Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and am making no money from this.

Hermione

Pansy and I are playing with her kitten (we both should be studying, but Madison's so cute I somehow can't ignore her at times like this.) I'm having fun when I'm interrupted by someone clearing their throat. I look up and see Harry there.

"Um, you have a minute, Hermione? I wanted to talk to you," he asks.

"Sure, no problem," I glance between Harry and Madison, still playing with her.

"Uh, in private?"

"Oh, some big secret? Trying to exclude me?" Pansy taunts.

"Uh, well, um…."

"Relax Harry," I cut in. "She's just having a little fun at your expense; it's fine." I get up and walk to an isolated corner of the common where Harry and I sit down and can talk in private. "All right, what's on your mind?"

"I wanted to talk to you about something from the DA. When people broke up to practice on their own and I came over, you and Parkinson were talking and um…."

"You mean how she has no problem using the Unforgivables and thinks we shouldn't either," I spare Harry the painfully awkward start to this conversation.

"Yeah. It sounded like it wasn't the first time you two have had that discussion, and um, I'm a little worried. I mean worried for you, and now that she's in the DA, it seems like if she keeps pushing for that; I'm just, I think it's something we need to talk about."

I really wish Pansy had been quiet about this; it just isn't a discussion I want to have with Harry. It's hard to have this discussion without sharing things with Harry I hadn't planned to. On the other hand, he has a point; if Pansy keeps pushing, she may have some members of the DA (that idiot Smith comes to mind) asking her to teach them the killing curse.

"This is not the easiest thing to talk about, Harry. Pansy does push for me to learn and be able to use magic like that, yes. It's not that she wants to corrupt me or whatever you may think; it's actually her being protective, odd as it may sound. At the risk of sounding melodramatic, I'm all she has in the world, and given how dangerous our lives are, she's just trying to do all she can to keep both of us alive."

"Hermione, we've stayed alive just fine without killing people." I sigh a bit. I wish things were that simple, but they just aren't. "Oh, that's right, the end of last year, Narcissa Malfoy. I'm sorry."

A lie, technically, but a useful one. Narcissa didn't die, but over the summer others did at the end of Pansy's wand. I don't see any reason to correct Harry.

"That's, that's part of it, yes."

"What do you mean, part of it? I know it must have been a terrible thing to have to go through, for both of you, but it's over now. People know Voldermort's back, the Order's fighting him apparently, I just don't see you or Pansy being put in that situation again."

"I wish that were true, I really do, but it isn't."

"What do you mean?"

"Malfoy," I answer. "He tried to make a move on me. Actually he ambushed me, had me with him wand at the back of my neck. The only reason he let me go is because he didn't think it was dramatic enough without Pansy there too."

"What? Malfoy attacked you?"

"Yes, he did. His threats on the train weren't empty for once."

"What are you doing about it? You've told Dumbledore, right?"

It's a shame Harry can't see the irony of his being the one to make that statement. Last year it was me telling him to talk to Dumbledore, and him saying it would be pointless. "What would that accomplish? Professor Dumbledore would talk to Malfoy about it, he would lie and nothing more would come of it. What could he do even if he wanted? It isn't like he's in a position to get Pansy and I bodyguards."

"So what, that's it, you can't do anything?"

"I'm sure you can guess what Pansy said when I told her."

"I'm guessing that was her yelling just outside the common room the other day?"

I nod. "Yeah. The thing is, I don't agree with her, but I can see the reasoning behind her argument. If Malfoy is willing to actually try and kill us, we aren't left with many good options. We're being careful, but I know that's no real answer."

"So what are you going to do?"

"I don't know. I could list off all manner of paranoid actions to take, but that would have me sounding like Alastor Moody. And most of the paranoid measures would preclude actually living in the castle, going to classes, being a prefect and so on."

"Yeah, having people out to kill you can be rough. I'll try to make sure either Ron or I are with you whenever we can. Besides that, I guess just let me know if there's anything else."

"I will. Thank you, Harry."

Harry and I part ways. I go back to sit with Pansy again.

"What'd Potter want?" she asks in greeting.

"He asked me about what we were talking about at the DA, the issue of using dark magic and the Unforgivables and so on."

"And what'd you tell him?"

"That it's not just you being evil and whatnot, that we have Malfoy trying to kill us and you're just being protective."

"What, did he think Draco wouldn't try and carry his threat out? He talks a lot of shit, but it was pretty obvious that threat on the train wasn't the same at all; I knew he meant it. Potter didn't get that?"

