perhaps we should kill the examiners? Haystack as long as you do review and give your opinion I do not care! well maybe but I'm too ill atm to bother. You're forgiven child. I've had a little critism for Lithliya so I'm glad you like her and the other newbies. Ty ty.

Newbies (Spike the Dragon, Magical Ferret, Hotaru420, magicrules): Spike, your name always make me sing the theme song to Puff the Magic Dragon who lives far away, across the oceans, seas in a land called.... something. Sorry, had to tell you. Thank you very much. Ferret, THANK YOU but I do not think Hermione would have the strength nor will to say no... I think she is too much in lust after him. Hotaru, I am very pleased you like it that much! Rules, Yes sir!!!!! updates

AN: Due to overwelming reviewer response faints I have decided to update sooner than intended. The first timeskipping comes into play here and it'll probably skip quite a bit until the end from now onwards. Slash referece in this chapter and heavily in the next. Draco will be back to being a dick shortly.

Chapter Twelve

Appearance of Deception

The winter drew in day by day, gathering the black clouds of night over the evening sky earlier and earlier. The chill, that had set in just as the autumn began rising from the ashes, was accompanied by fierce lashings of rain and tirades of wind. Hogwarts still stood tall and proud against the spite of the weather.

Four days had passed since the death of the Grangers and Zabinis. In their own ways both students involved had come to terms with what had happened; Hermione crying with the support of Harry or Ron, long hours talking and letters to various family members. The funeral, it was decided, would wait until after the final battle. But by then they would just be two of many. Blaise had dealt with his siblings and parents death in a very different way. He had decided to sell the family house and was planning to buy a mansion with his inheritance. Now that he no longer had to pretend his father was a straightforward trader turned ministry worker he could reveal and show off his wealth.

The Daily Prophet on the Wednesday had almost written a retraction of its former report on the murders. It revealed how it was an attack on a Death Eater spy in the Ministry and that the Ministry completing an internal investigation into how a spy managed to get a job. Gossip had spread round the school like wildfire, though the Zabini family murders were not connected with the attacks at Hogwarts. The message on the fence in the Zabini garden was not reported in the press and it was not common knowledge what had been written on the access to Slytherin corridors.

The weekend dawned cold and tempestuous. Large grey clouds warned of thunder and rain casting the entire world under a grey sky. The mood of the weather did not affect the students too much however. For the 3rd years and above it was the first Hogsmeade weekend and their excitement fed into the veins of the school making the general student body excited and tired. It had been announced that morning that the Death Eaters previously inhabiting the school were no longer there, though Aurors still patrolled at night.

Harry and Lithliya had made it their duty to see the students into Hogsmeade with no rule breaking. By the time they had seen this done in the streets of the town there were no other students to see except the disappearing back of a 3rd year. Harry felt slightly awkward in the presence of this girl after that talk with Hermione. "Do you want to shop or have a butterbeer first?" Lithliya asked him lightly idly beginning to walk along the street, her black out of school robes flicking out behind her.

"Errr." Harry thought for a minute trying to avoid the feeling of being a deer caught in headlights. "How about... going to the robe shop? We'll need new robes for the end of term banquet." The banquet was an idea suggested by Dumbledore at the first ever prefect meeting. It was suppose to be a formal dinner on the last day of term. The reason for it being held was not given but assumed. Because some of those prefects attending this year would be unable to attend later that year. There would be some formal dancing and everyone was suppose to wear their best.

It was themed upon the Scarlet Pimpernel with the women being the ladies they rescued. The idea was propounded by Hermione who had been reading the book at the time. It had taken half an hour to explain to the purebloods...

--

"How about the Scarlet Pimpernel?" Hermione said, resting her book upon her knees and looking round the circle. There was a flicker of recognition in Hannah Abbot's eyes.

"Yes! That would be so romantic." The Hufflepuff prefect exclaimed. The rest of the prefect sat in stoic silence until the Malfoy drawl entered the room.

"We don't want some flower to be the theme of our dance. I still say we should do Revenge of the Bartis."

