A/N: XD I'm listening to Korn and typing this at the same time, so we'll see how this goes, lol. I was hoping for one more review before I typed this, but oh well. Lucky for you guys, I just felt like typing . Anywho, this chapter … reveals a lot of … things. XD I can't explain, just read it! And REVIEW! Oh, and by the way, this chapter has points of view skip around a lot. I'm sorry about that, but I tried to make it more or less clear.

Draco walked closer to the tapestry, hardly believing his own eyes. The tapestry was hanging in shreds, truly like those after the fury of a bear. And hanging from one of the shreds still attached to the backing, was…a necklace? It had a simple gold chain, with a piece of red-tinted quartz. But…that red tint. Draco frowned, and rubbed at it slightly with the corner of his sleeve. Internally, he recoiled as it smudged off and he realized it was blood.

'What in hellfire? What's going on? Why didn't we hear any ripping noises or something?'

He blushed, trying not to think of Hermione much, and the reason his blood was still pounding through him. Frowning, he pocketed the necklace, and set off for the Great Hall, intent on finding a certain bushy-haired bookworm.

Hermione had just arrived in the Great Hall. The tables weren't complete filled yet, and they wouldn't be for at least a half hour or something, but she could see Ron, Harry, and Ginny at the Griffyndor table, along with others. Taking a deep breath seeing the murderous look on Ron's face, she walked to the table with a determined expression, putting all thoughts of her roommate out of her mind. But she couldn't help hearing a little voice in her head as she neared the table. "Is that all he is, Hermione?"

It was Ginny who saw her first. The young girl's first reaction was to smile, but then her eyes grew worried as she glanced at the two across from her. Not a good sign. Hermione sat down next to Harry. "Hi." She steeled herself for the worst. Ron pointedly ignored her, while Ginny quietly ate her breakfast. The only one who responded was Harry.

His eyes were more confused than anything, but at least he wasn't denying her existence. " 'Mione? What's Ron on about?"

Hermione thought she might faint.

"You mean…he didn't tell you?" Harry narrowed his eyes, snorting. "He walked over here, muttered something to Ginny, and has since been sitting there like a rock. … An angry one."

Hermione tried to keep her eyes on Harry, but she couldn't help noticing how Ron's fork was trembling with so much anger, his fried eggs were splattering all over his lap. Biting her lip, she said, "Um, D-Malfoy and I were talking this morning, and I shattered my cup on accident." Silently she showed him (and coincidentally, Ron too, she wasn't about to only have one friend), and continued. "There was this big piece in my hand, and I was OK, I used that spell we learned in Herbology last year, when Neville managed to shatter every pot, to disinfect it. But D-Malfoy saw the blood, and was…concerned. I mean hey, he's human, and it was a good bit of blood. Anyways, he was looking at it, when Ron came in, and the way we were standing, it was a little awkward, but not what Ron was thinking."

She prayed they would believe her half-truth. 'I might as well put Draco into a good light if he's supposedly to seduce me to his side within a few days...'

Harry nodded, accepting the story with ease. And Ron had his eyes down, looking slightly guilty.

The only thing that concerned Hermione was the look on Ginny's face. Disbelief.

And…mischief?

Draco stormed through the halls. 'Damn, you'd think people wouldn't just stand in the hallways, gawking. What the hell are they staring at?' Frustrated, he tried to make a group of first-years move, but they refused, all staring up at the wall. Growling, he looked too, and was speechless. Looking up and down the hallway, he realized it was everywhere. Every single painting, tapestry, basically anything hanging on the walls, had been ripped in the same manner as their tapestry/door had been.

Rhea sighed.

She was outside, standing by the lake, which was already frozen over even though it wasn't even October yet. Well actually, she wasn't exactly standing. She was lying on a tree branch, calmly drawing the lake scene in the early morning light. Or, that's how it looked to passersby anyways. But inside, she was filled with grief, remorse, and most painfully…fear.

She couldn't even go inside. There she'd have to take off her gloves, and her hat, in order to avoid strange looks. Despite the fact she knew she'd have to go eventually, it was something she couldn't do. Because if she did…they'd see the claws and the cat ears on top of her head. And…she wasn't ready yet. She still had to deal with her little problem.

She sighed internally.

'This makes no sense. Why are my neko youkai instincts acting up? I'm not stupid, I saw the damage, I felt what radiated from it. But…why? I haven't had a feeling like this since…' It hurt to think about the old days. 'Since everyone else in the group was…oh Kami.'

She struggled not to think about that. 'Is this all because of Draco? How he hurt me? Truthfully, there's no way I loved him. But it's like my mind is at peace, but my body is furious... I'm a danger to others. I'm going to have to leave...'

Struck with the sad realization, she started to cry. She cried for old friends, old lovers, memories and pain. Cried for the past, cried for the future. And mostly…she cried because it hurt too much to keep holding it in.

But before long, old instincts, the ones so easily returning after being shunned and suppressed for years, forced her to stop crying, stop showing weakness to potential enemies.

There was a pit in her stomach. In all truth, she knew her instincts could come back whenever they wanted. 'I don't know what to do...'

