Chapter 20:

"You two are being awfully quiet this morning," Hermione said as she ate her bacon. "What are you up to?"

"Nothing," Harry said as he tried to pretend there really was nothing going on. "Maybe we're just tired."

"Yeah," Ron said as he glanced over to the Slytherian table. "Just tired."

Hermione eyed both of them for a long minute. "I don't believe it."

"Fine then," Harry said a he casually glanced over at Malfoy. When was he going to be able to confront him without the rest of the school being around.

"You're so preoccupied," Hermione began, "that neither of you have noticed that Lily isn't here this morning…"

Harry and Ron both snapped forward to face Hermione. "Where is she?!" Harry asked.

"Calm down," Hermione said calmly. "She didn't feel well and decided it would be best to go to the hospital wing. Madame Pomfrey is looking after her. I'm sure she's fine."

"Hermione," Harry said. "You can't blame me for being a bit cautious. Voldemort is after her!"

Hermione smiled her typical know-it-all smile. "Now you know how Ron and I feel."

"You know lately you've…" Harry began to say before Ron interrupted him.

"Do Crabbe and Goyle ever leave his side?" Ron said. "I mean honestly they're never on their own. You'd think that when they go to the bathroom he lets them hold his…"

"Ron!" Hermione said as she dropped her bacon. "Don't finish that sentence!"

"I'm with Hermione on that one," Harry said looking at Ron.

"Sorry," Ron said shrugging. "I mean I'm just saying. They never seem to not be there."

"Why do you care?" Hermione said. "Are you trying to get Malfoy alone?"

"No," Ron said quickly. He turned back to eating his breakfast.

"You two have been acting weirder than usual," Hermione said shaking her head. "If that's possible." Neither of Ron nor Harry answered.

"Anyway," Hermione said a little irritated. "I talked to Ginny, Harry."

"That's nice," Harry said pretending to be uninterested.

"So," Hermione said. "I found out what happened."

"Good for you," Harry said.

"Don't you want to know?" Hermione asked.

"Why I was dumped for Neville?" Harry said. "I think that's one thing I'd rather not know."

"Well I want to know," Ron said with his mouthful of eggs. "I'd love to know why my baby sister has become a complete loony…"

"Well," Harry said. "I appreciate the thought Ron, but just because she dumped me doesn't make her…"

"I meant cause she asked Neville out," Ron said hiding his laughter.

"I knew that," Harry said. "I knew that…"

"You know I wrote to Fred and George," Ron said grinning. "First told them about the whole you and Ginny thing. They wrote back saying what a 'fetching and smashing' couple that you two made. Then they said that if you hurt her they would have to 'fetch you and smash you.' Only kidding of course. You're their favorite person ever since you lent them all that money. Always great to lend your best mate's brothers," Ron paused and glared at Harry, " loads of money…but that's another story."

"Sounds like Fred and George," Harry said grinning.

"Yeah," Ron said. "Anyway, I wrote them to tell them about Ginny doing what she did, and the whole Neville thing. George wrote back saying that Fred is still on the floor laughing and that they want loads and loads of pictures to post around the joke shop. Not really sure why though, but they said something about adding to the humor."

"I swear," Hermione said shaking her head. "Anyway, what Ginny said actually made a lot of sense. I can see where she's coming from."

"Let's here it then," Ron said sitting up straight. Harry rolled his eyes.

"Well," Hermione said. "I asked her this morning when I saw her in the hall…."

***********

"Hey Gin," Hermione said smiling widely. "What's up?"

"Not much," Ginny said smiling politely. She was still dressed in her nightdress and her hair was matted to her head. "I left my book down in the common room last night and I just went down to get it before someone picked it up."

"Oh," Hermione said as she glanced down to the Defense Against the Dark Arts book that was in Ginny's hand.

"Well," Ginny said smiling. "I'm off to get dressed…"

"Wait," Hermione said. "Can I ask you something before you go?"

Ginny made a face. Almost as if she knew what was coming. "Errr…I suppose."

"You don't have to answer," Hermione said. "I mean I just thought we were friends…"

"We are," Ginny said. "I mean I like to think we are."

