Hey all! Here is another chapter for you! I hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 5

Hermione was settled in her usual spot at the Gryffindor table when Neville, Harry, and Ron finally showed up to lunch. Neville smiled at the witch, happy to see his friend, but Harry and Ron had scowls on their faces and looked to be put out and irritated—respectively. Hermione didn't even have the chance to ask what was wrong, for Harry immediately jumped in to griping about what happened after she left class. Apparently, Professor Snape unfairly gave him an "A" while he gave Blaise Zabini an "O" for their three potions. Hermione bit her tongue as she listened to Harry's sniveling. How does Boy Wonder expect to get good grades when he barely focuses on his studies to pass a simple assignment? But she remained tight-lipped for she didn't want to start an argument with the already agitated boy. When the green-eyed boy finally finished his ranting, he started to eat his lunch, just as Ron finished shoveling his meal into his mouth. "What's up with you, Ron? Why are you annoyed?" Hermione aimed focus now at the red-faced ginger.

However, he didn't answer her question directly, and instead posed his own. "You seemed awfully chummy with Malfoy, Mione." He spat out at the girl. "When did you decide to play nice with the ferret? Was it before or after he attacked and broke your supposed best friend's nose?" Ron accused the girl of 'treachery' with a raised voice.

Hermione snarled at the outrageous accusation. Yes, she did have a rather civil—some would say amicable—conversation with Draco, but she didn't have to tell him that. Hermione looked towards Harry, who was watching the rapidly escalating fight between the witch and wizard. However, he didn't seem at all interested in stopping this, but rather, he, too, was curious as to what Hermione's answer would be. This was the exact reason as to why she couldn't tell neither Ron nor Harry about anything personal in her life. Imagine their response when they see Elara; they will demand to know who gave her the owl and as to why anyone would do that for her. They would jump to extreme conclusions. "Really, Ronald? Really? You're accusing me of that. Do I need to remind you of our fourth year, where you completely turned your back on your best friend." Hermione, then, turned her sneer to the other wizard. "And you," Harry was startled with wide eyes at the venom. "You sit there, watching this as if it was a series episode, expecting an answer. Truly believing that I could do something as to turn against you by simply talking to my potions partner, is incredible, truly. You—"

Ron cut off her verbal assault, "See! You admit it! You were getting all chummy with ferret face."

This further enraged the already steaming witch. "I cannot believe this," Hermione hissed out through gritted teeth. "You two are ridiculous and blind idiots if you honestly think that after everything we have been through these past five years, I would some how betray you by just having a civil conversation with my assigned potions' partner." And with that she, she gathered her things and stormed out of the very silent Hall—they had heard the entire argument—two very red-faced and put out boys, and a silent and observant Slytherin with a smirk on his face.

The clacking of heels echoed throughout the corridor as they made their way down to the occupied library. It didn't take them long to get to their desired location. Neglecting to knock, Narcissa Malfoy waltzed into the expansive room, disrupting the silence that encased the two reading occupants. At the noise, while one purple haired head didn't move as she heard the door abruptly open, but the raven haired witch's attention moved towards the door, an annoyed look settled as she gazed at her blonde sister.

"Sister, dear, you have the grace of an bull in a china shop," Bellatrix drawled, her tone laced with sarcastic.

Narcissa simply raised an eyebrow at the snark, holding back a snort at the accusation. Her sister was the one to talk. The blonde witch had always been the picture of elegance and grace, even going as far as priding herself on it. With narrowed eyes, she opened her mouth to respond, but another voice cut her off.

"That's the pot calling the kettle black, Aunt Bella," came the amused voice of Beckett. Bellatrix glared, playfully, at her still reading niece, while her sister's nose wrinkled at the muggle idiom. An amused smile was the only response to those reactions and she kept her main focus on the book in her lap. "So, Aunt Cissy, what brings you here on this fine evening?" Beckett wasn't actually interested in the answer, she more of only wanted to get down to the point as to why her blonde aunt showed up so abruptly.

"Well, dear niece, I have news that I believe you would be most eager to hear."

"And what would that be?" came the disinterested reply.

Narcissa's eyebrow rose once more at the incurious witch. "Your little witch."

The reaction was immediate as Beckett's head sprang up from her book, looking at her aunt in blatant demanding. "What's wrong with Hermione? What happened? It's only the first day of term. Who did it?" She asked in rapid succession.

