Things I didn't really need
but how I wanted so
What a nice dream
Didn't want to wake up
So I kept it dark all the time
Dark enough so not to see
But not as dark as the plans that you have for me

Chapter Seven: Réveil

The Grand Dinning hall of Brentenoux castle rang with the voices of the sixth years conversing and indulging in their morning feast.

''Ron, please pass the meat pie,'' said Lavender from across him also sending him a dazzling smile. Ron took the pan that contained the pie and passed it to her returning her smile.

''God, this is impossible,'' said Harry looking at Ron's love struck face groaned in mock disgust.

Ron looked at him and grinned.

"I agree Harry," said Ron "now, let's hope that you find someone of your own." He gestured over at Hermione who was sitting beside him, too indulged in reading one of her thick volumes to see him. Harry caught Ron's gesture and glared at him. He could not stop himself from blushing slightly as he turned to look at Hermione. It was not anything new that Ron teased him about Hermione; yet, it was also that which worried Harry. Surely, friendship and only friendship would be their relationship for life would it not? Harry could not expect anything more, for he would rather not take any chance at all than to risk loosing Hermione's friendship. No, Hermione meant enough to him to let anything change between them.

Lavender gave a vivacious laugh. "And if you think so Harry, why don't you find someone to fulfill your impossibilities with you… I think I know just the one," she said with a smile.

 "I don't really think that's…," argued Harry.

"Possible? Hah, anything's possible if one would try…, " replied Lavender still eying the oblivious Hermione. "Am I not right Ron?"

"Mhmmph," said Ron, his face completely stuffed by pie.

Harry grinned, "Funny, I'd thought that you would have found a better companion to affirm with you so I would actually even just try to believe you."

Lavender could not help but laugh.

"Hey!" said Ron, catching on rather late. Harry laughed as well, something he hadn't done in a long time.

Just then, the hall lit up as the glass windows near the ceiling cleared open along with a sound of flapping feathers. Various owls started to fill the grand dinning hall and they were dropping mail all over the tables.

"The mail's here," said Seamus as he stood up to catch the small brown parcel that an owl dropped over his head. Harry looked up as well, looking out for Hedwig, though he doubted if he would get any mail there. Harry remembered silently that he had neglected to read Remus' letter since the day before; he made a mental note to definitely read it as soon as they returned to their quarters at the end of the day from wherever their group was off to.

Hermione looked up as well and just in time to catch the owl that delivered the daily prophet to her every morning.

"Second lucky catch," she said with a smile. Lavender nodded, "Yes, yesterday it almost headed straight for my goulash."

Hermione inserted a couple of knuts in the small leather pouch of the owl and set it off towards the large high windows of the hall. She opened the wrapped parcel and unwrapped the newspaper eventually opening it up to read it.

"I guess all our spite for the daily prophet is gone now, it might be of some use to us, anything good in there, Herm?" asked Ron. Hermione shook her head as she continued to scan the pages for articles.

Harry turned to Ron. "It should be of some use to us, because we're definitely going to need some news on what's going on in England while we're here," said Harry. Ron nodded.

Suddenly Hermione's eyes widened as she placed down the newspaper urgently on the dinning table. A number of people looked at her curiously as she stared at the open page in shock.

"H-harry!" she managed to say as she turned to him beside her. Harry stood up from his seat and rushed over to her side to see what shocked her. He turned to look at the open page and drew his breath at the headline. He looked at Hermione who still stared at the headline. It was only then when she closed the front page to look at the headline that she saw what was written. She had always known that if there were any articles that would be of any use to them that it would be on the inside that was why she neglected to look at the front page.

"Harry, its--its horrible!" Hermione gasped. Ron and the others were starting to get curious as they stood to look at the front page of the Daily Prophet.

"What's going…" started Ron. Neville stood up to look as well, and so did Seamus and Dean. "Oh no…"

For there, clearly set in black impact capitals was the headline "MASS MUGGLE-BORN MURDER IN MANCHESTER".Under the caption wasthe image of many robed wizards standing by a large structure observing local muggle police officers in the process of recovering evidence from the scene. A task that would be next to impossible if the murders were done by magic.

Everyone's eyes were now on Harry as he stared at those words beaming up at him. He couldn't believe it. He refused to believe that Voldemort had nothing to do with it.

"Hermione, read it, read the article," said Lavender also staring at the newspaper in curiosity.

Hermione turned to the sentences written on the page wondering prompting to read it at once.

"Yes, of course…"

'On the night of October fifth of this year, the muggle community was baffled by the deaths of nine personnel at a local residence in Manchester, known as Llandaff hall only a short distance from the Bridgewater Concert Hall. A source immediately identified the casualties in connection with the magical world and the Ministry of Magic positively identified all nine dead as Muggle-born wizards. They were identified as…"

said Hermione choosing to skip the listing, seeing nobody amongst the list that they would know in apprehension. "Ah, here we go…"

            The aurors dispatched to the scene after the muggle police force had halted their unproductive search, had found numerous traces of the death curse, Avada Kedavra, and also several of the Cruciatus curse, positively identifying the deaths as magically influenced.

            The Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge has declined to comment on the matter…"

Hermione broke off concluding that the last few paragraphs were insignificant. She turned to Harry who had an unmistakable look of suspicion. "They were muggle-borns, all of them."

"How could it have happened?" said Lavender in anxiousness. "I mean, they must have had some idea."

Ron shook his head. "They were muggle-borns. They died because of their heritage, it's too unfair." Harry agreed, he had no doubt at all that it was Voldemort, if not one of his minions who had done this immensely horrible act. He turned to Hermione who had gone a little bit pale; he had sensed her fear in an instant.

"Harry," she started uncertainly. He looked at her in a serious fashion. "They were murdered… for no good reason… "

"Hermione… no… I swear, nothing will happen to you," said Harry in attempt to comfort her. "As long as we're here."

"It doesn't matter where we are," she said growing teary-eyed.

"You-know-who's behind this."

"There's no doubt," said Lavender.

Hermione turned to her. "No, I think someone else…I mean, how can he get around without getting spotted?"

"Your right," Harry said thinking of only one person who could act under Voldemort's influence.

"You're not talking about Wormtail?" asked Ron now looking at Harry seriously.

"Harry…You don't think…" started Hermione, her expression was growing grave. "Bellatrix… Bellatrix Lestrange," she shook her head. Yes, it had to be her. Pettigrew committing murder was still too obscure. He was an immense coward.

"Yes, her," said Ron. Harry was beginning to look grave, feeling the anger he had been suppressing all summer.

"I have to know where she is," said Harry stiffly; Hermione could sense his rage almost all to easily. "Then I'll…"

Hermione reached for his arm and he looked at her. "You will not do anything of the sort," she said firmly. Harry's expression softened slightly as he caught the look in her eye "Bellatrix Lestrange will be caught, it will not be long now," she said determinedly.

Harry breathed in. He wanted so desperately to believe her, but the chances… they were so dwindling. All summer he had kept to himself, haunted by Sirius' death, forcing himself to accept the fact that his godfather was gone, trying to believe that he was not afraid that he was now alone. All the time wanting to take revenge on the person who robbed him of the only one who could be closest to a parent to him. He looked at Hermione and then saw her eyes, which looked back at him pleading with him not to be irrational. That was almost enough for Harry to draw back, out of his anger and cease to act, just for her. Almost. "You're… you're right," he said calmly.

"She won't stop, she's a murderer," said Neville unexpectedly. The group turned to him and listened. It was already known among them what Bellatrix Lestrange and her husband had done to his parents, and unlike before, he didn't attempt to cover the fact up.

"Neville," said Hermione with a sympathetic look, remembering their last Christmas at St. Mungo's with a tinge of sorrow for her housemate.

"She'll go on killing people, and she'll serve the dark lord, along will all the others. Just like she did to me mum and dad," he continued.

"Yes, but we can't go on playing the hero's again,' said Hermione. "We have to think, and we'll fight when we have to."

They all nodded. "We'll all fight when it comes to it," said Seamus looking at Harry. Harry turned to them and was instantly thankful for their support. More than ever he was grateful for his friends. Looking at Hermione, he realized he was most thankful for her.

Lavender looked around, she observed that the almost all the people in the hall were starting to look at them, the Slytherins most especially.

"Keep it down a bit, the Slytherins are looking at us," she said as they started to take their seats.

"I think they know what we're fussing about," she said. Hermione looked at the Slytherin table and she could see that almost all it's occupants were eying their end of the Gryffindor table.

"It would not be a mystery if they did," replied Ron as he urged his girlfriend not to look at the Slytherin table.

"Just settle down," said Harry. Hermione nodded.

"I think the discussion of this matter is for another time," said Hermione and the group returned to their breakfast.

Draco entered the grand dinning hall a little late that morning. He headed towards the Slytherin table and took his seat beside Blaise. She turned to him almost instantly and he knew he was in store for a morning inquisition.

"What kept you?" she asked mildly, not wanting to be overpowered by his stubbornness once again.

Draco breathed in calmly. "The weather here is so blatantly depressing. I hated getting out of bed," said Draco plainly as he indulged in his meal nonchalantly. It was an unbelievable reason, he knew that, but he also knew that the last thing she would do was to question him further.

Blaise turned back to her food as well eventually taking a sip of cherry juice finding she had lost her appetite. Draco had that effect on her; she found it irritating that she could not indulge in a meal while he was around. Though she did not pester him any further about his tardiness, she knew that his reason was shallow, and probably not true, but she did know better.

"Perhaps a note from home will cheer you up," she said knowing the mere statement was nonsensical to him. Draco snorted, "Perhaps that, will make me no less more depressed."

Blaise took her napkin off her lap and casually wiped her mouth. She leered delightfully, "You'll never know."

Draco turned to her with a quizzical look. "There's something you know, that I don't?" Blaise laughed lightly. "Perhaps," she said smiling.

"Oi! Malfoy!" Draco turned behind him and saw Malcolm Baddock heading towards the table with an anticipating look. "Have you heard the news?" Draco raised an eyebrow and turned to Blaise. She nodded with a mild smile.

"Am I, in this stance perhaps the only one who does not know?" he asked. Blaise looked at Malcolm and smiled, "Oh Malcolm, don't spoil my fun," She caught Draco's hand and squeezed it affectionately. He took a breath as she did so; he had almost forgotten how much she enjoyed playing games with him, and how much it pleased her when he played along. "Draco will find out in his own right, which is approximately… thirty seconds from now," she said.

Malcolm took the empty seat beside Draco and turned to the couple, "You look disgustingly romantic, I don't know how you can keep it up in this weather," he said with a sneer.

Draco turned to him with a smirk "Perhaps you need to find someone to be romantically disgusting with Baddock, I know," he then turned to Pansy whom he caught gawking at him and was looking startled at Draco's sudden attention to her. "Parkinson's free," Malcolm and Draco laughed as Pansy pulled out of her chair and marched angrily out of the hall flaunting curly blonde hair all the way thinking it would look appealing.

"Malfoy, I wouldn't hit on her if she was the only girl left," said Malcolm. "You know as well as I do Malfoy that Pansy is nothing but a pompous whore, who'd probably not refuse a good screw with Goyle if he asked her," Draco laughed as he turned towards Pansy who was still marching haughtily out the door. "That is if he asks her," Malfoy and Baddock laughed again and Blaise could not help but smirk. Blaise pouted at Draco mockingly, "Darling, that wasn't very nice..."

Draco looked at her in mock shock, "Since when do you consider 'nice' among your virtues sweetheart?"

Blaise smiled at him and he turned up at the ceiling as the glass windows vanished in the distance. She looked back at Draco "Since I started to understand how she actually felt... now cut your fuss, the mail's here," And it was, the owls started charging into the hall with various parcels and letters clutched in their claws. Draco looked up in time to see his own eagle-owl circling about him before he dropped a brown envelope which he caught before it fell into his soup bowl. He caught Blaise nod at Malcolm as if they were waiting for him to open the envelope. Blaise nudged him slightly when he stopped.

"I swear Draco, if you burn this one..." she said. He turned to her and then back to the envelope. It was sealed with the Malfoy seal, a definite indication that the letter had come from his father. "Go on, open it," said Malcolm. Draco opened the envelope finally and emptied its contents onto the table. Two pieces of paper fell out of the envelope and the other one, as Draco observed, was an article, a cut out from the latest issue of the Daily Prophet. He picked it up and read the headline. After a few moments he turned to Blaise who was smiling.

"Your aunt, she is definitely cunning, isn't she. It's wonderful, the world's less mudblood congested," said the Slytherin girl. Draco nodded confidently.

"Quite," he said with an air of thought. His thought steered immediately why his father would want him to know something like that when he would inevitably find out about it, one way or another. His mother's sister, Draco never really got to know her, he had no doubt that she was definitely behind the murders. She seems to fashion killing as if it is a sport, the perfect deatheater as his father has always said. Yet he wondered why his father had an immense confidence in her, it was not like they shared that much special relation except for the distant family ties of course. His chain of thought was interrupted but the screeching of a chair from across the hall. He narrowed his eyes; Potter had just stood up from his seat and headed over to Granger who was peering over the table. Just then, a number of Gryffindors stood up as well leaning over the table and looking at the object of commotion. Draco looked back at the article cut out; it was then that he realized it. He remembered what his father had told him the summer before. It was Bellatrix Lestrange who led Sirius Black to his death last June. She was the one Harry Potter now hated vehemently for robbing him of yet another loved-one, the one, his mother had said to be one of Potter's closest relation to a parent. That was it; that was definitely it. Draco knew Harry Potter for his recklessness, he was sure that Bellatrix Lestrange's latest accomplishment was an occurrence that would urge him to go chasing after the deatheaters once more. But Draco was sure that it was not yet enough, he was sure that his father knew just as much. There would have to be another step, another even that would provoke Potter. There were still missing pieces of the puzzle. He knew that Lucius plans would soon commence, he was almost too sure that they would while they were in Bretenoux, his father wanted him to be aware of this.

"It will not be long now Malfoy, my father has also sent word," said Malcolm confidently. Draco nodded and returned to his line of thought. "Aren't you thrilled?" he asked further noticing the nonchalant manner in which Draco conducted himself.

