Disclaimer: I don't own HP, JK Rowling does!

A/N(January 6, 2007): So it has been about 6 months since my last update. Sorry! I know I said it would be soon, but after that it became for sure that I would be going to France so I have been pretty busy ever since. I am still here in France...untill summer. But anyhow I am ready to start updating agian.

Resentment -- Thank you for the review! hehe Barty Crouch Jr!

Chapter 20

"Why do you care so much about Draco?"

Ginny glanced at Hermione, then back at Maggie. "Maybe he just had the Crutiatus curse put on him and could still feel the pain a little."

Maggie rolled her eyes, "Oh yea, who at school would do that? Seriously you guys, listen to yourselves."

"Lucius Malfoy" Ginny said seriously.

"What?"

"In my first year he gave me a diary that Voldemort, Tom Riddle, had when he went here. The diary eventually possessed me and caused me to open the Chamber of Secrets."

"For real?"

Ginny nodded, "I wouldn't be surprised if he put the Cruciatus curse on his son."

Maggie sighed, "Ok, let's say you guys are actually right about this, it's not like there's anything we can do about it."

"Yes there is!" said Hermione. "We have to tell Dumbledore."

"It's really none of our business" Maggie said slowly.

"Yea right. We know how you feel about Malfoy" said Ginny.

"Doesn't it bother you that this is happening to him?"

Yes! She wanted to yell, but instead she forced herself to say, "We don't even know anything for sure. We really should mind our own business." The two girls looked at her dubiously and she sighed, "Come on, let's go find Harry and Ron."

"We should go find Dumbledore!" Hermione said.

"No" Maggie said. "Listen, maybe it was just this one time. We don't want to make an enemy of Mr. Malfoy for no reason, do we?" Ginny shook her head. "So if it happens again, then we tell. Ok?"

Ginny nodded. "Fine" Hermione said, not liking the idea at all.

Meanwhile, Draco was standing outside in the cold with Scarlett. He stood there shivering. "It looks like it's going to snow" he said innocently.

"Cut the crap Draco" Scarlett said, glaring at him. "What the hell was Uncle Lucius doing here?"

"The usual" Draco muttered and rubbed his hands together for warmth.

Scarlett looked angry. "He used the Cruciatus Curse on you again, didn't he?" Her hands balled up into fists. "Why do you let him get away with this? Why don't you tell someone?"

Draco kicked the ground. "Don't worry, I'm used to it" he said bitterly.

Scarlett shook her head. "No you are not, you look like you're dying!"

"How nice."

Scarelett sighed. "I'm sorry Draco. I just don't like seeing you get hurt, you're my cousin!" She started crying.

That doesn't happen much, Draco thought, suppressing a smile. He turned and faced her. "Thanks for caring Scar. It means a lot to me that at least one person in my family does" he said hugging her.

He pulled away and gave her a weak grin. "So, did you find out anything about Maggie yet?"

"No!" Scarlett snapped, her tears having disappeared as quickly as they'd come. Then in a gentler tone, "This case is a hard one." Draco let out an annoyed whoosh of air. She rolled her eyes. "Don't you have more important things to worry about? Like yourself and staying alive?" Draco let out a laugh which turned into a small coughing fit. "My point exactly" said Scarlett.

"I have a cold! It's winter!"

"Draco," Scarlett said in a serious tone "you know there is some research going on about how the Cruciatus Curse temporarily weakens your immune system, and can permanently weaken it if you are cursed a lot."

"Oh please Scar! I'm fine, just stay out of this!"

Scarlett glared at him. "Fine, go die of pneumonia!"

Draco laughed. "Hello, I'm a wizard! No Muggle disease is going to kill me."

"It can kill you before you think to go see a doctor!" she yelled and then stormed away.

Draco rolled his eyes. "Let me know if you get any leads!" he called after her. She turned and gave him the finger and kept walking.

Maggie and Hermione left Ginny at her History of Magic class and headed on to the library. Hermione was chattering on about how she didn't know what to get Ron for Christmas and how she couldn't decide whether she wanted to go home for the holidays. Maggie had been planning on having a Christmas party the day after Christmas, and the Slytherins were throwing their annual New Years Eve Rave at a secret location. Gryffindors were never invited, of course, but many crashed it because it was always a wild party. Plus, many of the Slytherins were too drunk to recognize them anyway. Last year Ginny had gone and it had been on the Quidditch pitch. Some sixth and seventh years had put some spells on it so the teachers wouldn't hear or see anything.

