A/N: Continuing the story.......the cliffhanger was a killer, especially because I haven't gotten anything yet. I'm sorry, my freakin' computer is being so...ugh, I'm so sorry. I'm updating two chapters at once to make up for it. And I am sorry.

June 25, 1998. Day Seven, 8:35PM

I heard screams, and all thoughts from my head vanished. It was coming right at me, seconds away when I finally snapped out from my reverie and dived. I slid on the ground into the feet of people. With a deafening crash, the chandelier broken into pieces, skittering above my form. I was still in absolute shock as I slowly helped myself up, holding my bleeding arms, which were full of cuts. Draco was across the giant pile of glass, looking pale and horrified. I sighed, looking around for anyone who was moving. Why had the chandelier fallen? I looked among the sparkling glass.

"Well, come on, move away, so I can get some maids to clean this up," Blaise said worriedly, calling for the maids.

"Wait!" I exclaimed before they could dispose of it. The crowd of shell-shocked people looked at me. I carefully stepped among glass, and something orange caught my eyes. I picked it up, shaking the glass from it, and I stared at it, confused. Then I looked down at the top of the chandelier and gasped.

All of the wires had been cut cleanly to the same exact length. I looked at the object in my hand and realized what it was. It was an Ever-Bashing Boomerang; I had confiscated some at Hogwarts before. But what really got me was the fact that there was a huge blade going across the side. I searched my memory; Ever-Bashing Boomerangs hit a target repeatedly and stops when the thrower desires. If the wires were cut and there was evidence...I gasped.

"Someone was trying to murder me," I said in a hushed voice. Draco, not caring about the glass, carefully stepped around it and hugged me.

"That's ridiculous," Blaise said. "Why would anyone try and kill you?" I gulped. I knew several reasons why, but there was no doubt about it; whoever had been following me knew I was Hermione.

"Oh, really? Wires cut cleanly with no fraying, an Ever-Bashing Boomerang sold in Diagon Alley with a blade stuck in the side, and I was standing under it. A little more than a coincidence," I said simply. "So who did it?"

"Listen, Claire, this isn't a game of Clue, no one is trying to kill you," he said to me.

I was a bit taken aback. "What, you don't believe me?"

"It's not that, but.." he sighed, shrugging at Blaise. "Let's just get this cleaned up and we'll have a good time, I promise it." I looked at the group of people to see anyone suspicious, but everyone was plain frightened. Even Pansy Parkinson and her friends were quite scared.

"Okay, maids," Blaise beckoned and several women came, cleaning up the mess with sucking the glass into their wands. I gave a dissatisfied sigh, folding my arms and trying to be mature about it.

"Listen, everything is fine," Draco said. "You're safe, and that's what important." I looked at him stiffly then walked away towards the open door, where a huge in ground pool lay and one of the biggest back porches I had ever seen there. Like Draco's backyard, there was a flower bed, except with tons of lilies in bloom. Lilies made me think of Harry's mother. It made me think of Harry.

Hopefully he's in a better place, he saved us all. He's probably up there, playing Quidditch with Sirius and his dad, with his mum on the sidelines cheering on her brilliant son and Dumbledore, chuckling at the battle of father and son with Lily. I didn't know much about Quidditch, but I knew Harry was up there, kicking their arses at it. I sat down on the cement steps, taking off my suede shoes and rubbing my shoulders; it had become inconsiderably cold.

I wondered where Blaise's parents were, and I wondered where Draco's parents were also.

Most of all, I wondered where my parents were.

I was surprised when footsteps came from behind me, i turned around, getting up and saw Blaise there.

"Hi, Claire, is it?" I nodded and he sat next to me, peering out into the night. "How is Draco?"

"He's wonderful," I said, starting to get a bit uneasy. I got up, putting on my suede shoes again and looking down, amazed.

"You built a crystal garden!" I exclaimed, kneeling down to look at the blue, red, green and pink crystals forming on the lump of coal in several egg cartons. I remembered reading about a Muggle project for forming crystals.

"Just a bit of-"

"Ammonia, liquid bluing, water, and food coloring," I said softly. "You've been to the Muggle stores?" I asked, being careful not to crush the crystals on the coal. (A/N: We made these in school, they are quite pretty.)

"Quite a lot of them," He said, looking at the admirably. "Just some project I started, just to make the garden look beautiful."

"They really are!" I said, eyes transfixed on them. When I got back off of my knees, I blushed, realized how close Blaise was standing in front of me. But, to my surprise, he didn't move.

"You know, I was really surprised what an interesting and brilliant young woman Draco had began dating," he said, coming closer.

"Yeah," I said quickly. "Draco might be needing me, I must go-"

"No, don't, stay," he insisted, playfully pushing me. "You can do so much better. Why live in that huge shack when you can stay with me?"

"I-I like that house. It may be old and rotting, but it's beautiful! I painted the inside, and it looks marvelous!" I said, hands on hips, sweeping black curls out of my face.

"But, my place has so much more," he said, moving towards me again. I was backed against the wall.

"He's your best mate," I whimpered.

"Not much of one once he find out what I have he doesn't," he said in my ear, then kissed me, hard, against the lips. My hands were wide open, around my head as if I had a large dome. I was freaked out; but there was one thing that made me wake up and realize what he was doing.

His kiss wasn't the same as Draco's, and it never would be same. I pushed him, hard on the chest and he blushed, embarrassed. I backed away from him.

