At breakfast the next morning, Hermione was shocked to receive an owl from her Aunt Carolyn. Her Aunt hadn't written a proper letter once in the long months since Hermione had been back at Hogwarts, so it was a shock for her to receive something like this.

Dearest niece,

How are you sweetie? I'm sorry about not writing before; I've been busy trying to look for a new house! My little apartment isn't big enough for the both of us, and you'll be home for the holidays soon, I can't wait! How do you feel about moving to New York with me, its just an idea, I've…well, I've been dating this man, he moved into my apartment not long ago, but its too cramped with him, and can you imagine what the holidays will be like! Say no if you don't want to move, it's not a worry, we can just stay here anyway. Tell me what you think of the idea.

Hermione sat gob smacked. New York? That was something she had never considered, albeit unexpected, it was something she would have to seriously consider. And why hadn't she known about this mystery man of her Aunts? She couldn't wait to hear more gossip on him.

The other important thing I've been meaning to tell you is how sorry I am, I didn't treat you at all fairly after the accident. I know you wanted to talk but I was too wrapped up in my grief to deal with it. I apologize. Please forgive me, niece, I never meant to hurt you in anyway.

Hermione felt the tears cascade down her face, but no longer cared if anyone could see them, she was off in her own little world, where nothing except her and her Aunts words mattered. "I'm sorry too, Aunty" Hermione whispered.

I was just remembering long ago, when you first found out of you powers, you were so excited. You ran the whole six blocks to my house just to tell me you were a witch, you were so happy, so carefree. I guess the main point of this is that when you got your letter, you ran straight to me, because your parents weren't home. I know I haven't been there to run to lately, but I want to change that. You always were my favorite niece!

Hermione almost laughed at that, not matter how many times she reminded her Aunt that she in fact was her only niece, as far as her Aunt was called she was her favorite as well,

FLASH BACK

"But Aunty, how could I be your favorite when I'm the only niece you've got?" Hermione said, sitting on her Aunts knee.

"Exactly, you're my favorite and my only!" Aunt Carolyn said, and began to tickle the small girl.

"But-but, but that doesn't make sense!" Hermione chocked out through her laughter

"So? Why does everything have to make sense?"

Hermione pondered this thought, "Just, because!"

"Just because what?"

"Cause' I said so." Hermione said, sticking her tongue out at Carolyn. Her Aunt retaliated by picking her up off the ground, and carrying her, kicking and screaming, over to the pool.

"Uh oh…" Hermione said, as the water loomed closer, and then she was under, clothes and all. She came up coughing, with a plan.

When an arm was outstretched to help Hermione out of the cold water, the owner of that arm suddenly found herself a little off balance, and landed in the pool beside Hermione.

Hermione jumped out as quick as she could, knowing her Aunt would pay her back for the dunking.

Hermione and her Aunt spent hours chasing each other around the back yard, each of them landing in the pool more times than they could count.

END FLASH BACK

"Boo!" A voice shocked Hermione out of her stupor; Draco wrapped his arms around Hermione and gave her a friendly hug, shocking the rest of the Gryffindor table.

"Hey yourself." Hermione said, plastering a smile on her face

"What you got there," Draco said, sitting in the empty spot beside her

"Oh, nothing…" Hermione said, quickly shoving the letter into her shoulder bag, vowing to herself to continue reading it later

Draco looked at her, not believing, but let it go.

"So, where were you?" He said, smiling.

Hermione, thoroughly confused by his sentence, just stared at him blankly.

"You were off in your own little world. I tried calling you, but you didn't look up."

"Oh," Hermione said, giving a little laugh "I was just day dreaming."

"Come on, were going to be late."

For the first time since she got the letter Hermione looked around her, almost everyone had left.

"You were so out of it you didn't realize they'd all left!" Draco said, barely containing his laughter.

An innocent "Oops" was all Hermione could muster

That was it for Draco, he let go of his laughter and the sound of it filled the almost empty hall,

"Oh shut up you," Hermione grumbled, dragging the idiot boy out.

"Nah, no fun in that." The blond remarked, giving her one of his infamous sneers.

"Whatever," Hermione said, rolling her eyes.

The two walked in comfortable silence towards the grounds, both wondering what monstrosity Hagrid was going to inflict upon them, although Hermione would have never admitted to thinking it.

They arrived barely on time, ignoring the glares of their classmates.

Five minutes later and Draco was lost, he nudged Hermione "Hey, Hermione, what are we supposed to be doing?"

"Oh, honestly Draco, don't you ever listen? We're in groups of three for the next two weeks, right up until we go home for the holidays, and we're given eggs. We don't know what's in them, but we have to raise them, research them, and care for them until the end of the term."

"Are we in groups yet?"

"No, oh, wait, we get to choose them now."

"Ok, your with me, uh oh, do we want a Gryffindor and Slytherin to go with us?"

"It doesn't matter to me Draco, both houses hate me right now."

"I say Slytherin, because they are most likely scared of me and wont try anything."

"Ok then, but who?" They looked around, but before they could choose Hagrid was dividing up the remaining students.

