The moment Professor Dumbledore left the six of them, to go back to his office, Draco said 'He's hiding something. I just know it'

'Dumbledore?' Hermione asked ,absolutely perplexed. 'Hiding something?'

'I noticed it as well ,mate' Theo nodded ,nodding and looking confused 'But what do you think it is? And why?'

'What in the world are you guys talking about?' Ginny asked ,exchanging confused glances with Hermione.

'Dumbledore was talking in circles' Draco tried to explain 'I'm not sure if you noticed t ,but he kept saying the same thing and not answering our questions directly'

'I think it has something to do with that connection' Pansy said.

'Why would Dumbledore lie to us ,though?' Hermione asked 'He's on our side'

'I'm sure he has our best interests at heart' Ginny said ,but even she didn't look sure of herself.

'You Gryffindors' Blaise chuckled ,almost sadly.

'What did you say?' Ginny asked ,her eyes flashing dangerously. Blaise instantly backtracked.

'I'm only saying that you take things at face value.' Blaise said defensively 'Someone seems to be that way, to you Gryffindors, they are that way'

'Did you just use a muggle term?' Hermione asked ,grinning.

Blaise grinned back 'I've been able to read a few books. Been able to sneak them into school'

'What books did you read?' Hermione asked ,fascinated ,but Blaise's reply was cut of by Draco.

'We're getting slightly off track here' Draco reminded ,although he was also smiling 'Blaise managed to lend me a few as well. They were better than I expected a bunch of muggles'

'Muggles aren't useless!' Hermione protested 'I'm not sure whether you've heard of electricity ,but it's like magic in their world. It can't do everything magic can ,but-'

'I don't think we need an essay long answer' Theo chuckled cutting her off.

'Oh shut up' Hermione said ,hitting him on the arm with the bottle of headache salve on her side table.

'That hurt' Theo moaned ,rubbing the small bruise on his arm. Hermione simply stuck her tongue out at him.

'Stop acting like children' Pansy said 'We need to focus on the matter at hand'

'The matter at hand?' Blaise asked slowly ,as if trying to remember something.

'Dumbledore!' Pansy reminded with a soft glare ,shaking her head ,disbelievingly.

'I think he's hiding something about the connection between Bellatrix and Hermione' Draco said ,thoughtfully.

'I still can't believe that Dumbledore would lie to us' Ginny shook her head ,frowning.

'You're going to have to get used to it' Theo said ,sympathetically ,draping a hand over her shoulder. 'Not many talk straightforward to a group of mainly Slytherins'

'I think we should go to the library. You know, do some research' Hermione suggested.

'The library?' Pansy asked ,looking horrified at the thought 'Why there?'

'It's what Hermione does. When in doubt, go to the library' Draco chuckled light heartedly ,earning himself a playful glare from Hermione.

'I was thinking of doing some research about this connection' Hermione said slowly 'It's always best to have facts ,even if Dumbledore is telling the truth'

'The girl's got a point' Blaise nodded and everyone agreed ,even Pansy nodded.

At that point, Madam Pomfrey came in to check on Hermione.

'Does your head still hurt?' the matron asked ,placing a few vibrantly coloured potions on Hermione's bedside table.

Hermione nodded feebly 'Not as much ,though'

'The headmaster says that there's no need for you to stay here any longer ,as you have no physical bruises ,but he also said that you should be cautious from now on. One of your friends should be with you at all times.' Madam Pomfrey advised. Hermione nodded. 'These potions' she pointed to the bottles that she'd brought with her 'will help ease the pain in your forehead. You should take them every day before bed and when you wake up.'

Hermione realised only too late how tedious a group of worried friends were. When Madam Pomfrey had said that she should have someone with her at all times, she never could have imagined how much more confusing her life was going to become.

'I can get a book on my own!' she almost shouted at Theo ,when he ceased his research to accompany Hermione to another shelf in the library.

'But Hermione' Theo protested lightly

'Hermes' Hermione reminded him ,shoving a finger in his face.

'Yeah...Hermes' Theo nodded quickly 'Remember we're supposed to accompany you everywhere'

'But I'm hardly moving more than three metres away from here' Hermione said exasperatedly.

'Everywhere means everywhere' Theo stated firmly. It was their go to explanation ,whenever Hermione questioned or argued against their exaggerated antics.