Draco looked up not really acknowledging Malcolm's statement. "Maybe not," he said. Malcolm frowned. Draco observed the group of Gryffindors discreetly as they seemed to be exchanging statements before they sat down eventually. Blaise who grew rather curious about what he was thinking squeezed his hand again catching his attention. "Open the letter Draco," she said quietly eying the other folded piece of paper which lay on the table.

Draco, who seemed suddenly reminded of it took it up and cut the wax seal and unfolding it. He read its contents.

            Draco,

            I do hope that the piece of information I have bequeathed to you has now actively caught your attention. In case that you have ceased to read the Daily newspaper merely because you are miles away from me. I'd have you know my dear son that I am not yet contented with your decision to affirm with my plans. You have made it entirely too difficult to communicate with and for that know that there will come a consequence.

            There is unfortunately one thing more that I have not put into consideration, something that is lacking. I am sure you have figured this out by now and the most rational thing I would want you to do is to find what I am searching for. I often believe that action speaks louder than words, and I demand of your utmost action in rapidness.

            Another point must be taken here Draco, I am also sure that you are now aware of the message I intend for you to discern, which is why I demand of you to be of great purpose to our cause. I trust we have come to an understanding, my son.

Father

He stared at the letter for a few moments as he thought. There was only one thing that his father desired of him right then and that was his cooperation. 'Well, father, that also comes with a consequence,' he thought hatefully. Draco looked up from the letter and tore it up savagely. Blaise gasped.

"Draco!" she exclaimed.

He turned to her and smirked. "Just getting rid of evidence my dear," he said lightly. "It would not do for people other than us to read this sort of thing now would it?"

Blaise nodded submissively. There was no doubt that Draco did not mean that at all, she could only fear for the occurrences that would befall him if he continued to bear the indifference he so fervently felt for his father.

Hermione was in the process of stuffing a number of parchments in her bag when she stepped out of the room she had grown accustomed to studying in. She looked up in time to see Draco leaving his room from the staircase. She caught his eye as he opted to walk down the landing and turned away almost instantly. Draco descended the steps calmly surveying the den trying to ignore the fact that she was in the room. He headed over towards the couches and sat down on one. He retrieved a pair of leather gloves from his pockets and then proceeded to put them on.

Hermione turned around to see Draco sitting fitting his gloves casually. She found the sight rather amusing as he pulled up the left glove. She wondered how in the length of his childhood how delicately the Malfoy heir was treated, so delicately that he had to be fitted with fine leather gloves to keep him from soiling his hands.'The luxurious handling of him must have been quite immensely,' she thought, considering how spoiled he had grown up to be. As she thought those very words, the gods were laughing. She did not know how wrong she was.

"Where are Patil and Finnegan?" he asked casually looking up at her. Hermione who had not expected his attention was unable to hide her look of surprise. She looked at him and could not be reminded of his father who was a less than pleasant man to be around. She closed her eyes, trying to suppress the sickening vision that became her at that moment, the image of nine slain muggle-borns on the floor of an old house. She was immediately reminded that Bellatrix Lestrange, who might have possibly murdered the muggle-borns was indeed Draco's aunt.

"Seamus is on his way he's gone to send a letter to his mum, Padma has gone to take the portkey," she answered bluntly as Draco got off the couch and approached her offhandedly. He looked at her carefully as she turned away from him again. It did not take a fool to notice that he was making her uncomfortable, and for that he delighted in doing so. But as he gazed at her form once again, her brown hair flowing down her back, her delicate creamy complexion seemingly glowing in the morning sun, he realized that the discomfort in each other's presence was something else they shared in common. Draco frowned; he knew that it was not something he should be thinking about at the moment. He tried so desperately to embed in his thoughts that she was nothing to him. Nothing…

"Let us hope Finnegan does not get lost, probably doesn't get to live in places like this always spending time in his wee little house with his mum," said Draco with a tone of mockery. Hermione frowned.

"I'm sure he will manage Malfoy," she said firmly. He turned to her and could not help but be amused. Here was a girl who could contradict him so easily, he wondered about her again like so many times before, secretly wanting to figure her out. No, he thought violently as he gathered his composure once again.  

"Oh yes…" said Hermione turning to Draco. She unclasped the grip on her bag and pulled out a book. She handed the book to Draco, he recognized it as the French book he lent her almost three weeks before. Draco retrieved it and tossed it into the air.

"Evanesco," he said and the book vanished.

Hermione breathed in, "It was indeed an purposeful reference," she said matter-of-factly walking a few steps from him towards the center of the den. "And in addition, I found that…" she trailed off, wondering if she should continue. "… You were right." She said finally. "It indeed served as a good French lesson," Draco could not suppress a smirk.

"I thought I have made the impression Granger wherein doubt was not supposed to be an object of matter with me," said Draco with an air of pride. Hermione could not help but be annoyed by this.

Hermione turned to him and raised an eyebrow, "So you have Malfoy? I've always thought otherwise," she said. Draco smirked, "Well, perhaps Granger, it is the fact that you have not yet learned to trust me."

"Well, that is definitely a useful thing to learn," Hermione retorted with sarcasm. She thought that no matter how desperate she would become, she would never, ever, learn to trust Draco Malfoy. She was under the impression that she was beginning to lose trust in herself because of him, let alone trust him. "Why should I waste my time learning that sort of thing?"

"Perhaps not to your tastes," said Malfoy coolly.

There was a sound of a voice clearing from the balcony of their room and Draco and Hermione's attentions were immediately cut as they looked up to see who was there.

"Padma!" said Hermione in surprise. She had a hard time acknowledging the fact that their little 'conversation' was overheard. "How long have you been standing there?" she asked turning away trying to hide the mild blush that was starting to appear on her cheeks. She suddenly found the white bricks of the fireplace interesting.

"A while," said Padma as she descended the staircase with a blue marble globe in her hands.

"Where's Seamus?" she asked.

Draco snorted. "Possibly lost, he isn't very smart is he?" he said. Padma glared at him.

"He was off to the owlery, he said he had to send his mum a note before coming here," replied Hermione as she refastened her bag. "Let's go wait in the hall," she said as she headed towards the encased stairs. Padma caught up with her and Draco trailed behind.

"I don't understand where he could be," said Padma as she walked across the hallway towards the Grand Dinning hall. Hermione followed her with Draco as they entered into the dinning hall. It was empty as she could see, and that was definitely no surprise. She reckoned that most of the students have already left the castle to start searching for the dwelling places of their assigned creatures.

"Perhaps, we should hurry and look for him," said Hermione in a tone of agitation. She certainly did not want to be behind on group work. In addition, she also could not deny the fact that her sense of adventure was also one of the things that made her apprehensive of their forthcoming task.

"Needless, here comes the fool right now," said Draco in a low tone that only Hermione heard him. Her annoyance of him grew a bit more at his statement.

Looking up, Seamus entered in from the door opposite the one that lead to their chambers. Hermione smiled in relief. "Oh Seamus, we we're beginning to worry."

Seamus smiled in apology, "Sorry mates, but I got a little lost. Blimey this castle is huge, the owlery was on the fifth floor," he said. "The paintings aren't very friendly either."

Draco smirked. "Surprise of the century," he said eying Padma who looked embarrassed. Hermione coughed to hide her mild laugh. "I think we should go," she said.

Padma drew out the marble ball from under her cloak and displayed it in the center of the four of them. "Right," Hermione was the first to touch it, then Seamus and finally Draco, which activated the portkey. Within less than a second, the grand dinning hall was empty once more.

Leaving the prefect hall in less than a perfect mood, Ginny felt the greatest intuition of uneasiness in the past few days. A number of thoughts were boggling in her mind. As she held the brass knob of the doors she instantly was reminded of the occurrences of the past days. Picking up the oil lamp she had set on the floor, she also withdrew her wand from her robe pocket in readiness. She crossed the hallway with briskness trying to ignore the lingering qualm that ran through her veins.

Dumbeldore had been calling on them for two days now, yet still there was nothing new. The teachers were apparently baffled on the incident of the past days and though they seemed perfectly calm about everything, the entire prefect body could sense their apprehension. The Hogwarts staff was still incomplete as Professors Figg and McGonnagal still remained in France with the sixth years, they were not due for return until the next day. Dumbledore and the rest of the teachers had nothing but words of warning for the prefect body. In addition, they were in charge of reassuring their housemates, that nothing was going on even though it was obvious that there was. In Ginny's opinion, it looked strange that in all Dumbledore's hundred fifty-six years, it was at that very occasion when he chose to let his worry become disclosed. Surely, she thought hopefully, the school must have been in more peril than this, or perhaps not.

Ginny turned another empty hallway and her uneasiness grew once more. It was only a few hallways away from the staircase going to the Gryffindor tower but the fact that almost all the hallways were deserted was starting to scare Ginny out of her wits. Dumbledore had set a new curfew for the students to their dismay; it was an injustice to them not knowing the reason of the imposition of this new curfew. But it was not in the line of the prefects to tell the student body this reason. They had been forbidden, at all costs to reveal that there was a dark force lingering within the walls of the school. Ginny, along with the other prefects wondered why Dumbledore had allowed prefects of the Slytherin house to attend the meetings when they could be the sources of the school's chaos when it would be likely that they would be the ones who revealed the situation. Like many of the Gryffindor prefects, Ginny also believed and feared that Dumbledore's trust of the Slytherins would indeed be a fatal mistake in time.

Ginny now found herself out in the hallways alone due to some errands Cho Chang had her do. With her being the head girl Ginny could hardly argue though she wanted to. Ginny was beginning to feel the indifference Cho felt for her, being her boyfriend's ex-girlfriend that is. Ginny couldn't believe that Cho and Michael Corner were still going out, she'd had thought that they'd get sick of one another by then. Well, anyway, it didn't bother her; it was just Cho's mild resentment of her, which was her problem.    

Taking another deep breath, Ginny braced herself to turn yet another corner, the last one finally, as she decided that thinking about Cho Chang was definitely not a comforting thought while crossing creepy hallways like she was now. She took one last step and turned towards the hallway, which was set before her.

Stopping abruptly, she looked ahead to see a pair of gleaming eyes, which was eerily illuminated by the torchlight staring at her.

Ginny's pulse quickened as she let out a long lingering scream.

"Where are we?" asked Padma as she turned around eying the eerie trees that surrounded them in every direction. It had been a few minutes that the four of them had been walking around the vicinity and they were rather uncertain of the paths to be taken. They had appeared in woodland clearing which seemed well in the middle of nowhere. They had entered the forest almost immediately after and were now trailing a narrow pathway.

Hermione looked around and observed the place they were in. They walked a little farther in to the distance and found themselves in another clearing, which allowed a larger amount of sunlight to penetrate the forest ground than did the thickets of the eerie forest. Hermione knelt on the ground while she unpacked her bag. "There's something here, I know I made some notes."

Padma turned towards the grove ahead and frowned. "I don't think there'll be anything in those books about this creepy woodland," she said. "It's unmapped, I think."

"And so is Brentenoux," said Hermione as she rummaged through her bag. "But Brentenoux is plotted within its own grounds which means the only records of its location in within its walls. That's what its library is for."

"Which also means that the grounds surrounding the castle must also be plotted for the castle itself to be mapped," continued Padma. Hermione nodded with a smile.

Seamus walked over to the center of clearing and knelt beside Hermione. "What are we looking for anyway?" he asked observing her digging through her tote bag as if rummaging for food. She finally turned over her bag letting all the contents fall out. She finally found the small journal where she had scribbled some notes from her research. In a far part of her mind, Seamus' question registered in her thinking stance.

"Oh, sorry Seamus. We're supposed to be looking for a body of water, a rivulet, or a spring…" she then turned back to her notes.

Draco who had remained silent until then turned to her casually, "A lake Granger, Sirens live in groups," he said. Seamus and Padma turned to Malfoy, and then back to Hermione again who was still looking at Draco. They were beginning to wonder if Malfoy really did deserve his salutatorian position in their year.

"Right," said Hermione as she turned back to her notes. Her face dropped as she saw that the name of the forest they were transported in was slightly erased, and to the point that she could not make out what it said. She had previously borrowed a book out of the library, which mapped the grounds of the enchanted moorlands of Northern France. Of course she did not intend for their group to cheat, the last thing she would have done was to bring along the book while they were on their task, but now that she did not know what the name of the forests they were in, the book was virtually useless.

"Hermione, is anything the matter?" asked Padma. Hermione looked at her and saw her look of sympathy. She wondered it she would understand. "No, I just neglected to remember what these forests were named, nothing big," she said.

She turned back to her bag and started returning the rest of the contents into the bag, leaving the journal out. Turning across the clearing, she looked in time to see Draco taking off one of his gloves and setting one of his bare white hands on the ground. She wondered what he intended to do. "It's damp," he said calmly. Hermione touched the ground as well; the grass was indeed damp. That would mean that the ground there was well irrigated since there hasn't been any rain since they arrived, it was impossible that the succulence of the ground came from falling rain.

"We're close, there's a lake close to here, I'm sure," said Hermione as she picked up her bag and headed over towards the woodland ahead. "Let's go," she said as the rest of them followed behind her. Hermione pulled on her cloak a little tighter as she entered the thickets.

Draco who stood a close distance behind Hermione followed her casually, in his mind wondering where she got her energy and zest for adventure. It was peculiar but amusing how much perseverance Gryffindors had to him, he'd once defined it as foolishness, but now, he was starting to think otherwise.

Padma grabbed Seamus hand and pulled him towards the woodland. "I think we'd better follow them if we don't want to get lost," she said keeping Hermione and Draco within her sight.

"I don't know why we have to stay down in the bushes," hissed Ron as Parvati scribbled a few notes on her piece of parchment. "Shhh, she said urgently adjusting herself under Harry's invisibility cloak. "Keep it down will you," she warned dangerously.

Harry, Parvati, Mandy and Ron were keeping track of a male Urisk lingering by the shores of the stream. They were crowding under the invisibility cloak comfortably by some bushes very close to the shores of the stream. It was a surprise that they had actually found their specimen on their first day out in the fields of Brentenoux. It was actually an accident why they had found the waterfalls so quickly. Ron actually was not paying the utmost attention to finding the Urisk but to finding wildflowers for Lavender. When he got lost the three looked for him and found him by a patch of flowers, which looked out ironically to the waterfalls.