"I don't think he'd connected our discussion at the DA and Malfoy's threat." Pansy just rolls her eyes at that. "Regardless, it was rather clear Harry was uncomfortable with the prospect of you or anyone else teaching dark magic or the Unforgivables at the DA."

"Still acting like a little kid eh."

"Pansy, you saw the DA. Do you really think teaching them that sort of thing is appropriate?"

Pansy stops to think about that. "Ok, yeah, there's a lot of idiots in there, Longbottom, whoever the hell that idiot from Hufflepuff was, probably a bunch more if I bothered to think about it. So maybe not all, but the ones that went to the Ministry maybe?"

"Ah, you want to teach Luna Lovegood? Or better yet, Ron?"

"Ugh, the idiot weasel? No way."

"See, it's a bad idea after all." I can't help but gloat a bit.

"All right, fine, teaching them is a bad idea. I still think you need to learn though. Come to think of it, Cho might not mind. Could be a laugh teaching the girl weasel too."

"I think if Cho wants to learn the Unforgivables, she can learn how to cast them on her own, and Ginny is far too young. Though now that you mention her, I saw you two talking. How did that go?"

"That girl can bitch, let me tell you."

"Ah? What did she complain about?"

"Cho and Fleur. The girl really is really pissy about both of them."

"Why?" I ask. "Now that you mention it though, she has been hostile to both lately. Just what did you two discuss?"

"Mostly a lot of her venting about them for a while. Lot of bitching about their wardrobes and how they show off and get all the attention, that sort of thing. You know, scandalized how short their skirts are, how tight the tops are, how much skin they show, how they show off cleavage and leg, all that. Partly jealous of attention not being on her, with Cho though it's personal. Girl's got a thing for Potter it turns out."

"Yes, Ginny had a long standing crush on Harry."

"So what happened? Some weird surrogate sister thing, like the weasels are his family or some crap?"

"Largely so," I answer.

"Girl really does have her work cut out for her then."

"What do you mean?"

"Cho puts her away on looks. I mean, not that the girl weasel is terrible, but she's just not in the same league. That and Cho's already there as the girlfriend; girl weasel's really got some work ahead of her."

"I don't understand, work for what?"

"To try and steal Potter."

"What makes you think she's planning anything like that?" I was under the impression Ginny had made peace with Harry being with Cho.

"Oh please, she may talk all goody goody, but as soon as I asked if she had a plan to get Potter she was hooked. Oh, she denied it, but I know she'll be back to try and get help to steal him. Girl just has to put in a nice show and then it's on."

"Just what did you say to her?"

"Nothing, just mentioned that you can scheme to get someone. I mean in terms of a relationship."

"Pansy, that's not how things are done," I sigh.

"Yeah, right. We're exhibit A that proves you wrong, Hermione."

"All right, fine, I grant that." Really I have to, Pansy's obviously right. "Still, please, don't encourage Ginny to do anything foolish."

"Foolish? Like what?"

"I don't know. Just… try not to make a mess of Harry's life?"

"Damn, protective much?"

"Of course I am, he's practically family. Besides, you've seen his home life."

"Don't tell me, tell the girl weasel. The girl's got a bitchy side, and I'm betting vindictive too. Now that the idea's in her head I don't think she'll exactly need a lot of encouragement."

I should have known as soon as Ginny started reacting badly to Cho and Fleur that something was amiss.

Fleur

I've heard that Harry is teaching a defense against the dark arts class. Apparently this was a huge thing last year, declared a terrorist organization, named an army and all that; a prime threat for the British ministry. It's legal this year, so I've decided to go see. It's after school hours, and now perfectly legal, so hardly a secret when or where it meets.

I open the door and walk in, being none too subtle about it (and fashionably late.) Everyone stops and stares at me, the sure sign of an entrance done right. "Am I late?" I greet with a smile.

"Oh, it's her," that Ginny girl mutters.

"Fleur?" Harry asks. "I didn't know you were interested in the DA."

"I'm here observing, aren't I? That means I should observe things like this then," I reply.

"Ah, well, all right then, you're welcome of course. Feel free to look around and all."

I do exactly that, seeing just what everyone around the room is up to. It seems pretty loosely organized with Harry playing teacher. Most of the students are following what he's teaching. It's pretty basic self defense stuff, with some students listening, some practicing the spells. It's a mix of all kinds of kids, most of them pretty young, I'd guess second or third year students. I think they're pretty young and underprepared to fight any of these so called Death Eaters, but who knows. Dumbledore said he wants to keep students out of the fight, but he also said the Order wouldn't be fighting directly, so maybe these students really are right to prepare?

