A/N: Thank you reviewers! I love you guys! Kirsten, if you wanna be in it I'm gonna need your name and house and such things...

Just out of curiosity, I'm wondering where all you reviewer people live...like England or USA or Scotland or where! So could you tell me, I want to know where my reviewers are...I'm not really sure why.

Okay, this is chapter twenty four! Woo hoo! I'm not sure when I'll get the next chapter up, I'm in a TV Club at school and it's gonna keep me really busy, so please bear with me!

Chapter Twenty-Four

"Hermione!" Pepper cried sympathetically as her friend entered the grand double doors into the Entrance Hall. She rushed towards Hermione and gave her a tight hug.

"How are you?" Pepper asked, pulling back to look at the disheveled Hermione. She had dark circles under her eyes, which were red and puffy as if she had been crying a lot. It appeared she hadn't slept in days.

"I've been better," Hermione replied with a tight-lipped smile. "Where are Harry and Ron?" She glanced around the hall full of people for her friends.

Pepper glanced compassionately at Hermione. It seemed as though she was having a hard time just living...Pepper knew how she felt. She knew exactly how it felt to loose your parents at such an old age – especially to evil.

"They're upstairs in the common room, come on let's go," Pepper said. She and Hermione started the long trek upwards to Gryffindor Tower; Pepper trying to make conversation a few times but not knowing how to approach the subject of Hermione's vacation.

"So...er...I'm sorry Hermione," Pepper finally decided on saying. "I know you're probably miffed Ron, Harry and I didn't visit you sooner but – "

"Pepper. Please. Don't," Hermione said evenly. It was obvious she was trying not to cry.

"Sorry," Pepper said, looking at the floor.

The pair were silent the rest of the way.

The common room was full of friends greeting each other and talking about how their holidays were. Harry and Ron spotted the two girls as they entered, and they both rushed over to Hermione to give her a hug. Ron kissed Hermione on the cheek and looked into her eyes.

"How are you?" he asked, smiling softly to try and get her expression to soften.

"Just great," she answered in a high-pitched, slightly sarcastic tone. Her face stayed set and she stared at a spot just above Ron's shoulder.

"'Mione, why don't we go up to the dormitory...you can unpack...maybe take a nap...I'm sure you have train-lag," said Pepper.

Ron shot Pepper a look behind Hermione's back that said he wanted to talk to Hermione, but Pepper retaliated with a glare that told him she could handle it. Reluctantly, Ron nodded in agreement with Pepper, who led a zombie-like Hermione upstairs to the girls' dorm room.

Hermione sat down heavily on her bed and made to close the curtains, but Pepper stopped her and sat on Hermione's bed. "It's better to talk about it," Pepper advised, setting a comforting hand on Hermione's knee.

Hermione just stared straight ahead, her eyes very puffy and red and her mouth in a straight line, which reminded Pepper slightly of Professor McGonagall. She would have pointed that out to Hermione if her friend was currently speaking...

Hermione was quiet for a long time and Pepper tried not to move, in case she disturbed Hermione's thought process. Finally Hermione spoke. "We've got to do something, Pepper," she said, her voice almost pleading.

"About what?" Pepper asked quietly.

"I was at a friend's house for the day and when I returned home there were Death Eaters everywhere..." Hermione's lip quivered and her eyes were glazing over. "I realized my wand was in my room in the house, but I couldn't even get near my house. So many Death Eaters...I had to hide in the woods...but one of them saw me so I ran before they could get the others. I was so lucky to get away..." Tears threatened to burst forth from Hermione's eyes, Pepper saw; but Hermione sniffed and blinked purposefully so she wouldn't let the tears fall. "It was all such a blur...I prayed my parents had gone shopping or something, but they hadn't. Neither had most of the neighborhood...So we've got to do something, Pepper, we've got to. Those Death Eaters have got to die. I won't rest until they do."

"I understand, Hermione, I really do," Pepper told her friend. "I'll do whatever I can to help, I swear."

"Thanks Pepper...but enough heavy stuff, how was your holiday?" Hermione asked, trying to sound brighter as she wiped furiously at her eyes.

