Disclaimer: I see my future and I see it painted black. It's black if you sue me for taking her charac (ters).

Ok that is the lamest thing I've ever written in my life…and that's saying a lot. But if you sing it like…Care-ack and then add ters in a whisper it sounds cool :)

A warm light was being shone directly into my eyes. I still had my eyes shut and was trying desperately to hang onto the last bit of sleep I had, but it was a losing battle. I gave up after another minute of the bright light torture and opened my eyes. Memories of the past nights occurrences came flooding back to me as I looked around the room.

I got a sudden head rush as I sat up. I felt my head lightly with my hand to check if I had a temperature. None. I felt like I was burned though. There was a mark of my forehead that seemed to feel different. I brushed this thought aside as I started looking around the room more observantly than I did the night before.

The fire had died down some, but still shone brightly. There was a large full window covering the entire north wall. The sun poked out behind dark clouds as day broke onto the castle. Long green curtains were pulled back elegantly at the corner of the window. I went to the curtains and felt their fine material. It felt like water woven together. I pulled lightly on the golden sting holding the curtains back. The curtains flowed down gracefully and blocked the sun from shining in. The curtains were not solely green as I had initially thought they were, but instead they were green with a silver symbol embroidered into the center of it.

The symbol of Slytherin house.

My mind was reeling. I had known I was in the Slytherin part of the castle, but I had not known that I was in the Slytherin common room! But it couldn't possibly be in the Slytherin common room. No one was around and there were no staircases leading to the dormitories. I quickly understood that I was in common rooms, but I was in the Slytherin prefect common rooms, an even more dangerous situation than being in the Slytherin common rooms.

I see a red door and I want it painted black
No colours anymore, I want them to turn black

Even though my brain was telling me to get out of here as quick as I could, my heart wanted desperately to at least look at the books they had. Surely it would have been a shame to come here and not read a single chapter of a book. So against my better judgment I started meandering around the room looking for something mildly interesting.

I found something almost right away. The Laws of the Wizarding World: A complete Guide by Liza Picket. I quickly flipped to the index page and searched down the G's for the Goshawk Curse. Finding it on page 325 I quickly flipped there and skim and scanned my way down until I found a brief paragraph on the curse:

One of the lesser heard of laws of the Wizarding World is the Goshawk Law. This law is widely called the Goshawk Curse and the rare Goshawk Blessing. The law states that when a wizard saves another wizard's life, the wizard's life that was saved is in debt until they repay the favor for the other wizard. On average there are about three cases of the Goshawk Law every two hundred years. It is unknown as to what will happen if a person does not repay the favor.

I re-read the information over three times before looking up from the book slowly. That was it? That's all the information a book of laws had on the curse? How could that be? There really was no way out of this!

A noise startled me out of my stupor and I spun around. Malfoy stood in the middle of the room, his arms crossed over his chest glaring at me slightly.

"Did you think I didn't check that already?" He asked acidly advancing on me rapidly.

I backed up slowly. I felt my back press against the book case and knew my only way to get out of this uncomfortable predicament would be to slide toward the door. But where was the door? I didn't see one. Malfoy chuckled at my confused expression.

"It wouldn't be lit up with a sign, Granger. The door is hidden. Isn't your prefect common room door hidden from everyone also?"

I mentally slapped myself on the head for being so stupid. Of course our common room had a hidden door. Ours was a painting of a lion. I scanned the room for paintings of snakes but found none. Where was it?

Malfoy raised his eyebrows in expectation. "I thought you would have found it by now, Sherlock."

"Are you reading muggle books, Malfoy?" I was shocked. How would he have known Sherlock Holms? Sherlock was no wizard. If he had been he would have been a very highly respected one.

Malfoy snorted indignantly. "I read the classics, Granger. Literature is literature. No matter what the race."

"But Sherlock Holms was a muggle!"

"And Albus Dumbledore is a twit. Just because Dumbledore is a wizard doesn't mean he's better at writing than others."