Still, young kids learning basic magic isn't terribly entertaining, so I look to see if there's anything more worth my time in here. I decide to check in on Hermione and Pansy. Dumbledore actually finds them a fascinating couple, says he wishes he'd been here last year to see how it happened. That Weasley woman isn't so kind, having all manner of bad things to say about Pansy and what she's doing to poor Hermione. She was loud about it too. Someday I really must ask just what she brings to the table that the Order keeps her around for.

Pansy and Hermione are off on their own, which is no surprise. Apparently Pansy is some refugee from this school's evil group, so everyone stays far away. The two are doing much more direct combat spells than the main group Harry is with.

"So what's all this then?" I ask.

"Just a bit of practice," Hermione answers.

"A bit different from the rest of the group."

"The rest of the group are idiots," Pansy looks at me. "Either doing this just to help their grades and not taking it seriously or just too dumb to deal with anything serious. We've actually had people try to kill us, and even if Hermione doesn't want to go all out, we still need to know how to handle ourselves."

"Just because I don't want to go flinging around killing curses doesn't make I don't take this seriously," Hermione replies.

"No, but you still should know it. When the times comes you're going to wish you did, trust me."

I see why the others don't want to be around them; normal students don't belong around people who are talking like some sort of combat veterans who are preparing to go into more battles.

"How did you two get together in the first place?" I ask them.

"What, you weren't given detailed info on us when you agreed to spy on us?" Hmm, is Hermione still bitter about that? I was up front about it; there's no deception, I don't see what she has to be upset about.

"Why are you so bitter about that? I was asked to keep an eye on you all, I'm just doing as Dumbledore asked. And I've been totally up front about what I'm here for and why. Are you upset that the teachers here keep an eye on student behavior? Or that Aurors are there when you're outside of school?"

"Oh please, that's not the same thing and you know it. Teachers and Aurors are there to keep the peace, not spy."

"But it isn't really spying when the person is right next to you and you know what they're doing, is it? When you think about it, the alternative is so much worse, no?"

"Oh, so we should be glad you're here"

"Of course," I smile at Hermione and Pansy. "Everyone should be glad to have me around. It's a rare and precious gift, after all." Ah, vanity comes so easily to me, but overplaying it for dramatic effect, that's a special kind of joy.

Hermione seems annoyed, but Pansy laughs at least. At least one of them thought it was funny.

"I'm curious though," I change the subject, "How did your relationship start? Dumbledore had no idea, and was quite curious. Actually, he found it rather amusing. That Weasley woman, much less so."

"Yeah, I keep hearing she's an annoying loudmouth," Pansy agrees.

"Who said that?" Hermione demands.

"You said you used to go to that place over the summer but didn't because they wouldn't like me. And the way the idiot weasel talks about her, it's pretty obvious. Loud, annoying, preachy, arrogant, all that stuff. Total bitch in other words."

"Just because she isn't likely to get along with you does not make her any of those things."

"Oh, so you're saying I'm wrong?" Pansy challenges.

"She's somewhat overprotective of us, and rather clear cut in her ideas of good and evil. I think she would quickly find you the latter."

"So basically I'd call her a bitch, exactly like I already said." Hermione just shakes her head at that.

"To answer your question." Hermione looks at me, "thanks to the meddling of an idiot Slytherin girl, Pansy gained a commanding advantage in the rivalry we once had, and in trying to deal with that we wound up spending a great deal of time together. And since I'd been manipulated into kissing her and rather liked it, one thing led to another as they say."

Hmpf, a useless story. She glossed over so much that all the parts that mean anything are left out. And of course the girl is so stuck on my being a "spy" that she won't tell me a thing. Petty and childish? Of course. But also a waste of my time trying to find out more Cho will prove more entertaining.

Earlier she was practicing rapid fire spells, and was rather good at it, but now it seems she's moved on to some sort of melee combat. It looks like it could be impressive once she has it down, a lot of high kicks and such, but she isn't there yet. Looking impressive is a process; most people just see the finished product but have no idea how much work it takes to get there. This isn't exactly the sort of showing off I've done, but it's close enough that I know a girl won't want to be bothered by an audience until she's ready.

