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Chapter 4

Stage of Confusion

Draco woke up on Friday morning to something licking at his face. He opened his eyes to see that it was only Mystery. He reached his hand out and scratched behind her ears, for once nothing happened.

He got up and stretched before walking to the bathroom down the hall from his room to freshen up. The sun wasn't entirely out yet which meant he was definitely up before everyone else. He brushed his teeth and started the water for a quick shower.

About fifteen minutes later Draco turned the shower water off and stepped out of the stall while wrapping a towel around his waist. He figured that since it was early he didn't need to bother getting properly dressed. He opened the bathroom door slowly to make sure no one was up then tiptoed back into his room and closed the door quietly behind him.

When he turned he heard a familiar sound.

"Meow!" Mystery was staring at him on top of his bed. He saw how her eyes scanned his upper torso to his plain white towel before leaping off the bed and scratching on the door begging to be let out.

Draco stared at her bemusedly before opening the door. "You're such a weird little cat, you know that?" Draco said quietly as she bounded down the stairs.

Draco closed the door again and went to change. He slipped on a pair of brown khaki pants and white shirt. He then wore a dark green robe over it. Opening his door to let in fresh air, Draco began to style his hair.

Mystery padded in the room just as Draco was about to slick back his hair.

::Don't::

"What?" Draco turned around. He could've sworn he had just heard a voice. He shrugged and returned to doing his hair. When he reached for the gel, Draco heard the voice again.

::You look better without it::

Now Draco was sure he heard it. But it wasn't really a voice. It was like a really strong nagging at the back of his mind. 'I must be going crazy' he thought. He looked at the bottle of gel on the dresser. "Oh, forget it." Draco said, fixing his hair so that it hung loosely over his head and some strands fell onto the front of his face partially covering his emotionless, grey eyes.

Draco walked downstairs with Mystery at his heels. He relaxed on a couch by the fire in the living room, laying his head back and closing his eyes. He felt himself slowly slip off to sleep, until-

Whoosh!

"What the?" Draco said opening his eyes and stared into the fireplace. Someone had obviously flooed into the house. The question was who? Whoever it was, was entirely covered in soot and was desperately trying to wipe it of before stepping out.

"Oh, great!" said the person, it was definitely a girl's voice. Draco recognized it instantly.

"Granger?" He spat, looking at the girl with distaste tracing every line of his face. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Excuse me, Malfoy, but I was invited. Unlike some people." She added the last bit quietly but Draco still heard her.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" He said advancing on her. Mystery followed close behind him. Draco heard a hissing noise behind Hermione and turned to see a ginger cat walk out from behind one of the trunks. The cat hissed at Mystery.

"Back, Crookshanks." Ordered Hermione to the ginger cat. "Never mind, Malfoy." She said walking around him.

"Do you think I wanted to stay here?" said Draco his temper rising. How dare this foolish mudblood talk to him like she knew him? She knew absolutely nothing about him. "Don't you think that I'd rather be at my home than here? Why don't you stop getting your know-it-all little self out of everyone's bloody business, Granger."

"I'm not getting into anyone's business, Malfoy. So why don't you shove off!" she shouted back at him. They both stood glaring at each other until there was a noise on the stairs.

"Hermione, sweetie! I had no idea you were coming this early, I would've made some breakfast." It was Mrs. Weasley. Hermione tore her glare away from Draco's to put on a smile for Mrs. Weasley as she came running down the stairs to hug her.

"How was your summer, dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked Hermione.

"It's been delightful, so far. My parents took me to Greece for about a week to give me a bit of a break from my summer work." Hermione said, beaming.

"Oh, that's wonderful, dear. Why don't you wait down here and I'll get Ron to help you with your bags, while I make some breakfast." Mrs. Weasley then walked back up the stairs to wake Ron.

Draco sat on the couch, arms crossed scowling at all the commotion Hermione was causing in the house. 'I guess I won't be getting any sleep' he thought.

::I guess I won't be either::

"What did you say, Granger?" Draco snapped. He was pretty sure he didn't say anything out loud.

Hermione turned toward Malfoy. "What are you talking about, Malfoy? I didn't say anything."

