A/N: I am back. In the new year. I should die, probably. Anyway, go ahead and enjoy the chapter and don't forget to review.

''Congrats, mate,'' Ron clapped Harry on his back.

"What did i miss?" Neville asked, joining his friends at Charms classroom entrance.

"Harry got selected into team as a Seeker. He is like the youngest Seeker in Hogwarts in a century," Ron told him enthusiastically.

Neville beamed at his friend and congratulated Harry. "Thanks for saving my Remembrall as well."

Harry smiled in response; a bit shy at the attention. "Ron helped too."

"Yes, yes, i did." Ron waved him off. "But, Neville, you should have seen the stunt he performed. Amazing! For a second there, i was sure he was going to collide with the wall." Ron was gesticulating widely.

"Your catch was good too, Ron." Harry cut in; he was getting embarrassed being praised so openly. "I'm pretty sure McGonagall was eyeing you as well for the team."

"Professor McGonagall, Harry."

"Oh shut it, you two," Ron scoffed as he turned to face his twin brothers.

"Congrats, Harry," George said shaking his hand. "Minnie told us after the class. We are on the team too; Beaters."

Neville noticed Harry's flushed face. He had thought Harry would be used to getting attention, but he was wrong. Perhaps Ron's friendship will do, both, Harry and Neville some good.

"By the way, Ronneikins," Fred called over his shoulder, moving away from their group, "Minnie praised your catch as well."

Ron waved the praised away. "You should write home for a broom, Harry. I think i have some discount coupons of Quidditch Supplies. Go for Nimbus 2000; it's amazing!"

Neville shook his as Ron rambled on and on about Nimbus 2000. Apparently, Ron had more interests than Neville had thought of in the beginning - Chess, sleep, food and Quidditch.

''I cannot ask Sirius to get me Nimbus 2000,'' Harry commented sullenly.

Ron stopped in his tracks. ''Why ever not?''

''He will think i am behaving like a spoiled child, asking for expensive things and all that.''

Ron tried to work out the twisted logic, but his eleven year old mind could not. So, he turned to Neville, who also shrugged.

''Doesn't hurt to try?'' Neville suggested after an awkward silence of few minutes to cheer Harry up.

''Yeah, i guess.''

"If it isn't the Weirdo Couple."

Blaise sighed as he turned around to face his bullying friends.

"Hello, Theodre," Luna greeted the brunette smiling at him.

Nott sneered in return. "Don't call me that, Loony."

Luna looked confused. "Isn't that your name? You don't like your name?"

Blaise stifled his laugh at Nott's expression; he was looking at his idiot cronies for help.

"Nott, we are getting late. Did you have something to say to any of us?" Blaise asked.

"Why do you hang out with Loony? Don't you have better standards?"

"You are calling her names; don't you have better upbringing, Nott?" Blaise answered coldly. Luna placed a hand on his shoulder to calm him down. "And it's 'Luna' Lovegood. Don't let me hear you call her anything other than that, Nott."

With that, Blaise turned and marched off.

"Blaise! Blaise!"

Blaise cursed himself. One moment, he was defending his friend and next, he left her with those idiots.

Luna skidded to a halt beside him. "Are you okay?"

Blaise looked at her incredulously. "Why are you asking me that? Are 'you' okay? I'm sorry; i left you back there alone. They didn't say anything e-"

"Blaise," Luna cut him off. "You got angry; you usually don't. Are you okay?"

Blaise sighed, his anger ebbing away. "I get angry when people say bad things to my friends."

"So, you consider me your friends?" Luna brightened.

"Err- of course. You had any doubts?"

Luna smiled. "One can never be sure."

Blaise stared after the blonde walking ahead of him. Sometimes, she was way beyond him. But he wouldn't want her any other way.

"Hello, Neville," Ron greeted slumping beside Neville on the couch.

Neville grunted, absorbed in his Herbology text.

"Why didn't you tell me Malfoy bullies you?"

That had Neville looking up from his text. "What?"

"The way he was mocking you today in the Flying Class… he does that a lot, doesn't he?" Ron asked seriously.

Neville hadn't shared this with anyone because… wasn't this his problem to deal with? And, Malfoy wasn't wrong. Neville couldn't do things right, he was a mess in potions and he was forgetful; can't take care of your toad even, Malfoy's words rang out in his mind.

"Neville?"

"It's nothing, Ron," Neville said, going back to his book. "I can deal with it."

Ron wanted to discuss it further, but Neville sounded so defeated about all this. He will have to take more notice of Malfoy and Neville. He wanted to know what today all was about.

"Hello, girl," Hermione greeted MaPoi, taking a seat beside her in the library.

"Hello, Hermione," the girl replied without looking up from her text.