"Be calm, Io—"

"Beckett," said witch growled out. "now what was said?" She demanded.

Narcissa gave her a harsh glare. "You are not too old to be placed over my knee, Io Cassiopeia. Do not test me." The blonde sent a withering glare to her niece who had the decency of looking properly embarrassed and abashed. Good, she thought. "Now, hush up and calm yourself, Io. Nothing, or should we say, no one has harmed her. However, there is news of her realizations and a spat that happened during lunch time." Her eyes eased from glare to one of amusement of what she was going to say next. "Draco wished for me to tell you this." Beckett simply nodded her head.

"Your little witch received your owl this morning, or rather her owl. I'm curious about what was in that note you gave her. I've never seen her blush like that about anyone before. Not even with Krum during fourth year did she seem smitten. Cousin, take that in stride and do something about it."

Narcissa finished with a smirk as she watched the fiery blush spread across the purple haired witch's cheeks. Bella had started laughing as her sister began reading her nephew's letter. It amused her to no end at seeing the well put together 26 year old witch become flustered.

"Besides this personal message," Narcissa continued on, "Draco had some other news." She looked at her sister and niece. "It seems the Headmaster is not a warm and fuzzy as he wants everyone to think he is."

Beckett snorted at that. "We already know that. As being Slytherins, alone, we already know that."

This earned Beckett a glare from her Aunt once more. "Watch the tone," her niece's tone starting to irritate her. "From what Draco explains, it seems Hermione's now noticed Dumbledore's secret expressions. He was glaring at our witch, even when she caught him, he never looked away. And in that moment, it seems that she made a realization upon looking at the Headmaster."

An expression of understanding dawned on her as Beckett remembered what her note said. "I had told her to use the book, the one I sent, wisely, for you never know who might be lurking. I believe that is what Draco was referring to."

"Are you talking about occlumency?" Questioned her Aunt.

"Yes," she answered. "I actually got the idea from her. Those books she purchase at Diagon Alley, they were on Occlumency and Legilimency. I knew we had a better version in our library. I knew it be of greater assistance to herself, especially if she was to go up against the might of Albus Dumbledore and even our Lord. Our minds are our most precious parts of our beings and it needs as much protection as possible."

"Good thinking, niece," Bellatrix nodded in her direction.

With one last acknowledgement of her niece's actions, Narcissa continued on with her son's letter. "It also seems, we may have a few unexpected allies in concerns to our witch."

"What do you mean? Who?" Asked Beckett with her eyebrows knitted together.

"He doesn't say specifically—he doesn't want to say until it is confirmed—but Draco indicates that its someone from the faculty."

"Then do not mention it in the first place," Beckett questioned annoyed. Her Aunt ignored this quib against her son. "Any more?"

"As a matter of fact, yes," Narcissa haughtily. "There was an argument that took place in the Great Hall during lunch between the three 'friends'. It seem apparent that Potter and Weasley do not care for Hermione as everyone would think they would—considering how close they appear to be.

"I already knew that," Beckett said offhandedly.

"Yes, well, apparently your assumptions are correct," the blonde haired witch snipped. "It seems as that the only thing the two fools want from her within their 'friendship' is her brains. They have never asked her about her personal life, however," Narcissa leveled her gaze at her niece. "It also appears to be that the ginger boy has a jealous, possessive attitude like crush towards our girl." She was cautiously as she watched the witch before become more and more enraged. "That much was proven over the years, especially it seemed evident during lunch when they got into their argument, which drew the attention of the entire Great Hall. Draco suspected it started out of jealousy when he accused Hermione of being all 'chummy' with Draco, because, they were having a simple conversation during class. He further accused her of being disloyal to Potter for it, as well. The hypocrite, he is as he did the same during the Triwizard Tournament. And Draco noted that Potter just watching the entire thing as if he too was curious or suspicious of her behavior. It seems as though all the years of saving their hides again and again did not matter to them."

"Well, that's bloody brilliant them to do isn't it." Came the sarcastic voice that startled the other two witches, for they had kept quiet for majority of the conversation. The one that had been silently seething at the possessive nature of the weasel had towards Hermione. "Their blatant disregard for Hermione will push her further and further away into our arms. Of course, it is a plus for us. But, to think they could get away with treating her like this, well they are dead wrong." Bellatrix had quietly spoken with a deadly tone. "And, it will be over my dead body before he can get his filthy fingers on my goddaughter."