Harry spent a lot of the next day trying to do all his homework so he wouldn't have to do any over the holidays and stopping Ron and Ginny from lashing out at Malfoy every time they saw him. Harry would have let them go and curse him but he didn't want Ginny or Ron to lose their prefect badges. Their family had lost enough without them having their prefect privileges stripped from them. Harry didn't really see much of either of the Weasleys. According to Hermione Ginny had spent a good deal of time crying in her room while Harry was aware that Ron had a habit of lashing out at anyone who dared mention the ministry of Magic.

"This isn't very good," Hermione said uncertainly to Harry as she came down from the girl's dorm. Harry had just given up on trying to cheer up Ron.

"I know" Harry said, he noticed a damp patch on Hermione's shoulder. On top of everything that had happened Harry felt slightly guilty about snapping at Jenny about her parents. "What are we going to do?" Harry asked. Hermione shrugged and sat down next to Harry. She glanced at his work.

"Harry, you cannot write that Trolls are knocked out by Wingardium leviosar" Hermione said.

"Why not? It worked last time." Harry said. Hermione sighed and leaned against Harry's shoulder.

"Can you believe Percy's dead?" Hermione asked, "He didn't apologise to his family or anything."

"He refused to believe Voldemort was coming back so he got what was coming to him." Harry said bitterly. He had heard Ron enough today to know that Ron was right.

"You don't mean that." Hermione said.

"Ok, I don't fully mean it but Ron's right. If he refused to believe then in a way he had it coming."

"Ron said that?" Hermione asked. Harry nodded and scratched out a few lines of his essay and sighed.

"I think we should go and visit April." Harry said. He had been worrying for his godmother for a while now and had wanted to go to visit her but the new curfew had come and gone and he could only go out of the common room with a teacher of a prefect.

"Ok." Hermione said noticing Harry's look. "I'll ask Ginny if she wants to go." Hermione said. "Go and ask Ron." Hermione ordered. Harry nodded and happily put his rolls of parchment away and headed up the stairs.

"Do you think April is ok?" Ginny asked Hermione anxiously. Hermione had her arm through the younger girl's arm and gave her a sisterly hug.

"I'm sure she's fine." Hermione said reassuringly.

"I can't believe that they actually attacked the school" Ron grumbled. "I bet you Malfoy had something to do with it. He's always going on about-"

"Do you really want to finish that sentence?" Malfoy drawled coolly from behind them. The four turned quickly. He was with Pansy, Crabbe and Goyle. Pansy's hand was in Malfoy's hand and she seemed quite giggly.

"Sod off Malfoy." Ron said,

"Now, now Weasley. Mind your language or I'll have you in detention." Malfoy said. Pansy sniggered and Malfoy gave her a cocky grin. It made his face look more twisted and cruel then usual.

"If you haven't noticed, we're also prefects Malfoy." Hermione said.

"I didn't ask you to speak Mudblood." Malfoy said. Hermione took in an indignant breath and looked like she was about to retaliate when Harry got his wand out.

"Why don't you go and pick on some people in your own house Malfoy?" Harry said. Malfoy's eyes narrowed and he sneered.

"Potter. You're out past curfew, I guess I'll have to give you a detention." Malfoy said with glee.

"He's with us Malfoy" Ron said, his wand out now. "Besides we could always do the same for Crabbe and Goyle"

"Fine, I'll let you off this one time but watch your back. It might be you next." Malfoy said.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Ginny asked angrily. Malfoy looked at Ginny.

"It means, little Weasley that the sooner the Weasleys have been extinguished from this earth the better. One down, eight to-" Malfoy never finished his sentence. Next thing any of them knew, Malfoy had large bat like bogeys all over his face.

"Harry." Ginny snapped at Harry when he held the back of her robes as Harry and Hermione tried to get Ron and Ginny walking again. Hermione had her arms tightly around Ron to stop him from doing anything stupid either.

"So, what was your prefect meeting about?" Harry said trying to get their minds off something else.

"McGonagall was telling us about what the events of the past night." Ron said angrily as he straightened his robes.

"Nothing we didn't know" Hermione said calmly. She put her arm through Ron's and his anger seemed to seep away slightly.

"Well, apart from the bit where after Christmas Quidditch might be cancelled and Cho's in a stress because she won't be able to organise anymore Hogsmeade trips because they're cancelled as well." Ginny said.

"No Quidditch?" Harry asked slightly alarmed.

"It's not cancelled yet, it just depends on what happens." Ginny said uneasily.

"But we've been working our ars-"

"I know Harry" Hermione said, "But its-"

"For my own protection, I know. I just wish that everyone would stop treating us like we're children."

"Well, some people in this school are still only children." Hermione pointed out. They went into the hospital wing to visit April. There were curtains drawn around her bed and two voices came from inside.