"The Scarlet Pimpernel is a book!" Hermione exclaimed picking it up and showing the room. "It's about the culling of the French aristocracy." She was interrupted by several voices at once. She spared a glance to Malfoy who was looking vaguely amused by the idea of the aristocracy getting culled.

"Wait. Why don't we hear Hermione out before we veto it." Hermione smiled a thanks at Harry who just nodded.

"The Scarlet Pimpernel was the leader of a band of English aristocrats who went into France to save some of those meant for the Guillotine. People use to execute by the Guillotine." She added in explanation as Ron opened his mouth to speak. "They had fun taking high up aristocrats from under the French authorities noses."

"Sir Percy Blakeney was actually the Pimpernel but everyone thought he was an idiot." Hannah added highly excited. Hermione thought they were getting off point.

"I just meant that we should theme the banquet on 18th century Muggle aristocrats with swords." Hermione added, breaking into the hubble of chatter that had started....

--

Harry's thoughts were interrupted by Lithliya speaking. "Sorry what?" He asked when he realised he'd only caught the end of what she was saying. She turned and smiled at him as if he were a cute fluffy animal. He squirmed slightly.

"I was saying that it was an awfully good idea of Hermione's. 18th century dresses are very fancy though they are as wide as a table." They both thought about that for a second before snorting out laughter. "Oh." Lithliya added as her laughter subsided. "I think the only reason it passed vote was because Draco wanted a big sword." More laughter.

"I think this means you and me have to go as a couple." Harry added swinging his arms as he walked. He felt as carefree as a five-year-old.

"I don't mind that." Lithliya said dodging the first rain drop as it fell. She pulled the black hood of her robes over her golden head and walked closer to Harry. People around them were darting for shelter so they were suddenly quite alone in the street. "I think you have to go as the Scarlet Pimpernel himself." Lithliya told him over the patter of the rain hitting the cobbled streets.

Her arm was brushing his. Their hands were touching through the material of the robes.

"Then you will have to go as Lady Blakeney otherwise known as Marguerite St Just." Harry commented swaying sideways to avoid a hurrying old biddy.

His shoulder brushed hers. His arm remained intertwined with hers through the soft soaking material.

"Well, Hermione said they were leaders of fashion. So we'd better go and lead." They had arrived at the robe shop. Harry held the door open for the smaller, younger Slytherin to go in. He then followed pulling his hood back to reveal his stand-on-end hair. Lithliya laughed when she saw him. She had not a hair out of place. He dived for her.

His arm wrapped around her body. His hand mussed up her silken blonde hair.

An old giggle. Harry froze in his motions and looked up. A kindly wrinkled old lady stood behind the counter. Her robes were a bright pink with flowers on them. Harry hurriedly released the giggling victim who spun away hastily and straightened her hair. "Hogwarts?" She asked giggling slightly. Harry nodded shifting slightly, his robes dripping onto the floor. "Don't worry about the mess." The old lady got out her wand and flicked it. They were both dry. The old woman had forgotten to not dry all of them. Lithliya's hair was flicked up in odd angles. But Lithliya had no idea. Harry hid his smile.

"Dumbledore told me the theme was Muggle 18th century aristocracy." The woman was now bustling about various dresses appearing from racks. "Now lets look at you girl." The old woman studied the girl. She looked momentarily confused then glanced at Harry. Harry noted the familiar flick to the forehead. Her old face broke into a smile. "The head boy and girl. Oh goodness. Yes I have already got your dresses." Dresses?

The woman flicked her wand and two mannequins baring highly elaborate costumes appeared from no where. The mannequins were posing and showing off all the features of the clothing. The old lady tapped the male one on the shoulder and it stopped and stood still. "Now here you go. The Scarlet Pimpernel's dress coat and birches." Harry knew he would look quite stunning in that. Just he wasn't sure weather it was a good stunning or not. Lithliya was smiling though. "And his wife." Both of the students shuffled and looked uncomfortable. The dress was matching to his costume and just as elaborate. Both were a maroon colour with gold trimmings. "Go on. Try them on." The old lady was undoing the corset to the back of Lithliya dress. Lithliya was looking at it with mild panic.