"Because Ronald Billy Weasley," started Harry, "like any other creature whose privacy is invaded, it would likely attack us on sight. Done with the notes Parvati?"

Parvati shook her head as she scribbled down briskly breaking the tip of the quill in her hassle. "Just a while longer. Hand me another quill won't you Mandy," she whispered looking up in the distance, just in time to see the Urisk heading away from the shore and going towards the waterfalls. She breathed a sigh of relief. "It's gone."

"We should be thankful that the waterfall drowns out all our noise or who knows what would happen to us," said Mandy handing over a long albatross quill to Parvati. She took the quill and looked once again at the Urisk whose rear was conveniently facing them. She hurriedly estimated the length of its goat tail and wrote it down quickly. "Let's hope these things aren't as smart and domain defensive as centaurs."

Harry nodded, reminded of his fifth year in the forbidden forest with Hermione and Hagrid. "Maybe not, it's a lot smaller. Only part goat after all," said Ron. "But I'm not sure if that's a reason to be assured, the book says they're not evil creatures, but they have a strange impulse of…"

"Terrorizing people on occasions," continued Parvati, as she continued to write on the piece of parchment. "I still haven't figured out why."

"The records don't seem to have anything on it," Harry crinkled his brow as he scanned a thin book for information.

"It's curious behavior, perhaps it deserves a long psychological discussion on our report," observed Mandy. "Definitely," said Ron. "Well, it would fill up some inches on the parchment."

Harry groaned at Ron's remark and looked over Parvati's work.

Parvati scribbled on a few last sentences on the parchment and then finally rolled it up and stuck in her bag. "Well, I think that's enough observance for today," she said.

"Alright, let's get out of here," said Harry, "On three, one, two, three," and they stood up all covered in the cloak rushing out of the area back into the thickets of the forest from which they came from. They rushed out as far into the forest until they could barely hear the flowing water and then halted to a stop.

"I think we're safe, " said Parvati looking behind them to hear if the creature had followed them. The forest behind them remained serene.

"I don't think that thing will go chasing after four pairs of walking limbs now do you?" said Mandy pulling the cloak off himself and handing it to Harry.

"This cloak can barely cover the three of us with Hermione, let alone four," Harry folded the cloak and bundled it up. "I can't believe we're actually getting too big for it,"

Ron smiled, "Well, it was a whole lot different in the first year, when we first got it."

"Yeah," replied Harry reminded of the trio's first escapade to Hagrid's hut on a starry night. Where, he recalled, the tree of them fit snuggly under the invisibility cloak without anyone having to bend down or huddle up to keep from being revealed.  "Well, we finished quite early, think there'll be time for fun?"

Ron stretched his arms in an effort to relax before they continued on walking towards the clearing where they had appeared when they came there. "My idea of fun right now is having a good meal in the castle, without Lavender for a minute."

Parvati laughed. "You know she's merely watching out for your health Ron, can't let her favorite Quidditch hero have a bad diet."

"Favorite Quidditch hero? I think she only started calling me that when I saved the quaffle from getting in the hoop on the last second of last year's game," he said with a slight frown remembering his first and most miserable year on the Quidditch team.

"Well, I think that's something to be proud of, you won the game without Harry or Fred and George on the team," said Parvati.

"Well, that's one thing, I hope they don't cancel the Quidditch season because of this." Ron quickened his pace slightly to catch on with Harry and he walked alongside him.

"They won't," said Mandy who was one of the Ravenclaw chasers. "It's been settled that the Quidditch season would commence in November, sometime after we get back to Hogwarts, just hope the snow doesn't make an early fall this year."

"I've heard Dumbledore's got it all taken care of. I don't know how quite, yes but, he had made plans to adjust the conditions of the stadium so that it would be appropriate for play even though the snow falls," said Parvati.

"That's great," said Ron. "Well, good enough anyway, I know Dumbledore's powerful but we can't expect him to have elemental influences now can we?" He turned to Harry beside him who had grown quiet for a few moments. Ron knew that it didn't take a fool to figure out whom he was thinking about. Harry began to notice that Ron was observing him and he turned to him questioningly.

"Knut for your thoughts," said Ron. Harry grinned slightly.

"Oh," he said "I was just wondering—"

"How Hermione's doing," continued Ron absentmindedly. He smiled and turned to Harry, "Right?" Harry looked surprised; Ron did know him too well.

"What gave you that idea?" he said hurrying ahead of him as he entered the clearing and picking up the small statue of a goblin that they had used as their portkey. Mandy and Parvati approached him and held the portkey consecutively.

"Ron!" Parvati called out.

"You haven't got a clue Harry!" called Ron as he followed his best friend smiling.

"Perhaps not," said Harry. "Now come on!" Ron sighed. The only thing Ron thought, that would please him the most then, was to see his two best friends together, happy. Maybe, he thought, it would not be long then. Coming up to the three of them, who already held the portkey, he gave Harry a mildly confident look before he touched the goblin statue as well.

"Claudoux," said Draco absentmindedly as he walked past Hermione who had stopped to take some notes on the noticeable reddish bark most of the trees they were passing had. She stopped to look at him puzzled.

"What?" she asked curiously.

Draco turned back at her and raised his eyebrows, "You wanted to know what was the name of these forests, did you not?" he said nonchalantly continuing to follow the trail. Hermione quickly turned a few pages back to her previous notes and wrote 'Claudoux' down where the word got obscured. She then looked up to see Malfoy walking ahead of her. She hurried her pace and walked after him until she was merely a few strides behind him. She had grown curious about him once more, perhaps she had found her match when it came to brains intriguingly in him.

"I take it you have these things memorized," she said quietly looking around them while she walked. Draco smirked, "You have no idea what a little light reading does for me," he said leeringly.

"So I've seen," said Hermione who was beginning to be unnerved by his recalcitrant nature. She stopped for a moment as they came upon two new paths that parted from the trail they were following. "Don't you think it's a little unfair to fancy me as a bookworm when you are one yourself?" she added in a low voice.

"I heard that, and I am not a bookworm, " he insisted with much conviction. Hermione raised an eyebrow at him.

"Thaen why is it that you always correct me when I recall something our of a book, doesn't that indicate that you do memorize every single word out of every book you've ever read?"

"How very observant of you," he sneered. Hermione frowned as she stepped in front of him consecutively looking at the two pathways. "How are you at navigating Malfoy?" she asked lightly before peering towards the right pathway, which seemed rather dark and desolate. The trees in that direction seemed to be thickening and their canopies did not seem to let in much sunlight. It didn't seem at all that inviting. On the other hand, the other pathway seemed similar yet the canopies of the trees were not that thick, the sunlight shown a bit clearer.

Hermione turned to Malfoy, he was looking at the dark pathway and he seemed to be contemplating if it was wise to enter it or not. "Funny, you should ask that Granger, I've never had need for navigation skills in my life."

Hermione raised her eyebrows. "Somehow, I find that hard to believe," she commented slowly looking down the left pathway.

"But," he continued, "It does not mean that I do not have any."

"Funny you should say. I don't think there could be any lakes in that direction, the trees are too close together."

Draco turned towards the right pathway slowly, observing her point. "Which means the overgrowth can only get thicker," she said. She turned around hoping to see Seamus and Padma coming towards them but frowned when she saw no trace of them. To Draco's surprise she went up the path again and called for them. He turned back as well looking around quietly silently wondering where the pair must have gone to. Hmph, he thought, they must have gotten lost, fools. 

"Seamus, Padma," called Hermione walking slowly back up the path. Looking around she wondered where they could have disappeared to when the path was rather clear. "Where are you?" She turned back around to reach Draco. There was no way she could find them on her own. Drawing out her wand from her bag quickly she ran back down the path.

Reaching the parting of the path she raised her eyes see Draco quietly looking up at the sky. Approaching him slowly, she peered up at the sky as well, curiously looking at what he was previously observing. There seemed to be a curious number of black crows flying towards the south at a peculiarly expeditious speed. She advanced towards him slowly. "Padma and Seamus are gone, I don't know where they are but we have to find them," she said reminded of the missing pair.

Draco turned around from direction he was facing before and raised his head gingerly. He was facing the left pathway of the parting. He raised a gloved hand and pointed towards it. "There," he said in a serious tone.

Hermione looked at him, confused. "What?" she asked looking at him questioningly. But before she heard his answer a shrill scream broke her chain of thought. She looked towards the direction Draco had indicated a moment before. The sound registered quickly in her mind, it sounded like…

"Padma!" she exclaimed, bounding down the pathway following the source of the scream. She rushed through the thicket distinctly hearing Draco's boots crushing the leaves that had fallen to the ground following behind her. In a few seconds following the trail, Hermione heard Padma's scream once more echoing through the woods, she stopped for a moment, listening. Draco stopped behind her looking wildly around him. They had come to another clearing, which had yet another set of pathways leading away from it.

"Padma! Where are you?" she called, as the echoes of Padma's scream grew fainter. She violently looked around the clearing and then turned to Draco desperately.

"They have to be somewhere around here, I could have sworn I heard Padma," Hermione ran towards the edge of the clearing listening for Padma's cries once more.

Draco turned to the various pathways leading from the clearing. Deciding on where the scream had come from.

"Seamus!!! SEAMUS NO!!!"  Hermione turned her head. It was definitely Padma; Hermione had no doubt. Draco slowly ran over to one of the pathways across the clearing and gestured to Hermione to follow him, "Here!" he exclaimed. Hermione followed swiftly after him. Tightening the grip on her wand she silently prayed that everything was well. The apprehension she felt only left her to imagine the worst. Bounding through the trail Hermione looked forward, almost relieved to see a bright light in the distance. A distinct sound of flowing water could be heard, and Hermione was certain that they were heading towards a lake. Please, please let everything be all right, she thought as they neared the end of the trail.

"What the?" said Draco in a mildly shocked manner as he registered the scene before him in his mind. Hermione gasped rigidly as she took in the same scene as well. They had reached a lake, a vast and immense body of water, apparently the one that they had been searching for all this time. But it was not that that shocked them. It was the fact that Padma who was screeching by the shoreline seemingly in hysterics with the sight before her. Seamus who did not seem at all bothered was lingering by the rocks almost in the middle of the lake flaunted by three birdlike creatures with feathery bodies but whose heads were human in form. He was smiling madly; enticed by the creatures. The creatures drew him towards the rocks and urged him to sit with them and he looked glad to oblige. Hermione realized what they were.

"The Sirens!" she gasped in horror. Her mind reeled as she knew what was in store for Seamus if they failed to do something. She tightened the grip on her wand as she rushed to Padma's side.

"What are we going to do?" she asked in desperation.

"Get your wand out!" interjected Hermione with an extreme air of worry. "We have to get those things away from him."

Padma, as if unfrozen from her shock hurriedly retrieved her wand from her robes and directed it at the Sirens. "But how?"

Hermione's breath started to quicken by the moment. The only way she could think about was to stun the Sirens; it was possibly the only way they could reach Seamus safely. Hermione turned towards the distant rock-strewn center. It was a far distance; she did not know how they could possibly aim that far. Hermione raised her wand "Stun them!" she told Padma as she moved closer towards the shoreline.

Draco rushed towards the shoreline as well; he looked like he was contemplating on something. His mind spun, he knew very well that the stunning spells were too far cast to cause any real damage, and if they did cause real damage in some sorts; it would mean carnage for their final grades. He would not allow that, and he'd jump off a cliff if Hermione ever allowed that. "Stop it!" he said to the two girls who were sending off stunning spells towards the creatures. "If those things die, we'll be to blame!"

Hermione turned to him "We'll be to blame as well if Seamus gets devoured! What do you propose we do Malfoy?!" Draco turned back to the Sirens. He knew that they were highly susceptible to men. Perhaps if he… no, it was too risky.

"Why did I have to get stuck in a group with him?" said Draco exasperatedly as he thought again. Draco closed his eyes, he could only think of one other way. There was merely a question of him doing it or not. He had so many reasons for doing it, and so many reasons of not doing it. He had to decide then.

"Damnation!" he cursed as she pulled off his cloak. I don't believe I'm doing this!

"Huh?" Hermione looked just in time to see Draco darting out towards the center of the lake.

"M-Malfoy!" she exclaimed.

Draco quickly withdrew his wand from his robe pocket and aimed it vehemently at the Sirens. One of the Sirens turned and instantly saw him approaching; she made a move to maim him by approaching him through the water from the rocks to enchant him. Draco stopped, his body was half immersed in the water and the Siren was advancing towards him. If she reached him, she would devour him instantly. He had to decide…

"What is he…" said Padma lowering her wand in a second. She turned to Hermione who looked genuinely worried. She paced a few slow steps then ran into the water to get a wider view of what was happening. She feared for both of them, if they would be unable to stop the Sirens, it would mean certain death for the pair, and Hermione was sure that there would be not trace of them if that happened.

"Hermione!" Padma exclaimed.

Draco on the other hand had tightened his grip on his wand as he wheeled around to face the collection of rock-strewn center of the lake. With the Siren advancing he raised his wand and moved quickly towards the center of the lake. "Bloody Hell," he swore, his robes were weighing him down. It would have helped if he had taken the top sheathe of his garment but he had not expected to wander so deep into the waters that his shoulders would be immersed. Draco was careful to keep his wand up on the surface of the water. He was running out of time. He had to do it.

"Denobelim!" exclaimed Draco aiming for the rocky area. A burst of light instantly formed at the tip of his wand and engulfed a part of the rocky area. Draco smirked, just on the button. The two other Sirens sitting on the rocks jumped off them immediately but not that immediate enough as the spell caused an explosion. One of Sirens screamed a shrill cry that echoed through out the forest. Seamus who seemed in a trace snapped up and looked around him confused. His trace had been thankfully broken.

Another shrill scream echoed through the lake and Draco spun around just in time to see the third Siren going for him. She had already laid a sharp talon on him, but before she could pierce the talon deeper that it had already gone, he directed his wand at her and sent her flying through the water smashing through the foot of the waterfalls that plunged her under the water. "I've almost forgotten you," he said roughly, his breath becoming uneven as he felt a sudden stinging sensation on his arm.