"I, finally, came up with a nick-name for you," Hermione said enthusiastically. That had MaPoi looking up from her work.

"Why were you thinking of a nick-name for me?" MaPoi asked incredulously.

"Your name has syllables which aren't very easy to pronounce together," Hermione answered seriously.

MaPoi smiled as she shook her head. "Only you, Hermione. What is the name, then?"

"Mep."

MaPoi looked at Hermione thoughtfully. After a moment, she turned back to her work. "I think I can live with that."

Hermione laughed. "Only you, Mep. Only you can make the whole affair so serious."

"Miss MaPoi."

The laughing girls turned to their librarian, Sara Jolie.

"Headmistress wants to see you in her office."

Hermione noticed an immediate change in MaPoi. She became serious and alert. "Thank you for informing me, Professor."

The librarian nodded and went back.

"Something the matter?" Hermione asked.

"I don't have any idea." MaPoi replied, gathering her books. "I will see you at dinner."

Hermione nodded, worried for her friend, and watched the girl leave the library.

Blaise was having dinner in the Great Hall and it wasn't peaceful. Malfoy was grumbling about Potter becoming a Seeker.

"He must be good to become a Seeker in his first year," Blaise interrupted Malfoy's monologue. He had missed his first flying lesson because of ankle sprain.

"Good," Draco scoffed. "He's a bloody hero, that's what he is. That's why he is on the team."

"McGonagall isn't the type to let these things matter in team selection," Blaise noted. "Besides it has been a week now. Shouldn't you be focussing on something else now?" He was observing the Gryffindor table and could see an excited Oliver Wood talking with Harry. From what Blaise had heard Gryffindor team badly needed a good Seeker.

"Of course, she does!" Draco exclaimed. "Quidditch plays an important role in securing House cup."

That reminded Blaise of Hermione; she would be playing her first match day after tomorrow. He wanted to be there cheering for her from the stands. Taking his mind off of his best-friend, Blaise moved his attention to the red-head sitting beside Potter.

Back home, Hermione always gave him company playing chess, and was pretty good at it, just like Blaise accompanied her for flying. Chess was another reason that constantly reminded him of her. He had no one to play chess with. Luna had tried but, as she had admitted frankly, she was horrible at it. He knew of a chess champion who could help him improve, but so far hadn't been able to approach him.

Just yesterday, Luna had asked him to go talk to Weasley. They had in the train, after all. But, somehow, here in Hogwarts, surrounded by another celebrity and his family, Ron seemed too unapproachable. Realising that he was staring at the red-head, Blaise quickly lowered his eyes to his food, thereby missing Ron's glance.

MaPoi tiptoed into her dorm. It was late at night and she didn't want to wake Hermione up. She was about to part the curtains of her bed, when the room was flooded with light. She turned around to find Hermione looking at her with concern.

"What happened? You never came for dinner."

MaPoi didn't want to go into the details of her visit with Hermione. "Do you mind if we discuss it tomorrow? I am very tired." She yawned for the effect. Knowing Hermione, she wouldn't pursue the topic further.

"Er," Hermione nodded. "Sure. You want to eat something? I brought you some fish and chips."

MaPoi immediately felt guilty. She had kept her friend awake till late hour with worry.

"Thanks," she took the offered brown packet. "I am sorry-"

"It's okay, Mep," Hermione waved off her apology. "You must be hungry. Eat and go to bed."

MaPoi nodded dutifully at her friend, smiling slightly. Hermione returned the smile and went back to sleep.

"Hey, Ronald!" Luna called out loudly. She had only two classes with Gryffindors and if she didn't catch him now, she will have to wait till next week.

Thank, Merlin, Ron heard her shout and turned around to find out who was calling him. She waved her hands and he found her.

"Hi!" Luna thrust her hand forward. "Luna Lovegood."

Ron shook the hand, trying to recall the girl. "Ronald Weasley." And then it came to him. "You are the girl I met on train? With another boy… err—Zabini!"

Luna smiled. "Yes. Do you mind if I walk with you to the Great Hall?" Ron shook his head. "What are you doing this weekend?"

That talked as they walked to the Great Hall. Once they entered the Great Hall, they walked to their tables, waving goodbye to each other.

Blaise narrowed his eyes as he saw the exchange. Luna knew Weasley? No. Then, what was she talking to him about? He looked at her table, but she just smiled, waved at him and returned to her lunch. Blaise was itching to find out, but he will have to wait till dinner. Damn!

Dumbledore was staring out of the window in his office, Fawkes perched on his shoulder.

"This week seems to be bringing only bad news. Perhaps, that is not the right way of putting it. Let me rephrase it. This week has brought not-so-good news only. That is much more optimistic."