"I haven't worn a dress since I was nine." Lithliya explained quietly. The old lady ignored her and stuffed her and the dress into a changing room at the back. Harry took his with no complaint. It took him five minutes to change into it. A full five minutes. So many undershirts and ruffles and.... it was complicated.

"It fits." He called through the curtain still only half dress. He ignored the reply telling him to come out and show the dressmaker. He hurriedly changed back into his robes. He came out and gave the costume back to the old lady. The lady smiled at him like she was his grandmother pleased that he'd grown, ironic as he was at least a foot if not taller than her. She hustled back into the back of the shop.

"Harry." A whisper came from the curtain. "Is she gone?"

"Yeah." He whispered back trying to stop himself laughing.

"Help. I can't do this bloody dress." He could not stop himself laughing at that. "Get your arse in here and stop laughing." He sneaked in through the curtain and took her in. Well she looked like a Lady even if she did not speak like it. He was still laughing. "Stop laughing or do you want to lose the ability to father children?" She asked seriously. He stopped and hurriedly did up the back of the dress.

"Chuckle-peas?" The old lady asked. Evidently she was back in the front of the shop.

"We're just trying to get the dress done." Lithliya explained, gasping as Harry finished tying the corset. He then helped her pull on the overlay and did the tiny catch on that to keep it up. Lithliya turned round and walked out the instant he was done managing also to step on his foot in the process. He rolled his eyes to the ceiling and walked out after her.

The old lady went into fits of cooing to which Harry had to forcibly restrain Lithliya from doing something that would ruin the dress. Harry helped Lithliya undo the overlay and corset before going back out into the shop.

"I'll have them sent up with all the other Hogwarts outfits. It's on the fifteenth isn't it? Of December. Only a month then." Harry smiled and nodded, getting out his money. "Be ten galleons for the both of you. School discount." Harry stopped himself from raising an eyebrow and nodded handing over the money.

"Potter you'd better not be paying for me. I have more than enough money..."

"If you have to suffer me going with you I'm sure I can pay for that dress." He heard her murmur something along the lines of 'it's not a dress, it's a monstrosity'. He smiled and thanked the old lady who was glowing with what seemed like pride... Ring.

Harry looked up sharply. "Look who it is. Potter." Malfoy drawled. His face was dripping from the rain and he looked mutinous. Harry looked away and smiled as he heard Lithliya swear from in the changing rooms. "Hello Lithliya. I wondered where you'd got to."

"You must be young master Malfoy. All grown up now. I remember when your father came here with your mother. He was so smitten with her. How things have changed." The old lady's face was so creased with pleasure that it looked like the wrinkles would swallow her up. Malfoy looked away in disgust.

"Listen." Malfoy said fixing his gaze an inch above her head. "I need an outfit. I'd like it in black and silver." There was a few more simpering from the old lady before she waved her wand, drying him. She flicked it once more and a black three quarter length jacket with white ruffles on the undershirt appeared. Some birches walked from another row of clothing and stood underneath. Draco scanned the outfit then nodded. "Fine." He threw nine galleons carelessly from his pocket on the counter. Lithliya appeared from the changing rooms her hair still roughed up. Malfoy scanned her and shot Harry a fowl look. "Come Liya, we need to meet Zabini in the Hogshead." He grabbed her arm and pulled her out the shop. She did not look back at Harry.

--

Hermione ate a sedated lunch with Ron in the Three Broomsticks. Ron had been telling her in ample detail about Luna's progress then about Quidditch's effect on daily life. Harry turned up about a third of the way through lunch and hurriedly joined in Ron's conversation and then changed the subject of it subtly. Hermione would be eternally grateful.

They ate then in a moderately entertaining conversation. Fred and George were in trouble with the ministry on two counts; one that one of products was causing mass mayhem and two that they had a disregard for the Ministry's Proper Retailing laws. Charlie was conducting a relationship with Fleur (to which Harry and Hermione shared a smile over Ron's lack of jealousy). Snape had set an impossible essay for the Monday. Oliver Wood had been offered to join the England Quidditch Squad but he was waiting to see whether Scotland wanted him also.

