There you go, my freaking little darlings, another week another chapter.

Chapter 25

"Our pants are still on." Hermione snapped. "And if you suggest we aren't prepared to be safe, I will perform the seven contraceptive charms I know, AND I will ask Professor Snape to brew me the potion, for your peace of mind."

"Sweet, I'd like to live long enough to actually have sex. If you ask Snape, he'll tell Lucius, who might kill me."

"Not as long as I'm smiling." She replied.

"I'd rather not risk it."

Hermione chuckled and looked back at Harry, "Did you need something?"

He ran his hands through his hair. "Tracey told me she isn't mad at me, just the situation. She informed me we were going on a date right then. We bought some roasted chestnuts and wandered around Salisbury admiring the decorations."

"Copycat." Theo teased. He kissed Hermione's temple. "Good night, sweet. Thank you for today."

"Good night, Theo. You're welcome, and thank you."

He started to reply, but Harry interrupted. "Please, no more mushy. Be mushy when you're alone, or go torture Draco with it."

Theo laughed, "I'm heading back to Blaise's. I'll see you tomorrow at the Ministry." He kissed her forehead and left her room.

"May I remind you, Harry James Potter, that this is my room, I can do as I like." He hung his head. "Now, what do you need advice on so desperately?"

Harry climbed up on the bed and say next to her. "Should I invite Tracey to the Ministry Ball or our Christmas party? Or will she think it's too soon after the first date?"

"Skip the ball, it's tomorrow, which is too soon to arrange everything, and the Weasleys will be there. I don't know if Ginny will attend, but rubbing your romance in her, or her mother's, face, while satisfying, is cruel. Do you want to introduce her to Sirius and his friends?"

"Yeah, kind of."

"Then have him invite her whole family to the party. Though, this close, they might all ready have plans."

"I'm okay with that. Just the invitation will be symbolic enough." Harry grinned, "So how was the rest of your date?"

"Just as wonderful as the part you interrupted." She punched his arm playfully. "Do you want to go Christmas shopping tomorrow morning?"

"Yeah, I want to get Tracey something."

"I have several suggestions."

"When don't you?" He dodged her mock punch. "I'm kidding, please and thank you."

At breakfast Hermione explained her plans to both parents. Draco looked at her hopefully. "Do you want to tag along, Draco?"

"If it isn't a best friends day thing. Otherwise I have to steal Theo back from Blaise."

"Kind of a brother thing, my biological brother and my fictive brother." She shrugged smiling.

A house elf opened one of the windows, admitting a post owl. The large long-eared owl swooped in and dropped a letter in front of Hermione. It left without waiting for a reply or a treat. Absently, she torn the letter open, expecting it to be a message from Tracey. The blood red writing frightened her a bit. Her hands shook as she read the words.

A good girl would have run away by now. A good girl would never belong to such an evil family. You must not be a good girl then. Bad girls have to be punished. Shame, you seemed like such a good girl.

See you soon.

Shocked, she dropped the letter onto the table, her blood cold in her veins. Draco snatched up the letter then immediately handed it to Lucius. "I'll call Sirius." He swiftly left the dining room, breaking into a run once he was past the door.

Lucius read the letter twice. Silently, he handed it to Narcissa. She covered her mouth in alarm. "I'll summon the aurors." he told her, also leaving the dining room in a hurry.

Twenty minutes later Amelia Bones and Gawain Robards sat in the green parlor with the Malfoys and Sirius. Amelia addressed Hermione, "Is this the first letter you're received?"

"Yes, no wait, no, it isn't." Hermione's eyes widened in horror. "I received one back in October. It wasn't red, nor this threatening. It said something about how no one deserved to be happy, and I wasn't ever suppose to be found. After all the hate mail fourth year, I just ignored it." She solemnly looked at the adults. "I'm sorry."

Before Lucius could say something scathing, Sirius cut in. "We understand, current events certainly change the context. But, from now on we need to know instantly."