"Yes, you did. You said 'I guess I won't be either'. I heard you, don't lie."

"Are you feeling alright, Malfoy, because I'm pretty sure I didn't say anything." Hermione was looking at Draco like he had grown two extra heads. Draco was about to retort that he had specifically heard Hermione speak when Ginny came racing down the stairs.

"Hermione!" She said running up to her and giving her a giant hug. "Oh, my gosh I have so much stuff to tell you! Come on, let's go!" She began to lead Hermione out of the room before she could say one word.

"Hermione?" Said a deep voice from the stairs and Hermione stopped letting Ginny pull her to look up at the owner to it.

"Hello, Ron." She said smiling up at him from the bottom of the staircase. Ginny for some reason was grinning madly. "How have you been?"

"Oh, I-I've been great." Ron stuttered walking down to meet her. He stopped at the bottom of the staircase. "You?"

"Great." She replied looking him straight in the eyes.

"That's good." He said quietly. Ron's eyes wondered Hermione's body. She really was beautiful. Long, golden brown locks framed her face, slightly tanned skin from her summer in Greece, and the most gorgeous coffee brown eyes he had ever seen. He nonchalantly moved his eyes a little lower down her body, the rest wasn't bad either.

"Ah-hem!" Coughed Ginny noticing where her brother's eyes were. He didn't hear her, but Hermione did and her face was slowly becoming bright red.

Malfoy bit his laughter. The stupid git, didn't he know what the word subtlety was.

"Um…Ron?" Hermione whispered. This broke Ron out of his trance and his face started to flush beat red.

"Hmm?" He said, now looking at her eyes.

"I, uh…um…" She stuttered.

"What I think Granger is trying to say, Weasley, is that her face is a little more North of where you were headed." Malfoy said, smirking. This caused Ginny to bite back a smile, and Ron and Hermione to flush more, both still managing to glare at Draco though.

"Butt out, Malfoy." Whispered Ron.

"Sure, whatever. But if you ever need a lesson on dating women, you know where to find me." Draco said, standing and walking up the stairs at an almost lazy pace.

He could hear Ron growl before he closed the door to his room.

Draco relaxed onto his bed. 'At least up here it's quiet' he thought. He stared out his window; the sun was fully out now. Draco checked the clock in the room. 12:45. 'I could use a nice nap' he thought. He closed his eyes and entered a light sleep.

Draco woke up from his nap feeling absolutely refreshed. He checked the clock. It was 5:30. "I can't believe I slept that long' he thought before getting up. Mystery jumped onto his lap and he started petting her soft fur, she purred and jumped down. After walking over to the nightstand to make sure he looked decent, Draco opened the door to his room to head downstairs.

"Ah, there's Sleeping Beauty now." Ginny cracked climbing up the flight of stairs that lead to his room.

"What?" Draco asked, bewildered.

"Never mind, Malfoy." She said, rolling her eyes. "My mum sent me up here to tell you dinner is ready."

Malfoy nodded and followed her downstairs. Actually he walked downstairs after her, because he followed no one.

Draco was surprised to see Albus Dumbledore and Mr. Weasley there when he reached the kitchen.

"Hello, D-Draco." Said Mr. Weasley shaking Draco's hand in a very tense and forced manner. "Terribly sorry about what happened to your mother." He said not sounding at all very sorry, which only caused Draco to dislike even more.

"Ah, Mr. Malfoy." Dumbledore said gently. "How has your stay with the Weasleys been? I trust Mrs. Weasley has been providing as much as possible for you." Draco ignored him. "Still not used to the change, I see. Don't worry, Mr. Malfoy, you'll be back at Hogwarts soon enough."

Draco didn't much care for what the old cook had to say, he was pretty pissed for being taken out of his home in the first place. But he guessed that as far as wizarding families go, the Weasleys weren't the worst. 'Besides, any chance to see Weasley ogling at Granger's "goods" is well worth it.' Draco thought with a smirk. 'I would've paid to see that.'

Mrs. Weasley placed a roasted chicken on the table in front of hem along with some delicious looking side dishes and soon everyone was digging into a delectable meal. Ginny, Hermione, and Ron talking in hushed voice the entire time.