"What have you been doing this morning then Harry?" Hermione asked after finishing her Treacle pudding. She stretched out.

"I was getting my costume." Harry said into his strawberry ice-cream.

"What's it like?" Hermione asked sitting forwards excitedly. Harry and Ron exchanged glances.

"Like any 1793 outfit I suppose." Harry shrugged and concentrated on the ice cream. Ron laughed and got chocolate on his nose. Neither of his friends bothered to tell him.

"Oh." Hermione said a little put out. "I suppose me and Ron better get ours later." Ron squirmed uncomfortably. Harry looked at the floor.

"Hermione, I can't get a costume. Money does not go on trees. I've got my dress robes from two years ago. They'll have to do." An uncomfortable silence fell on the table. "You asked anyone Harry?" Ron asked trying to cover his embarrassment.

"Yeah. Well I didn't ask her. But yeah. I said we probably had to go together. And she said she didn't mind." Harry said finishing off his ice cream. Ron had just discovered he had chocolate on his nose and was wiping nose with the back of his hand.

"Harry Potter that has to be the worst way of asking someone out I have ever known. At least Lithliya had the grace to accept in the same way." Hermione reprimanded him using a serviette to clean Ron's chocolate now smudged nose. "At least you could have not made it sound like she had no option."

"But then she might have said no." Harry replied sulking over his empty plate of ice cream. Hermione sighed as Ron tried to speak through her rubbings. Hermione sighed and wondered how these boys ended up in Gryffindor.

A little while later she had split from Ron and Harry who had gone off talking about Quidditch formations for the upcoming game with Ravenclaw. She had just chosen a beautiful white dress with silver jewellery. She had no fear of it being a wedding dress as the width made it impossible. Hermione Granger may be bookish but she still liked looking nice. "How much is it?" She asked feeling her purse with a slight worry. She would have enough she'd just have to skimp on Yule presents.

"Oh don't worry young lady. Your partner already paid for your dress. He came in earlier and chose his own and paid for whatever you chose." The kindly old woman said. Hermione looked confused.

"I'm sorry. I don't have a partner. It must be someone else." Malfoy wouldn't do anything so pleasant. It couldn't be him. Be him, be him.

"Hermione Granger?" The old woman questioned taking out a note. It was a scrap of parchment. Hermione nodded numbly. "Mr Malfoy left the money this morning with this note." Oh goodness Mr Malfoy... Draco he did that. Why? Did he think she'd sleep with him if he was nice to her? No. Draco knew he would really need to be nice to her to get her to sleep with him. Thought, but he would have another thing coming, she vowed to herself. Hermione blushed and thanked the woman turning to leave.

She ran straight into a broad shouldered ugly man outside. She landed hard on the rain washed cobblestones. "Sorry." She said numbly pulling herself up. The man pushed her back down hard.

"Watch where the fuck you're going, Mudblood. Your kind are going to get what's coming to 'em." The man sneered spit coming out his mouth. Hermione looked down at the ground and began trying to crawl away without him noticing. She crawled into something hard. She looked up and saw Crabbe's ugly face glaring across at the man.

Crabbe then looked down at her and pulled her up awkwardly from under her arms. She thanked him quietly and brushed herself off. "What the hell did you think you were fucking doin'?" Goyle asked from the other side of Crabbe. The man looked confused.

"Aren't you Slythering?" He asked glaring at the colour of their sweaters. Both brutes nodded. "And you are defending this Mudblood? But your Slytherin! I was in Slytherin!" The man rejected. If one squinted, Hermione thought, this man could almost be Crabbe or Goyle.

"I don't think there is anything here to cause an argument over." Hermione said quietly pulling lightly on Crabbe's arm.

"Oh I think there is." The drawl came from behind both Crabbe and Goyle. It was the Malfoy drawl.

"Ah. Finally. Someone with sense." The man said as Crabbe and Goyle parted to let Draco through. Draco was of a much thinner build but he was near of equal height. "Malfoy, your goons were protecting this Mudblood." A little crowd was gathering around them.