"Hermione, I have a rather odd question for you," Pepper said, knowing Hermione wanted a change in subject and that they'd probably talk more in-depth later.

Hermione looked at Pepper expectantly. "Yes?" she promoted.

"You like Ron, right?" Pepper said.

Hermione nodded, a small smile trying to make its way across her face.

"Well, would you ever cheat on him?" asked Pepper.

Hermione hadn't exactly expected this question but she answered in the negative, wondering what the heck Pepper was getting at.

"Are you sure you wouldn't?" Pepper persisted.

"Yes," Hermione said solidly.

"Well let's say – hypothetically – that you were really upset about something so you were running away from your two hypothetical friends. You ended up in the dungeons and you were crying, so your hypothetical enemy appeared and comforted you and then...you two had a hypothetical snogging session. That resulted in your hypothetical enemy taking you off to his dorm...remember – hypothetically – your senses are very impaired, so then you two ended up...er...naked...and you have hypothetical sex," Pepper said very quickly. "Then would you cheat on him?"

"Pepper," Hermione said slowly, "Tell me you did NOT sleep with Malfoy."

"Alright, I didn't sleep with Malfoy," Pepper said guiltily.

Hermione's jaw dropped. Neither of them spoke for a few seconds. Pepper feared the yelling she was about to receive from Hermione, and she also feared that Hermione's jaw was going to be stuck like that forever.

"How was it?" Hermione whispered suddenly, as if she was afraid someone would overhear her.

Pepper couldn't help it – she burst out into laughter. "Why?" she wondered when her laughter subsided.

"I was just wondering," Hermione said, blushing. "So," she continued after a short pause, "was it good?"

"I don't know," said Pepper. "I can't remember it, I was drunk!"

"You were WHAT?" exclaimed Hermione. "Why did you get drunk? What did you drink? Did he force it into you?"

"Hermione, calm down! I'm not really sure how it happened...we just started drinking and drinking...then I was drunk and I can't remember a thing about he actual sex part of the night," Pepper explained. She was a little disappointed that she didn't remember anything about the actual sex act – as she had heard great things about the skills of Draco Malfoy.

"Then how do you know you actually had sex?" Hermione asked.

"Well...I ache...he said we did...we were naked...it feels like we did, if you know what I mean..."

"Too much information," Hermione said, looking slightly disgusted. "Pepper, do you realize that you just shagged your second cousin? Did you use a contraceptive spell or anything?"

"Shit and shit," Pepper said, getting worried now. She couldn't get pregnant! Especially with her second cousin...She really hoped they had used some from of protection. "Oh dear, I'll probably have to talk to him about it now, won't I?" Pepper thought aloud, sounding downtrodden.

"Probably...Pepper this is bad, don't you think? Your second cousin just took your virginity and you're not even sure if you used something to prevent your pregnancy. And the fact that you cheated on Harry," said Hermione. "Wait – what were you so upset about, anyway?"

"Oh...I didn't tell you did I...I thought Ron might've told you or something... Harry cheated on me for that Slytherin: Ivi Spada," said Pepper softly. She still couldn't believe that Harry had actually done that to her. "So really I didn't cheat on him, because we were already broken up."

Hermione's jaw dropped for a second time. "You can't be serious," Hermione said. When she saw that Pepper's expression was very serious, she said, "Are you sure he slept with her?"

"You should have seen the way she came up to him and talked to him...told him what a great time she had had the other night. She gave me the coldest look I've ever seen a person give...She just walked right up and kissed him and he kissed her back..." Pepper explained with some difficulty, as she was getting choked up at the memory.

"That would explain why you and Harry weren't speaking to each other, wouldn't it?" said Hermione. "Well, I think you should talk to him to find out what really happened."

"I think I know what really happened," Pepper said frigidly. "Right now I'd like to dwell on the fact that I just had sex with my second cousin and I could be pregnant." The fact that Hermione's parents had just died had slipped from Pepper's mind, as she was only concerned about herself at the moment.