"So, I was thinking we could all go to Diagon Alley tomorrow to shop for your school books." Said Mrs. Weasley to Draco, Ginny, Hermione, and Ron. "Your letters all arrived today and we should get a head start on the back-to-school hustle and bustle that is always happening around this time of year." Everyone nodded, except Draco he remained motionless.

"Oh mum, Hermione and I have to go shopping for dress robes tomorrow. It was on the list of school things." Ginny said to her mum.

"Okay, dear. We'll all have to be up early tomorrow, so everyone get a good night's sleep." Everyone nodded and stood up from the table, having already finished eating. Draco grabbed Mystery and she cuddled into his arms. As Draco was walking to the stairs he saw Weasley standing and talking to Granger and couldn't resist a sly remark.

"Weasley, I do hope you can afford some better robes than those old rags you called clothes in Fourth year." Draco drawled. He immediately regretted it as he saw Ron's face turn beat red and Hermione grab hold of his arm, apparently Dumbledore and Mr. Weasley had heard it too. Dumbledore looked on in disappointment.

"You little ferret, I'll kill you!" Ron broke free from Hermione's grasp and charged at Draco. Just as Ron was reaching for Draco's neck a bright white light formed in front of Draco causing Ron to fling back into the wall.

Draco stared at the scene in front of him; Ron was slowly getting up from his position of being flung into a wall, and Hermione was trying to see if Ron was all right. Ginny, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were looking on in horror and Dumbledore was staring at him bemusedly. No, wait. Dumbledore wasn't staring at him. He was staring at Mystery.

"Mr. Malfoy, where did you get that cat?" He asked walking over to Draco and staring at Mystery with nothing short of interest.

"I found her the other day in the forest." Draco replied confusedly. "Why?"

"Well, I only ask, Mr. Malfoy because usually normal cats don't send people flinging into walls." Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling amusedly. Mystery climbed onto Draco's shoulder, hiding from Dumbledore. "May I see her for a second, Mr. Malfoy?"

"Why?" Draco asked suspiciously, was Dumbledore going mad or something? No, he was already crazy.

"Because, Draco, your cat is not a cat." Replied Dumbledore simply.

"What? Of course she's a cat. What are you going on about?" Draco said irritated.

"Wait a minute, Professor. Please don't tell me that we've housed another possible homicidal pet." Said Ron, worriedly.

'What the heck is he going on about?' thought Draco, staring at Ron.

"I'm afraid, that you are wrong Mr. Malfoy. This cat- well is not a cat. I'll show you, if you just give her to me."

::Don't let them take me::

"What? Who said that?" Draco said looking around, then looking at Mystery who had returned to the position in his arms. She was staring at him with her bright- yellow eyes.

"Who said what, Mr. Malfoy?" Dumbledore asked Draco, Draco kind of got the idea that he already knew the answer.

"I…I think that she just talked to me." Draco said, more to himself than to Dumbledore.

"Just as I thought, Mr. Malfoy, will you now hand her to me?"

"Draco stared at Mystery for a couple more seconds before handing he over to Dumbledore. She tried to squirm and scratch him but to no avail.

"Ron? Would you mind holding her, so that I may perform the spell?" asked Dumbledore. Ron got up and took a firm hold of Mystery and stood still as Dumbledore aimed his wand at the cat.

With a twirl of his wand Dumbledore sent a flash of blue light at the cat. The cat went still for a moment and then there was another flash of light then-

Draco looked on in horror as the cat's limbs started to stretch and the black fur started to recede. The form grew until Draco was looking at a girl about his age, with long black hair, light caramel skin, and light brown almost golden eyes. She was wearing an old pair of jeans and a T-shirt that was ripped in various places. It looked like she was living in the forest for a bit of a while.

"Who, who the hell are you?" Ron said, and Draco realized he was still holding onto the girl. Everyone was too awestruck that they didn't bother to correct his language, not even Hermione.

The girl stared around the room at all of them, until her eyes landed on Draco. Still looking him square in the eye she answered-

"My…my name's…" She cleared her throat. "My name's Enid Hallow."

A/N: I hoped you liked this chappie! Shall I continue? Do you even want me to continue? Review plz! No reviews, no new chappies! So review!