Huffing resignedly, Hermione went to the aisle and carried another stack of books to the table where the six of them were working at. They weren't doing any work ,though. Each and every one of them had a book of curses or scars and were reading through them diligently ,trying to find anything of use to them.

'At this rate, we'd have read the whole library by Christmas' Blaise muttered moodily ,reaching out for a new book ,placing his last one on the ever-growing pile of read through books. Hermione had incessantly chided them about keeping the read books on the floor ,telling them that they should revere books.

'They are the source of all learning' Hermione had said ,but by now even she had lost the will-power to tell them off.

'Anything useful?' she asked ,dumping the new pile in front of them.

'Nothing' they murmured.

'Maybe we're looking in the wrong section' Ginny thought aloud ,abandoning her half read book to go take a look around the library for anything that sparked her interest. Every now and then, one of them had a spark of inspiration and got up to go satisfy it ,but they always came back ,unsuccessful.

'Oh, look' Theo said ,making everyone turn to him with interest 'Here it says that scars induced by magic usually come off using a magical salve ,but if they don't then the bearer is cursed with the life long connection to their torturer'

'We already know that' Pansy said ,sadly returning to her book.

'What about' Blaise recited 'When a magical scar is formed, a physical and mental connection is formed as well'

'Interesting' Hermione nodded 'What's the name of the book?'

'Curses of the Wizarding World' Blaise said 'Page 44' Hermione wrote it down on a small piece of paper. She had decided to keep a check of what they found in the text books ,as memory was not absolute and if it failed them, then their hours of work could go to waste.

'Well, well, well' a sneering ,and unwanted voice greeted them 'The whole crew ,is it?'

Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley appeared from behind a bookshelf ,looking rather pleased with themselves.

'I thought that you were having a girl's night with Luna?' Ron asked Ginny.

'None of your business' she snarled ,throwing a book at her brother ,making sure that Madam Pince couldn't see her.

'Scars of Old' Harry read from the title before focusing his eyes on Ginny piercingly 'Not getting into Death Eater committee are we ,Ginevra?'

Theo gritted his teeth loudly 'We're not Death Eaters' he said ,in a choked voice ,trying and failing to hide his anger.

'Is this your latest task?' Ron asked ,ignoring Theo 'To search up on scars in the wizarding world? Pathetic.'

'Come on ,Ginny' Harry beckoned ,as if she were some kind of dog 'Let's get you out of here. Maybe we can go and tell Dumbledore about this and se what he says'

'I'm not going anywhere' Ginny crossed her arms resolutely.

'Don't make us use force' Ron threatened.

'I think you're going to have to' Ginny snarled back ,eyes burning holes into them.

'You ungrateful bi-' Ron brandished his wand ,yelling softly as he prepared to make his sister move.

'Oh no you don't' Theo said ,taking out his own wand as well ,but before either could do a thing, Hermione had disarmed all three of them.

'Fighting?' she reprimanded angrily 'In a library? The nerve of you. Do you know how much these books-?'

'We don't know, we don't care' Ron sneered 'You and your know-it-all, mudblood ways'

Now it was Draco who jumped to his feet.

'How dare you?' he hissed dangerously 'Apologise'

'No, Draco don't' Hermione warned

'Having him fighting your battles for you?' Harry taunted. 'Why don't you man up and take us on yourselves'

Hermione flared and everyone at the table seemed to notice it. Her body went stock still and she glared at Harry.

'It's not fair' she said calmly 'It's two against one'

'Fight me ,then' Harry offered 'Just me'

'No ,Hermione ,don't' Ginny warned ,but it was only her who protested.

'He'd defeat you with one flick of her wand' Pansy smirked 'You ought to be careful what you're getting into'

'I killed Lord Voldemort' Harry boasted 'I'm sure I can take on some transfer student'

'He's the hero of the wizarding world' Ron encouraged.

'Come on ,Hermes' Draco encouraged 'It'll really show him'

That was all Hermione needed.

'Tomorrow, after dinner, at seven o'clock near the Quidditch pitch' Hermione smirked ,throwing them their wands back 'I'll be there. Don't be late'

She turned back to the books ,before realising something and saying 'Don't forget to choose your second. You might just need him'

A/N: That was all wholly spontaneous. I'm not even sure I should've done that. I just wanted something to happen. Do you like the idea of the duel? Too much? A bit random? Maybe I just should've kept in simple. How do you like the lying Dumbledore thing? Please review and tell me what you think. I seriously love all your reviews and need them to get through to the end. Please don't fail me.