"Well I'll go talk to him then," said Hermione, a little angry at Pepper for being so self centered, especially when her best friend needed someone to comfort her at the moment.

Hermione got out of her bed and almost made it to the door to exit the dorm when Pepper said, "Oh, honey, I'm sorry. I really shouldn't be thinking about myself at the moment..." Pepper stood up to cut Hermione off from leaving. "You look like you haven't slept in days, Hermione; you've got to lie down."

Begrudgingly, Hermione turned around and got back onto her bed. "Now you stay here and I can go get some Sleeping Draught from Madame Pomfrey if you'd like," said Pepper.

"Thanks," Hermione mumbled, obviously still a little miffed at Pepper.

Pepper smiled at Hermione and left the room, saying a locking charm on the door behind her. She managed to slip out of the common room without seeing Harry or Ron, so she headed to the Hospital Wing to retrieve some Sleeping Draught for Hermione so she could get some sleep. She just hoped Madame Pomfrey would hand some over willingly instead of making Pepper bring Hermione all the way down to the Hospital Wing just to get some sleep.

"Well if it isn't Halliwell," a drawling voice said as Malfoy stepped out of the Defense Against the Dark Arts room on the third floor. Pepper almost ran headlong into him in her hurry to the Hospital Wing. She blushed crimson immediately when she realized who it was.

"Get out of my way, Malfoy," she said, looking at the floor so he wouldn't see her burning cheeks. She tried to push past him but he grabbed her arm, which sent a shiver that she had not expected through her body. The memory of his bare skin on hers jumped to her mind and she felt her face grow even hotter.

"I know there must be something you wanted to ask me," he said, not letting go of her arm. "I won't tell anyone, you know," he added, leading Pepper back into the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. Pepper was afraid the Professor Ardel would be in his classroom, but the room was deserted. Malfoy pulled her in and shut the door.

"And I have a few questions of my own, Halliwell," Malfoy said lazily, leaning up against the door so Pepper could not escape.

She looked up at him, a fire in her eyes. "I'm so not in the mood for this right now, Malfoy," she told him. "I was my way to the Hospital Wing to get something for Hermione, who really needs a friend at the moment. So if you'll kindly get out of my way..."

"Ah, yes, poor Hermione," Malfoy said, feigning concern. "Poor, Mudblood Hermione who recently lost her parents in a Death Eater attack..." He wiped a fake tear from his eye.

In a flash, Pepper's wand was out and she was pointing it his face. "Move out of the bloody way or I swear I will hex you into tiny little pieces," Pepper warned.

"Didn't I tell you I have some questions to ask you," Malfoy smirked, grabbing Pepper's wand arm before she could think twice. Soon, he had both of her wrists, reminding Pepper slightly of the position they had been in yesterday in the library. He twisted her left wrist, making her wand drop to the floor.

"Now, I'd like to know how the hell we got from my dormitory to a beach," he said, his voice demanding an answer.

Pepper just raised her eyebrow at him. "What are you talking about?" she asked, though she knew exactly what he meant. She didn't want to draw any suspicion to herself that she was the one who caused that. She just wanted to make him think he had been drunk and imagined it.

"You know perfectly well what I'm talking about," said Malfoy.

"I'm afraid I don't," Pepper replied, standing firm. She would not give in to him, even if his lips were very distracting...

Seeing her weakness, his own eyes flickered to Pepper's lips. "Let me go Malfoy," Pepper said through tight teeth, not liking this game at all. Their contact was making Pepper very uncomfortable and she didn't want him to notice.

"Not until I get an answer to my question," Malfoy said, his eyes boring into Pepper's. Pepper stared right back, refusing to be the first to break eye contact. This was a stare down and she knew that the first person to break their eyes away would be the first to break down. She refused to let Malfoy get the best of her.

"Let go of me," Pepper repeated in what she hoped to be a firmer voice. Her temper was starting to run away and she was afraid of what she might do if it did. She would just have to try her best not to imagine anything...like herself pushing Malfoy over a cliff...