Draco, Hermione and Blaise Zambini were placed in one group, and Neville, Pansy, and Goyle in the other.

They were given a medium sized black egg, with flecks of silver making a pattern Hermione, trying though she was, just couldn't decipher.

Pretending to study the egg, Hermione became lost in thought, 'Well, in the few seconds he's been our third member he hasn't really shown much enthusiasm, but then again he hasn't been outright nasty to me either, so it could be worse. I wonder what Draco is telling him, they look serious, knowing Draco it will be a threat of some sort. Hermione pondered, a smile of sorts playing across her lips.

They worked together in silence for the period, each of them wondering how they were going to cope for the next two weeks, working as a team. They organized to meet later that night, to talk, and hopefully figure out what would hatch out of their egg.

The rest of the day was a hectic blur for Hermione, until it was finally time for them to meet in the Head's common room. Right on schedule there was a knock on the large door, and Hermione, squashing the poor butterflies trapped in her stomach, went to answer it.

"Come in." She said to Blaise, wishing her voice would stop shaking.

Blaise walked past her as if she were no more than a house-elf, and cordially greeted Draco.

They talked for a while, just Draco and Blaise, before Hermione was beckoned over.

"Now," Draco said, his voice the picture of authority. "I don't believe you two have properly met. Hermione, this is Blaise, Blaise, this is Hermione."

Blaise stuck out his hand primly, and Hermione shook, not missing how he wiped his hand afterwards.

"Nice to meet you." Blaise said, his voice loaded with sarcasm.

"Same to you." Hermione said, beginning to get agitated by the boy's arrogance. Once they were settled, Draco cast a spell. Hermione couldn't quite remember it, but it was obvious Blaise recognized it, for he hissed to Draco "We can't, not with the Mudblood here."

Draco ignored Blaise's comment, and pulled out his cigarettes. It was then that Hermione recognized his spell. Draco lit up, and Blaise held out his hand for the pack expectantly. Draco turned his back to the Slytherin, and gave the pack to Hermione. Blaise's face dropped, but he quickly covered his dumbfounded expression with one of anger.

Hermione sweetly passed the packet over to Blaise, struggling to contain her laughter at the boys near purple face.

Blaise snatched the packet, drew out a cigarette, and lit it, taking a long drag.

"Now," Draco said, and Hermione alone recognized the coldness in his voice that resembled his true feelings, "I'm going to set a few ground rules to you Zambini."

Both Hermione and Blaise's heads shot up at the use of the boy's last name, Draco was seriously angry.

"Firstly, if you ever call Hermione, or any other muggle born that horrible name in my presence again, I will not hesitate to spill your little secret to the entire school, where I am sure it will reach the ears of you family, and we sure wouldn't want that would we?

Secondly, Hermione is to be treated as an equal, for that is what she is. Do I make myself clear enough for you?"

Blaise didn't even try to cover up his expression. His mouth hung open like a fish out of water, and he was slowly getting paler as he realized just how serious the former Slytherin Prince really was.

"Crystal clear." Blaise said, finally getting the use of his jaw muscles back "I apologize." Blaise forced out, turning to look at Hermione.

"I appreciate it. Now that the air is clear between us, I say we try to figure out what the fuck this thing is!" Hermione said, pulling the egg out of her bag

Blaise was shocked at Hermione's choice of words. He, like many students at Hogwarts, had been under the impression that Hermione was a little nerdy type girl, who'd never uttered an obscenity in her life. 'Will the shocks never end?' Blaise thought, before putting his head down to work.

By the time she was getting ready for bed Hermione had almost forgotten about the letter in her satchel, only remembering as she was climbing into her four-poster bed. She pulled it out, nestled under the covers, and began to read once more.

I can't wait for us to be together these holidays, we have a lot to talk about, and Karl- the man I spoke about, wishes to meet you as well, I really think you'll like Karl, he's very sweet. As for where you'll sleep these holidays. As my apartment is only one bedroom I was planning on setting up a stretcher out in the lounge, I know it may not be overly comfortable, but I promise it wont be for long, we just have to decide where to live.

Well, I'm going to have to leave this here sweetie, I want to get this sent ASAP, I miss you.

Love,

Aunty Carolyn

Hermione smiled a sleepy, lopsided grin, liking the warm feeling the letter gave her, yawned, and fell asleep, holding the paper close to her heart.

Yay, another chapter done stretches fingers I HOPE YOUR HAPPY KEIKO! Grumbles mean bloody beta-reader hehe

Caligirl-HPLVR- thanks for you review, sorry it took so long for this chapter- have a good spring break!

hottennispro88- umm there were two that talked about suicide, one in Chapter 5- Drifting Away- was ChopSuey! By System of a down, and the one in Chapter 7- Shadows of the Night, was Waste, by Staind. Hope you enjoyed this chapter!

BIG A/N! This chapter goes out to Keiko- my amazing BETA! You guys should thank her, she threatened me with death if I didn't have this chapter done in a certain amount of time. So, this chapters dedicated to Keiko, my amazing slave driver/ Beta-Reader!

Thanks for reading!

KJ