"Of course we are," Hermione said. "I mean just because your brother is my best friend doesn't mean that we can't be close too. You can tell me anything. I won't run off and tell Ron."

Ginny smiled.

"Or Harry.." Hermione continued.

Ginny stopped smiling. "Well," she said after a minute. "That's good to know.."

"So," Hermione said. "Now that we've established that. Can I ask you about…"

"About Harry and why I did what I did?" Ginny said running her hand through her long, red hair.

"Essentially," Hermione said smiling awkwardly. "I mean it just came as a bit of a shock to all of us when he told us."

"I'm surprised he even told you," Ginny said as she began to twirl a strand of hair around her finger. Hermione had noticed this as a nervous habit that Ginny had.

"Of course he told us," Hermione said. "He was shocked."

"That's all he was?" Ginny said looking directly at Hermione.

"Well," Hermione said straightening up. "I mean I'm sure he was a lot of things. He didn't really talk about it. Just told us how you dumped him for Neville…"

"I didn't dump him for Neville," Ginny said defensively. "I broke our date for entirely different reasons. I just asked Neville afterwards. He has nothing to do with it."

"So what is the reason?" Hermione asked.

Ginny looked down to the floor and then back up at Hermione. "Because…." She paused. "I did it to him before he could do it to me…."

"What?' Hermione said. "Ginny, Harry never had any plans of dumping you…."

"You have to say that," Ginny said. "You're one of his best friends. I saw it. I saw the way he looked at Lily. There was a definite connection there. A kind of connection that I just recently started to feel between Harry and I. Then she comes and instantaneously there was this chemistry. The way he looked at her… I knew it was inevitable. Everyone was talking about it. How they were never apart, which is true."

Hermione stood there and just stared at Ginny. Of course that was the reason. It made so much sense. She just wished she could clear this whole thing up right here and now. She couldn't say a word though. "Oh Ginny…" Hermione began to say.

"Hermione," Ginny said forcing a smile. "It's ok. I'm…over it. Well, at least I tell myself that."

"She won't be here much longer," Hermione said in Harry's defense. "I mean she's leaving and then things will all go back to normal."

"Maybe," Ginny said still forcing a smile. "I guess we'll see." She turned to walk towards the fifth year's dorm before stopping and turning back towards Hermione. "That look he gives her though…he's yet to ever give it to me, and I've know him for six years."

"Ginny," Hermione said. "Give him some time. Give him a chance to explain himself. He's had a really rough couple weeks…"

Ginny smiled. "I need to go change, I'll see you later?"

"Yeah," Hermione said meekly.

"Ok," Ginny said turning. "Wait….! Hermione, can I ask you something?"

"Of course," Hermione said. "What is it?"

"You and Ron," Ginny said looking up at Hermione and grinning slightly. "You're going to the ball together, right?"

"Yes," Hermione said. "Why?"

"Oh nothing," Ginny said shrugging. "I mean I'm just happy that's all. I'm glad Ron's finally starting to wise up. Just one more thing…"

"What's that?" Hermione said smiling.

"Does this mean that you fancy my brother?" Ginny asked.

***************

"So that's what she said," Hermione said glancing up at Harry.

"She thought that Lily and I…" Harry said before he started laughing. "Of course! I'm so stupid!"

"You can be, yes," Hermione said smiling as she glanced over to Ron, who was staring at her intently. "What?" she asked him.

"What'd you say?" Ron said adamantly.

"What?" Hermione asked confused.

"You didn't finish your story," Ron said. "What did you say?"

"I don't know what your talking about Ron," Hermione said as she grabbed a piece of toast.

"Ginny asked you…" Ron said with his voice louder than usual. "You didn't say what you said to her…"

"So all I really have to do," Harry interrupted. "Is just tell her…"

"Tell her what?" Hermione said ignoring Ron's rambling. "Oh no worries Ginny, she's really just my mum! Trust me I wanted to tell her that…"

"I'll figure it out," Harry said. "I wasn't dumped for Neville! This is great!"