Professor Dumbledore was petting Fawkes when he heard about the school damage. Professor McGonagall had sent him an urgent owl. And now he was sitting gravely in his chair, watching her pale, frightened face, as she described it all. He frowned, not really listening, because she was in such a frightened state she was repeating herself.

'This is what I feared... However, there is nothing to be done, but to repair the damage and hope for the best.'

"Minerva." He interrupted. "Please, dear woman, calm yourself. Things are not as bad as they seem. Get all of the Prefects and the Heads casting repairment spells all around the castle."

The Transfiguration teacher, normally so un-shakable, was gaping at him. "But…sir! What if it was He-who-must-not-be-named?!"

He smiled kindly. "It wasn't. Lemon drop?"

'He's lost his mind. He's offering me a candy, at such a crucial time?! How?! Unless…'

"Professor Dumbledore, do you know who was behind the attacks? And for heaven's sakes, what should I tell the staff?"

He was gazing out the window, almost lost in a reverie of far-off times in a different world, a very different world. "My dear Minerva, this was not an attack." She sat, pale and frightened, waiting for him to continue. And so he did, playing idly with his beard, not looking at her. "It was…a loss of control. Please, my dear, ask no more. As for the staff, tell them the truth. Things will be fine. And if it happens again, we shall fix it again."

The Headmaster was making no sense to the teacher, but she had to respect his wishes. So bowing her head slightly, she exited the office. But what shook her to the core was what she saw as she turned around to close the door behind her. It was small, silver, and barely there, but it was. There, that is. A small tear, traveling down his wizened face.

Draco was still standing where he had stopped. It was like trying to convince him 1 plus 2 is 15. Hogwarts being damaged to this extent was unthinkable. Suddenly he realized someone was standing behind him. He turned, to see the new D.A.D.A. professor, Professor Depp. The teacher was staring at the wall also. But unlike everyone else, he wasn't shocked.

He was…sad?

"Professor?" he asked uncertainly. He never received a reply.

Before he could try again, Professor McGonagall came striding down the hall, determinedly not looking at the walls. "All of you, to the Great Hall. Not you Mr. Malfoy. And Professor Depp, a word please."

So Draco was left standing there, now getting an even better look at the horrible sights up and down the hall. Frowning, he stepped closer as the professors whispered about something. Running his hands over what used to be a painting of some monks, he withdrew his hand sharply as he felt a stinging pain. But when he backed up, he bumped intosomeone. And that someone was Rhea.

Rhea muttered something under her breath as she looked at the ferret, her hat and gloves firmly on. 'Just my luck.'

But before she could even say anything, Draco took a deep breath and said, "Look. We were only together for a couple days, but I realize I didn't handle things the best way. I can understand if you're angry at me. I'm sorry for hurting you, and for doing it in such a public place too."

'Did I just apologize? Is Hermione having this much of an effect on me? It's all physical what I'm feeling for the bookworm... isn't it?'

Rhea wasn't sure if she should cry or burst out laughing. Not sure she was strong enough for either, she settled for a weak smile. "Don't worry about it. It's fine. I guess we.. weren't meant to be." She smiled again, and Draco felt a great weight fall off of his shoulders.

She continued, smiling weakly still, "Good luck, with you and Hermione."

He frowned. "Hermione and I aren't together." 'Yet...'

She smiled a little more this time. "Not yet you aren't. I could see it the very first day I came here; there's sparks between you two..." Leaving Draco stunned, she walked away, smirking when she met the eyes of Professor Depp.

Professor Depp immedidately said, "Ms. O'Malley? I would appreciate it if you would kindly come with me to my office for a moment." His eyes, too, had a sparkle in them. Like an inside joke, just between them two.

As Rhea followed him, she thought to herself, 'Don't worry about hurting me Draco... My body is angry at you, but I'm not... Not anymore...'

Back at the Great Hall, the first years had come back. And before long, the tale of the horrible damage they had seen was traveling from table to table. Even Slytherin looked slightly unsettled. After all, if that kind of damage could be inflicted to the castle, it could be inflicted on them too.

At the Griffyndor table, everyone was silently listening to the tale from another student. But Hermione's stomach was knotted with guilt. 'How could I have not noticed all of this on my way here? Am I so selfish that I didn't even give the ghastly sights my time of day?' She was nibbling worriedly on her lips, but no one really noticed. After all, everyone was worried.

How could anyone feel safe now?

How could anyone concentrate on his or her studies or friends?

A frazzled McGonagall and a stunned Draco were the only ones left in the hallway.

In a strained voice, she said, "Mr. Malfoy. Professor Dumbledore is not worried about these…this damage."

She cleared her throat. "So, he wants all the Prefects and you and Ms. Granger, to repair it all. The simple Reparo spell should be sufficient. If it isn't, please come see one of us. Any questions?"

He shook his head. 'This will be okay...' he thought to himself as McGonagall strode away. 'But I still have no idea how Hermione and I are supposed to pretend to be in love... Can I have help with that?'

A/N: Gah, I am so sorry if that's confusing! Lol, I just hate giving stuff away. REVIEW!

Dictionary

Neko- cat

Youkai- demon

Kami- God

Reiki- Spirit energy

Enma- in Japanese mythology, God