The smoke from the explosion Draco had cast had not yet cleared up, but the mist had opened up to reveal Seamus getting up off the rock. "Hermione! Look!" said Padma fearfully indicating Seamus regaining consciousness. Hermione turned towards the rocks and gasped.

 "Get out of there Seamus!" screeched Padma from the shoreline. Seamus stood up wobbly not hearing her. He was still unaware of the dangers he had fallen into.

Draco looked back at the area he had blown up. There he could clearly see from the smoking debris around the area was Finnegan still up on the rock. Draco could make up a musty shadow that was slowly looming over Seamus. "Damn," he swore loudly. He knew… it was the Siren.

"Get your fat bundle of an arse off that rock Finnegan!" shouted Draco fiercely before diving in to the deep waters swimming towards the center of the lake.

Seamus turned behind him seeing the large claws advancing towards him. He caught one of her claws just before it almost pierced his chest and pushed with all his might until he was sure she would fall, he let the large limb go. The Siren screamed distinctly as she lost her balance and fell into the lake. Seamus turned towards the length of the rocks and crossed them hearing the Siren pulling out of the water and tearing after him. He reached the edge of the assembly of stone and saw that there were no more places to go. Looking up he saw the Siren peering down at him with a sinister smile.

"Blimey this is me end," he said swallowing.

Just then, Draco upon reaching the center of the lake climbed up quietly onto the rocky area and approached the Siren quietly from behind. Seamus who was too overcome with fear did not see him. Draco raised his wand slowly and cast.

"Wingardum Leviosa!" he said as he directed his wand upwards, sending the awful creature flying into the air with a scream. Seamus stared at the creature as it rose in the air revealing Draco casting it upwards.

"Malfoy!" said Seamus in awe. Draco narrowed his eyes in concentration as he held the creature still bound to the spell.

"You better duck Finnegan unless you want your head off!" and with that Draco sent the Siren hurling over Seamus' head who just ducked in time. "Terradominus!" The siren screamed once more and then finally fell into the lake.

Seamus turned to Draco who looked at him with an indifferent stare. Draco looked at him for a while and then turned away with an apathetic look. Seamus looked at the unmoved Slytherin with undisguised awe. He had found it hard to believe that Draco Malfoy had just saved his life. "Malfoy," he started. Draco turned back on him in an irritated tone.

"Would you stop saying my name like it's a…" Draco's eyes suddenly widened as he focused on a spot behind Seamus "Bloody hell not this again!" he cursed as he flew towards Seamus. Seamus looked in shock as Malfoy tore towards him. "What the—" he said stopping when he heard a familiar high pitch screech coming from behind him. He turned… the third siren.

Draco dashed towards the edge of the rock towards Seamus and he pushed him off the rock, bringing him down with him into the water with a large splash.

Hermione walked a few more steps into the water as she saw Draco push Seamus into the water with him. Her heartbeat was getting quicker as the seconds grew until the two boys emerged. The siren had screamed again an earsplitting call as she tore at the waters well in pursuit of the pair. Hermione watched the surface eagerly feeling increasingly tortured. What if they had drowned? She thought regretfully, hating herself for even coming up with the thought. Her eyes widened as the siren dove halfway into the water and Hermione knew that they were still there. "Malfoy! Seamus!" she called wanting for them to get out of the water so she would know that they were alive. In a matter of moments, Draco's platinum blonde head stuck out of the waters surface and the after a second so did Seamus'. Hermione breathed out in anticipation as they approached the shoreline with the Siren on their tails.

Hermione turned around "Padma get the portkey out!!!" she called urgently as Draco and Seamus approached the spot where she was standing. Padma dug through the pockets of her robe and withdraw the portkey from it. As Draco and Seamus reached the shallow waters they quickened their pace and dashed towards Padma with Hermione. She held out the blue marble ball and they all hurriedly laid their hands on it. Hermione breathed in as a swirl of bright colors engulfed her along with the feeling of having her navel tugged from the inside, yet she did not care. They were thankfully and finally safe.

"Luna!" exclaimed Ginny realizing she was staring at Luna Lovegood who was holding her illuminated wand in front of her face. The Ravenclaw girl was dressed in a long peach robe, topped by her House robe. Ginny, made a face as she eyed her choice of clothing muttering that she needed a fashion adviser. She looked like a fiend at first glance, Ginny smiled as she breathed in, in relief and also the humor of her thought. She wondered if she would repeat her thought to Luna, if she would take it as a compliment rather than an insult. "What are you doing here?"

Luna smiled widely, "Hallo Ginny! I'd just come from the kitchens to get a cup of mulberry tea with some dried mace, and a secret ingredient…" she said saucily indicating a closed mug she was holding in her hands. Ginny rolled her eyes as Luna grinned. "You should try some, it does wonders for the nerves," obviously referring to the way she had screamed earlier.

Ginny moved over to Luna's side looking at the tea-filled mug suspiciously. "Right," she said in a tone that simply stated that she wouldn't drink anything recommended by Luna if you paid her. She had not intention to find out what the secret ingredient was.

"How about you, what are you doing out? Its close to curfew, I think," she said

Ginny closed her eyes with a mildly exasperated expression. "I came from the prefect common room, had a little 'talk' with Cho," she said plainly not wanting to discuss it further. Luna on the other hand, apparently did want to discuss it. She looked thoughtful for a moment as Ginny took small sidesteps from her itching to leave. "Oh, her," said Luna. "There aren't any… you know…" Ginny raised her eyebrows at the Ravenclaw. "I know… what?" she asked impatiently.

"Any reserved cat-fights going on between you two?" said Luna curiously. Ginny's eyes lit up slightly, and then regained their normal state. "No," she answered plainly. "Though I hoped there were," she muttered incoherently. Then I could show that soddy wench what's what.  She added in her mind.

Ginny stopped and then looked up suddenly. A chill had just run down her spine at the moment. She immediately turned her head wildly around. Her eyes ran over the dim windows only letting a limited amount of light in and then over to the shadows the vast archways cast on the stone floor. There was nothing she could see but her muscles had tensed, she could oddly sense the presence of someone… or rather something. Was this the entity that threaded the school at that very moment? She was almost sure that it was, and she could sense it. It was close, extremely close. Why was it here? What did it want? She had to know.

She turned back to Luna who was wearing an extremely perplexed look.

"What was that?" asked Luna with a puzzled expression. Ginny smiled back at her.

"No, nothing. Anyway, I think I have to go, see you Luna!" she said before dashing across the hallway.

'Close… very close," he thought, fading into the eerie darkness of the dark walls of the castle drifting further into the shadows as the young girl fled away from him as her footsteps echoed through the hallway. The creature sneered to itself vilely with insurmountable mirth. "Yes, yes… you can feel me now can you… just as you have always been capable of… you can sense it, though you don't know it."

Perhaps he should have led her to her doom then, but he didn't… Because he knew that then was still not the time. He was merely letting her fears grow as she realized that she was the target… because she was special. She knew she was special, and he, he wanted her to realize, that in the end, she would be only too special for her own good. Yes, he was merely waiting, waiting for her to realize. To realize what she was to eventually know, and that would be the same reason she would meet her end…

There were too many mysteries that shrouded her, and he was sure to uncover every single one of them before everything. She was a marvel, and also to his master, she was a menace. She had to die…

Yes, it was not long now…

 

The serene common room stayed still and silent as it had a few hours before. But that was not meant to last. In mere seconds there rang a clatter of some sorts as a crash of glass was heard throughout the room. There, in the center of the enormous den were four stirring teenagers, looking as if they had fallen from the sky, sprawled on the floor of the room.

"What the?" groaned Hermione weakly as she rubbed her sore spinning head. She opened her eyes gingerly as her mind adjusted to the scene before her. She then remembered, the forests, the lake, the sirens… But where were… Hermione sat up urgently looking wildly at her surroundings. Beside her was Padma still not into the picture. Her eyes were shut as she supported herself with her elbows trying to support herself upwards. Hermione was sure she would be fine.

"Padma?" she said in a placid tone. She placed her arm around Padma's shoulders and helped her onto the couch, which was conveniently behind them. Padma opened her eyes and took a few moments to focus them. Hermione looked around the room again; she heard a low groan coming from behind the couch. She peered down at the floor and saw Seamus starting to stir as well. His sandy hair was dripping on the floor and so were his robes, Hermione smiled weakly remembering the situation Seamus had gotten himself into earlier, which reminded her; where was Draco? She peered across the room and spotted Malfoy; leaning on the opposite divan from them with his head tilted slightly to the cushion of the seat with his eyes closed. His chest rose and fell at an uneven pace indicating that he was conscious, only tired. Hermione observed his cool stature closely, wondering how he could stand to be that way always, seemingly calm and forbearing. Her eyes fell to his blonde hair, which seemed a little bit darker because of the water weighing it down. Nevertheless his blonde tresses still shimmered with water droplets that lingered on his head, some of which had fallen onto his lashes. Hermione turned away, in an effort to cease the impossible sprint of her thoughts only to look back. He looked like the time she had seen him by the lake at Hogwarts, with the light of the moon illuminating his face; she thought the same of him now. He looked so idyllic, so perfect and utopian that it was inhuman.

What's more, just then, she had seen another part of him a few moments before. She still could not believe he had saved Seamus. It seemed surreal, the occurrence just then. It was not merely how he had acted but how she did. As he tore at the waters she could not stop her worry and apprehension, it was not as if she had to care was it? After all she had often wished him unpleasantness of the worst sorts, yet now… she just had to ask… did she really?

In the back of his mind Draco felt consciousness streaming back to his senses as he leaned up on the couch behind him. He kept his eyes closed as he pulled his mind integrally. He remembered instantly the occurrence that had just happened, without opening his eyes, he knew where he has and should have been at that moment. He suddenly felt a stinging sensation on his left arm where the Siren's talon had pierced him. Yet, it was not the present had not bothered him; it was the occurrences that had happened a few moments ago. He had only a single question left unanswered in his slightly muddled mind stream; what had made him jump in the water. Definitely he could have concluded at that moment that Seamus' life did not matter to him. He was a Gryffindor… and there was one more thing; it was not as if he would have done the same for Draco. He sighed indignantly, he knew it was not the worry of his grades that urged him to save Finnegan, no, it was something else. He'd be damned, what did he care about a bunch of ratings the teachers give him? It wasn't as if he needed good grades anyway, he could not work in his entire life and he'd still survive. With twenty three billion galleons in the Malfoy name he really didn't need anything. No, he had exceptional grades because he was smart; and he stood by that because he was prideful. He wanted to prove so many people wrong…

Yet there was something else bothering Draco. He'd have to say that his mind was too tired to think about it then. That was of course, the person across from him at that moment, which he had no doubt, was looking at him at the moment.

"Don't," he said suddenly, opening his eyes lazily and instantly focusing on the vaulted ceiling, which was above them. Hermione narrowed her gaze as she observed him more closely. "What?" she asked softly. Malfoy was unfazed.

"Don't look at me Granger," he said softly. Hermione turned away quickly, unwilling to speak. She was indeed of course looking at him, not of course expecting him to sense her gaze. She looked away almost embarrassedly. "I wasn't…" she started but was unable to continue. To her surprise, he had made no attempt to contradict her, knowing she was wrong.

"Hermione?" said Padma softly beside her. She turned to the Ravenclaw almost instantly wondering once more if she had heard Draco's utterance. She then felt instantly guilty; it was not that which needed concern at the moment.

"What is it Padma?" she asked in a genial tone.

"Do we have to go back to the forests?" Padma turned to Hermione.

She nodded. "Definitely," she firmly stated. "A little setback like that is not going to keep us off track."

Seamus who seemed to be listening stood up unexpectedly and looked at them with a grave face. "Little set-back?" he said unbelievingly. "But I almost got—"

"Perhaps that could have been avoided if—" started Hermione only to be cut off by Draco unexpectedly.

"If he'd quit dreaming about sitting on shamrocks and bouncing leprechauns flaunting his fat arse?" he drawled lazily as he stood up. "Draw up a dictionary and realize finally that Sirens are deadly, especially to men… Or are you too thick to grasp that?" he continued rather harshly glaring at Seamus.

Seamus palled as he raged at Draco "Don't you dare make fun of me ethnicity. You… you—"

Padma reached for Seamus arm quickly and pulled his attention before he had the chance to insult Draco. "Seamus, remember, you owe him one." Draco shot Seamus a triumphant smirk before he pulled off his wet gloves throwing them on the couch unceremoniously. Padma tried her very best not to affirm with Draco's statement at the moment knowing that the Slytherin had a point. What was not pleasing of course was the fact that he emphasized it too insultingly.

"Don't make it a point to start a fight here, our group is in much trouble already," said Hermione as she stood up from the couch eying both Seamus and Draco simultaneously. The pair still looked at each other with obvious mirth and dislike.

Draco turned to Hermione and raised his eyebrow. "I'm glad you think so Granger." Hermione glared at him for his remark but he brushed her off with another glare as he motioned to leave the room for his quarters. She had to admit that she was impressed by his act while at the lake but there was no reason to be smug about the whole matter.

Seamus struggled with himself for a moment and then turned to Draco with the unmistakable look of stubbornness. He seemed to be deciding on something gravely important before he spoke.

"Malfoy," said Seamus stiffly.

Draco turned around and looked at him lazily. "Spare me the sap Finnegan. I told you, would you stop saying my name like it's a bloody swear word." He turned back around and headed towards the staircase. Hermione's mild annoyance of him disappeared briefly as she just realized something at that moment when she eyed Malfoy. She found it a bit amusing, that Malfoy had still regained his imperturbable stance even though he probably had a few gallons of water weighing him down. Seamus gritted his teeth firmly trying to hold on to control. Padma urged him on further before Draco reached the foot of the staircase.