"He's not that bad," Hermione said glancing down the table at Neville.

"You don't live with his snoring," Ron said shaking his head. "And back to your story…"

"Come on," Hermione said standing up. "We're going to be late for potions."

"My favorite," Harry said sarcastically. "Wait we have that with the Slytherians….?"

"Six years and you're just not realizing this?" Hermione said staring at Harry as they started to leave the Great Hall. "I swear…"

"Am I invisible?" Ron asked as he jumped up and followed behind them.

**************

"Now," Snape said. "You will need to break off into groups of three so that I can conserve these ingredients. Your potion will be graded based on your groups effort. That means if one of you screws up, you all fail." He glared at Neville, who made a small noise. "I really can't afford any mistakes with this. So therefore, I will make the groups."

"Oh great," Hermione said. "Watch one of us get stuck with Malfoy…" Harry glanced at Ron and smiled. Harry knew how much Snape hated him, and he knew Snape knew how much Ron and he hated Malfoy. It was almost too predictable.

"Brown. Longbottom, and Parkinson," Snape began. "Finnigan, Nott, Goyle…"

"Here we go," Hermione said rolling her eyes.

"Bullstrode, Zabini, Patil…" Snape continued. "Thomas, Crabbe, Granger…"

"Oh not Crabbe," Hermione said as she looked pleadingly at Ron and Harry. "I've seen broomsticks with more sense than him."

"That's not giving the broomstick much credit," Ron said as he looked over to Harry. "You know whose left don't you?"

"I do," Harry said smiling.

"Lastly," Snape said smiling menacingly. "Malfoy, Potter, and Weasley."

"Oh damn," Harry said grinning.

"Rotten luck for us," Ron said trying to hide his grin.

Hermione glared at both of them. "Ok, I'm going to go over there and work now. At least I'm well aware of how dumb Crabbe is. Can't say the same for you two lately…"

"You have an hour," Snape said as he went to his desk. "Beginning……now."

"Let's do this," Harry said as they watched Malfoy saunter over to Hermione's now vacant seat.

"You two better not screw this up," Malfoy said as he took the empty chair and moved it as far away from Ron and Harry as possible. "Just follow my instructions and we might get through this…."

"We can make a simple shrinking potion," Ron said staring a Malfoy. "We don't need to be bossed around by you…"

"I'm sure you can," Malfoy said as he began to slice up toad's liver. "You've obviously used this stuff on your brain several times there, Weasley. Probably on your bank account as well…"

"Real original," Ron said as he picked up his knife. "You probably use it on your…"

"Ron," Harry said glancing at him. "Don't fuel the fire…"

Malfoy glanced up at Harry. "What?"

"I'm just not in the mood today," Harry said nonchalantly. "Not in the mood to put up with you and your petty little attempts to egg us on. I don't feel like fighting you and getting points taken away."

"Whatever," Malfoy said as he continued to cut. They were all interrupted by a scream coming from Lavender and Pansy Parkinson. Neville had apparently tipped the entire tray of frog's liver onto their laps.

"Good to know something's don't change," Harry said laughing.

"What an idiot," Malfoy said scoffing. "They shouldn't even allow him to hold plastic utensils…"

"Well Malfoy," Ron said looking up. "Not everyone can come from such prestigious backgrounds like you did…"

"What are you getting at Weasley?" Malfoy asked as he stopped cutting.

"Nothing," Ron said awkwardly. "I mean I'm just saying that it must be nice to come from all that money…"

"You would say that," Malfoy said laughing a little. "Since you wouldn't know…"

"You didn't let me finish," Ron said glancing up. "It must be nice to come from all that money, but it must suck to have to live with your family and the fact that no one can stand the Malfoy name."

"The Malfoy name demands respect," Malfoy said irritably. "That's more than you can ever say about your family. My father's full of high powered connections, while yours is a lowly ministry employee…"

"Your father's connection are all death eaters…" Ron said interrupting him. "There's no respect there…"

Malfoy just smiled an unusual smile and continued cutting. "Well," he said. "One way or another, he gets things done."

