"You think Hagrid is the Heir of Slytherin?" I asked surprised. Hermione had told me about the diary she, Ron, and Harry had found; she seemed to trust me more now. It was probably because I kept their secret about the polyjuice potion. "I didn't see it for myself but I wouldn't put too much trust in a magical diary. Are you sure you can believe it?"

"I'm not sure what I should believe anymore!" Hermione replied sounding distressed. "The diary showed it's him and there's evidence and facts!"

"Well, you know him better than I do. He just doesn't seem like the type." I had only ever spoken to our gamekeeper a few times but he seemed like a kind person.

Back in the dungeon I looked over next year's electives with Draco in his room. Both our fathers had given us "advice" on which we should choose. And by advice of course I meant they insisted we should take the classes they chose. Both had forbidden Muggle Studies as one of our choices.

"Why do we have to pick two? I hate all of these" Draco said making a face at the course options.

"They're not that bad" I replied. "You only have four to choose from anyway. Unless you want to take Muggle Studies-"

"Are you kidding?!" he exclaimed as I laughed. Of course I didn't expect him to even consider the class. He made a face at me but moved on. "What are you taking?"

"I was thinking about Arithmancy."

"Of course you would. You don't have to take it just because your father told you, you know"

"I'm not" I sighed. My father had recommended it when giving me "advice" but I had chosen it for me. "I think it sounds interesting and it's never a bad time to look towards the future. Besides, I'm also thinking I want to take Care of Magical Creatures."

"No" Draco said looking straight into my eyes

"What do you mean no?" I asked defiantly.

"I mean: no, you are not taking that class" he said serious. I tried to argue but he raised his hand to stop me. "It could be dangerous. You don't know what kind of creatures they'll have and I'm not letting you take it."

"You're not letting me?" I asked annoyed

"Take Arithmancy. Take Muggle Studies for all I care but you are not taking Care of Magical Creatures!" It was a good thing we were alone, otherwise we would have caused a scene. I hated being told what to do by anyone and it always got me in a bad mood. I had to breathe a few times before I could speak

"Draco," I said once I was calm enough to talk. "Don't tell me what to do. You know how I hate to be told what to do. I don't even do what my own father tells me to sometimes, do you really think I'll do what you want me to? Now, don't give me that face. You want me to be safe, I get it, but don't tell me what to do."

"Hardheaded as ever" he muttered and looked back down at his list of electives. "Fine. If you're taking it I will too. But one sign that you're in danger and I'm taking you out of that class, understand?" I didn't agree with him but knowing he wouldn't just let it go I nodded in response.

Draco ended up signing up for the same classes I did. Having settled on Arithmancy and Care for Magical Creatures I had been contemplating taking a third class. Since I had the option I also chose to take Study of Ancient Runes. I decided not to tell Draco about that one, just in case he'd take it too. I loved him and all but I knew he'd hate the classes and sometimes his attitude took the fun out of things.

It was almost time for the next Quidditch match. This one was between Hufflepuff and Gryffindor. Wood had been making the Gryffindors practice every night after dinner so I hadn't seen much of the twins for the past few days.

When Saturday came it was filled with sunshine and breeze. I walked with Draco and Lev to Quidditch Pitch when I heard it again. "…kill…" I stopped dead in my tracks and looked behind me, trying to spot what had made the noise.

"What is it?" Draco asked, looking cautiously at my face. I must've looked as spooked as I felt. Lev barked softly at me in my arms probably worried too

"Nothing... It's nothing..." I said looking around. I had yet to find the source of the voice and I didn't want to tell anyone what I was hearing until I was sure of what it was.

"Does she really have nothing better to do than read?" I heard a Slytherin girl comment to which others laughed. I turned to look in the direction she was to see Hermione running towards the library looking alert. I wonder what has her looking like that…

"Save me a seat okay? I'm going to go see if she's okay." I handed Lev to Draco who reluctantly took him from me. "Be good," I told my pup giving him a quick kiss on the forehead and left before they could protest, heading the same direction as Hermione.

Inside the library I saw her frantically looking around the books. She dropped a few but didn't bother picking them up. She didn't even notice me. Once she found what she was looking for Hermione ripped out a page from an old book and I gasped catching her attention

"Hermione what's wrong?!" I was getting really worried about her behavior lately. All this stress must've been too much for her.

"I- I think. But I'm not sure. I hope it's not! I-!"

"Shhhhh!" Madam Pince quieted Hermione and walked away, eyeing us carefully

"Hermione..."

"A mirror!" Hermione exclaimed as loud as Madam Pince would allow. "Do you have a mirror?"

"Uh maybe," I said and started looking around in my bag. "Yeah, I have two actually. Why-" she grabbed them out of my hand and started looking at them. Examining.

"These should work." Hermione said to herself and handed me one back. "Can I borrow this one? Okay, thanks. Now I have to find Ron and Harry. Keep that with you at all times, do you understand? At all times." She waited for me to nod then quickly ran out of the library

"Wait, Hermione! Where are you-?"

"What do you think you're doing?!" Madam Pince exclaimed. "Put those books back right now!"

"But Madam Pince I wasn't-"

"Don't tell me you weren't using them because I just saw you using them"

"Hermione was. Hermione Granger. You know her; she comes in here at least once a day. She was looking through them when I came in"

"Oh forget it, I'll do it myself. I doubt you could have enough respect for them to do it right" she said and started picking up the books herself.

I walked down the corridors but saw no sign of Hermione. There was a lot of hustling and bustling around. I found it curious but headed to the field to see if she was there. I started walking but wasn't even halfway there when I saw people coming out grumbling or looking worried. Draco, followed by Crabbe and Goyle, met me where I was standing.

"What's going on?" I asked them taking Lev back from Draco much to their relief.

"Game's cancelled. Probably because they found out how much Gryffindor sucks!" Draco said in a louder voice as some Gryffindors walked by. Among then I saw Neville. I wonder…

"Hey, Neville" I called out, surprising both him and Draco. "Have you seen Hermione? I think she came here to look for Ron and Harry"

"Oh, um, well, I haven't seen her but Harry and Ron just left with Professor McGonagall into the school." Neville stuttered.

"Thanks" I said and started towards school but Draco stopped me. "What?"

"We have to go to our common rooms. You can talk to these idiots later" he said looking at Neville who walked away with his friends and muttered something under his breath.

We walked back to the Slytherin common room together where Professor Snape explained our new rules. Apparently there had been another attack between the time I entered the library and when I met Draco again in front of the Quidditch field. Because of the new attack the professors had decided it would be best to enforce some more rules as a precaution. We were now expected to return to our common rooms by six in the evening and were not allowed to leave after that until morning. The professors also had to escort us between lessons and pretty much everywhere else. But worst of all there would be no more evening activities, and no more Quidditch.

"I don't get why we have to put up with this? Who cares, I'm a pureblood! Even halfbloods will be fine. Why don't we just kick out the mudbloods and get this over with."

My fellow Slytherins agreed clapping at Draco's little speech or throwing out comments of their own. I on the other hand, wanted to go find Hermione. Draco saw me fidgeting by the door and gave me looks to remind me not to go anywhere. I got out the mirror Hermione told me to keep and looked at it. Staring at my own reflection, I wondered why she had said that and why I felt this uneasiness. I shivered when I heard the voice for the last time in a thankfully very long time.

"... rip... tear... kill..."