"But—but—you," I stammered trying to make sense of this. Malfoy reading muggle literature? Him sticking up for a muggle book?

"I see you passed grammar school. Way to put together a sentence."

"You are such a git, Draco Malfoy," I spat sliding slowly so I wouldn't be up against the bookcase any more. Malfoy seemed to have predicted this and placed a hand beside my head, blocking me from sliding anymore. I tried sliding the other way but his other hand was blocking that direction too. I was caged in.

Malfoy smirked and narrowed his eyes at me. "There's no backing out of this now, Granger."

My heart started pounding very fast and very hard. I was finding it harder to breathe with each second that ticked by ever so slowly. I felt like a race horse with a broken leg; about to be shot to end its misery. Except, now I was going to be shot and put into misery.

"So," he said slowly, his smirk growing wider.

"Let me out," I said through clenched teeth.

"I think we should have a little talk first."

I closed my eyes not wanting to see his face. I could hear him smirking, the evil little git! "Please, Malfoy, I don't want to talk."

"Oh, but I don't care. I want you to, so you will. I have my ways of making you talk."

My eyes snapped back open. I was surprised to see Malfoy's face only inches away from mine. His breath was coming out hot on my cheek. I glared at his pale face. "What is that suppose to mean?"

"It means," He drawled, "That if you don't talk to me now, I'll tell the weasel and Potter about what happened to you and your family over vacation."

I sucked in breath, feeling my world come crashing down around me. This can't be happening right now! "You wouldn't." I said trying to reassure myself that he indeed wouldn't.

"Try me."

I looked at my options. One: Refuse to tell Malfoy anything and have him tell Harry and Ron. Two: Hex Malfoy out of this universe and never have to worry about seeing his horrible face again. Three: Tell Malfoy everything. Four: Spontaneously faint and hope he'll take me to the hospital wing. Then I can fake a coma for the rest of my life and never have to tell anyone anything.

I quickly ruled out refusing to tell Malfoy anything. Sooner or later Harry and Ron would have to know, and I would prefer they heard the facts from me than from someone else. I then remembered that I had no idea where my wand was anyway. So there went the possibility of hexing him out of the universe. I didn't want to do option number three. Option four seemed like my best bet. But I knew that Madam Pomfrey would probably figure out after about two seconds that I was in fact not in a coma and dismiss me back to my dormitories where I would have to tell Harry and Ron. I growled in frustration realizing that option number three was my only way out of this situation.

"So then Granger, what will it be?" Malfoy asked sounding innocent. "Are you going to tell me now, or are you going to let me tell your friends for you?"

"What do you want to know, Malfoy?" I asked in a defeated tone feeling increasingly angry with myself.

Malfoy smirked widely, his eyes glittering with amusement. He backed away slowly and sat haughtily on a chair, leaning luxuriously back enjoying every moment of my discomfort. He gestured toward the couch I had slept on and I sat down on it stiffly. After a moment of glaring at him he interrupted the silence.

"I think the beginning is a great place to start."

"Malfoy," I started.

"Ah ah ah," Malfoy said wagging a finger at me. "I believe this is your own doing. You could have just hexed me. But no, you chose to tell me. So I suggest you get on with it Granger before I grow impatient."

I felt my face get hot as I stared at him. He was the biggest prat on earth! Right then I hated him more than I ever had in my entire life. I wanted nothing more than to wipe the annoying little smirk on his face off. I didn't even have a wand to hex him anyway!

"You get three questions, Malfoy."

"Question one: What happened with the whole Luna incident?"

I was surprised that no tears came rushing to my eyes as he said her name. I was at a stage of numbness. I had felt this stage many times in the past few months. I hated the feeling of drowning in tar.

"She's dead," I replied bluntly.

"I knew that!" Malfoy said irritably. "But why is she dead?"

