"Ginny-chan, Luna-chan! The girls turned in their carriage seats to see Raiko running towards them. When she finally reached the carriage she was panting and sweating profusely.

"You didn't need to run, Raiko. We would have waited for you," laughed Ginny.

"Well, at least we had a good laugh," said Luna. Her blonde hair looked silver in the moonlight. The moon had been full a few nights ago so there was still enough light to see by as Raiko struggled to climb into the carriage pulled by invisible horses (or so Raiko supposed). The girls talked as they waited to get to Hogwarts. Summer vacation, Harry Potter, and Raiko's new missions were discussed. When they got to Raiko's missions, Raiko became very depressed.

"I don't even know his name, and he seems to be in the most dire need. He is even more terrified of the dark than Harry was," Raiko moaned and put her face in her hands, "The worst part is that, when I came to, I saw someone with me. I was too flustered to see if it was the right person."

Ginny asked, "What did the boy look like? That could help you find him, and if Luna or I know anything we'll tell you anything we know about him."

"Personally, I'm surprised Raiko doesn't know. I thought she knew everyone." Luna had put down the latest edition of the Quibbler to say something in the conversation.

Raiko told them what the boy looked like and Ginny and Luna gave each other a quick glance. As much as she hated to admit it, Luna's remark stung. She had prided herself on knowing everyone, even the first year's who were new, and had striven to do so since she first stepped through the halls of Hogwarts. She had just forgotten someone, she told herself.

"Well, if the muggle clothing is anything to go by, we can cross off all Slytherin students and the Weasley family, although none of us have blonde hair. That will be the main thing to go by if you ask me. It won't be someone from Ravenclaw, because you would have recognized them, and they won't be first years," stated Ginny matter-of-factly.

"Why not a first year?" asked Raiko, although she already knew the answer.

"The description doesn't fit height-wise. You said he had to be over 175 centimeters tall. From what Ron and Hermione said, there was no one near that height. They also won't be from Gryffindor, because then I would have recognized the description. You'll need to watch the Hufflepuff table during dinner tonight."

The carriage came to a stop and the three girls- first Luna, then Ginny, then Raiko- got out of the carriage. Ginny made sure to wait up for Raiko at the threshold, and then pulled her into the shadow of a pillar.

"Wha?"

"Raiko. You spoke to Harry today, right? How is he?" asked Ginny.

Raiko looked out to the lake and saw the first-year boats ¾ of the way through. The moon reflected off the water. It was very beautiful really. Raiko looked back at the girl who had pulled her into the part of the world Raiko had always been most comfortable in- shadow. Did she have to break the beauty? She faced Ginny and saw the telltale sparkle of unshed tears. "He will get better, with time… but not even time can heal old wounds. There will be many scars." She heard Ginny hiccup, but she could not stop now. Her friend needed to hear this. "Stand by him and be the salve that will erase those scars. Give him space, and he will go to you. I think, right now anyway, that you feel you need him more than he needs you." Ginny started crying silently. Kami she hated doing this. "Ginny. You will be needed, especially after the final battle. I can't predict who he will choose to have as his own… but in the end, should he not find happiness with you, you will be one of his greatest friends." Raiko put her arms around Ginny's sobbing form. As Ginny cried, Raiko prayed to whatever kami were listening. Prevent Harry from doing anything stupid that would hurt Ginny. She was glad Cho had been acting selfish lately. Maybe Ginny had a chance with Harry. She looked out onto the lake and saw where the boats were.

Raiko squeaked. "Ginny! The first-years are coming. We have to go inside."

"I can't go in like this! Ron will be furious and everyone will stare," Ginny whined.

"Well, we at least should move into the castle. We can stay in the lavatory until you feel better."

"We?" she asked looking up at Raiko.

Raiko broke the hug and started pulling Ginny up the steps into the castle by her right hand. "You are way more important than seeing a couple of eleven year olds, and I can always look for the boy at breakfast." They made their way into the castle and towards the girl's lavatory. "Besides, that old hat gives me the creeps."

At this, Ginny laughed and hurried more closely to Raiko as they walked. Once in the lavatory Raiko and Ginny sat down at one of the many stone benches adorning the lavatory. Raiko had always thought the benches were a waste of space, but today her views changed a little. Ginny was a reason for these benches.

After twenty minutes of waiting, the girl's stomachs growled. Raiko stood up and said, "Do you want to go now?"

Ginny shook her head. "No. I think I'll stay here a while longer."

"Long enough to eat dinner?" asked Raiko.

Ginny laughed. "Might as well. I really don't feel like going to the great hall right now."

"I'll go get us some vitals, then." Raiko started walking towards the door when Ginny stopped her.

"No, you really don't have to," she said from her chair.

Raiko came back and knelt at Ginny's feet. "Yes. I really do." With that, Raiko left to go get some food from the great hall.

-

Draco sat down in the seat he always took in the great hall. It was perfect because the Golden Trio always sat down in the same spot at the Gryffindor table, which happened to be in perfect view of Draco's chair. It really was a small world.

Crabbe and Goyle- he had never found himself able to address them as Crabbe, Goyle, or Goyle and Crabbe; it just sounded to weird and they were never apart anyway- grunted as they took the two seats beside him. Pansy Parkinson sat in front of him. Pity she had grown taller, he couldn't see as well now. Pansy- what kind of name was that? It sounded like an insult to him- was talking to another Slytherin girl and he took the time to tell Crabbe and Goyle (it was impossible to say Goyle and Crabbe) a new game he had invented. "You know that girl who was in the train car with me earlier this morning? No? Damn. If I see her I'll show her to you. Point is, I want all the facts on her, and I want her scared to leave her dormitory."