"You have a question for me, don't you Halliwell?" Malfoy asked expectantly. "Perhaps something about our tryst last night?"

"It was not a damn "tryst," as you so fondly call it," Pepper replied. "I had no intention whatsoever of sleeping with you. Or maybe I didn't do it willingly...and you forced me..." said Pepper, this thought filling her head for the first time. Yes, maybe he had raped her...that would explain why she did it.

"I didn't need to do that," Malfoy said cockily. "Not that I'd want to in the first place. I have plenty of women fighting to shag me anyway. You weren't any different."

For some reason, unknown to Pepper, his statement hurt her. Then something dawned on her. "I bet you did..." she said, as if he hadn't said anything. "You told me in the library that I, quote, "needed a shag," and then you did it." She glowered at him. "You filthy bastard get your hands off of me!"

Pepper pushed her hands forward to see if she could remove, or at least loosen, his grip on her. Instead of trying to get him to resist she Deflected his chest with her power, causing him to slam into the door and Pepper to fly backwards, landing hard on her behind.

"Oww," Pepper grumbled, getting up off of the floor.

"What the bloody hell was that?" Malfoy demanded, trying to regain his balance. Pepper wanted to get her wand to hex him, but it was lying next to the door.

"Oh screw it," said Pepper, freezing the room. She was very tired (A/N: Tired is CANSADO in Spanish! I just learned that, sorry) and she really wanted to get to the Hospital Wing for some Sleeping Draught.

She walked over to Malfoy and picked her wand up off the floor. Pointing it right between his eyes she unfroze the room.

"You'd –" he stopped speaking once he saw his current situation.

"Move out of my way, git," Pepper said firmly. "Or you'll be really sorry."

Slowly, with an unattractive frown on his face, Malfoy moved aside, letting Pepper leave the classroom.

She hurried to the Hospital Wing, where she asked Madame Pomfrey for some Sleeping Draught for a forlorn Hermione. After making Pepper promise she'd bring Hermione to the Hospital Wing if she was having any problems, Madame Pomfrey gave Pepper a vial full of blueish liquid.

"Thanks," Pepper told her, putting the small vial into the pocket of her robes.

Pepper headed back to Gryffindor Tower, taking the route that didn't go past the Defense Against the Dark Arts room. Harry and Ron were still not in the common room, and Pepper supposed all of Gryffindor was probably out on the Quidditch field trying out Harry's new Moonbeam Five Hundred.

Pepper discovered that she couldn't open the dormitory door when she reached it, then she remembered she had locked it. "Alohamora," she said, her wand pointed at the door. She found she still could not open it. Puzzled, she tried the unlocking spell again, but to no avail. "Hermione?" she called, knocking on the door. She received no answer from inside.

She recalled a situation like this – except she had been in the room at the time. Panicked now, Pepper pulled a bobby pin from her up-do and began picking the lock on the door hurriedly, hoping that she wouldn't find what she suspected she'd find on the other side of the door.

Finally hearing a click which meant the door was unlocked, Pepper threw open the door, a very unwelcoming sight meeting her. Hermione was sitting on her bed, compass point at her wrist, blood streaming onto the sheets. Hermione looked up as the door swung open and Pepper saw that her face was red and splotchy, though no tears were issuing from her eyes.

"Hermione!" Pepper exclaimed, acting quickly. She moved her finger in towards herself, as if beckoning someone to her, and the compass came zooming into her hand. She ran over to the open window and chucked it as hard as she could out into the air before rushing back to Hermione.

She pulled off her robes and tried to wrap them around Hermione's wrist, though it was hard, as her robes were very bulky. Seeing that her robe idea wouldn't work, Pepper pulled Hermione to her feet and into the bathroom. She stuck Hermione's wrists under a cold water faucet while she pulled a yard of toilet paper from its holder from one of the stalls in the bathroom. Pepper wrapped the tissue around Hermione's wrist as tight as she could and turned off the faucet.

"Hermione, how the fuck could you do this! I am SUCH a bad influence!" Pepper cried, tears now streaming down her face.

"A lot happened while you were gone," Hermione choked out.