Fawkes trilled a soothing note.

"I had hoped for a peaceful life after duelling Grindelwald. It seems that was too big a wish. Ah, Severus is here. Please come in, Severus."

The door opened to reveal Severus Snape holding a newspaper in hand and his expressions grave. He hadn't knocked since he knew Dumbledore would know he was on the other side of the door.

Dumbledore took his seat and offered one to Severus.

"Lemon Drops?"

"Really, Albus!" Severus rolled his eyes.

Dumbledore smiled as he popped one sweet in his mouth. "I take it you read today's newspaper."

"This week was full of them. First, breakout in Gringotts and now in Azkaban."

Dumbledore nodded. "Breakout in Gringotts was one we had anticipated. However, breakout of Bellatrix is indeed a very bad news."

Severus was thoughtful. "She was the most fanatic follower of Dark Lord. She will look for him now and try to bring him back. Only she can manage to live in Azkaban for ten years and maintain her sanity, or lack thereof, enough to escape that prison. Though, I am surprised she didn't free her husband from Azkaban."

"That will pose many problems for her. She has no inheritance from her side and, without her husband, she will not be able to access Lestrange's vault."

"Why not?" Severus asked.

"Lestrange didn't get the time to add Bellatrix' name to his vault accounts. I, myself, had reviewed the accounts, the only thing Goblins permitted. They didn't let the Ministry freeze their accounts.

"Do keep an eye on the Malfoys, Severus. Sooner or later, Bellatrix will be forced to take help from Malfoys."

Severus nodded. "Does the Ministry plan to increase security around Hogwarts, in case Bellatrix decides to come after Potter?"

"Fudge has already done so. It was difficult to persuade him to send only a team of Aurors rather than dementors to station around Hogwarts."

"If ever things get worse in wizarding world, Fudge would be in the thick of it," Severus grumbled, getting up from his seat.

"How is Ella?" Dumbledore enquired.

"As if you don't converse with her directly," Severus commented drily. "She is fine. She has asked me to invite you to dinner this Saturday, even though you have already declined her."

"I think I will be able to manage this Saturday. Tell her, I would be there."

"Great! Now, I would be the one extending all future invitations to dinners," Severus said sarcastically. "I will leave before any more responsibilities befall my shoulders."

Dumbledore smiled as he watched Severus leave, grumbling to himself. It was nice to have family. For Severus. For him too. It was hard to break difficult news to family, but, then, life never had been easy to him.

"Welcome to the first match of the season!"

Madame Tamanna's voice boomed around the Quidditch pitch. Tamanna Sharma, an Indian, was the flying coach for the Salem school. She played for Puddlemore professionally. Apart from being a flying coach, she assisted Ellsworth, Gamekeeper, in managing sports competitions.

The whole school was out for the match. There was always huge crowd for first and last matches of all the tournaments, Hermione was told. She had witnessed that last week when chess and athletics tournaments began.

"The competing teams today are Centaur and Sphinx. Please welcome the two teams!"

Hermione flew out with her team mates to a loud cheering by her house-mates. Similar welcome was given to Sphinx team.

"Mandy MacDougal would be your commentator for today. On to you, Mandy."

Mandy's voice was next heard, announcing the team-members and then, on Tamanna's whistle, the match began.

Hermione was trying to locate Mep in the crowd cheering for her, but the moment the whistle rang out, she forgot all about her. All her focus was on getting Quaffle in the opponents' loops.

"What an amazing goal that was by Snape. That makes it 40 to 30 for Centaurs."

It was turning out to be a difficult match. Dona wasn't wrong when she had said that Sphinx was a very good team. The odds were in their favour since their seeker was better than Centaur's. Centaurs' strategy was to prevent Sphinxes to find Snitch and score as much as possible to create a gap. So far, the strategy wasn't working.

"Half time. The score stands 80 to 60 for Centaurs."

A sweating and angry Dona gathered her team. "What the hell are you doing, Philips? I told you to focus on their Seeker only. Twice I had to intervene to prevent him from getting the Snitch. Hermione, you are doing great, but we have to score more and soon."

From the corner of her eye, Hermione saw Mep smiling at her and making some signals at her. It took her some time, but she understood what Mep was trying to say.

"I think," Hermione started cautiously. She was the youngest in the team and unsure whether they would agree to her suggestion. "We should keep Adam near the loops. He can assist Keira in preventing goals."

"We need him to score goals for us."

"Dona, we need to score, I agree, but we need to stop their goals too to create a gap. Plus, their Keeper isn't very good. Ashley and I can manage it."

Don looked at the girl and then at Adam. Adam had been a Keeper for a year before Keira joined the team. The idea wasn't bad, actually.