So for the moment Cho is out. I still want to talk to her, get to know her and such, but obviously this isn't the time. Given that and how little I got out of Hermione this has been a rather dismal evening.

Hermione

I've been trying to figure it out all day, and I just can't. There's a story in this morning's Prophet that I just can't make sense of.

Another day, another attack. As has happened on so many other days, Death Eaters attacked the innocent citizens of our great nation. And as has become the norm, these criminals were met by the equally criminal Order of the Phoenix. The two groups fought, inflicting damage on both each other and the property and citizens unlucky enough to be around them. Unlike previous days, however, it was not the Aurors but a vigilante who repelled the attack.

This hero, who was described as wearing completely covering robes and a mask of undetermined but likely foreign origin is said to have easily repelled both attacking groups, successfully dueling as many as four opponents at once and nearly a dozen in total. The entire battle lasted only a few minutes, with the veiled hero being long gone by the time Ministry Aurors arrived on scene. Several Death Eaters were left incapacitated, however, and have been taken into custody.

It is unknown who this veiled hero is, but his skill in defending the citizenry was undeniable, and his praises freely sung by those who witnessed the battle. While we all are pleased to see such an attack repelled, one can't help but wonder if the recent turmoil is partly as a result of the turnover at the Ministry of Magic. Clearly the Ministry is not as able to carry out its duties as it once was, particularly when it comes to the protection of its citizens.

A veiled hero, and one who is quite capable in a fight. I haven't a clue who it could be. Dumbledore is an obvious choice, along with a few of the teachers possibly, but I can't imagine why they would conceal their appearance. If the Order is openly fighting the Death Eaters, then why not continue on that track? There'd be no need for a mask. So who could it be?

I wish I knew wizarding society better. The fact is, I have no idea who the possible suspects even are; there can't be many who can duel at such a level. I'll have to ask someone, Pansy or Ginny or Ron perhaps. I just hope one of them would know this sort of thing.

I've been reading and rereading that article all day, trying to find some piece of information I may have missed. By evening I'm still doing it in the common room when Ginny plops down onto the couch next to me.

"I can hear you obsessing from across the room," she greets me.

"You can't actually hear someone obsess you know," I reply.

"Funny, it'd was pretty deafening from where I was sitting."

"Hilarious."

"So let me guess, the new guy in the mask? You're trying to figure out who he is? Put together a suspect list, checking names off it and all that?"

"Unfortunately no. I have no suspect list at all."

"Huh? Why not?" Ginny almost sounds disappointed in me.

"I don't know wizarding society to even have an idea who the possibilities are. I don't think it's Professor Dumbledore or any of the faculty or staff here. Unfortunately, outside them and your family I know essentially no adults in the wizarding world. I was actually hoping you, Ron or Pansy could help. Do you know anyone who could duel so many people at once and win?"

"How would I know that?"

"You grew up in the wizarding world, it stands to reason you would know."

"What, if it was a Muggle who took on four people at once in a fight, you'd know who it was?" Ginny demands.

"Not off the top of my head, but I'd have some idea of where to begin. Professional athletes, boxers, martial artists, that sort of thing."

"Yeah well, the wizard professional athletes are Quidditch players, hardly the super duelist sorts."

"Cho is," I point out.

The annoyance on Ginny's face is clear as day.

"What's that look about? You didn't used to have a problem with Cho; you even helped Harry's relationship with her out in its early stages. What changed?"

"Changed? I don't know."

"All right, how about this, how do you feel about Cho?"

"Hermione, you really want to get into this?"

"Pansy told me about your talk. You seemed to have a lot to say about Cho then."

"I guess."

This is obviously a somewhat uncomfortable topic for Ginny, and I'm not entirely sure why. Guilt over her dislike for Cho? Or maybe not wanting me to see this angry side of her?

"Ginny, what's going on? Something changed, so what happened?"

"Ok, fine, I was ok with it last year. Well, sort of. I mean I'd rather it'd have been me instead of Cho, but I lived with it. It was nice seeing Harry happy and they made a nice couple and all, so yeah, fine. But you can't tell me you look at that couple now and think it's ok? Blowing all his money over the summer? Dressing like she's in some pin up photo shoot or something stupid like that? She's supposed to be spoken for, so why doesn't she look like it? She's taking him for granted, taking advantage of him. I don't know if she doesn't care about him, sees him as a stepping stone or some way to raise her profile or what, and really, I don't care. Whatever's going on, it isn't right."