"Good. Now what the hell do you think you were doing?" Malfoy said so quietly Hermione barely heard. She made to go forwards but Crabbe stopped her. A lighter touch on her arm alerted her to another presence beside her. She jumped and looked up at Zabini's pale aristocratic face.

"Come on, Granger, I don't think this will be something you nor I wish to see. How about afternoon tea?" Hermione made much protest as Zabini dragged her off to the Madam Puddifoot's. They went in just as a little drizzle made sight of anything further away than two metres was lost in never ending grey. "Ahh. Nice to be away from all those butch men testing their testosterone, yes?" Hermione made no response, she was straining to see out the window and fingering her badge.

Zabini continued in his cultured voice ordering "Two caffe au lait, please." There was a pause while the coffees were fetched. "No, those butch men weren't my scene. I prefer some thinner bodies more of the kind of fragile air about men." Hermione, who had been taking her first sip of coffee, spat it out into the cup and choked so hard Zabini had to come out his chair and smack her on the back. By the time she was back to normal she noticed Zabini was laughing at her. "And now you know you can call me Blaise."

"You're gay?" She asked incredulously. "Does Draco know?" She asked hurriedly glancing out to where the action had been. The rain obscured anything but the back of a still small crowd.

"Actually I'm bisexual with homosexual tendencies." Blaise corrected sipping his coffee eloquently. Hermione still did not trust herself to drink hers. "I should think Draco has known for a long time. Not much escaped him even when he was following Daddy's orders. Well at least he never said anything when I put Neville and Colin on my list."

"On your list?" Hermione questioned sipping delicately at her coffee.

"List of people I look out for and expect all of Slytherin to look out for. You're on Draco's... hence the..." He motioned to the commotion. "I am in charge of 4th years in Slytherin and anyone else I put on my list. I think Crabbe and Goyle have the 2nd years. I doubt they have anyone else on their list." He drained a little more from his cup thinking of Crabbe and Goyle. "I think Draco gave me the 4ths because there's such a cute group of gays in there." Zabini added and Hermione hurriedly put down her cup of coffee just in case she choked again.

"There's more gays in Slytherin? Open gays?" Hermione asked. She had never heard of any gays in Gryffindor yet Slytherin who were the closed of houses had a gay coven?

"Oh yeah. Since Malfoy became King two years ago everyone became quite relaxed about it. It wasn't important as beating Gryffindor. But there are quite a few in Gryffindor and Hufflepuff. The Ravenclaw lot don't have any because they don't like it. Homophobic wankers. They're just worried we'll get more sex than them." Blaise added finishing his cup.

Hermione quickly downed the remainder of her cup while he was silent. The door opened and Draco walked in coming to sit beside Hermione. He nodded to Blaise. "All done?" Blaise asked paying the bill. Draco took the dregs of Hermione's cup and nodded. "Good. Bastard."

Draco nodded abstractly. "Did you pay for my dress?" Hermione asked Draco who had slid and arm around her waist.

"Err... yeah." He said leaning back and stretching. An irate voice came from the booth behind where Draco had whacked them on the head. When the 5th year saw who it was they shut up pretty quickly. "Have you found out about the marks?" She was about to ask what he was on about when she realised the question was not aimed at her.

"Yeah. You were right. It'll take another three weeks for them to die, two to become faint and they are already weaker. We'll see if they confess." Draco nodded his comprehension yawning. "Quidditch practice tonight. I hope Flint managed to get his broom sorted. He's so full of his brother's bullshit." Zabini added thoughtfully. Draco just nodded. Draco had yet to recover sleep from his allnighter on Monday night.

"Hermione!" The voice came from the door. All three looked up sharply. Ginny stood in the doorway, Neville behind her...

--

Review fast and another chapter fast. That is the way of the world. So stop complaining and get on with it.

Next time find out: What Ginny does, what Malfoy has planned in revenge, if Lithliya and Harry get to go to the ball, what the relationship between Zabini and Neville and Colin is..... Review!