"What exactly does he get done," Harry asked. "Does he hear little rumors about people and run off to tell his all powerful lord?"

Malfoy stopped cutting once again. This time he slowly looked up at Harry. "What are you trying to get at Potter?"

"You know damn well what I'm getting at," Harry said glaring at Malfoy.

"And how are things over here Mr. Malfoy?" Snape asked as he approached the table. He completely ignored the fact that Harry and Ron were even sitting there. Malfoy didn't even look up at Snape. Harry and he were still involved in a staring battle.

"Fine sir," Malfoy said slowly.

"Good," Snape said. "I knew I'd be able to depend on your potions knowledge to help…" He gave Harry and Ron a cast away glance. "These two." With that he walked over to reprimand Neville for spilling something else on the floor.

"Just admit it," Ron said glaring at Malfoy. "You told your dad who you thought Lily was…"

"Did I?" Malfoy asked. "Well Potter, who exactly do I think Lily is?"

"You tell me," Harry said. "If you know Malfoy, you might as well say something. Everyone already suspects you anyway."

Malfoy smiled. "I'm just the messenger," he said innocently. "After our little conversation the other morning in the Great Hall, I just asked my father if he remembered an old school mate…"

******************

"Who does that girl think she is?" Draco said as he walked away from the Gryffindor table. "Talking like she knows my father. Like my father would even associate with the likes of her…"

"Who is she?' Crabbe said bluntly.

"Lily something," Draco said rubbing his head. "Didn't catch a last name. Probably some mud blood common name. She looks like a mud blood."

"With her red hair," Goyle said slowly. "She looks like a Weasley."

"Who knows," Draco said. "With that family the kids never stop coming. I guess when you're dead poor you have to find other ways to keep yourself busy."

Crabbe and Goyle laughed. "Maybe a cousin or something?"

"Who cares," Draco said. "But she's a transfer student…that makes no sense."

"Why not?" Goyle asked.

"Idiot," Draco said. "Have we ever had a transfer student into this school? No! You don't transfer in. It doesn't happen. Something's going on. Especially since Potter's involved. I think I need to go and write my father."

"What for?" Crabbe asked.

"Moron…" Draco said as he walked off in the direction of the Slytherian common room. He went to his room and pulled out a piece of parchment.

Father-

I'm writing to inform you of a strange happening here at Hogwarts. There is this girl, a transfer student. I wasn't aware that transfer students were allowed, but that's besides the point. She's been hanging around Harry Potter a lot, and I think something is going on. I became curious when she said she knew you. Her name is Lily. I didn't catch a last name, but she has red hair and green eyes. Hope all is well and send mother my love.

Draco

Several days passed before Draco's eagle owl appeared tapping on his window one night. A response was bounded tightly to its leg.

Draco-

Son, you are right. Hogwarts never admits transfer students. Something peculiar is going on. That description of that girl sounds oddly familiar. I'm going to visit, "someone" later, and I'll run these strange happenings by "Him." Maybe "He" will recognize the description and be able to provide some answers. Did you happen to get a last name of this girl? Keep your eyes open.

-Your Father

*******************

"I don't think you're even telling us half of what's going on," Harry said.

"Of course I'm not," Malfoy said. "Why would I?"

"Whatever," Harry said. "I know that you and all of them think that she's my mum. Where the hell you would get that from is beyond me…"

"My father, after speaking to his higher powers, just came to an assumption….." Malfoy began.

"So it's all an assumption," Harry said outraged. "I mean you honestly think that my mother has some how appeared in the future? You're cracked!"

"I didn't say that," Malfoy said. "My father made the assumption."

"Well then your whole family is not only twisted, but their also cracked." Harry said shaking his head.

"Well then," Draco said evilly. "What's her last name then?"

"What? Harry said. "I don't know! She's just a friend whose here for a little while. You should really tell your father to find a hobby. She won't even be here long enough for any of your death eater cronies to do any investigations!"

"I wouldn't say that," Malfoy said.

"And why not?" Harry said as he threw his knife down on the table.

"Because," Malfoy said grinning his malicious grin. "Things may be happening faster than you think, Potter."