Anger rose in me. Why is she dead? She's dead because you distracted me! "What do you mean 'why is she dead?'? Don't you understand? Her heart has stopped beating! Her brain activity has stopped! Bloody Hell, Malfoy! She was killed!"

"How was she killed?" Malfoy asked calmly as if I had not just been yelling at him.

"She was attacked by something! I don't know what…something that needs basilisk blood to cure it. The point is that you were busy tormenting me and Luna was busy being attacked by a horrible animal and now she's dead!"

The color drained from Malfoy's face. "Don't you try and pin this on me! If you had given those Potter Praisers detention in the first place they would have all gone to writing lines with Ms. Perfect prefect Hermione Granger. But no! Instead you have to wait around for me to come and take charge of the situation properly! Don't you go pointing your dirty little mudblood fingers at me!"

"QUESTION TWO! NOW!" I screamed wanting to get off this topic before I started physically beating the evil Draco Malfoy to a pulp.

"FINE!" Malfoy shouted back, his face tinted pink from yelling. He took several deep breaths before asking in a nonchalant tone. "Does anyone know?"

I knew what he was talking about even though the question had been very vague. "Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Dumbledore, and you are the only people I know of."

Malfoy looked rather pensive. "If the Weasley's know wouldn't they tell their kids?"

"Is that question three?" I asked in a sugar voice. Malfoy glared at me.

"Fine, never mind that. Question three: Been to St. Mungo's lately?"

I shot from my chair like it had been on fire. I was over at Malfoy faster than I could have tried to do. Before he or I knew what had happened I had slapped him as hard as I could across the face. He held his cheek lightly. I could see that his face was already turning a bright red with the print of a hand clearly noticeable on it.

"Touchy," Malfoy whispered grabbing my wrist and twisting it painfully. I could no longer reach out to slap him. He twisted my arm around my back so that I was at an odd angle. If I moved an inch I would surely break my arm. Or at least I would sprain something. I cried out in pain, but Malfoy didn't seem to notice or care. He stood up now placing his head right next to my ear. He brushed my hair out of the way and whispered quietly into my ear. "Tell me, how is your mother doing?"

I didn't answer. I started straight ahead starting to feel the drowning feeling again. Malfoy tugged on my arm forcefully and I gasped as pain shot up and down my arm. "Malfoy, you are the biggest prat on the earth! You deserve to rot in Azkaban!"

"Well, Ms. Granger I've really enjoyed this little chat of ours. I've learned what I had to. I think it's time that you leave."

He started dragging me toward the window. My eyes widened in fear. He couldn't possibly be doing what I thought he was! He pushed me away and opened the drapes, pulling them back with the string. He then reached forward as if to open the window that was clearly large enough to fit my body out of it. I knew it was the end. He was going to throw me out the window.

Malfoy grabbed me by the wrist and shoved me out.

It wasn't as I thought it would be. I thought I would fall for a minute or two screaming all the way until I fell to the ground in a heap that would be unrecognizable. Doctors would run DNA samples and find that indeed I was Hermione Granger, but they would never know who had killed me. Maybe it was suicide?

Instead I felt solid ground pound up to my feet. I stumbled forward onto the stone floor turning sharply to see Malfoy's head poking out of what looked to be ordinary wall.

"Really, Granger, I thought you would know that the Slytherin part of the castle is in the dungeons. We couldn't possibly have a full window! Besides that, this is a school of magic!"

Before I could say something just as nasty back to him he had closed the 'window' slash 'wall' and a solid wall was now there. I pounded on it but knew it was useless without a password. Damn him to hell!

No more will my green sea go turn a deeper blue
I could not forsee this thing happening to you

Standing up I brushed my robes off, trying to get rid of the dust that the dungeons had layered all over them. It was a losing battle after all and I gave up. I started twisting and turning my way through the halls desperately looking for the Great Hall. I couldn't find it anywhere! I wasn't familiar with the dungeons.