Seamus turned around once again and faced Draco, taking a deep breath he stepped towards the Slytherin boy. "Thank you, Malfoy," he said and the he held out his hand. "for saving me life." Draco stopped for a moment and then turned towards Seamus unexpectedly seeing the other boy offering his hand to him. The scene seemed vaguely familiar to Draco. He looked from Seamus face to his hand and could not help be reminded on his first day in Hogwarts, when he had offered his own hand to Harry Potter who refused it flatly. It was an offer of friendship that was so promising. Something that he had, for once willingly wanted to desire; the friendship of one who's trust he would work for, not stick around him because he was paid or forced to do it. But Harry did not take that chance with Draco, it was perhaps, for him the most sensible thing that he has ever done, and for that, Draco's resentment of Harry turned to hate; his own hate, his own desire to push the boy who lived off his magnificent throne. It was not his father's hate, not the dark lord's hate, but his, his and his own. Draco would never forget the first day Harry Potter had refused him, because that, that was Draco's first reason to ever having hated Harry.

Draco stared at Seamus' hand for a moment before turning away with a smirk. "Do me a favor Finnegan," he said smugly as he held out his own hand and conjured a thin blue volume upon it. Seamus stared at the book in mild astonishment. Draco turned to Seamus for the second time and the pushed the book into his hand. "Those rectangular slabs you use for doorstops, they're books Finnegan, take some time to pick one up," he sneered before he climbed the staircase and disappeared into his room.

Hermione looked down slightly as she heard Malfoy's door close, unknowingly drawing the curiosity of Padma beside her. Padma observed Hermione slowly, she had been most curious about the Gryffindor's actions towards the Slytherin boy, she had been ever since that morning. Ever since she saw the two conversing, talking impossibly civil to one another. To Padma, it was very strange yet amusing, considering the fact that Draco Malfoy, a Muggle-hating Slytherin observed an almost courteous conversation with Hermione, a Muggle-born, when they were supposed to be biting at each other within seconds of each other's company. Padma smiled to herself mildly, perhaps there were things that didn't need to be understood for them to be right. Not that she would ever think that anything between a Slytherin and a Gryffindor would be right.

Seamus, still by the staircase, stared at the book Malfoy had just handed to him.

"'Oddyseus and the Song of the Sirens'" he read slowly. Looking up at Malfoy's closed door, he then turned back to the book. "Curious," he said to himself.

Draco took a glance into the hallway that was before him and seeing that there was nobody in the distance, he crossed the corridor in a steady pace. It was late, who knew what time it was, but he was still up. The halls were unguarded there in Brentenoux, not like they were in Hogwarts where there was that fool of a caretaker—Filch who probably had the blood of a bat to stay up out of bed twenty-four seven. Unable to grasp a wink of sleep, Draco decided to take a walk out of his stuffy quarters. His mind was too cluttered with thoughts to sleep; he didn't know why he even bothered to try. In addition there was the unbearable stinging pain he still felt from the slash that stupid Siren had made on his arm that prevented him from sleeping.

He stopped suddenly and then looked to his right where a breath of air had blown against him, there was an open window that revealed a view of the mountains of Avaloires to his side. Draco took a few paces towards the window and gazed out at the landscape with a restrained glower. He narrowed his eyes at the darkness of the morning sky and at the soft lights that were now starting to peak out from the tops of the mountains. It was close to dawn. Draco raised one of his hands and held the window work tightly still holding a look of contemplation with a tinge of wonder. He could not keep his thoughts off his wrenched life, off his uncertain future. Draco had often thought that those thoughts were of negligible importance to him, after all, he never pulled the strings to his own life, or his future. No, he never did, Lucius did. It was always his father. Because of that, Draco had started to hate Lucius for his domination over his life. When he was growing up he began to realize so much more that not once had he made a decision that benefited him, not his father. But when he was faced with the decision his father forced him to make, the decision to present himself to the Dark Lord knowing what would be in store for him if he did, he gave in to it, not that he had a choice. No, he thought tightening his grip on the bar of the window; he did indeed have a choice, and he had his reasons. He did it for Blaise, and his mother. But there was one more reason, he would never admit it, but he knew the reason he didn't try to disobey his father's wills on purpose. It was because he was afraid. Afraid of what his refusal would mean for him, afraid of what it would mean for him; disgrace, or maybe something worse… like death.

Draco closed his eyes tightly unwilling to accept or acknowledge the fact that he feared death. He was not supposed to fear anything; he was supposed to be thankful that he would have died standing by what he believed in not by something he thought he believed in. He opened his eyes as his frowned deepened, he thought, and for the first time in his life he asked himself, what did he believe in now, now that he acknowledged his hate for his father and everything he stood for?    

Draco gripped the window bar even harder than before… What did it matter? He had already made his decision, hadn't he; there was nothing, nothing more that could be done.

The young Slytherin loosened his hold on the window bar as he backed away from the transom. He turned back down the dark hallway but before he made his way down, he took a last glance back at the window just in time to see a hint of the golden glare of the morning sun peaking out of the east mountains of Avaloires, already obscuring the darkness of the night that had passed. Draco's deep scowl slackened a bit as he gazed at the dawning sun.

Nothing more to be done… the words rang in his head. He watched the sunrise from the earlier dark corridor, which was beginning to light up as the minutes passed that he stood by the arched window watching the sunrise in silence.

Or was there?

A sharp knock on Hermione's door caught her attention as she was pricking a small wooden shaft through her hair to hold up the bun she had formed it in on that morning. She stood up from the velvety cushion she had been previously sitting on and walked over to the door to see who was there.

"Hermione," Padma smiled as she saw Hermione through the doorway. The Ravenclaw was dressed in a beautifully tailored Indian robe in dark blue; Hermione took notice of her stunning attire as soon as she saw her. She had almost forgotten that they were allowed to wear their casual attire while away from Hogwarts. She suddenly felt awkward in her classic black robes.

Hermione looked at her with a curious look. "Has something happened?" she asked. Padma's smile widened as she nodded her head.

"Oh, I'm sorry, come in," said Hermione opening the door of her room up further letting her inside her room.

"You're probably under the impression that our group is cursed," said Padma with a smile. Hermione smiled back instantly recalling their dreadful incident the other day before. Her face grew serious, they hadn't exactly figured out how they would explain themselves when the Brentenoux staff would find the Siren dwellings half blown up and the Sirens themselves half to death because of what Malfoy did to them.

"Perhaps," started Hermione "I don't even want to think about how this place's staff would react to two of their specimens immobile and injured, not to mention the smoking dwellings…"

"Don't worry, I've talked to Fleur, she seemed to take it lightly. She said that there was nothing that a little magic could not do… she even referred to the Sirens as 'doze wretched creatures'" said Padma. Hermione's eyes lit up as Padma told her the good news. "That's wonderful," she exclaimed. She was for the first time in praise of Fleur Delacour, perhaps she was not that snobbish, as she seemed.

"Listen, Hermione," started Padma again. The Ravenclaw untied the thick roll of parchment she had brought with her earlier. Hermione sat beside her curiously as she looked at the contents of the parchment. "I thought about what happened the other day and, I— we, Seamus and I, just wanted to do something, something to thank you."

Hermione looked perplexed. "Thank you for what? I didn't do anything, as far as the incident yesterday goes I'd say it was all…" Hermione looked away from Padma. The Ravenclaw smiled.

"Malfoy, saved Seamus from the Sirens, Padma."

"I know, but I don't thing he would acknowledge me if I knocked on his door and presented something Seamus had taken part in, I don't think that after the incident, he would trust him enough to know anything about the Siren. You see Hermione, last night; we worked on the observational report," she said handing over the thick overlapping scrolls to Hermione who looked them over carefully. Hermione could not help but be impressed by their hard work, it was indeed a comprehensive report. "Seamus read the book Malfoy gave him and a few more referential books we found in the library last night, and he wrote half the report, we managed to finish it just now. I hope it's enough, seventy three inches," Hermione looked at Padma with wide eyes.

"Padma, a seventy three? That's enough for the entire observational account, you mean you've done all of it?" she asked.

"Yes, Hermione, I know we need to take at least three visits to the areas of study to write the entirety of this report but…" Hermione caught on with her point. Hermione herself did not think that a second visit to the place where they met with danger was advisable especially for Seamus.

"I see, I think we can easily fix that… considering all the hard work," she stopped as she looked back at the report. At the least, that took care of one of the tiring aspects of their work. "You've done, thank you Padma," she said smiling at the Ravenclaw. "And please thank Seamus as well."

Padma stood up with a beautiful beam. "It's nothing, I think that we should be the ones thanking you…" she stopped abruptly thinking how Hermione would react to what she would say next. "you and Malfoy."

Hermione looked up at Padma with an unexplainable expression of intangible shock, or was it fear… Padma looked at Hermione's expression, she knew that she would anticipate her expression to be something like she had displayed just then. She turned around and walked towards the door and at the last moment turning back at the Gryffindor girl.

"Thank you again Hermione," and she left.

Taking hurried steps towards end of the hall where two large doors were positioned wide open; she picked up the pace as she drew nearer to the Grand Dinning Hall. She clutched a small slightly crumpled note in her right hand and in the other a small straw brown pouch.

Walking up to the table where the Gryffindors were busy with lunch, she approached Harry hurriedly.

"Hermione," said Harry spotting her immediately. "We've been wondering where you've been off to…"

Ron looked up at her immediately. "Have you heard Hermione, Remus is invi—"

"Shhhhhhh," said Hermione and Harry simultaneously at Ron with agitated faces. The looked at each other at once with amused expressions.

"How did you know? Did Moony write you?" said Harry as he pushed away his soup bowl. Hermione shook her head with a genial smile. Harry raised one of his eyebrows as he pulled out one of the chairs for Hermione to sit.

"How then?" Hermione sat down on the chair facing Harry immediately.

"Fleur wrote me," said Hermione simply presenting the small note she was holding to Harry, he took the note and began to scan the piece of parchment with the large loopy writing on it. "She must be in close correspondence with Lupin to do him these favors."

Ron looked up at the sound of Fleur's name and not long after receiving a strong blow in the ribs from Lavender beside him. "Oww," he groaned as he looked at his girlfriend with an innocent look. "What did I do?"

"Watch it, Ronald Weasley," she said threateningly.

Hermione looked at them amusedly. "We must not let our possessiveness show," she warned as if addressing a harem of women. Lavender smiled at her pleasantly.

"So where is it?" asked Harry suddenly as he finished reading the note. Hermione turned back to him and raised up the small straw pouch that she had been handling earlier. "Is she sure?"

"Quite, Padma told me that she was the one who helped our group out last week, out of a rather tight spot," looking over at Seamus who smiled at her knowingly.

"Which is?" asked Ron curiously as he stuffed another spoonful of potatoes in his mouth. Hermione smiled, turning to Ron.

"Not for amiable conversation at the moment, anyway I trust her wholeheartedly and think she means well," she continued.

Harry nodded. "Of course, I don't object to that, but…" Hermione grabbed one of his hands unexpectedly and squeezed it. Harry looked at her in half shock and pleasure at having her hold his hand in that way. "The last time I checked, Harry James Potter, it was I who was most cautious among the three of us," she motioned to Ron who nodded. "It isn't as if you'd dislike seeing Remus again, wouldn't you?" she said.

Harry looked at her. It was such a small favor to ask; she was merely asking him to be happy that they would be meeting Remus soon, very soon. He knew he would do it, because there was something he wished to ask Remus, and he would conduct the task in immediacy because it was she who asked. Harry breathed in as he looked into her wide, innocent… beautiful brown eyes. Over the years Hermione had always been there for him, he felt guilty that he had not always been there for her. Because she almost never needed anything; but he did. He always needed something, if not from her then from Ron. He could have never gotten where he was then if not for them, he knew just as much. Then as he took in the figure of Hermione now holding his hand being there, he knew… He just knew it, that if she would ask him to die for her he would do it. He would never regret anything as long as it was for Hermione. It was clear enough then more than ever…

"No, I wouldn't," he answered in a voice that seemed far away from his thoughts. "We'll go to Carrouges, of course we will, won't we Ron?" he asked turning to his best friend. Ron looked at him with a mild smirk.

"Of course we will," he answered as he turned to Lavender who held a knowing look.

"Great," said Hermione as she smiled sweetly at Harry. "Tomorrow then?"

Ron looked at her. "Tomorrow? Isn't that too soon? And besides…" he trailed off, he was supposed to mention their report but had a pretty good bet that Hermione was done with the entirety of their group's work at the work rate she had. "You've done your report haven't you? You've done all of it already?" he told Hermione.

"Of course not, Ron," said Hermione softly, partially embarrassed over the fact.

"I knew it! Hermione it's been a week!" exclaimed Ron obviously not listening to her. Harry smiled. "How could you have completed twenty rolls in that span of time?"

Hermione sighed inwardly. "You didn't hear me, I said we haven't yet. We all know that twenty rolls is a bit too much."

Ron crossed his arms over his chest. "Oh did you?" he said with a smile. Lavender laughed.

"Really dear, you should listen sometimes…" she said.

Hermione continued. "Anyway, I've only completed my fifth roll and the rest have done a considerable sum. All in all, our group has probably only made it past fifteen." Ron's shock returned to his features all of a sudden at hearing this. Harry could not help but be awed as well. It was almost six years then and Harry could not believe that he and Ron had not gotten used to Hermione's wild study habits.

"F-fifteen?" said Harry unable to add further comments.

"I'll never know what keeps your mind on fire…" said Ron.

Hermione smiled. "Of course you won't. There's really nothing… only good study habits, which I suggest you acquire Ron, if you want to be an auror." Ron turned towards Lavender. "I've been hearing that from her for years and still can't make sense of it…"

Lavender sighed. "Perhaps it's high time you should…"

"Anyway, the fifteen rolls isn't all my work, Seamus and Padma have given about four and Malfoy, seven," said Hermione.

Harry raised his eyebrow. "Don't you think that's a large portion of your report to his credit?"

"Harry, it isn't as if Hermione's gonna actually trust her grade into Malfoy's hands. It's nothing a little revision can't help, isn't it?" said Ron with finality.

"Actually, I've already checked all of his works and they're all faultless. The plotting data, the mythological reports, everything. I don't think revision is necessary; he may be an irrefutable git but let's not forget that he's second in the ranking of our year academically standing," said Hermione. Harry and the others just looked at her curiously.