Pansy- that name put a foul taste in his mouth- turned back to him and smiled a You know you missed me smile. Draco ignored her and gave his attention to Dumbledore- or at least, that's what his body language was supposed to tell the girl in front of him who was practically begging him to rape her. Maybe he would do the bitch a favor and spend the night with her one time. Right now she was just being too damn annoying to pay attention to though.

"Bla Sorting Hat bla. Bla six boys and seven girls for Slytherin bla. Bla Professor Apperson bla bla bla bla bla Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor." She's cute, went through Draco's mind before he tuned out Dumbledore again and focused on the professor, another new victim. She would be leaving before the end of September once he was through with her. Pity she was so hot though. It would be a shame to see her leave. "Bla bla bla bla bla bla bla Forbidden Forest is forbidden." Wow- what a novel idea. "Bla School song, bla bla Words of wisdom: gibberish." And the four words Draco had been waiting for: "Let the feast, begin." Food appeared on the plates. These delicacies would not grace Draco's well-sculpted lips tonight. He wasn't hungry anymore, and as he looked at Pansy let her bosom rest on the table, he resisted the urge to gag. Those clumps of fat were disgusting!

One hour. One hour.

-

Raiko entered the hall with minimal glances. The feast was too good to watch a late comer for anymore than a second. She sat down at the Ravenclaw table and asked for a tray. One immediately appeared and she loaded it with heaps of food. If Ginny didn't like it then she could come in herself. She got back up and walked towards the door. Before she left, she gave the teacher's table a perfunctory glance. She saw Dumbledore's eyes raise and she shrugged at him before he gave his attention back to Professor McGonagall. She left the door and ran straight into Ginny.

Ginny grinned sheepishly at Raiko before saying, "Scourgify." Immediately, Raiko's robes were free of mashed potatoes, gravy, and meat juices, and she smelled lemony fresh to boot.

"Roses smell much better, thank you very much," Raiko squeezed out before laughing with Ginny. When they finally reined themselves in, Raiko wiped her eyes (it really wasn't that funny, but it's the simple things that count) and said, "You're feeling better, I surmise."

"Yeah," replied Ginny. "And I don't want Ron to freak out to much."

Raiko nodded knowingly and opened the door for Ginny and bowed. Ginny curtsied and went in with Raiko following. There were a few more glances than last time, but the two girls got to their seats without causing too much of a hubbub. Ginny sat down amid curious glances from the Gryffindor students. Hermione told Ron to wait until they were in the common room before accusing and interrogating Ginny. Harry pulled a Dumbledore and Ginny pulled a Raiko and the feast restarted. Raiko received only one glance from a blonde haired boy and two cronies from a Slytherin table (which she missed entirely) and was otherwise ignored.

The feast went on, but fifteen minutes before it would come to a close, Draco decided to leave. He passed the Ravenclaw table to get out and escaped into the castle. Maybe the dungeons would cool him off.

Raiko gave the hall a glance before eating her long awaited supper when her heart stopped. It was the boy she had seen- at the Slytherin table? Slytherins were muggle haters she thought. Why would the boy be wearing muggle clothes? She watched him for a while; she did not even glance at the food she ate before she put it in her mouth. The feast had just stated hen she first walked in, and he hadn't eaten since she had started watching him. Not eating was a sure sign of depression in her book. She was now hooked. But what was the boy's name? She sighed; it would come to her eventually.

The boy soon left, and Raiko watched as two thug looking boys followed him. The deserts popped up and she put a few pumpkin pasties and treacle tarts on her plate, plus two eclairs for if she was really hungry- or he was, she thought. She went through the door and followed the slowly disappearing boy (and goons).

Raiko followed them into the dungeons and around a few corners when she found herself pinned to the wall by the aforementioned henchmen/thugs/goons. She noticed that one was square and one was round, but otherwise she could not tell the difference.

"Yummy," said the square one. "You give us."

"N-no I'm sorry. This is for-" she started

"Us." This was the circular/oblong/oval/uncornered one. "For us. Now you give."

"I can't. Now if you let me by-"

The square one spoke again. "You give us food." These idiots were really bad at the finish each others sentence games. They always turned it into what they wanted. The boys started grabbing the food off her plate.

"No please I-"

"What are you idiots up to now."

Everyone turned to see the boy Raiko had been following. He continued, "One minute you're behind me and the next- gone. And since I can't expect you to find your way back to the house I had to come find you." Raiko tried to suppress a giggle, but she was noticed. "Who is that behind you?" When Crabbe and Goyle didn't say the boy said. "Well then, move." The enormous masses of fat shuffled away from her and she was left for Draco to examine her. First thing he noticed was the plate. "What do you have a plate for, and a dirty one at that?"

"Well it was for you, you see. But these things…" she glared at the boys. "…Jumped me."

Draco looked at the boys and understood why they were so dirty all of a sudden. "Very well." He was surprised at the answer, though. He had never heard that one before. Now he really wanted to know who this girl was, but he certainly wouldn't tell her that. "Follow me," he addressed the boys. And without a backward glance he turned and continued down the hall again. Three, two, one…

"Wait!" Draco turned towards the girl with a playful smirk tugging at his lips. "What's your name?"

"Wouldn't you like to know," was his reply before he walked towards Slytherin for the third time today. This girl was now wrapped around his finger. As soon as he got to the common room he would tell Crabbe and Goyle to lay off her. This was one hunt he would do for himself. He got a thrill just thinking about it.

He could worry about Voldemort next year.