"Do you ever regret it?" asked Lupin's calm voice.

"Yes." Sirius said sulkily. Harry looked at the others who looked slightly interested. Hermione frowned slightly.

"Well, what about making things right?" Lupin asked calmly.

"She won't give me a chance and neither will Jenny. I think April's infected her mind. The moment we got home Jenny got into a stress and has been sulking all day." Sirius said. Harry frowned slightly and he looked at the curtains where he could see the shadows of Lupin and Sirius around the bed.

"Do you still love her?" Lupin asked.

"Who? Jenny?" Sirius asked confused.

"You know who I mean." Lupin said like Sirius was an idiot. "Do you still love April?" Harry wanted to see Sirius' expression.

"Not marrying April was the stupidest mistake I ever made and even if I do still love her there's no way that she'll let me get close to her again-"

"What are you doing?" Madame Pomfrey asked sternly. The four turned around to see the witch looking at them slightly annoyed.

"We came to see April" Harry said. The curtains were pulled apart and Lupin stepped out.

"Harry. Poppy, it's quite alright. We'll look after them." Lupin said. Madame Pomfrey nodded and walked off with a slight frown. "April's fine, still sleeping." Lupin said leading them to the bed. Sirius looked quite distressed and was watching the four carefully.

"What are you doing here?" Hermione asked Lupin and Sirius.

"One of our oldest friends get hurt and you expect us to sit back?" Lupin asked slightly amused. "I would expect you to know why we're here."

"Are you sure she's ok?" Ginny asked as she looked at April's face. She looked so peaceful and dead but she was breathing. There were still several unhealed cuts and Her arm was wrapped in a bandage.

"Yes she is. How are you and Ron coping? Your mother is a state and wants you to stay with us for the Christmas." Ginny frowned and Ron shook slightly. Hermione rubbed his arm sympathetically. Harry had noticed that last night Hermione seemed to fuss over Ron a lot more. He figured that she was just moving on. Harry had taken it upon himself to try and cheer up Ginny, who ended up being calmed by Neville. This surprised Harry slightly but he had to admit that even he could see something developing between Neville and Ginny, though Ginny didn't seem to like Neville in the same way Neville liked her.

"Will she be coming for Christmas?" Ron asked.

"Yes, she will, as will all of the Weasley family." Lupin said.

"Including their dates." Sirius muttered. He was looking fondly yet worriedly at April. A look that Harry had never seen in him before. Harry glanced at Sirius' hand that was clutching April's tightly. Harry quickly looked to Lupin. He didn't get the opportunity to say anything as April's eyes fluttered open. She looked around the room looking slightly disorientated. She turned her head and saw Lupin, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny. She squeezed her hand slightly and turned to see what was holding it.

"Sirius." April said hoarsely.

"April." Sirius said relieved. April turned to look at the others.

"Where's Jenny?" April asked.

"She's safe." Lupin said going to April's side. "She'll be alright."

"Good." April said slightly relieved. Her gaze went to Harry and then she turned to look at Sirius. "What are you doing out of the house?"

"You got hurt and I had to see if you were ok." Sirius said darkly. Harry could have sworn he saw some kind of spark between them. April tore her gaze away from Sirius and looked at Lupin.

"What did Dumbledore do?" She asked.

"He's sending all the children home in two days and you'll be having help next term. He's got Fudge setting a few more aurors and people Dumbledore trusts to protect the castle." April nodded and gave a cough. April glanced at Hermione then sat up properly.

"April, you should lie down." Sirius said concerned.

"I don't need you watching over me." April said to him. Her voice wasn't as harsh as she normally sounded when she spoke to Sirius. Harry watched curiously as April and Sirius seemed to exchange a silent conversation.

"Well, I think that you children should be getting back to the common room." Lupin said.

"We're not Children." Ginny said. Lupin gave her a knowing smile and ushered them out of the hospital ward and followed them to the common room.

"So will you be staying at the castle permanently next term?" Hermione asked Lupin.

"Yes I will. You heard what might happen and we don't want it happening." Lupin said. Hermione nodded frowning and sighed. Ron glanced at her and started to lift his arm to put around her shoulders but Hermione excused herself from the group and headed down the main stairs and Ron made to scratch his head. Harry felt slightly sorry for Ron. He liked Hermione but he couldn't get Hermione to like him in the same way. They all walked to the Gryffindor Common room in silence.

"Now, you three behave yourselves." Lupin said to Ginny, Ron and Harry. "I will see you soon."

"Um, Remus." Harry said. Lupin looked at him with a slight smile.

"Yes Harry."

"Could you try and get us a boggart for the DA?" Harry asked. Lupin smiled and nodded.

"I will do my best Harry." Lupin said.