Disclaimer: You guys know the drill.

Lunawolf: Oh, shite, you're right! Thank goodness I have you all. I'd forget everything… And Voldie's death, I assure you, will be as painful as it is within my power to make it. I'll tell you now that curses from Niamh and Harry's book will be involved.

HecateDeMort: Glad you like. Someone reviewed and asked me not to pair Mione with Ron – which I had fully intended – and so it put the idea into my mind. That was when I realized I'd only written the D/Hr pairing once (in the Dark Series) and thought it would be fun to do it again. And it is.

Wink at J00: I love Ren and Stimpy but no. That would probably involve a Log joke. "Its Lo-og, its Lo-og!" And whatever the rest of the tune is… Or "Happy, happy, joy, joy!" :D Good guess though. And I'm glad your comp decided to be nice.

Author's Note: 200 points for DaisiDeep and Amy2k! And 100 points for Rachel A. Prongs, Lunawolf, ChrismKing208, Darkfire1, Shea Longer, restive silence, futurebra, kangaroo, sparrow, SlythCat19, Coreys-angel, The Dark Flame, anon2, Mistress Cresacre, shina-schatten, custardpringle, Queen of the Elven City, That Idiot, emma20, LaughingCat, Raya21, and Jarvey! And the correct number of points to anyone I missed!

The fish slapping is a reference to a Monty Python skit (sorry for those who thought I was referring to the Dogma scene. I totally forgot about that… looks embarrassed). It goes as such:

There are two men in hunting khaki (complete with pith helmet) standing on the edge of a waterway of sorts. One just stands there as the other dances forward two steps and slaps him with two tiny fish. He then dances back then forward again to slap him once more. This happens one more time before the guy stops and the other lifts his arm, revealing he's been holding a bigger fish this entire time. He slaps the other guy and sends him into the waterway.

And the spoon is a reference to the movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. Great movie, must see it if you haven't – and not only because Alan Rickman is hilarious as the Sheriff of Nottingham. Here's the entire thing about the line:

Robin is talking to a priest about his father (who is by this time in the movie dead and accused of having practiced the Dark Arts) when Nottingham comes in. They look at each other then the priest yells, "Do not shed blood in the house of God!" Robin jumps forward and slashes Nottingham's cheek with his dagger before he cuts the rope the will conveniently take him to a hole in the ceiling. Nottingham proceeds to yell, "Locksley! I'll cut your heart out with a spoon!" Exit Robin.

Then later we find Nottingham talking to his cousin Guy of Gisbourne as the slash on the sheriff's cheek is being stitched up. Gisbourne asks, "But why a spoon, cousin? Why not an axe or a…" And then my fav line in the whole movie from Nottingham: "Because its dull, you twit, it'll hurt more."

So there yah go.

Not Myself by Saerry Snape

Chapter 175 – Sorrow's Aftermath

It turned out that not only had Voldemort targeted Niamh and Hermione's families but that of nearly every Muggleborn student in Hogwarts.

A letter from Mrs. Weasley to her last two children at Hogwarts revealed that an attack had been tried on the Burrow as well but that all was fine. Dumbledore had apparently put up wards fit to rival Hogwarts' around the Weasley home two years before.

Another letter to Mika from his father revealed that his mother had been attacked and was now in St. Mungo's recovering. This news sent Mika into a rage (which wasn't good so near the full moon) and it had taken Harry, Draco, and three of the sixth years combined efforts to hold down the werewolf until he calmed down.

Classes were dismissed for the rest of the week as half the school was mourning – the first years in particular as most of them were Muggleborn.

"This isn't fair," mumbled Mischa as she collapsed onto the couch between her brother and Draco.

"Life generally isn't," said Draco mournfully. Hermione had left a few hours earlier to change clothes and she'd sworn to return the moment she'd done as such.

Every bloody Gryffindor had probably held her up, wanting to tell her how sorry they were.

And how could they be sorry when they hadn't lost anything?

Harry appeared suddenly at Draco's shoulder, his expression tense. Mika looked up at him and asked, "Niamh asleep?"

"Yeah," replied Harry tiredly as he took two long steps and sprawled into a chair. He pressed the heels of his hands against his eyes and grumbled something very unsavory under his breath.

"It'll be okay," said Draco, trying to sound reassuring but failing miserably.

Harry glared half-heartedly and growled, "Nothing will ever be okay again. Ni just lost what's left of her family."

"What about her sister?" asked Mika. "She used to get Christmas presents from her."

"She died in a car crash two years ago," said Harry softly.

Mika looked stunned.

"She-she never said anything…"

"She wouldn't," commented Draco. "And don't take that as an insult to her, Davids. I've never liked O'Feir but I've always feared – and respected – her. She rarely tells anyone but Harry anything."

"And me very little, at that," said Harry. He then shrugged and added, "We all have our little secrets, though."

"Yeah," said Draco. He then jumped up as there was a gentle knock from the direction of the entrance and sprinted across the common room. Within a few minutes, Hermione was in the common room and Draco ushered her over to the Hexer's Corner. Several glared at her but looked away with the blonde turned and sent a glare their way that was fit to rival one of Niamh's.

Mika and Mischa blinked at the two of them for a few minutes before the silver-haired girl said, "Oh."

"Ah," said Mika a moment later. "Hello, Mione."

Hermione smiled weakly at him before she sat down in the other chair in the Corner. Draco perched himself on the arm of her chair and wrapped an arm about her shoulders. The bushy-haired girl closed her eyes and leaned willingly into his embrace.

Harry leaned his head slightly and said, "I'm sorry, Mione."

Hermione looked at him and whispered, "It wasn't your fault, Harry. He hates us. All of us Mudbloods."

