AN: Thank you so much to those who read the last chapter. I'm as surprised as you that this chapter came so quickly, thank Oliver Boyd and the Remembralls. Their music got me into a writing frenzy :)
As always, I do not own this. If I did then Sirius, Remus, Fred and Tonks would still be alive.

CHAPTER 3 – Lost and Lonely

Waking up the next morning reminded me somewhat of my very first morning at Hogwarts 6 years ago. For some reason Ness was still refusing to talk to me. I didn't understand how being caught up in thoughts about possibly having lost one of my best friends would have annoyed her so much. There was definitely something else going on here, and I desperately needed to figure out what it was.
The Great Hall was abuzz with the usual start of term activity and noise. I spotted Ness sitting at the Gryffindor table on her own, hoping for the best I decided that now was the best time to join her and discover what was wrong. As I slid in beside her she pushed away her goblet of pumpkin juice and half eaten toast before flouncing away from the table. I didn't get it. What had I done wrong? My confusion was short lived as a short sharp voice brought me back.
"Miss Malfoy, you are cutting it very fine to make it to your first class." My timetable landed on the table and I realised McGonagall was right. I had 2 minutes to make it to Charms with Flitwick. Launching myself back from the table, nearly wiping out a couple of first years in the process, I sprinted towards the stairs. Taking the stairs two at a time I made it to Charms with only seconds to spare.
"Good morning class," the tiny Professor squeaked. "Welcome back to N.E.W.T. level Charms. As you know we have much to cover this year, so if you would please open your books to page 58 and begin reading."
Flipping my book open I stared blankly at the page allowing my mind to wander.

"Good morning first years, I am Professor Flitwick and I will be guiding you on your spell casting journey through Hogwarts." Squeaked the dwarfish Professor from atop his pile of books. "As a start, who can describe the difference between a hex and a jinx?"
A few tentative hands hovered in the air, either nobody knew the answer or nobody wanted to be seen as knowing the answer. With an overwhelming need to prove myself I thrust my hand into the air.
"There is no real difference sir. A hex and a jinx are both just more playful forms of darker magic; often used to play pranks on others." Professor Flitwick nodded happily.
"Very good Miss Malfoy, 5 points to Slyth… I mean Gryffindor." I smiled proudly, refusing to allow Flitwick's near automatic response of Slytherin to annoy me. I knew I could do this. I could be a Malfoy in Gryffindor.

"Miss Malfoy? Did you hear me?"
I could hear the sniggers of other classmates as Professor Flitwick tried to get my attention. Clearly he had noticed that I wasn't totally there.
"Sorry Professor. I got a bit caught up in my thoughts. What did you ask me?"
"I asked if you would please demonstrate the geminio charm on the pillow in front of you..." I smiled happily, I had mastered geminio back in 5th year. "… Non-verbally." My smile quickly faded, I hadn't read any of the text from the book so I hoped I was doing it right. Chanting the incantation in my head I waved my wand. Nothing happened so I tried again. Nothing, again.
"5 points from Gryffindor for failing to pay attention and not reading the material assigned." I sighed audibly, today was just not my day.

I collapsed onto my bed. Today had been the longest day in forever. Without Ness to talk to every class had dragged for what felt like days; on top of that I was completely distracted and incapable of paying attention in nearly every class. I think I lost more house points today than I've ever lost in an entire year.
"Damn you George Weasley. This is all your fault!" I screamed into my pillow even though I knew deep down that he was only trying to protect me. It's not his fault that I'm like a sister to him. I decided it was better to hide up here than face my house at dinner; by now most of them will have seen the lost house points and word will have travelled that I lost them.
"Damn you Vanessa!" I screamed again. I was still completely bewildered as to what I had missed on the train. I blinked back tears at the loss of two friendships in the course of two months, what was wrong with me?

I opened my eyes to find Ginny Weasley shaking me.
"Celeste, I've been looking everywhere for you. Professor Snape sent me after you didn't show up for your detention. He's threatening a whole month if you're not there in 5 minutes."
I sat bolt upright. I had totally forgotten about my detention for punching Draco. I didn't even remember falling asleep. Leaping off my bed, I grabbed my shoes and sprinted out the dormitory and down the stairs, praying to Merlin that I would make it to the dungeons in 5 minutes. I really didn't need a month of detentions although I will probably lose more points for being late. This day really couldn't get any worse.

I made it to the dungeons with seconds to spare and breathing heavily from my 7 floor sprint.
"Miss Malfoy. What a pleasure. Enjoy your dinner did you? Nice leisurely stroll down here? 20 points from Gryffindor for your tardiness." Snape was certainly not pleased to see me. "Tonight you are going to clean the back 3 cauldrons. My first year class decided not to listen to instructions and their cauldrons exploded all over the ceiling. I'm sure it will be nice and dry now."
I sighed again; more lost points. I just didn't see how my day could get worse, at least until I reached the cauldron explosion. Snape wasn't kidding, the stuff was like cement, what on Earth were they making to get it to explode like that.

I arrived back in the dormitory 4 hours later with a stiff back and aching shoulders. I couldn't believe that Snape had made me work past midnight and not allow me to use my wand to clean some of the toughest stuff off the ceiling. Of course all of the girls in my dorm were fast asleep, all except Ness. Where was she? I hadn't seen her as I made my way back to Gryffindor tower, hiding from Filch and Peeves. It's nearly impossible to go anywhere after about 10pm. changing into my pyjamas I could hear a funny noise coming from the bathroom. It sounded as though someone was being sick, that had to be where Ness was. I debated not going in to see her, after all she seemed to be avoiding me like the plague these days but after hearing a sob followed by more retching, I knew I had to do something. Knocking on the door I gently pushed it open and slowly walked in.
"Ness? Vanessa? Are you okay? Do I need to get Madam Pomfrey?"
I heard more sobbing from the end cubicle followed by the flush of a toilet. The door opened and an extremely pale and shaky Vanessa emerged from the cubicle looking visibly shaken at the thought of fetching the matron.
"There's no point Lessie, she'll just tell me what I already know. What I tried to tell you on the train."
"Ness… What's going on?" Vanessa let out one last sob before looking me straight in the eye. She knew I was listening this time.
"Celeste, I'm pregnant."