Madame Bones nodded in agreement. "All the house elves are helping try to track the delivery owl. We're going to examine the letter as closely as possible to try to find any clues. Given that Miss Malfoy sustained serious injures after an attack, we need to restrict her movements."

"No." Everyone turned to stare at Narcissa, clearly surprised by the conviction in her tone. "No, too much of our lives have been dictated by fear. Hermione has proven herself time and again in dangerous situations. I will agree with reasonable protections, but no more restrictions. And hiding Hermione might drive her attacker back into hiding." She stared down Lucius, daring him to disagree.

Robards cleared his throat. "What about an auror distress badge and emergency portkey?" Bones nodded thoughtfully, so he continued, explaining, "We'll fashion a distress badge for Miss Malfoy. When she taps it in a certain sequence it will notify us she needs help. The portkey can be activated with a command phrase and will deliver her to the department."

Narcissa nodded, "That sounds reasonable."
"I would like an auror detail to accompany you in public until you return to school, just in case someone is watching you."

"Draco, Harry and I plan on going shopping today. Could we request Auror Tonks. She's a half blood and knows how to blend in with the muggle world. We were planing on going to the shops near Diagon Alley."

"I don't see why not, just don't leave the house without her."

"Yes, ma'am." Robards departed to obtain a badge and portkey for Hermione. Bones went to summon Tonks. Sirius left, promising to send Harry over.

Tonks arrived not long after with the items. She prepped Hermione on their use before they left. She insisted on flooing first.

Harry grinned madly while they walked along Diagon Alley. He continuously shot looks at Hermione. "What?"

"This is nice."

"What is?"

"Not being the one hovered around."

"I'm so glad I could be of service to you." She rolled her eyes.

"I appreciate it."

"Uh huh."

"No, really, thank you." He insisted.

"Shut it, Potter."

Draco laughed at Hermione's annoyed look. "Would it be safer to shop somewhere further away from Diagon Alley?"

Tonks shook her bubblegum pink hair. "Since we don't know where the letter came from, not really. Right now the Alley has extra security for the holidays, we should use that to our possible advantage."

"Draco just wants to ride the escalators at Harrod's." Harry joked.

"Oi, nothing wrong with that! A staircase that moves you, instead of itself is amazing. And Theo likes riding them, too."

"Never said he didn't. Just pointing out that's why you want to go."

Hermione steered Harry away from jewelry and the messages sent by new and old pieces. She suggested scented lotions and bath oils. "Also get two leather journals. I have an idea." The three friends finished shopping and returned to the Manor.

Tonks performed a series of scans, then taught them to Hermione. "Anytime you're worried about your safety-check. To hell with the underage restriction, being safe is your first priority." She had Hermione demonstrate them. "Sirius said he's getting you some Defense OWL topics, I'm going to send you some others to study, too. Voldy's out there somewhere, so share them with Harry."

"I will. Thanks, Tonks."

"Welcome, see you Christmas Eve,"

"More likely tonight at the Ministry."

Tonks made a face, "Forgot about that."

"And do you think Madame Bones considers the Puceys' to be public?"

"I'll ask her and let you know tonight, tomorrow morning at the latest."

"Thanks again, Tonks." Hermione escaped to her room to wrap presents. She sorted them into piles based on whether the gift could be presented in person, or would need to be sent by owl.

Most female friends received a girl's night in gift basket: lotions, facial masks, cosmetics, and cute accessories from both the magical and muggle worlds. Seamus, Dean and Lee Jordan were getting candy packages made up of the same mix of worlds. She added a gardening guide and a few tools to Neville's package. She added a copy of The History of Games and Magic Tricks to Amaze Your Friends.

She bought Dudley practice gloves to go with his new punching bag, and broom kits for Harry and Draco. She and Draco created the perfect gift for their parents, and she had a surprise ready for Sirius. She decided on gift cards for Remus, not knowing what the man needed or wanted. Her only gift giving dilemma remained Theo.