"You're praising Malfoy, are you aware of that?" said Ron seriously over the table. Hermione bit her lip as Ron questioned her. She should have been more careful with her words; she would have given anything to take it back. Though it was indeed true that Malfoy's reports were a great help to their work, she doubted if Harry and the others would see it that way, and only that way. Hermione stopped as she caught herself thinking about him again. There was absolutely nothing wrong with her best friend's opinion about Malfoy, for their ill impressions on him were true weren't they, and for another thing, she shared those impressions as well, and stood by them.

Did she really? 

"Miss Granger." Hermione looked up at the direction in which her name was called and saw professor McGonnagal at the door of the dinning hall. She couldn't help but be relieved she did not have to answer Ron at that moment when ill thoughts were running through her mind. Standing beside McGonnagal was a person that wasn't hard to miss; his platinum blonde hair was much of a glare in the bright dinning hall. Hermione pushed her chair from her table and looked at her housemates.

"Duty calls," she said plainly.

"Yeah, see you later," said Ron as Hermione walked away from the table towards Professor McGonnagal.

Ron looked at Harry with a look of seriousness, as Hermione approached the doorway of the Grand Dinning Hall. "Malfoy's getting to her isn't he?"

Harry turned to the end of the room where Professor McGonnagal led the two students out of the hall. "No, no… it's not that. Hermione would never consent to doing something like that… and besides, she hates his guts; she has always. I don't think she'll stop any time soon," said Harry with conviction.

Ron adjusted himself on his chair. "I do hope you're right Harry, I do hope you're right."

"To be more articulate Mr. Malfoy, Ms. Granger, your duties shall begin at this very hour," said Professor McGonnagal from her seat addressing Hermione and Draco who were sited patiently in front of her, each obviously making an extreme effort to ignore each other's presence. Apparently the two Professors who remained at Brentenoux were due for leave very soon. "Professor Figg and I have immediate orders from the headmaster to return to Hogwarts immediately," McGonnagal continued cringing her brow slightly. Draco could easily sense the Professor's discomfort. He could only be sure that it was the nervousness she felt in leaving the entirety of the sixth-year student body miles from England without any of the Hogwarts staff to look after them, or, it was possible that the urgency in which they were being called back was the case. Though Draco could not think of any reason that grave that was currently happening at the Wizarding School, he knew that it was definitely not about Voldemort. That was obscure, for Harry Potter was there in Brentenoux where much trouble must be anticipated.

McGonnagal eyed the both of them seriously as she resumed. "I have no choice but to put all my confidences in the both of you. Professor Dumbledore has set his preferences for the both of you to be the responsibility while the entirety of the sixth year population is in France and I am sure his choice is not flawed. Now, I trust you are aware of the duties bestowed upon you?"

"Yes Professor," the two answered in low tones. Hermione resisted the urge to turn to Draco at that very moment, doubting that he would have the pleasure of looking at her. For her, if ever he did, he would be right to think so seeing as now they had two responsibilities they had to do together. It was not good; it was not good at all. The pressure of having such a responsibility bestowed on her, a responsibility that put the safety of the entire sixth-year population at stake if anything went wrong. Hermione could not understand why McGonnagal was leaving them at that time.

"Professor," Hermione called calmly from her seat.

"Yes, Miss Granger."

"I thought you weren't due for departure until next week, surely no hurry is needed for most of the staff is at Hogwarts already…must you both go?"

McGonnagal breathed in; she had wanted to avoid that question for some time. She could not put the sixth-year body in a state of worry while they were residing in France by telling them the situation of Hogwarts.

"Our duties at the school must not be neglected Ms. Granger, I know you think much of the value of responsibility."

"Yes, Professor," said Hermione trying not to show her discontent at the Professor's answer.

"I do hope so. I trust you both with your classmates and you must not fail me, and your other teachers. While we are away, I expect the both of you to keep track of attendance at the Grand Dinning Hall, at breakfast and dinner, any absences shall require permission from either of the both of you or of Ms. Fleur Delacour, who is in charge of the castle for now. The castle staff has been informed of the rules of your stay here and they will assist the both of you as well. But do not stay at ease for one moment when we leave for I put the greatest responsibility on the both of you because, you, of all the other personnel in this castle know your classmates the best." McGonnagal stopped, she was sure of the capabilities of both students before her but then as she looked at the both of them, she inevitably noticed the space between them. For her, like many of her colleagues, it was never right that the both of them be paired together as the two in charge of their class. Their capabilities were not the things in question but it was the cooperation between them. It was obvious to her and everybody that Gryffindor and Slytherin would just not do, but it seemed to be different for Dumbledore who believed otherwise. Sometimes McGonnagal feared for Dumbledore, then realized he was not supposed to be feared after all… Perhaps in the end the Hogwarts headmaster would show his reasons for everything he had done so far, but for now, it was too early to ask questions from him which he would not answer.

"I also understand that you have your own research works to worry about, which is why I know it will be inevitable for the both of you to watch over everything that is happening within the castle. But I and almost all of your teachers have no doubt in both your academic capabilities which is why I am certain that this will not be a problem."

"Professor, I believe we are experiencing more difficulties than expected," said Hermione. Draco nodded silently beside her.

"Why? Have you not plotted the dwellings of your creature yet?" asked McGonnagal.

"No, it is one of the things that we have set attention to."

"They you have nothing to worry about, Ms. Granger. I am sure that you will do just fine."

Hermione was about to raise another argument but then decided otherwise and just nodded in agreement.

"Well, if everything is in order, I think this meeting should now be concluded. I'd like you and the student body to expect us back five days from now, is that clear?" she asked the both of them as she abruptly halted her chain of thought. She received from each of them an affirmative and briskly dismissed them.

"She can't be serious?" said Ron disbelievingly as he looked up from the short note that Harry handed him.

"You know she is," said Harry standing up from the seat he had been previously sitting on. He sat by the writing desk of their quarters and grabbed a quill from the stand. After a few moments he was scribbling a reply note.

"You know why she's doing this then? Why do we continue to let her help us?" said Ron grabbing his sweater, which was set on the backrests of one of the chairs, and putting it on. Harry looked at him for a moment with a slightly amused looked and then got back to writing the reply note.

"Why don't you tell me why she's doing this then," he said in a rather cherry manner. Ron approached Harry quickly trying to read a few words off Harry's reply note but it was too late, Harry had already folded it up and enclosed it in the envelope. "Harry, you know very well, Fleur has her eye on Lupin, it's quite obvious," replied Ron.

Harry crossed the room to open the window where a small russet owl was waiting. "Which is exactly my point," said Harry. Ron was now giving him a look of bleakness. He sat back down on the couch.

"I don't understand one bit of you Harry James Potter," Ron crossed his arms over his chest in an exasperated manner.

Harry laughed as he sat back across Ron on the couch he had been sitting on earlier. "Listen to the reason Ron," he said. "The mere statement is absurd, Lupin is old enough to be Fleur's father. He'd never even consider being with her even if someone bribed him, he's the most reverent of the marauders, you know that."

"I'm not saying Lupin would ever consider having her but I'm thinking about Fleur. She might not be all that we think her to be… Lupin is too friendly, he might reveal to her things that are too dangerous to tell…" retorted Ron.

"Ron, Moony has his charms. He also has the will to resist charms of others you know, If Fleur wanted anything from him other than… you know… I'm sure the last thing on his mind would be to give in."

"Even if that is so, she could have other things up her sleeve," retorted the stubborn redhead. Harry glanced at him amusedly.

"You're thinking about her as a sort of fem fetal Ron?"

Ron looked at Harry perplexedly. "What gave you that idea?"

Harry grinned, "Oh nothing, perhaps the fact that you are most attracted to those dangerous women types… You know, it was not me who first saw appeal to Fleur in the first place… come to think of it, it was you," he said fondly recalling their fourth year.

"Oh stuff it Harry," replied Ron.

Harry turned to his right where the light was slowly diminishing. A candle beside him was starting to burn out; he took his wand out and lit it quickly. "You still don't trust her Ron?"

Ron slapped his hand down on the couch he was sitting on as he looked at Harry seriously. "Yes Harry, in all obviousness I don't trust her."

Turning back to him, Harry maintained a serious air. "Well your gonna have to," he said. "She's the only way we're gonna be able to meet Lupin while we're here."

Slipping through his door he descended the staircase genially and crossed the den of their quarters. He looked up at the ceiling, which displayed a clear night sky through the glass skylight of the room. Draco sat down casually on one of the couches of the den not taking his eyes off the view above him. Gazing up at the skies, he could have said that he has never seen such a beautiful night sky. It could be that or maybe the mere fact that he had never taken enough time to look at the night sky as thoughtfully as he did then. What could be appreciated about stargazing at the spires of the Malfoy Manor, when the place itself reeked of unpleasantness and unhappy memories? Or at Hogwarts; where he had not a chance to do such, for he was always supposed to act too reserved for such things.

Draco's tranquil stance was suddenly interrupted by the sudden throbbing pain that was beginning to erupt from his arm at that moment. He turned his attention to his lower arm where he remembered the sight of a large talon embedding itself into his skin. He rolled up the black cuff of the long-sleeved sweatshirt he was wearing and held his arm in place with his other hand. He observed the carelessly wrapped limb swathed in a long white strip of cloth which he had carelessly done himself after the incident at the lake. He had not bothered himself by heading to the castle's infirmary thinking it a waste of time and for another point, he would not want to reveal to the medi-witches where he had acquired the wound for he was sure that the medi-witches in the French castle would not be as lost for questions as Madame Pomfrey was. He also thought better of revealing the wound to his group mates doubting very heavily that they would care about him. They would probably even say that he deserved it. Turning the wounded area to the light provided by the floating lamps above him, Draco was beginning to see a distinct red splotch that was starting to form beneath the white cloth. He swore; the wound was opening again. Draco was beginning to regret his decision to not go to the infirmary. Draco pulled a lose strip of cloth and wrapped it again around his arm to obscure the pain. He was not the type to regret, he thought stubbornly.

A sudden tap he heard broke Draco's musings over his wound. He turned immediately to the door aside the glass bookcase. The sound came from in there, he was almost too sure. Draco's gaze traveled towards the floor where light could be seen coming from the room inside. There was only one person other than him who saw purpose for the use of that room. He knew almost automatically that she was there.

Draco stood up and approached the door. He readied himself for the scene he would most likely find Hermione in when he entered the room.

He envisioned the scene right then before he even held the doorknob. She would most likely be bending over a book trying to digest every single word written on it. Draco smirked, perhaps in the fashion that he would be when he got hold of an interesting book. His hand tightened on the brass doorknob as he held it and turned it finally pushing it open.

Of all the things he was thinking of to see, Draco was not ready however for the scene that caught his eyes when he opened the door.

The table was clear, there were no books or quills whatsoever on it. No parchments or scrolls or inkwells positioned on it, and the chair was clear. The lights in the room were dim so he could not see much; it was like an oddly lit chamber at the moment. Yet, it was not that which caught his attention. It was when he trailed his eyes to the balcony where he found an interesting scene. She was standing by the balcony tightly grasping the stone ledge looking out at the sky; that same sky that he had previously been admiring. Her brown hair was swaying in the heavy wind parting and uniting with the heavy waves of the breeze, her white nightgown blown in the same fashion. She looked unmistakably like an angel, and if she opted to move onto the balcony ledge, Draco could not help but think that she would not fall. She would fly, because at that moment, she seemed like an entity too perfect to be human. Draco stopped; he had not imagined her that way when he opted to enter the room.

Hermione turned around as he entered the room, her eyes narrowing slightly as she took the sight of him in. He was of course, the last person he wanted to see then, and she could have easily said it… but, somehow, she found the sight of him meeting her gaze equally with none of the repulsion and disgust he would normally look at her with, was all the more comforting as it endured.

He looked into her eyes for a moment before finally tearing this gaze off her and taking a few steps into the room.

"What do you want?" asked Hermione as she regained her senses reentering the room from the balcony where she previously stood. Draco closed the door behind him and smirked.

"Shouldn't you be studying?" he said sarcastically as he took the seat by the desk and returning his attention back to her. Hermione glared at him as she retrieved her cloak from the coat rack by the door. Putting it on she looked back to him who sat cross-legged on the chair across the room twiddling his wand. The gesture irritated her to a point that she wanted to take his want from him and break it in half if she could, but she had control enough to stop herself.

"I'm surprised you're not," she said off-handedly turning her back to him looking at the various trinkets on the shelves on the side of the room while keeping an unapparent side glance in his direction. "You always seem to be a smart-arse all the time."

Draco clucked his tongue at her wit. "I'm glad you noticed, how's leprechaun boy? Getting along like the fool he is?" Hermione turned around and glared at him.

"For your information Malfoy, he's fine. He wrote half the observational report and read an awfully extensive reading source. Why is it, that you find such pleasure in making fun of Seamus all the time?" she said determinedly meeting his gaze with boldness.

"Perhaps you think I should stop Granger, now don't you?" he drawled as he shifted on the chair. Hermione looked at him curiously as he spoke in a languid manner.

"And if I did, which you know I do Malfoy, I hardly think that you would take that sort of advice… because it came from a mudblood of course," she snapped.

Draco nodded mockingly. "Well said Granger, and I agree, I would never, in my lifetime ever think of considering respecting Finnegan in any way. I don't pay tribute to nit-wits." he drawled mirthlessly. Hermione glared at him savagely.

"Seamus is conceivably not as much as a fool as you are Malfoy, I think he deserves much more credit than you. He certainly thinks is right to know a person before judging them," she said unwaveringly with her head raised. 

Draco flinched suddenly as the pain in his arm renewed discomfort. He forced the feeling down as he stood up abruptly, trying to ignore the throbbing in his arm. "Well good for him…" he said in an unusual voice. Hermione raised an eyebrow at him as she observed him closely. He had not turned his back to her, the action seemed peculiar to her for she never knew him to turn away from a conversation, no less a mild argument.

"Malfoy," she said. Draco turned back around at her with an expression of stubbornness. "What?" he said.

"Are you quite alright?"

Draco turned back away from her.  It was impossible to hide something under her eye, it seemed to him. He paced a few slow steps towards the balcony while tightly holding his injured arm trying to let the numbness dominate over the pain. "Why Granger, I've never been better," he said. It would have been better for him to leave, but… he would not allow her the satisfaction of having him walk out of a conversation. That would mean he was inferior to her, in the end, his stubbornness dominated.

