Disclaimer: some people asked me why I'm writing this all these characters belong to J. K. Rowling, and I'll never make any money for it. I tell them it's just for the love of writing.

A/N: I just want to say sorry for not posting the story yesterday. I went to go see Harry Potter ootp, so I figured everybody else did as well. The last chapter and this one were originally one big chapter but I cut it, that's why it might be a little short. I like this part better than the last so I hope you enjoy. Also thanks for the reviews even though I wasn't handling business.

p.s – who's going to the borders release party on the 20th

Lets Start-----------------------------------------------------------------------.

CHAPTER #7: Family

"Come on, let's go find the other Slytherins." Draco said looking over his shoulder to Hermione, Blaise and Pansy. They were just boarding the Hogwarts Express, heading home for Christmas.

"- umm you guys go ahead. I'm going to go find Ginny." Hermione replied. Yes, the other Slytherins were nicer to her, than the other Gryffindors but sitting in a compartment full of them was not her idea of fun.

" You sure." Blaise asked

"Yeah I'll be fine." With that she walked further down the corridor looking for Ginny's bright red hair. She had looked through almost all the compartment windows when she finally spotted her hair. "Ginny there you are I've been looking for you everywhere!" she proclaimed opening the door.

Looking around all see seen was Harry and Ron staring at her from their chess game. No Ginny. She stared back at them then looked behind her, to the empty corridor. Turning back to him.

" – Sorry I thought you were Ginny," she said looking at Ron. At this Harry started laughing, looking at Ron's angry face.

"Don't be mad mate, you and Ginny do kind of look alike." He said laughing harder.

"N-no I didn't mean it like that." Hermione stuttered. " I meant your hair, I saw your hair through the glass and thought you were Ginny. Look can you tell her I'm looking for her." She turned to leave when Harry stopped her.

"Stay, she'll be here any minute." She turned to look at him, and then at Ron. They hadn't spoken once to her and now he was offering her a seat. She looked them over once more before walking in and closing the door. Hermione sat down next to Ron and across from Harry and watched them play their game, in silence.

"You went to school in American right?" Harry asked breaking the awkward silence.

" Yeah I lived in California with my great aunt, she home schooled me." Hermione answered.

She and Harry went on with this conversation for half an hour. He asked simple questions and they keep it impersonal. Ron hadn't said anything the whole way until he asked.

"Did you always know your dad was a deatheater or is this something totally new to you?"

She stared at him in shock for a while. Not knowing if she should answer or ignore it. Ron had never been one for bluntness before, what was she suppose to say. She settled for say nothing and gawking at him in disbelief.

"Ron!" Harry shouted seeing the look on her face.

"No Harry, I'm not trying to be mean, I just want to know if she knew he was a deatheater, if not we should warn her that her brothers one too.

"Ignore him, he's just needs some food in his system." Harry said trying to make light out of the situation. But Ron had other plans.

" Don't lie to her, she should know her brothers following in her fathers foot steps. I wouldn't be surprised if he walked in here right now and try to kill me, just like his father tried. He's nothing but scum and you should know the truth about your loving brother."

Both Hermione and Harry were shocked by Ron's outburst. Neither said anything, but for different reasons. Harry because he had never heard his friend talk openly about that night and Hermione, she was furious. How dare he.

"Take that back!" she hissed trying to calm herself down. She didn't even understand why she was so mad, all she knew was the last time she was this angry, she had killed Lucius and murdering her best friend didn't seem like a good idea at the moment.

But Ron was on a roll and had no intention to stop now. " Why, truth hurts to much, Malfoy. Get over it, the sooner you accept the truth the better. "

Hermione didn't notice herself jump from her seat, her wand pointed straight at Ron. Nor did she hear the incantation being screamed for her mouth. All she knew was a moment later she was breathing hard and Ron was growing tentacles. She could feel the tears rolling down her cheek and see Harry's bewildered expression. She didn't know what spell she had used or what to say to Harry. So she did the only logical thing. She turned and ran as fast as she could out the compartment.

She opened the Slytherin compartment with the tears still flowing freely down her face. Draco Pansy and Blaise stood instantly seeing the distraught look upon her face.

" What's wrong?" Pansy said pulling out her wand.

" Did someone hurt you" Blaise asked, his face twisted in rage.

"No, I'm fine," she said walking in and slumping down in an empty seat. " I just hexed Ron, no big deal." She looked around at the three still standing Slytherins and sighed. " Sit down, I'm fine." Draco had a shocked look on his face and she could she the questions flash in his eyes. But it was Pansy who spoke first.

" You cursed the weasel?"

"Yeah" she said shrugging

"Why?" Blaise asked next.

She looked down at the ground than up at Draco. " He called you a deatheater." She said simply.

"Me?" Draco replied pointing to himself.

"Yeah, Look its no big deal okay. I already hexed him for it and he's probably still growing tentacles as we speak. No need to get revenge." she was looking around at the Slytherins who still looked unconvinced when Draco asked.

" Why you do it?" He had this look on her face that Hermione had never seen before. It was like pride mixed with shock and something she couldn't put her finger on. She looked him straight in the eyes. He had been the only one she could really talk to lately. He never pushed her to talk or criticize her when she missed her friends and longed to talk to them. No, he was just there when she needed him and kept everyone off her back when she needed space. Surprising, as it was he had became a friend, even more he was. What was he what good word described what he was to her now? Then it clicked.

"Family. No body messes with my family, but me."

Draco smirked at this." Family huh?"