"Mione!" exclaimed Ginny as she joined the group, sitting on the couch beside Mischa. "Don't say that!"

"Why not?" asked Hermione. She looked up at Draco and said, "That's what I am, isn't it? To the purebloods?"

"Not to me," murmured Draco. "Not anymore."

"Nor to us," said Mika, gesturing at his sister and Ginny. "We're all from pureblood families. And there's nothing wrong with being Muggleborn – or even Halfblood. You're the smartest witch I've ever met, Mione."

"Mmm," said Harry. "Take a look at Crabbe and Goyle. They're pureblood."

Draco snorted loudly and said, "Inbreeding ruined those two. And most of the other pureblood families." He shuddered as he continued, "My father and Pansy's made arrangements when we were born for us to be married after our twentieth birthday's."

"So?" said Mika.

Gray eyes turned towards the werewolf and Draco blandly said, "Her father is mine's first cousin, which makes us third cousins. Its not a good thing to breed above fifth."

"Ah."

"Be glad your families aren't in the hierarchy," said Draco. He then looked at Harry and added, "And be glad your grandfather's dead."

"He's not dead, he's soulless," growled Harry. "And let's not go into him."

"Why not?" asked Mischa.

"Because he was a bastard. Simple as that."

"Oh."

There was a small pause between them then Hermione choked out, "H-how's Niamh?"

Harry's expression turned somber, as he replied, "Not very good. She's so distraught that her mental shields are down and she can feel every emotion in the damn castle."

"Hell," murmured Draco.

"That's not good, is it?" asked Mischa.

Harry shook his head slowly.

"No, its not. Jar's trying to block what he can but he can only do so much."

Mika frowned and tentatively asked, "Could it drive her crazy?"

Green eyes met the brown eye and its red counterpart and Harry replied, "It could."

"Oh God," breathed Hermione. "Harry…"

"Don't, Mione," said Harry softly, closing his eyes. "If I think about it, I'll go mad. And Ni doesn't need that, especially right now."

Hermione nodded feebly and leaned further into Draco's side, pulling her legs up into the chair.

Mika and Ginny exchanged a glance over Mischa's head as the silver-haired girl curled up against her brother's side.

Four days later classes kicked back in but Niamh was not up to going until three days later. Even when she was finally able to go, she was extremely off keel. Her temper was even easier to set off than usual and any bad word she heard about Harry or anyone of her friends caused her to hex whoever was speaking.

"Miss O'Feir!"

Niamh growled something unsavory under her breath and turned sharply on her heel to face a stern Professor Dumbledore. Her hand clenched tightly about her wand, which had just cast a particularly spectacular hex on a fifth year Gryffindor who had badmouthed her and Harry in one go.

"Sir?" she growled softly, eyes narrowed.

Dumbledore frowned at the girl before him, taking note of her annoyed expression and the dark circles under her eyes. He then looked at the poor Gryffindor behind her.

"Miss O'Feir, did I not tell you to watch your wand waving?"

"Yes, sir."

"And?" said Dumbledore, arching an eyebrow.

Niamh scowled and snapped, "And nothing. Sir."

With that she stuffed her wand into her robes and began to walk past the headmaster. His hand fell on her shoulder and she hissed like a cat, jerking away from him and drawing her wand once more.

"Don't. Touch. Me," she spat, aiming the length of ebony at the old wizard.

"Miss O'Feir…"

"Did you know?"

Dumbledore blinked and looked truly surprised. "Know what?" he asked.

"Did you know about the attacks?" she snarled. "Did you have any hint at all?"

"Why do you want to know?"

"Because I lost my family, damn you!"

Dumbledore gave her a sad look before he replied, "I only had rumors, Miss O'Feir. There was no way to know the exact date."

Niamh took a step back, a horrified expression on her face.

"You…knew?" she gasped. "You knew something could happen and you did nothing?"

"I told you I only had rumors…"

"Damn your rumors!" shouted Niamh. "You knew. You fucking knew and you did nothing!"

"There was nothing I could do," said Dumbledore.

"Hell there wasn't!"

"Sometimes…sometimes sacrifices must be made, Miss O'Feir."

"Is that what my parents and aunt were?" asked Niamh, tears pricking her eyes. "Sacrifices?"

"Miss O'Feir…"

"Shut up!" Niamh screamed through her teeth then shouted, "Damn you, professor! Damn you for this!"

She turned to flee down the corridor only to slam into a hard body. Long arms wrapped protectively about her and she looked up to see Harry's almost murderous expression.

"Sir," growled Harry, his eyes swirling between green and black.

"Harry," said Dumbledore, nodding slightly as he tucked his hands into his wide sleeves.

Harry frowned darkly at the older wizard for a long moment before he said, "I never expected to hear something like that coming from you. 'Sacrifices must be made,' eh? "

"You should know that better than I, Harry."

"Humphf. Sacrificing doesn't require the deaths of the parents of children within this school, sir." He scowled as he continued, "You only sacrifice something when you have no other choice."

"But can you back up your words with action?" asked Dumbledore curiously.

"Professor," growled Harry, "I spent four years in the Elven realm learning how to fight. That was one of the rules beaten into my brain."

"Then you understand."

"No. This wasn't a needed sacrifice, sir. Not in the least." He looked down at Niamh then back up at Dumbledore. "And because you did nothing with what knowledge you had, I will never forgive you for this. Not only for the lives lost but for the hurt you've caused to those I love."

With that he turned and left, his arm about Niamh's shoulder. Dumbledore looked after them for a long time before he freed the poor Gryffindor from Niamh's hex and sent him to the hospital wing.

Standing alone in the corridor, he sighed and whispered, "There shall be much more you shall never forgive me for, my boy. Much more…"

Author's Note

Dun dun dun! FORESHADOWING!!