She had charmed two leather journals with a variation of the Protean charm enabling them to be used to communicate without the tedium of sending owls, or worry about getting caught breaking curfew, just to talk a little longer. But she wanted to get him something to go with it, especially since she was going to make a set for Harry to give to Tracey.

Maybe if he hadn't spent from the end of October to the middle of December forced to fancy another girl she would consider tie tacks or cuff links. But like she suggested to Harry, she wanted to avoid all jewelry related messages.

Once she had wrapped everything else, she wandered the mansion intending to find Narcissa, but instead encountered Sirius. "Hey there, kitten. How are you holding up?"

"I think I'm okay. I got a lot of crazy hate mail last year, so nothing new there." She shrugged, "I appreciate Mum shutting down the house arrest."

"So why the moody face?"

"I'm not sure what to get Theo for Christmas. A broom kit or a book seems too impersonal. Cuff links and tie tacks feel too serious." Sirius snorted. "You're going to ignore that impulse. So there's my dilemma."

He grinned, causing Hermione to eye him suspiciously. "There, kitten, I can be of service. Let me go collect a few things. I'll meet you back in your room."

"Okay." She watched the jovial wizard disappear down the hall before returning to her room.

She laid down on her bed staring at the ceiling, idly wondering what kind of items Sirius would bring. What changes a few months wrought. This time last year she had been amazing her schoolmates by proving that she was, in fact, a girl. And impressing her muggle parents with the news that her date was a famous international sports star. Finally something they could brag about besides her grades. By using only his first name, to protect his privacy, they let others draw their own conclusions about his identity. Monica sent her lovely jewelry and money for plenty of straightening potion. Ginny helped her get ready, being her only female friend.

Now, though, she wondered how much of Ginny's behavior had been friendship, and how much had been tolerance? Looking back critically she saw her actions through a different filter. What once felt like a need for female companionship, now seemed like a bid to keep tabs on Hermione when she spent time with Harry. And perhaps prevent her from becoming a rival for her affection.

Sirius burst into the room derailing her dark train of thought. She shot upright. "Sorry to startle you, kitten. Come see what I brought." Hermione moved to the foot of the bed where Sirius joined her. "It is possible to give family items without sending such public messages." He pulled out a letter opener, quill and ink stand, and cologne bottle. "The letter opener belonged to Uncle Alphard, the quill set to Aunt Cassiopeia, and the cologne bottle to Uncle Rigel."

"Doesn't that still suggest serious intention?"

"Not like jewelry does. These items will get to the point where they will be disposed of if overused. They lack permanency."

"And that isn't insulting?"

"Still a family item, all of them have the Black family crest."

"Purebloods are weird."

"You have no idea. So, what do you think?"

Hermione regarded the items. The silver letter opener resembled a sword, the Black crest displayed on the hilt. She picked it up. "This one."

"Perfect. Have Winky polish it for you so she feels involved."

"I will. Thanks."

"Almost time to get ready for the ball."

"You just had to remind me." Hermione huffed. Sirius chuckled at her. "Not funny, you get to wear the same thing to everything. Brush your hair and you're set."

"Au contraire, kitten. This mane of curls demands just as much maintenance as yours."

"Still, women have to plan an outfit, coordinate accessories, and pray its been long enough no one remembers that last time you wore it."

"All right, I can concede the point. Back to back fancy events are a pain. You'll note my Christmas party is an informal event. Feel free to attend in a t shirt and jeans. You'll be my hero."

"Mum has all ready laid down the dress code."

"I know, she gave me the lecture, too, and it's my party!"

"Poor Sirius, ordered about in his own house."

"Story of my life, but I'll you get yourself sorted."

"I would beg off myself, but Mr Broadmoor works for the Ministry. Can't show weakness now."

Sirius laughed and patted her leg. "No rest for the wicked. Speaking of wicked, I have those OWL notes for you."

"Thanks again, Sirius."