Just two hours ago, Maggie had been so excited for the holidays. She and Ginny were planning their party and trying to find out the location of this year's New Year's Eve Rave. But, it all seemed so pointless now. Spencer was on the loose and that only meant one thing; trouble. She should have known she couldn't hide forever. She'd felt so safe here at Hogwarts, made great new friends, and he was going to ruin all that.

"So what do you think?"

Hermione's question interrupted Maggie's thoughts. "Huh?"

Hermione rolled her eyes "About me hooking up with Malfoy!"

"What!" Maggie stopped so fast that the person behind her slammed right into her.

Hermione laughed, "Ha, kidding!"

Maggie shook her head but smiled in spite of herself. "Ha-ha, so what were you saying?"

"I was saying I think I'm going to go home for Christmas but come back the morning of yours and Ginny's party!" She waited a second for a reaction and continued when she didn't get one. "So, that means I'm so going with you guys to crash the Slytherin Rave!"

Maggie forced a smile. "That's great Mione."

Hermione frowned at her. "What's wrong? Are you still upset about the news from home?"

Maggie nodded. "Yea, I guess."

"Don't worry about it. We're all the way across the ocean from that guy. Plus, you're not even a Muggle born!"

"True—"

"And, on top of that, we are at Hogwarts. Dumbledore and all the teachers are here. Don't let that psycho ruin your holidays! You deserve to be happy."

Maggie smiled "Thanks Mione, you're right. And, I have been looking forward to the holidays." Which was true, she really had been.

They were now approaching the library entrance. "Me too! I'm so excited!" Hermione said. "This is my first Christmas that me and Ron are together! And also the first one I get to spend with my cousin!" They both giggled as they entered the library and sat down at their usual table in the back corner. "And the Rave is going to be so great!" Hermione continued as she unpacked her homework from her bag.

"If we find it" Maggie said pulling out a nail file from her purse.

"Of course we will!" Hermione replied. "And maybe you will get to dance with Malfoy!"

"Maybe" Maggie said with a grin.

Hermione started her homework and Maggie continued filing her nails. Hermione was probably right, she was safe at Hogwarts. It was one of the safest places in the world. She shivered involuntarily. Ok now she was going paranoid. She totally felt someone watching her. She stared at her nails, too scared to look up and see him. But she finally forced herself to look up.

She glanced at the nearest table in front of her and found herself staring into a pair of dark eyes. It was a girl with tanned skin and dark brown hair. It was Scarlett, Draco's cousin. She just sat there starring. She had a small frown on and a suspicious look in her eyes.

Weird. She didn't even know the girl. Sure she had a few classes with her but she was a Slytherin so they had never talked. Scarelett's eyebrows twitched into a glare as she saw Maggie notice her and she dropped her gaze.

Too weird. Maggie finished the last nail and put the file back in her purse. Hermione looked up from, what appeared to be, an essay that she was working on. "Class starts soon. I love Hagrid but I'm really not in the mood for class today" she said.

"Scarlett Lungarde was starring at me like she was watching me" Maggie said, still feeling creeped out.

Hermione shrugged "She probably just hates you 'cause she's Malfoy's cousin."

"I guess" Maggie said, standing up. "I'm going to stop at the Common Room and get a warmer coat. See you in class?"

"Sure" said Hermione. "I'm going to stay and work on this a little longer. Can you grab my brown hat and scarf while you're there?"

"No problem. See you soon!" Maggie answered, taking her purse and leaving. She shuddered as she walked by Scarlett. What if the girl was, like, a spy for Spencer?"

Busy with her thoughts, she slammed right into someone. She fell back but strong arms caught her. She looked up slowly into the face of Draco.

A/N: Thanks for reading! Hehe the bumping into scenerio is so...what's a good word...cliche? But it's fun! Hehe

Once again sorry for no updates for so long. I am being an au pair in France until summer and have been pretty busy getting ready to come, working full time, and just being here. But yea things have calmed down somewhat so I am hopeing to work on my stories (this and Save Me) more which means more updates. Keep an eye on Save Me I'm hoping to finish the next chapter tomorow or so.