After about ten minutes of wandering I saw some people. Granted they were Slytherins, but they were still people. At least I wasn't lost with no sign of civilization. The Slytherins glared at me as I passed. I glared right back. Some people gave me queer looks and I then realized that I was a little dirtier than I had thought I was.

I was also still in my hospital gown. It was covered in dust and dirt and my hair was bigger than ever and messed up from sleeping on it. I felt my face grow hotter every time someone would look at me. Finally I reached the Great Hall.

It wasn't like I had expected it to be. Usually the Great Hall is filled with color and was joyful. Today is was black and mournful. I knew why it was like this right away. I suppose it isn't everyday a person is killed at Hogwarts.

I started running trying to get away from the blackness. People zoomed by as I ran. I saw them form tighter groups as I went by, afraid I would do something to them no doubt. I knew then how Harry felt everyday of his life. People had no consideration of another person's feelings!

I see people turn their heads and quickly look away
Like a newborn baby it just happens ev'ryday

I ran faster. I was originally going to go back to the hospital wing where I knew I would be left alone for the most part and only have to worry about Madame Pomfrey and other injured people bothering me. I decided I didn't want to go to the infirmary, but I wanted to see Harry and Ron and have them both talk to me and calm me down. I needed their support.

I guessed that they would be in the Gryffindor common room and headed that direction. After running by some more groups of frightened people I reached the fat lady portrait, huffed out the password, and stumbled into the common room. It was empty. Or so I thought. I saw after a moment that Ginny was sitting in the window sill, gazing outside silently. Her fingers traced little circles on the glass and she hummed lightly to herself. Cautiously I walked over to her. She didn't notice me right away. After I cleared my throat she whipped her head around and glared at me.

"What?"

"Ginny, listen…" I had no idea what to say to her. I couldn't say I was going through the same thing she was because I wasn't. She wasn't going through the guilt that I was, and I had only lost a friend, not a best friend. I felt my throat constrict as I tried to get the right words out. "Things happen that no one wants to but…no, that's not right. Um…this is just a horrible thing that happened. No, that sounds horrible. What I mean to say is…"

Ginny sat there looking at me the whole time. Her eyes narrowed for a moment then they would open up again. She seemed to be analyzing everything I said. I felt nervous every time her nose would crinkle.

"I'm sorry, Ginny."

It was a simple statement, filled with heartfelt meaning. It seemed to work though. Ginny stopped glaring at me and looked blankly ahead. After a moment she blinked and half smiled at me. "I don't blame you, 'Mione."

"Why? You have every reason to," I argued. She may not blame me, but I sure did.

"Because no matter what way you put this it isn't your fault. If you had been there, who's to say that you could have protected her? Perhaps you would have died protecting her, and she would have died soon after. Maybe she would have died and you would have lived. There's no sure way of knowing. This is just how it worked out. I hate to sound cliché but it was her time to go. Luna wouldn't want you blaming yourself, and she sure as hell wouldn't want anyone else blaming you. She's always wondered what it's like to see the beyond, and now she gets to. Now that Luna is in heaven she can visit her mom and have that long awaited conversation she's been craving to do. I don't blame you, and you shouldn't blame yourself either."

I was stunned by her speech. I felt a warm rush of love toward the girl that could have easily been called my sister. I flung myself at her, pulling her into a tight hug. She was startled for a moment and then hugged tightly back. She started crying softly into my shoulder and I held her tighter. Poor Ginny, she had gone through so much in her life.

"Thank you, Gin. You really are a good friend," I whispered in her ear. She sniffed and pulled me at arms length away.

"Harry and Ron are at the quidittch pitch," she said wiping her eyes with her sleeve. "I'm sure you were looking for them."

"Are you sure you're gonna be ok? Because I can stay with you if you want."

Ginny laughed slightly. "I'm not the one that needs the help right now. You go."

I lent forward and kissed Ginny slightly on the cheek. "I'm sure if I ever had a sister, I would want her to be exactly like you."

