disclaimer: I do not own any of J.K. Rowlings characters or concepts.

Also,

sorry it took so long to update. been very busy as i will be moving in a few weeks!

Anyway...I'll try to update the rest tomorrow...but here is chapter eleven and I know its rather short but, don't worry, Hermione's second detention with Snapewill be posted very soon! - smiles-

Thanks again for the continued reviewing and for taking the time to read my story!

-boots!

Thomas Crow gently stepped off the carriage and advanced towards the menacing snakestone gates of the Malfoy Mansion. It was castle-like, with high stone walls, tiered towers and a slopping rooftop. Thomas, was quite in awe of the magnificent stronghold and stood for a long time just staring at the far-reaching grounds.

"Well…come on then" Draco ordered his new friend.

The gates seemed to whine and wince as they opened and in the distance the Malfoy's guard dogs, Tiberius and Byron, barked and bellowed at the imminent return of their young master. Thomas followed Draco up the winding stone walkway to the main door. As they approached, a striking, blonde woman, dressed in a midnight blue dinner gown, appeared at the door with open arms to welcome home her spoiled son.

"Mother!" Every slimy pretense or conceited manner had all at once melted away as the young Slytherin warmly embraced his mother. Thomas observed this transformation closely.

"And you must be Draco's friend…?"

"Thomas, Mrs. Malfoy…My name is Thomas Crow."

"Crow? Are you by any chance related to one Phineus Crow! We were in school together!"

"Yes I am Mrs. Malfoy…he's my… he was my father"

"Oh" Narcissa suddenly realized the heaviness of her faux pas. "I'm sorry Thomas, I didn't realize"

"It's alright Mrs. Malfoy, he died a long time ago"

"Please Thomas, call me Narcissa"

"Draco?" a sharp voice called from inside the house. "Ah…welcome home dear boy" Lucius Malfoy appeared behind Narcissa and awkwardly shook his son's hand. Noticing the tall boy standing near his wife, he inquired "And you are?"

"Thomas Crow, sir and may I say it is an honor to be a guest in your home. There are too few pureblood wizards these days with decent sociable decorum or sense of pride." Thomas had impeccable manners and even bowed graciously to Lucius who was all too obliged to be treated with such formal respect.

Narcissa grinned at the boy's sudden formalities. "Draco, I dare say you could learn a thing or two from your new companion".

"Please boys, come inside. Dinner should be ready shortly and in the meantime, Mr. Crow – I should very much like to get to know you better."

Hermione walked for a long time, not knowing where she was headed. She dragged her feet down the hall and looked up the stairs at the fat lady's portrait. She turned, as if by instinct, and made her way through the outdoor courtyard. The snow crunched under her shoes and the rain had turned to a light sprinkle. She didn't want to see anyone, not even her friends. At this moment, all she wanted was the pure solitude of the quiet winter season. The Whomping Willow shook its branches in the distance as if it was chilled to its bones. Hermione looked out at the empty sky as she rounded the castle and headed toward Black Lake. That emptiness was what she felt all over. She had woken up this morning feeling closer than ever to the truth when she really had very little to go on; yet now – with even more information, she felt helplessly lost. Her hair blew gently around her face and her cheeks became flushed with life as she continued to make her way down the hillside to the lake's edge. She couldn't begin to imagine what her "next move" would be. If Dumbledore was telling the truth, there would be no reference of her mother anywhere at Hogwarts; and Hogwarts was really all she had – or was it? She reminded herself of the postcards and felt a little warmth return to her heart. She could still figure it out. She had planned on using the stolen blood replenishing potion to restock her blood and the blood, that in her desperation for answers, she was planning on forcibly taking from her muggle parents for DNA testing. Those potions were no longer needed. However, the Veritaserum and memory potions could still serve a purpose in her quest.

The light rain had turned to even lighter snow and small flakes collected on the surface of the lake. Hermione sat on a rock under a willow tree. Why had her mother owled that message to Dumbledore the night she was born? Furthermore, what did it say? Why would she have changed her mind about the said guardians? Who were they? Her mind was racing. She looked out at the water. It seemed so bitter – everything about the frigid atmosphere seemed bitter and unrelenting. Hermione was starting to shiver and she hugged herself tightly against the chill as she stood to head back towards the castle. But something caught her eye down near the water's edge. It was a man… he was tall…he appeared to holding a bouquet of lilies…he was dressed all in black…he was…Professor Snape?

Hermione dropped down to hide behind the rock she had been seated at. What was he doing out here and with flowers no less! She studied her teacher closely. He looked so different outside in the open air, as opposed to lurking through dark corridors or sitting with his arms eternally crossed behind that large desk. He knelt down on one knee and placed the lilies on the snowy ground. He stayed there for awhile, staring out at the open water. Hermione was in actuality less surprised than she probably would have been seven years prior. Professor Snape had always struck her as being a fragile man. Not that she wasn't as terrified of him as everyone else – but she recognized something in him that she now recognized in herself; an ache where his heart may have once been.