"Maybe some of that is true, maybe even all, but it doesn't matter. Their relationship is their business, and how it works or doesn't is their business and no one else's."

"Oh, and I'm just supposed to watch this slow motion disaster? Any other guy would have figured it out by now; Harry's just too inexperienced with girls to see it."

"From what I've seen most males would be happy if their girlfriends dressed like that," I comment. It's usually Ginny who gets to drop lines like that. It feels good.

"Yeah, and then when the girl doesn't put out they'd be pissed," Ginny still outdoes me in bluntness.

"Perhaps so."

"No look, I'm his friend, and I don't just want to sit here and watch him get hurt."

"You must see the rather obvious conflict of interest here."

"What do you mean?" she asks.

"I mean you have a vested interest in this. As in, you aren't just upset that Harry is with Cho, given her current behavior and sense of style; you're upset that Harry isn't with you."

"So what?"

"So it's coloring your observations and conclusions."

"What, it's suddenly made me hate egotistical show offs? You think I'd have liked girls like the new and improved Cho and Fleur, regardless of whether Harry was dating a girl like that or not? Not bloody likely, Hermione."

"But you wouldn't be thinking about breaking them up if you didn't have a vested interest."

"Who said I'm trying to break them up?"

"I told you, Pansy filled me in on your discussion."

"And what, she said I'm trying to break them up? That's a damned lie." No, not defensive here, not one little bit.

"No, she didn't say that. She said she raised the issue; you said you weren't doing anything like that, but she also said she got the distinct impression that now that she suggested it you'd be giving it serious thought, and given your hostility to Cho of late, Pansy's analysis seems to hold water."

"Is that what this is, all some big 'don't mess with Harry and Cho' thing?"

"It's a friend who's concerned about her best friend. Granted I don't have the experience with relationships you do, but even I know that meddling in places that are so inherently emotional can lead to people getting hurt. Things don't always go how you expect or want and that can lead to some very bad results."

"I don't have some evil scheme in the works or anything if that's what you're worried about." Ginny is polite enough to leave the last part of that statement off. The part that says not everyone is like my girlfriend in that they see and participate in evil schemes constantly.

"That's fine, but I wouldn't be a good friend if I didn't say something. I don't want to see you, Harry or Cho get hurt. I'm just trying to look out for everyone here."

"All right, you've done your job and all."

I'm not sure Ginny will listen to my warning. She has far more experience in relationships than I, and if she wants to, she can rationalize meddling I'm sure. So I have no idea whether she'll listen to me or not, but at least I did my best to try and help.

"There is the first thing still, however," I make sure to not let the conversation die. "Do you know who that masked wizard could be?"

"Not really. Not like I keep some list of powerful wizards. I mean, anyone like that was born way before me so they aren't anyone I'd run into, and I don't really read the news a ton either, not like you do. So I have no idea. I doubt Ron does either; he's more clueless about most things than I am."

"I'll have to ask Pansy then."

"You can ask, but I wouldn't get my hopes up."

"Why?"

"Her parents were Death Eaters. Any big time wizards they knew are going to be Death Eaters too. So yeah, she's not exactly going to know a lot of people who'd be fighting Death Eaters."

"Would Cho know? Or Fleur? There must be someone?"

"I wouldn't think a French girl is going to know big time British wizards, Hermione."

"So I'm completely out of luck?" I sigh.

"Unless you know some grown up who'd be plugged into whatever place a wizard like that hero guy might hang out in."

"The only wizard I know of who'd be in wizarding societies like that is Professor Dumbledore. Or maybe Professor Flitwick."

"There, see, you've got a lead," Ginny smiles at me.

"Some lead. I don't think Professor Dumbledore is going to give me what I need to meddle in an open war, and I barely know Professor Flitwick, so that's a dead end as well."

"And is that really such a terrible thing? We're schoolgirls, Hermione. Can't you just be ok with that and let the grownups run the war? Would that really be so terrible?"

"No, of course not. But look at the track record; things with Voldermort have a way of becoming our problem even if we don't' want them to."

"Well then I guess it's a good thing there's a new hero to prevent that, right?"

Author's Notes:

Sorry it took so long for this update. Just how it goes sometimes, between things coming up and in general things aren't always going great, so delays happen, sorry. Anyway, next chapter will be up soon, doing another chapter of this story next, not alternating to my Hunger Games one.

As always, thanks to that-fan for his help, and thanks to everyone who reviews. They're much appreciated.