Before she could say anything I had turned and left the common room, running toward the quidittch pitch. Once I was outside, I stopped running and walked slowly. The weather outside was wonderful. I learned then that no matter what happens, life will always go on and there are still many beautiful things in this world. The sun shone brightly casting shadows to form from the Forbidden Forest. Birds chirped their merry tune as they flew. The giant squid reached his many tentacles above the surface of the lake, enjoying the sun.

If I look hard enough into the setting sun
My love will laugh with me before the morning comes

Soon I had reached the pitch. I didn't know the password to go into the dressing rooms (and wasn't quite sure if I wanted to go in there) so I sat down in the stands instead. There was no need for me to go into the dressing rooms though because Ron and Harry were out flying. They zoomed over head, dangerously diving and swirling to catch the quaffle they were throwing to each other. I watched them for some time before Ron did a particularly dangerous dive and I couldn't help but shout at him to be careful. They noticed that I was there then and flew immediately over to me.

"Hermione, what are you doing here? You should be in bed! Where were you? We were really worried! We're sorry we didn't tell you anything! Are you feeling ok? Can I get you something? Do you need a jacket? Some water? Some medicine?" Harry asked a string of questions, barely taking time to breathe. Ron stood next to him and looked puzzled.

"Why are you still in your hospital gown?"

I laughed. Harry stopped asking questions about my health and looked at Ron. Ron blushed and matched his hair.

"I'm in my hospital gown because I just woke up. I was in the Slytherin Prefect Common Rooms--"

"WHAT?" Harry and Ron exploded. They were now taking shallow ragged breaths. I flinched. I should have known they wouldn't react to that so easily. Even I had been weirded out by it.

"No, it's ok! Nothing happened. Malfoy just was being a prat again and I left," I tried to explain.

"Malfoy was there? Did he do anything to you?" Ron asked looking at me seriously. I felt my face grow hot.

"Do you really think he would do anything to a mudblood, Ron?" Ron flinched.

"Hermione, you shouldn't be so harsh on yourself," Harry said softly.

I knew his statement had more than one meaning. I smiled at him. "Thanks." I felt tears welling up in my eyes again. Ron and Harry were really just the best people on the planet. Harry reached out and brushed away a tear. Ron grabbed my hand and squeezed it gently.

There was a silent agreement between us that day. We would never talk about Luna. Not the way about who's to blame. We would remember her from time to time, but we would never make it awkward for anyone. If she came up in a conversation, we would usually tell our favorite story about her and move on to another topic before it became sad again. We wanted to keep the memories of her good, not the memory of her death.

That day I grew up more. I realized many things. Death happens, and there is nothing you can do about it, no matter what you want. And even though death happens, there are still so many things to learn in the world. Life will go on, no matter how much it seems like it won't. You just have to believe in yourself and those around you.

Walking back to the castle that day with Ron and Harry on either side of me I didn't care what happened to me. People would form closer groups as we passed and people would whisper furiously to each other at dinner. The only thing I could do to them is smile, and pretend like nothing happened.

But I also learned that day that pretending does not solve any problems.


Author's Note: Wow, I'm so sorry for the very long delay in updating. I was going to have a chapter up before camp but like I said, the people wanted to rip the carpet out of my room early. So I moved my computer out and let it sit in the living room for a week. Then I got home from camp and they were now redoing the study where the computer was being moved to. So I could not access it there either. Sorry for that. But I hope this really long chapter makes up for it.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed. I really love reading the feedback from everyone. It makes me feel so accomplished.

Well Dershana I haven't been up to much lately. Just working and going to camps and stuff. But I like it that way. Summer if my favorite time. Except this year it is SO humid here. It's so unfun. Oh well, what can ya do? Wow, for mother's day I gave my mom a basket too. It's one of her favorite brands and it's got lots of fun removable patters to go on it to match the season. I hope you had fun at your prom.

Wind Rider 12 you will find out soon what happened during her summer. I'm not sure how to write it, but I'm working on it. You're on the right track kinda…

Thanks for everything everyone!