After another moment, he slowly stood and headed up the hill back to Hogwarts. Hermione watched him cautiously and waited till he was out of view before emerging from her hiding spot. She rushed over to the abandoned flowers and lifted one out the soft snow blanket that it was cradled in. Why had he done this? Had he lost someone on this bit of earth? Had he lost his mind? Hermione held the frozen little lily between her icy palms and looked out at Black Lake once more before beginning her long walk back to the library.

"So…what should we do?" Ron stuffed a chocolate frog into his mouth and nervously looked at Harry. "I mean, we can't just go up to her and say 'Hey Hermione, thanks for lying to us…how've you been?'…can we?"

Harry leaned against the wall, still gripping the postcard. It would have to be handled delicately. He didn't want to upset Hermione, but he certainly didn't want to be lied to by one of his best friends. He knew she wouldn't take very kindly to being bombarded with questions or made to feel that she was on trial for dating!

Ginny, who had been quietly sitting across from Ron, suddenly smiled, "Maybe we could follow her to the library! The card says he's meeting her at five…it's nearly five now."

"No!" Ron protested.

"Wait just a minute…maybe we could." Harry's eyes flashed with a scheming brilliance.

"You really think spying is the answer? The sorting hat was right! You would have done well in Slytherin!" Ron had seen Hermione's wrath before and he couldn't imagine what she would do if she found them spying on her.

"Who said anything about spying? We're perfectly free to go to library anytime we choose…I mean…we do have projects to prepare for".

"Fine…but if Hermione finds out, you can be on the receiving end of one of her punches!"

"It's a deal!" Harry smiled.

Draco and Thomas sat in the drawing room, sipping Cherry Cordial Wine across from Lucius Malfoy, who entertained them with stories of his death eater exploits and his own lively years at Hogwarts. Thomas sat in rapt attention, taking every word the white haired wizard spoke; his eyes only breaking away from Lucius' face to observe the dark mark on his arm when the cuff of his shirt slipped up slightly.

"So, Mr. Crow…" Thomas refocused his gaze to Mr. Malfoy now. "Why is it you have not been invited to our humble home before tonight?" Lucius asked Thomas but stared aggressively at his incompetent son.

"Oh…well, you see I am a new student sir. I attended C.R.C. for the first six years of my schooling."

"C.R.C?" Draco queried.

"It stands for-"

"Cyril Raspin's Correctional" Lucius interrupted.

"Yes sir…do you know of it?"

"I am familiar with their program, yes." Lucius raised a white eyebrow to the boy, who – much to Malfoy senior's surprise – raised one back at him.

"Dinner's ready!" Narcissa chimed from the adjoining room. As the three rose to relocate to the dining room, Lucius never broke his stare from Thomas. There was some fire within this boy that burned as bright as an African sun at high noon. Lucius was more than intrigued as well as impressed that Dumbledore would admit a reform school wizard into Hogwarts, particularly one in their seventh year.

"I hope you boys brought your appetites with you…" Narcissa enjoyed cooking, especially when they were having company.

The house elves had set the table beautifully and were now bringing out plates of food. Narcissa had really outdone herself this time; roast duck glazed with ginger and holly berries, mashed pumpkin lumps, steamed malaclaw tails, buttered toadbread and a cherry cake sprinkled with chocolate drops. The boys looked eagerly at the delicious spread and heaped large helpings of everything onto their plates.

"So…Thomas" Lucius stabbed at a malaclaw tail, "what of your parents?"

Narcissa gave him a stern look but quickly went back to minding her own business.

"They're…my father is dead sir"

"How unfortunate…I understand your father was Phineus Crow…a well known pureblood indeed…and your mother?"

Thomas fell rather silent now and had put his fork down next to his plate. Lucius and Draco continued to eat; the crunching sound of their teeth grinding against the malaclaw tails was really quite nauseating. Narcissa immediately noticed the boy's discomfort with the question and was about to change the subject when suddenly Thomas began to speak in a very low and serious tone.

"Mr. Malfoy…my mother was named Isabeura Serpentsoot…" Narcissa's skin was deathly pale. Lucius continued to eat. "She was," Thomas continued "defiled in the most awful way…by muggles when I was just a baby…she went…mad and is currently housed at St. Mungo's."

"A terrible place" Lucius managed to say between bites.

"Please sir…I wish to know revenge for my father's death and my mother's madness"

Draco, who had been enjoying his meal, now turned his focus to his father. He was happy that his father seemed impressed by his choice of dinner guest and was sure Thomas would be delighted to join him again.

"And what do you hope to gain by telling me of your designs for retribution?" Lucius still refused to validate the boy's words by being careful not to look at him.

"I know you are a well known supporter of the Dark Lord" Lucius raised his gaze from his plate to meet those of the determined young wizard sittingopposite him. The boy's eyes were glazed over with pain, confusion and longing. Lucius set his fork down and smiled warmly.

"I wish to join".