"Don't ever..go near me or Draco again," I said softly, but when I hit the screen door, I jumped and turned around. Of course, I saw Draco standing there, his face stoic and his normally warm, misty gray eyes were nor misty, nor gray but narrowed and so cold, shivers ran up and down my spine.

"Draco.." I said softly, and he let out a shuddering breath before turning on the spot and walking out of sight. I hit my head on the sliding door, my hands basically glued to it. I closed my eyes. This wouldn't be good.

"Like I said, never go near us or our home again," I said quietly to Blaise before turning on the spot. But nothing happened.

"You can only Disapparate here, you can't Apparate away," he noted. I looked over the large fence; there were brooms lined up against the wall, belonging to them.

"Great," I muttered, knowing that Draco had taken the broom. Rubbing my shoulders and wondering how far away his house was. I walked out the front, down the granite steps, and outside of the gates, walking on the sidewalk.

I couldn't believe Blaise would even touch me, let alone kiss me. Draco was going to be furious, I could already tell. Looking around at the houses and other suburbs around, I let out a choked sob. I really proved how much of an idiot I could be. But anyways, on a darker subject, someone had cut those wires. I bet it was-

"AH!" I screamed, falling over and hitting my head on the sidewalk. Pain shot through the back of my head, and I whimpered as stars spun in front of my face. I moved the curls out of my ace and saw the large triple decked bus, lights on and all. I was expecting to see Stan Shunpike standing there, giving a friendly "'Ello, 'ello, 'Ermione!" as he usually did when I needed transportation from my Grimmauld Place. But instead, a man with short blonde hair, wearing a white blouse with a jacket, a hat, and a pair of black slacks.

"Hello, I'm Tommy," he said, his focus really on something else as he looked over his shoulder. "Get on, get on, now!" I stared, confused for a couple minutes, then, taking the pole, hopped onto the platform. I saw many beds lined up full of people.

"Might be hard to find a seat," he said. "We're full tonight." I nodded, but found one bed left empty in the front. He surveyed me.

"Who are you?"

"H-Claire." I said, almost saying my real name. He nodded, stroking his chin with stubble on it.

"Where you going?"

"The park, around Malfoy Manor," I said. He nodded.

"Hear that Death Eater Malfoy's ghost still lives there," he said. I rolled my eyes and he looked over his shoulder. "The park, near the Malfoy bloke's old manor, Ern." The old bus driver, with grayer hair and wider glasses, sighed, muttering something with the word "Stan" and "nickname" in it.

After an extremely painful two minutes, with my hair sticking up in all directions and my vision doubling, I stumbled out of the Knight Bus and onto the sidewalk, near the park. I took off towards the house. The lights were on, which was a good sign. Wasn't it?

I carefully opened the door with a loud creak, and shut it.

"Draco? Draco?" I called. "Come now, we must talk." But no one responded. Feeling an ache deep in my heart, I walked around upstairs. I went into his room, but he was no where to be found. I pushed tears back; was he hurt? I began to worry, going back down and sitting on the sofa, heart thumping. If I were Draco and I saw something I didn't need to see, where would I go? I thought for a couple minutes, then realized it. I went back upstairs, and, changing into a t-shirt and long black skirt, I swept a cloak over me and Disapparated to Hogsmeade, particularly to The Leaky Cauldron.

------------------------------------------------

I nervously rubbed my shoulders over me, for the bar at night was full of drunken people. I looked around and remembered not to look for tousled, blonde hair and gray eyes, but black hair. He must've been smart enough to change. It was so noisy, and I decided the best thing to do was to get a little drink to blend in.

"A small firewiskey, maybe half a cup," I said to the young man who was running the bar. He nodded, taking out a washcloth and clean glass, taking the bottle of cold, icy white liquid. I marveled how it looked when he poured it; the top turned a simmering blue and red, fizzing loudly. When the drink settled, I nodded, giving him a Galleon and leaning against the bar, surveying the crowd.

What if he was out with some girl, flirting and kissing, deciding he doesn't need me anymore as Ron did? But I shook my head, trying not to think of such thoughts, for they were ridiculous. A drunken man snuck up on me, his hands in a ready position. His beard was scraggly and brown, with gray and i wondered how old he was.

"'Ello, there, pretty-tay lady," he drawled.

"Please, I'm looking for my boyfriend. Leave me alone," I said, trying to maintain polite.

"Oh, you don't need him," he whispered, giving me chills as he snaked a hand around me.

"Please, go away," I whimpered.

"Stay with me," he said drunkenly again. I gagged at his foul breath before seizing his shoulders and pushing him away, disgusted.

"I said leave the hell ALONE!" I shouted, and with that push, he hit a nearby table, scratched his head, and glared at me, walking away.

"T-too bad you couldn't do that earlier," I heard someone said behind me. I turned around to see Draco, staggering as he walked up to me.

"Draco, I'm sorry, now please, can we go home so we can talk?" i asked, gently touching his arm.

"D-don't you touch me, you little whore!" he yelled at me, gripping my arm tightly and pushing it away. Looking down at my bruised ring of skin. I glared up at him dangerously, but tried to maintain a nice voice.

"Please, can we go?" I asked. "I'll explain everything later, Draco."

"No!" he shouted, and this time he pushed me against the barstool before Disapparating away. I sighed. So much for chasing after him.