Hermione grimaced as she opted to approach him, not thinking that a sensible thing to yet concluding that it was the only way just to be sure. Draco turned to her as she approached him and looked at her squarely. "I don't believe you," she said carefully seeing his eyes full of defiance.

Draco did not take his eyes off hers as she observed him, narrowing the gap between them.

"Why do you doubt me again, Granger?"

Hermione's eyes glimmered with amusement as she took the odd sight of him in. "You cannot even make an effort to be annoying anymore, there is definitely something wrong with you," Hermione's gaze fell to his arm, which he was obviously clutching tightly. He raised an eyebrow at her as she took a few steps more towards him. His gaze rested on her delicate features as she drew closer to him.

"What happened to your arm?" she asked genially as she opted to examine it. Draco stiffened uncomfortably as she reached out to touch his suffering limb. "Nothing," he muttered but did not attempt to take his arm away from her reach. There was an undeniable comfort that her touch provided that was so foreign to him, not even his mother provided him with such. Perhaps that was why he did not withdraw her hand immediately from her, because he had never known real comfort.

She took his arm delicately in hers and unfolded his black sleeve with care. Draco just watched her unravel the makeshift bandage he had made for himself. He looked mesmerized by her hands, which looked graceful as they unfolded the numerous layers of cloth that enclosed his cut, he wondered if she would make a fairly good medi-witch. As the cloth fell apart to unravel the wound, Hermione let out an audible gasp as she caught sight of Draco's wound. The long and evidently deep scarlet cut ran almost throughout his lower arm, the cut was thin and it looked fresh yet there were horrid bruises around the cut, a clear indication of the rough manner it had been incised. The contrast between his pallid white skin and the long cut was intense; it looked like there was an unearthly body that had set itself into his arm.

"Where did you get this?" asked Hermione unsteadily at the sight of the wound. She looked up at Draco as he answered her.

"The Siren… it cut me when I jumped into the lake," he replied, almost offhandedly refusing to look her in the eye.

Hermione looked back at the wound. "But this looks fresh, for the Siren to cut this it should have healed a little," she said. "Why didn't you go to the nurse?"

Draco looked down at his own arm before he answered her, his mind pondering on the statement she had just said. She was right; it should have healed long before…

"I didn't want anyone to know, it would reflect on our grade, if they found out I drowned a Siren. Not to mention saved Finnegan's piteous life by doing so," he said.

She looked up at him startled. "Count on you to pick the most inappropriate stances to be noble. Reflect on our grade indeed, is that all you think about Malfoy?" he smirked as she said this.

"That sounds funny," he sneered. "coming from someone like you…"

Hermione glared at him in a frivolous manner. "Think you're being funny Malfoy?" she held his arm a bit tighter as she pulled it slightly towards her to observe more closely. She was still perplexed about the fact that there were no signs of healing whatsoever.

Draco stared at the wound like her, not observing his own laceration but rather allowing himself the pleasure of her being that close to him, obviously feeling worried about him. He would never admit to finding that shallow fact pleasurable at all though.

"Would you mind?" she asked before squeezing his arm slightly. An ooze of blood trickled out from the cut as she did this. Malfoy flinched at the sudden pain. "I don't think I permitted you to do that," he said defiantly snatching his arm away from her, eventually discovering that the strain was hurting him even more. Hermione looked up at him. "If that does not heal in a week, I think you'd better bring it to the nurse."

Draco smirked. "It doesn't need a nurse." Hermione rolled her eyes.

"It might not, but if you loose any more blood, you'll be the one in need of a nurse."

His proud stance did not disappear as he opted to wrap the wound up again but only caused himself more discomfort. Hermione could not help but smile. "Give it here Malfoy, I think you deserve at least a good dressing," she said. He glared at her but then eventually surrendered his bleeding arm to her. Withdrawing her wand from her pocket, she directed it at his limb and waved it genially; in a second, the stains the blood flow had made on his skin and on the cloth disappeared and as she waved her wand again, the cloth started to bind itself around Draco's arm. "There is a potion that could be useful for that… but—"

"One of the antiseptic concoctions, I know," said Draco as he pulled down his black sleeve over the wound.

Hermione nodded. "But as you know, it is unsafe to pour on incisions such as that, where the healing is very curious. However if you—"

Draco turned away from her and faced the balcony. "Don't concern yourself about me Granger, it's none of your business," he said rather coldly.

Hermione looked up at him startled. His cold stance had apparently returned and she was disturbed by his indifference, but in spite of this she still held herself in calmness. He was right after all; she did not have anything to do with him except for their responsibilities together. She moved back away from him, regaining the space in between the two of them; a space Hermione knew would always be there, no matter how close they stood beside each other.

"I couldn't have said it better Malfoy," she replied matching his bitter tone. She took a few strides back a little further before she walked calmly towards the door. Taking one last look at him she slipped out the door, silently regretting her foolish attempt to ever try to be civil with him.

Draco closed his eyes as she heard her leaving the room. Finally opening them and turning to the door when it closed on him. He turned away immediately and scolded himself for ever having looked back.

"What should we take? They're all just so magnificent," said Hermione as the three of them entered the carriage chamber of Brentenoux castle. Harry pocketed the key of the chamber as they closed the large door behind them entering the large stone room filled with magnificent carriages fit for royalty. The array of splendid vehicles reminded Hermione of a car warehouse only one which was classier.  

"What is this?" said Ron who entered the room in awe.

Harry walked through the hallway marveling at the wonderful carriages, some of them so marvelously gilded with gold and silver. "The castle parking space…" he said.

Hermione was in her own frenzy as well as she looked over one carriage after another. She could not simply begin to describe the elegance of the contraptions displayed before her, nor be sure of their presence in front of her. She did not ever think that she would ever see such magnificence displayed in mechanisms of transport.

"It's like entering a car park filled with hundred of Porsches, or Mercedes Benz… knowing you can take any one," exclaimed Hermione as she moved further into the room approaching Harry and Ron who had entered the long hall ahead of her.

"My dad would love going in one of those… whatever they are, you know him, all things muggle…" said Ron. Hermione and Harry looked at each other briefly and laughed. Harry approached Ron and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Ron, remember the Anglia?" he asked.

Ron looked at him perplexed. "Yes, who could forget?"

"I don't think you'd want your dad in a room full of Porsches any day."

Ron looked at Hermione. "A Porsche is a car, isn't it?" Hermione nodded with a smile.

"A very expensive one at that," she added. "And I'm not sure your mother would stand the sight of a car even near the burrow, considering of course..."

Ron cut a hand right in front of her face. "Yes of course Hermione, bring back the memorable moments of our free and careless youth," he said sarcastically. Harry grinned.

"I emphasize careless," retorted Hermione.

Ron turned to her. "I remember your scolding words four years ago Hermione, I don't think we deserve another rant after something that happened a long time ago. Besides Hermione—"

"We were desperate," Harry replied reminiscent of their childhood venture. Hermione stepped beside him.

"It was no excuse to be rash."

Harry nodded at her comment as they moved further into the hallway of carriages. "You're right of course," he admitted. Ron laughed out loud. (lol!)

"Everything she says is right now, ain't it Harry?" he whispered to his best friend who nudged him slightly in the ribs. "Oww."

"I still don't believe Fleur gave us the key to get in here, much less take one of the carriages," said Ron moving over to one white carriage with gold framework, he bended down slightly to trace the large circular cap covering the center of one of the carriages hind wheels. "This is gold alright, too much of it, put in one carriage."  

"If the Madame finds out how Fleur's independence has been running this castle, Mademoiselle Delacour is going to find 'erself in 'ot water," said Hermione with an imitation of Fleur's overwrought accent. Ron turned to her.

"Let's be thankful we found a free ride to Carrouges," said Harry. "And let's hurry and find one, fast, we're running out of time."

Hermione turned to the pair. "Wait, we're going to have trouble hiding the carriage, remember, the Brentenoux seal is on every single one of these things," Harry and Ron looked around and found that she was right.

Ron grinned as he though of an idea. "It's easy, we'll hide it in the forest. Lupin said that the tavern was an awful close distance to the forest, didn't he Harry?" Harry nodded. Hermione furrowed her brow.

"If we're going to hide the carriage in the forest, then we need to find a carriage that blends in with the woodland. Something that would not be detected by a hovering craft, something … green," observed Hermione. "That's what we need to take, a green carriage,"

Ron grimaced. "Fat chance we're going to find a green carriage."

"Here's one," said Harry from a few isles back. Hermione and Ron went over to him but then stopped as they saw the ride Harry was referring to. It was a beautiful shade of forest green, just right to keep in woodland; there was only one thing that made the trio reluctant to ride it. The framework of the carriage was lined with silver; the wheels, doorframe, window frames, all silver.

"It looks perfect," commented Hermione dryly. "So perfectly… Slytherin."

Ron snorted. "I am not riding in a green and silver carriage," he said with finality as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"I can't believe I rode in a green and silver carriage," exclaimed Ron as they entered the village casually. Harry and Hermione both smiled as he said this.

"A moment ago, I remember—" started Hermione only to be cut off by Ron.

"Yes, yes, I know what I said." the trio laughed languidly as they moved towards a street with busy wizards and witches going about their business. The wizarding dress fashion in France held very little difference to the wizarding community in England. The people around the village dressed themselves in robes and cloaks, only this community seemed to care more about jewels and accessories than anyone you would see walking around in Diagon Alley.

"What was the name of that tavern again?" Harry looked thoughtful as he remembered the name of the tavern Lupin had mentioned in his letter. "It sounded like Le Pâté croûte something… I can't remember."

Hermione looked thoughtful, she stopped for a moment to think… Le Pâté croûte… where had she heard that before. Hermione's thoughts instantly strayed to her first day in Brentenoux. When she first entered their room, there was the painting of the young girl in a riding habit… she remembered the girl as standing in front of a tavern. The tavern's name was… "Le Pâté en croûte Rétréci!" exclaimed Hermione.

Harry and Ron looked at her. "Yes, that was it," said Harry thankfully. "How did you know?"

Hermione continually looked thoughtful as they wandered down the street, "There is a painting, in my— our room with a girl standing by a tavern. The tavern's name was painted in as well," she smiled to herself. "Good thing I read it."

Harry raised his eyebrows a bit in thought. "The tavern was painted in the painting, so you remember how the scene looked like?" he asked.

Hermione nodded. "It was a narrow road, and beside the tavern, there was a rose bush, though I doubt if that will distinguish it. It was probably added just to add a little life into the picture." Harry acquiesced, "I see, anything else?"

"Yes," she exclaimed, as if remembering something very important. "From the tavern, there is a superb view of… Brentenoux castle!"

Ron stopped by one alley, and looked through it. "Ron, where are you off to?" said Harry.

"A view of Brentenoux castle, kind of like over here?" said Ron. Harry and Hermione hurried to his side and looked down the alley. There a view in the distant mountains was Brentenoux castle, with its white walls and blue rooftops. The trio entered the alley; the sight was rather desolate but not eerie at least. As they reached the end of the alley which brightened up with the absence of much more tall structures, they spotted a tavern with a sign printed out in golden letters; Le Pâté en croûte Rétréci'

"Harry, so glad you could make it," Remus Lupin stood up from his chair to welcome the trio whom he had just spotted entering the tavern. Harry approached Lupin's table immediately and motioned to greet his father's friend. Hermione and Ron followed on behind looking abound in every direction of the room, observing the elegant nature of the place which Harry, in his anticipation of talking with Lupin had obviously overlooked.

The room was brightly lit, there were lamps almost at every corner and the ambiance of the place was surprisingly cheerful. All the while Hermione had expected the place to be pretty much like the Hogshead in Hogsmeade; she had not at all expected this. The place reminded her fondly of The Three Broomsticks, only with a little more brightness.

"This is a tavern?" asked Ron as he turned his head to observe the place.

"I'm beginning to realize why Fleur ever considered entering a tavern, if it was too unsophisticated enough for her presence, and her le petit nature," said Hermione as she approached the table with Ron. Lupin, who had heard what she had just said, smiled.

"You'd be surprised what unpleasantness Fleur can subject herself to…" said Lupin, Hermione looked up in surprise. "Hallo Hermione, Ron, I'm glad to see you again as well." The two of them took their seats on the table.

"I've been wondering where you've gone to during the last days of the summer vacation Remus, Mad-eye wouldn't even tell me, and every time I've got down to talking to Mundungus Fletcher, mum would shout at me she would," said Ron with an unpleasant look on his face, he looked like he was remembering one of those very occasions.

"So you've been here, all this time," started Harry as he looked around the tavern for the first time.

"Yes, I've never been assigned to travel so much in my life… though I think you could all understand why…" said Lupin pulling out his wand and conjuring up four goblets out in front of them. With another wave of his wand, the goblets filled with Butterbeer consequently. "Drink up."

"Yeah," said Harry taking a sip of his glass. "The occasion of the full moon, it comes much too often…"

Ron looked up from his drink and faced Lupin. "How do you handle full moon here anyway?" he asked curiously. Hermione nudged him a bit.

"Ron!" she exclaimed.

Lupin smiled. "No, it's alright Hermione, anyway I have really secure dwellings here. Uncharted of course, Dumbledore thankfully found me a place when he sent me here, and please don't ask any more questions beginning with why." He said quickly. Hermione sighed, she had been curious of why Lupin was in France. Perhaps in the most obvious sense; to protect Harry, but, surely Harry was probably safer in Brentenoux then in England at the moment. There had to be another reason why Lupin had been sent to France by Dumbledore, and by the looks of it, they weren't going to find out for a while.

"Fancy place here, for a tavern…" said Harry breaking the silence that Lupin had provided by blocking out all the questions they had intended to ask even before they had asked them. Lupin glanced at their surrounding company which seemed to bee too engrossed in their conversation to even notice them.

"Yes, probably a much more apt meeting place than the Hogshead, don't you think?" replied Lupin looking at the trio who's faces grew guiltily serious. "Well anyway, how are you three holding up there at Brentenoux?" asked Lupin.

