Harry, now Curt, was not expecting to run into Draco Malfoy on the way into the Great Hall. That wasn't how Malfoy worked, even now that his friendship with a Hufflepuff was known to most students.

No, Harry was NOT expecting to be waylaid - shoved into that exact cubby where Malfoy had announced that he knew who he was. Harry, in fact, had mere seconds to dread what the hell was wrong here.

Malfoy said urgently, "I need a meeting with House Hufflepuff. You're a Hufflepuff, make it happen." He seemed to be vibrating with energy, the level of which seemed far more Gryffindorian than Slytherin.

Be a Hufflepuff, Snape's rather unhelpful advice echoed through Harry's probably-empty skull. Curt frowned, saying, "I don't know how to make that happen."

Malfoy slapped a hand to his head, "Then ask someone."

"How..." Harry asked, pausing, did he really need to know? Inwardly shaking his head, he realized his curiosity (and probable guilt if he stalled when it was important), "How important is this? Is it time critical?"

Malfoy paused, with the energy still coiled inside him. "Yes, No." Malfoy shook his head about the whole thing. "Do it quickly, but do it right. No one's going to die, tonight."

Without waiting for a response, Malfoy vacated the cubby. Harry found himself thinking that he was getting better treatment than Crabbe and Goyle, but only just.

So, today of all days, Curt sat down at the Hufflepuff table - across from Bones, as usual. She smiled at him - warm and loving, without being too mushy. "Curt! You'll love the breakfast sausage."

Curt smiled weakly back at her, "You always say that." he was supposed to be quiet, but not too quiet. Not quiet enough that people thought something was wrong with him.

"It's always true!" Susan said, and then her eyes flicked up and to the right of Harry.

Harry spun, cautious, hoping that it wasn't someone ready to smash his face into the table. Hermione Granger was standing there, in all her bushy glory. She stuck out her hand, and said, "Hermione Granger. I don't think we've been properly introduced?"

Susan snickered into her hands, "To be properly introduced, you're going to have to wait for Zach."

Harry wanted to hide. Zach was a prat, and more arrogant than Malfoy.

"What do you mean?" Hermione said, putting her hands on her hips.

"A proper wizarding introduction involves the use of an intermediary." Susan leaned forward and whispered, "So the two parties don't take offense and kill each other."

Hermione blinked, swallowed, and said, "That's happened?"

"Dozens of times." Susan said. People tended to forget that Susan's aunt was the head of the DMLE, but every time she started telling bloodthirsty old stories...

"How long ago was the last one?" Harry asked.

"About, oh, sixty years ago." Susan said, smiling sweetly, "Seems some haughty old pureblood decided to meet his own cousin for the first time, and discovered that his cousin had lost his teeth, his clothes (animal-skin only) and forgot to bathe for the last five years. He avada'd him on the spot."

Hermione stated, "You're joking."

"Be a pretty rubbish joke at that," Susan said, "But sit down, don't want Gryffindor to besmirch Hufflepuff hospitality."

[a/n: Um? Susan and Hermione ate my chapter. I'll get back to this in a bit. Draco is glaring from Table Slytherin (he really doesn't like people interfering with his plans). Reviews, as always, mean more story.]