A/N: Heh heh............... well, now that everyone and their mother is sending me death threats, I guess I'll update. Seriously, I do apologize for the delay, BUT I don't know if the way to get me to update is harassment! Though, this time I know better than to promise when to update!

And, on another note, I'd like to thank you all SO MUCH for your reviews. I can't believe I have over 3000, I'm so flattered. So thank you all for your support. I wish I could list you all by name like I did back when, like 5 people read this, but it's be too hard. I read ALL of the reviews, please don't think I'm one of those authors who doesn't. So, thank you ALL again, and I apologize for the delay, hopefully ~sniffles~ I'll be wrapping up soon!

After Draco's meeting with Professor Snape, Hermione knew that she'd see less of him, but she didn't really know how much. He spent every evening in Slytherin, trying to glean some information from his housemates. Unfortunately, he wasn't very successful.

"So, Pansy, have you heard anything interesting lately?" Draco asked one night.

Pansy smirked, "Actually, since you ask," and she paused, looking around her, "Father's told me that the Weird Sisters are coming out with a Greatest Hits album!"

That was certainly not what Draco had in mind. "Hmm. Anything else? You know, relating to, you know who?"

"Ohhhhh," said Pansy, his insinuation making sense, "No, I haven't heard anything as of late. But I'm sure as soon as something comes up we'll know.

Draco briefly pondered if Pansy would lie to him. Certainly she was capable, but to him? Draco looked at her smiling face. She looked so simple, he thought. If she was lying, he'd know.

Over in Gryffindor, the waiting game was no easier. Hermione felt very guilty; she often found herself absent-mindedly staring at Maya, as if she was some sort of fortune-telling machine, waiting for her to jump up and say "Wait! I was wrong!"

No such thing happened.

Nor was Maya having more premonitions. She looked very tired and sick usually, and it seemed like she didn't have enough in her to make another prediction. It was disconcerting for the lot of them because, in this scenario, no news wasn't good news.

"The stage is set, Master, we've planned everything."

"Everything?"

"Yes, Master. Everyone is coordinated and waiting for your cue."

"Have you spoken to the family recently?"

The slimy-looking man smiled, "I have, indeed, Master."

A thin smile spread on the emaciated face, "Excellent. I trust that will go as I'd planned."

"Yes, Master, I believe it will in a most efficient manner."

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Hermione watched her fellow students gabbing happily in the Great Hall at breakfast. She gazed up in the air, waiting for that morning's Daily Prophet the owl dropped it on her plate, and narrowly escaped being knocked out of the air by a giant black owl, gliding towards the Slytherin table. Hermione patted the Prophet owl comfortingly while glaring at the black one that dropped a roll of parchment into Pansy Parkinson's hand.

Hermione glanced over the front page furtively. Nothing, it seemed, ever happened these days. She wished that she didn't know something terrible was coming. She wished she didn't have to read the newspaper with a pit in her stomach, waiting to see something, anything that might mean Voldemort was stirring.

Ron was munching on some toast, looking thoughtful.

"You know," he said in between bites, N.E.W.T.s are coming up rather a bit sooner than I'd like."

Harry, Neville, and Seamus all nodded miserably. Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Honestly, we're been preparing for them all term! This isn't a shock to any of you."

"Well that doesn't mean that we're prepared, oh great one," Harry said with a smile.

Ron perked up for a moment, "Mione!! Do you still have that timey-turney thing?"

Maya jabbed Ron in the ribs with her elbow, "It wouldn't kill you to just, you know, study, Ron."

"But you'll be sorry if it does! I can see the headlines "Tragic Parchment Cut Accident Takes the Life of Ron Weasley."

They all laughed and Ginny said "Really Ron, if that would happen to anyone, I do believe it would happen to you!"

"Anyway!" Ron segued, "Hogsmeade weekend coming up, what are we doing?"

"I'd like to go to Zonko's and Three Broomsticks. I've been dying for Butterbeer lately," Maya said.

"Sounds good to me," Harry replied while the others nodded. "Mione? That OK with you?"

"Hmm?" Hermione looked up from the newspaper. "Sure, that's fine."

An awkward silence settled over the group briefly.

"Anything in the news?" Ginny carefully asked Hermione.

Hermione shook her head and shrugged, "Never is, it seems."

She glanced at Maya, who seemed to be preoccupied with something in her lap, then checked the time.

"Time for Potions, lets get a move on!"

They walked briskly down to the dungeons, not wanting to be late. They arrived at the door at the same time as a pack of Slytherins. Draco opened the door for the Slytherin girls. When Pansy walked it, she gave Hermione a particularly nasty glare and flounced off. Draco followed them in but dared to give Hermione the tiniest of nods. The Gryffindors took their seats, and the lesson began.

"Now, today we will be dealing with Botanical Healing Draughts." Snape began. He shot the Gryffindors a scathing look, "That means, Mr. Longbottom that we will be dealing with plants, your supposed area of expertise. Perhaps you'll shock me and not fail too miserably."

The Slytherins snickered as Neville turned beet red.

"Now, you will find the directions on the board and the supplies in the cupboard. You will all turn in one labeled flask containing the Melonroot Cleansing Draught by the end of the period. You may begin."

After gathering their supplies, Harry, Hermione, and Ron gathered back at the table with their cauldrons.

"He's pretty snippy today," Harry whispered, gesturing towards Snape.

"Poor Neville," Hermione said, shaking her head. She glanced over at him, his hands were shaking like mad, and he kept casting nervous glances at Snape.

At the end of the period, Hermione handed in her flask of shimmery green potion. Harry's looked more purple than green, but he handed it anyway, Ron's wasn't much better, looking like dirty pond water. Neville, of course, tried to hand in something magenta that was the consistency of sludge. Snape tossed it in the bin and sneered.

"Excellent job, Mr. Longbottom. 16 inches of parchment on Melonroot due next class."

Neville sighed sadly and walked out with his head hung low. Hermione longed to tell him that Snape was on their side, that he was only tough because he had to be. She knew that she couldn't.

"Don't worry, Neville. I know you'll get it soon," she said to her friend.

Neville looked at her, his eyes were glassy, "I won't get it, Hermione, I just won't! I'm no bloody good at Potions. I just want to lock myself up in the Greenhouses and never deal with that git again! Why is he making me take this class? I'll never pass the N.E.W.T! Why won't he leave me alone?"

"I-I don't know, Neville. Trust me, though. I'm going to help you get through this N.E.W.T if it's the last thing I do!"

Neville gave her a small smile as they headed to their next class, "Thanks, Hermione."

After lunch that day, Narcissa stopped Hermione in the corridor to chat.

"Hello, dear, how are you?"

Hermione glanced around, looking for Slytherins, "I'm fine, Mrs. Malfoy. How are you and Lily?"

"We're well, thanks! She's helping me get ready for the wedding. Well, helping out as much as a little girl can," she laughed. "But, thankfully, it keeps her amused."

Hermione smiled, "Do you know when you'll have it?"

"Probably in July some time. I have to see when a few friends of mine will be able to make it, but mid-July, I think."

Hermione smiled, "Excellent. It'll be beautiful then."

There was a horrible tension in the air between the two of them. How could they talk about the wedding like this? How can they think about it? Draco might not live to see his mother's wedding. Hermione wondered if Draco would be the only casualty of the battle. Perhaps, she thought sadly, there would be no wedding after all.

A/N: OK! So, like I said, no promises, BUT I will try to finish writing this within the next week. I think there are.... 2 or 3 more chapters after this? That sounds about right. And I have an epilogue, so that, too! Please review, tell me what you think!! Thank you all for reading!