"Wonderfully Moony, the place is a wonder," said Ron and turned to Harry who agreed with him. "I mean, our quarters are fit for royalty, the food's great and the staff…"

"Oh, you mean Fleur, don't you Ron?" asked Hermione with a smile. Ron glared at her.

Lupin nodded with a smile of conviction. "I see, Ms. Delacour's description of the castle is not at all flawed, perhaps, I should consider taking her invitation."

Harry looked at Lupin in half-surprise. "Fleur is inviting you to Brentenoux?" he said with a smile. Beside him Hermione let out a light laugh.

"She seems to think that Madame Morcenx' absence makes her in the position of full charge of the castle… therefore she is free to…"

"Fulfill her womanly desires," said Ron. Lupin looked at him broodingly as the trio laughed.

"I can assure you, Fleur's intentions to not include those which you have mentioned… She has been a charming acquaintance," replied Lupin.

"Yeah, right," coughed Ron.

"Harry, there was something you intended to ask me, was there?" continued Lupin.

Harry looked down as he mused, before looking back up at Lupin who now looked at the young boy with a look of seriousness. Ron and Hermione glanced at one another, each wondering what Harry wanted to know.

"Yes Remus, there was."

Draco stepped out of the staircase of his quarters at it finally escalated onto the floor below him. He was in the circular room, filled with staircases and with many other students who crossed the room to and fro their quarters. He looked up towards the doorway and spotted Blaise waiting for him with calmness in her features. Her red auburn hair cascaded freely down her back that day, and her azure eyes glistened in the bright light of the room. She was wearing a long black skirt and a fit black blouse with leather boots to match. The classic ebony-themed attire set a perfect contrast to her pale skin and sharp Italian features. She was a vision of perfection to a man of his stature; yet, her perfection was never an appeal to him. It did not draw him like it did the other Slytherin boys; it was proof of how Draco was strangely more unlike them than it seemed.

Draco took a breath in as he approached her, ignoring the whispering girls around the room looking at him. Staring as if he was a god, Draco thought wryly to himself, what a pleasure it was to be around women who hated him, but because looked like the ideal man, could not resist flaunting him. He knew it was sort of an incessant torture to all those girls. But, no matter, he did not mind any other person that day; all he was to concern himself about was she.

Blaise looked up at his face with a smile as he came to a halt in front of her. "I thought it was in the nature of women to keep men waiting," she said teasingly, as the two of them started to walk out of the hall, not minding the fact that most of the other students in the room were eyeing them with looks of envy.

"Excuse me this time," he said serenely. Blaise turned to him with a surprised look, she almost couldn't remember when was the last time that she had heard him speak in such a tranquil manner and with words of apology as well. It also seemed ages since they had talked to each other decently.

"You seem to be in a good mood, may I ask what good fortune you have encountered lately?" she asked.

Draco turned to her and smirked. "Nothing in particular, perhaps it's the fact that I have not caught sight of my air-headed group mates all day, nor have I been forced to associate with them. Now is that not a cause for celebration?"

Blaise nodded. "Yes… well, I haven't had to talk to Bulstrode all day either and Goyle, perhaps the gods have spared me their ill-begotten presence for this day considering of course that Bulstrode was the real reason our group almost got lost in the Laberinth yesterday, Goyle did not do anything to help, except of course cry for his mother, and also, that nit-wit Longbottom, a maladroit fool if I ever saw one, perhaps his only use was having plotted the Laberinth as far as we went."

"I doubt, Longbottom's data will be accurate, precision is obviously not his strongpoint," drawled Draco as they entered the Grand Dining Hall, the both of them headed towards the large atrium outside the Dining hall. "Though, I gather, Bulstrode and Goyle will be any more accurate than Longbottom," he added with a smirk raising his arm curiously and rubbing it slightly. Blaise caught the gesture and wondered if he had been wounded, but brushed off the thought immediately. If he were indeed wounded, he would have reasons not so show her.

"Well, it is merely a challenge I have to endure, though I have to admit, being in a group with those three is the worst sort of torture I can think about, or perhaps your encounters with the Gryffindors have been worse," said Blaise exasperatedly.

"A most vexing fact, my dear," replied Draco.

Blaise laughed lightly as they crossed the edge of the great dinning hall. "And how so my dear Malfoy? Pray tell."

"Well, Finnegan has been more of a fool, he now claims to have written our observational report, and I doubt if that document will have much sense provided it was written by a fool such as him."

Blaise smiled, "We're even."

"Yes, perhaps in misfortune we are," snorted Draco.

"You seem to have forgotten to relay how that mudblood Granger's acting around darling, I'm sure she's an equal vexation…"

Draco bent his head and turned away from the observing gaze of his girlfriend for a moment before nodding. "She is being the usual know-it-all, as you know Granger always is. She has been the emanating source of my annoyance for this entire project. Associating with her has been the worst task I have willed myself to do," he said with much conviction. Blaise smiled and agreed with him.

"What misfortune it is for you to have to see and talk to her everyday Draco, I shall hope she does not soil you with that inborn mudblood filth of hers. Why, you would loose your perfection… and she would be to blame," Draco looked at the floor for a moment before nodding. He was beginning to wonder, why it did not please him as it did before to hear diatribe directed at Granger. Surely he could not be seriously considering that she did not deserve all those remarks, after all, it was true, she was a mudblood. In his eyes, she was to deserve nothing less.

The couple entered the atrium and observed the open hallways all around the chamber. "Are you well acquainted with the castle already?"

Draco shrugged. "Unfortunately not, so far my ventures have been merely to the library, and back to the rooms," Blaise raised an eyebrow at him and laughed lightly.

"Draco, that, as you know, for you can hear yourself, is utterly impossible," replied Blaise. She caught his arm and pulled him towards one of the hallways in the atrium, "You couldn't keep in one place if your life depended on it, come on, and let's find a place to talk. I'm sure this castle, has more than libraries and drawing rooms." Draco breathed in as he let her lead him into the hallway. He felt a strange pang of guilt as he crossed the hall with her, wondering why he felt as if he had betrayed an important cause.

On skies of the school, increasingly thick black clouds hovered threateningly, from which heavy rain fell endlessly. The castle was silent, though the outside winds thrashed about drumming against its stonewalls with an air of nefariousness.  

There was a room a few levels above the main hall of the castle; there was a light on, the only lit room among all of the rooms in the castle. The lamplight flickered dully in the darkness of the headmaster's office as the door opened. A brisk flutter of clothing was heard before the door closed again. The headmaster looked up from his desk as another crash of thunder struck the rooftops of the castle.

"Professor McGonnagal," said Dumbledore thoughtfully pushing away all the envelopes that graced his desktop. Pulling off her damp hood, McGonnagal approached the headmaster's table hurriedly and immediately took the seat before him as he indicated her to make herself comfortable. "You're just in time."

"I came as soon as I've heard. Arabella is in her room writing the necessary letters, she started as soon as we returned," said McGonnagal impatiently as Dumbledore nodded.

"Yes yes, see that she sends then duly, after this weather clears," McGonnagal breathed in a breath of nervousness.

"After, the rain stops… Albus, we have no time," said McGonnagal. "I fear what damage this… this thing can cause if we act to late. I think you know very well—"

"The owls won't hold up in this weather will they Minerva? And I cannot send anybody to deliver them personally, I need you all here at Hogwarts," replied Dumbledore lightly. McGonnagal wondered how in the world could Dumbledore keep his voice sounding calm when they had a dangerous situation in their hands.

McGonnagal stood from her chair impatiently. "How could this happen Albus? Harry Potter is in France—"

Dumbledore turned to her. "It knows that."

McGonnagal looked at him curiously. "Then why?"

"This entity, a dark creature most likely has another purpose here," replied Dumbledore. "In another sense, it has another target. This creature does not seek Harry Potter."

McGonnagal mused as the headmaster spoke. Another target, who could it possibly be? Perhaps no other force but the Dark Lord could not have sent this entity, though there was an obscure possibility to it. But still, if Harry Potter was not what it looked for, then who? Professor McGonnagal also wondered how this creature, whatever it was had entered the school premises, after all, it were not possible for anybody who was not recognized by the school to enter the castle undetected. It was never in Voldemorts tactical pattern to assign a minion to perform an attack he dearly wanted done, but rather, he was the type to trick, to lure his prey into his clutches. It did not make sense. 

"Albus, if not Potter, then who? You must at least have some idea who this… this creature wants, and why."

Dumbledore looked up at her with a serious look.

"I have, for quite some time, had a particular idea of why. Yet, it is merely the question of who," said Dumbledore looking thoughtful still.

"But Albus, you know very well that this person in question must be found at once, or at least before this… creature performs it's purpose. If not, who knows what could happen to him," McGonnagal stormed nervously.

Dumbledore stood up unexpectedly and paced towards the Fawkes perch, which was currently empty. "Minerva, I've found a very interesting fact that may help us." McGonnagal looked up and raised her eyebrow.

"And what may that be Albus?" she asked curiously.

"You remember Minerva, a few years ago Voldemort opened the Chamber of Secrets… Well, he, then, was merely a memory," said Dumbledore observing the empty perch nonchalantly as if recalling a distant reminiscence. "Hogwarts since the end of Harry's first year has been guarded more intensely because of Voldemort's reappearance in this very school. I have personally seen to it, as you and all the other Professors know. Since then, as everyone has observed, the Dark Lord has not attempted to attack from within the school since. And, thus, if the Dark Lord could not penetrate Hogwarts, what other dark entity could?"

McGonnagal's eyes lit up. "Are you meaning to imply that, this entity, who is currently in the school is a memory? But how could it have the mind to draw up its existence?"

"Not a memory exactly, perhaps something else… a sort of record. As for its existence, as to who would draw it up… there is a simple explanation to that. The simple fact that it wouldn't have to draw up its existence, no living creature can draw up his own existence," said Dumbledore facing Professor McGonnagal.

She gave him an inquisitive look. "Then how so?"

"It wouldn't have to preserve itself in a memory if, and that is, if it was preserved by someone else, who would have the mind and power over it. Now perhaps I have given you an idea of what we are up against, so enough of this, I fear the matter we have to concern ourselves with, is to find out this creatures' mind source."

McGonnagal looked startled. "Mind source? You mean someone is controlling it? Within the school?" she said as if in shock. Dumbledore nodded. "Surely no student… impossible!"

"No," the headmaster shook his head wryly. "I have the greatest feeling, that this dark creature's mind source, is also its target."

"How could that be? Unless…" Professor McGonnagal stopped and thought for a moment. "Albus, you are thinking that this creature is a magical feeder, are you not?"

"Yes, Minerva, it has been a matter I have been pondering over for some days now. Yet, the fact that this entity is a minion of the dark, that would mean that if it wields dark magic; it would require a mind source who is versed, if not, has encountered dark magic at one point or another," said Dumbledore. "Thus, it's mind source is a very powerful wizard… or witch. It is possible that he or she is not aware of this simple fact."

"But why would this creature want to target someone who supplies him with his life, would not that mean his own life in the balance."

"Well, yes, but it is not a question of its life Minerva, for the nature of its vileness would not place importance on it. But as long as it has carried out its purpose, it's life would be a small price to pay," Dumbledore paced slowly back to his desk and motioned for McGonnagal to take her seat once more. She sat down and thought.

The matter at hand was increasingly confusing. How were they supposed to know who this person was when the clues were so extremely obscure? It would be a miracle if one of the Hogwarts student body would come to them and admit they had anything to do with the Dark Arts. It would be even more difficult, for not even the Mind Source himself did not know that his life was now in jeopardy.

"We have to find this student, if we do not prevent these dangers he is to befall… I could only fear, that it would be the end of Hogwarts," Dumbledore looked at her with intense graveness.

"If my suspicions are correct Minerva, it would most likely be the end of much more than that."

The rain did not fall less hard on Wiltshire that night, nor on Aviemore Vale which was hidden among its mountains. Among the vast meadows of Aviemore, there was only one structure visible in the misty night, when the weather's intensity wrought its caustic havoc. The dark ancient structure surrounded by lavish courtyards and fields, sticking out from the ground with enormous spires reaching to the heavens. It was a sight to behold, although there was more to this enormous mansion than the eye could see.

The manor's master sat up awake that night, nowhere near his bed that night. Sitting on the drawing room's desk scribbling away on pieces of parchment and then inserting them in envelopes, dripping wax and sealing them with a silver ring, which glittered prominently on his right ring finger. The ring's emblem featured a prominent  'M' surrounded by a double circle with tiny runes printed in between them. The emblem, which now appeared upon the sealed letters, letters that, would be sent away immediately in dire preparation of his anticipated 'occasion'.

He did not need sleep then, nor did he need his wife's presence to bother him as he worked that night. His task was to result in happenings of far more importance than his own current pleasures, and for then, sacrifices had to be made.

As a violent crash of thunder racked the rooftops of the enormous manor, the doors of the drawing room creaked open slowly letting in a sudden burst of wind, which attracted Lucius Malfoy's sharp awareness. He looked up from his work, though he did not turn around to face the doors. The sound of boot heels clapping on the stone floor echoed throughout the drawing room as he turned back to his work still not turning to see who had invaded his solitude that night. He knew very well that there was only he and his wife in the manor that night, of course with the exemption of the servants who had no business in his personal drawing room unless called upon. He did not call upon anyone that night; he needed seclusion.   

"Narcissa, I told you to leave me alone tonight," said Lucius in a blatantly clear tone. The footsteps grew stronger as they approached him, sitting bent over the lavishly crafted oak desk. "I am preoccupied tonight, you may have to share your bed alone," he continued as the footsteps drew closer to the desk, until they came to a halt. A sweep of heavy fabric brushing on the floor was heard before a familiar voice spoke.

"Funny, Lucius, I should have thought you one of the last people on earth to think that I have any whatsoever resemblance to my dear sister…" said a high and scathing voice echoing in the room as it spoke.

"What the…" Lucius Malfoy looked up once more and immediately turned around to see her looking down at him with a derisive smile.

"Bella…"

I shut the soft seductive music out of my hearing.

I thought only of his mind, and I searched it and found

there nothing but what he had just said to me, and behind it,

an Order of scholars as he had described it,

a seeming wonder of men and women who wanted only to know,

and not to destroy.

Anne Rice

Blood and Gold