"Okay," Dona agreed. "Let's go beat them."

The teams started the game again with vigour. Soon, the Centaurs had their desired lead of 170. If they maintained the lead, they would win. Only, opponents' Seeker wasn't interested in catching the snitch now.

Hermione flew to Dona. "Shrey will have to catch the Snitch. We can't maintain the lead for very long."

Dona nodded. "Ashley has sharp eyes. Ask him to keep an eye on the snitch. I will talk to Shrey."

Shinxes caught on to their strategy soon; to have two pairs of eyes look out for the snitch. Their captain was losing his temper and lashing out at his team-mates, never a good idea. The Shinx team was losing morale.

"Daniel has spotted the snitch and is chasing after it. Shrey is following him. They are racing towards it, neck to neck. Merlin, they will crash into the wall, if they keep racing like this," Mandy's voice announced.

Sure enough, the snitch was leading them to the Unicorn Tower. Carefully, Philips aimed his Bludger at Daniel. Hermione smiled; only Philips could manage to swing a Bludger like that. Daniel ducked and swerved right to prevent the head-on collision, but lost his balance and precious minutes. Shrey had his hands around the snitch, but his collision with the wall was inevitable. Feet away from wall, Shrey dropped his broom which banged right into the wall.

There was a collective gasp. Shrey was falling and fast. Minutes before he could have landed on the ground, Dona and Keira caught his hands, and put him safely on the ground.

Hermione was breathing deeply. Only Shrey can be idiot to pull a stunt like that.

"Calm down, girl," Philips patted her on back. "They have performed this stunt before. Never this close, but Shrey is good at pulling off stunts like these."

"Thanks for telling me," Hermione said sarcastically. "Could have told me during the practice. I just died there of shock for a second."

Philips gave her a cheeky grin and a wink and flew to the ground.

"Zabini!"

That's Ron. And he couldn't be calling his name. That was impossible! Few of his classmates turned around to give Blaise surprised looks.

"Weasley is calling you? Why?" Draco asked incredulously.

Blaise shrugged and turned around. Ron was jogging to catch up with them.

"Hi," Blaise greeted the red-head.

"Hi," Ron puffed out, breathing erratic due to the jog. "How are you?"

"Err-fine. You?" Weasley is talking to me. ME! Yay!

"Well, you said something about chess on the train. Then, you never came to me. What are you doing this weekend?"

This isn't happening. Weasley isn't asking me... ME... for a game.

"Er—Zabini? Blaise?" Ron was waving his hands in front of Blaise and he heard Draco snigger.

"Nothing, nothing." He answered quickly. More sniggers.

"What do you say to a game of chess on Sunday? In Great Hall, after breakfast?"

"Deal!" Blaise answered enthusiastically.

"See you then," Ron agreed. Waving at the two of them, he walked back to his group.

Blaise scowled at laughing Draco. "What?"

"Did you see yourself? You were practically swooning at him."

Blaise squared his shoulders and walked ahead of still-laughing Draco. Draco could laugh as much as he wanted. He had been asked by the Ron Weasley to play chess with him. It was time to write Hermione a letter.

"Congratulations!" Mep greeted Hermione with a handshake and bright smile.

"You do know you are too formal sometimes," Hermione commented, shaking her hand. "Thanks for the tip, though."

"I was surprised that they agreed to your suggestion. I did not think they would. What did you say to convince them?"

"Adam was a Seeker earlier, so I just asked Donna to let him guard the loops with Keira."

"Clever of you," Mep smiled appreciatively.

"Why would Adam do that, though?"

"You have to understand, Hermione, that it was a sub-conscious action. He fancies their Keeper. He was losing focus around her. He is a good Chaser otherwise. He is yet to understand that she is just playing him and that she isn't interested in him."

Ella's comments on Hermione's observing nature came to her mind. Hermione smiled thinking what would Ella say about Mep.

Bellatrix breathed deeply. The air was cool, but it smelled of pine, snow and freedom. The sky was bluer than she had ever seen, snow more white, and landscape more beautiful. She could appreciate everything more after ten years of her enslavement.

With a smile on her face, Bella moved towards her refuge. She was weak and injured. She needed rest and care before she could begin searching for her Master. And all those traitors also needed a lesson. How could they abandon their Master like this!

Bellatrix cast a disillusion charm on herself. Cursing the stolen wand, she walked to the door and knocked it in a set pattern. She hoped he would remember the code.

Five minutes and there was still no response. Bellatrix thought of the possibilities; perhaps he was not at home or had some visitors. But he rarely went out on Sunday and rarely had any guests. What was taking him so long! If Master didn't trust him so much, she wouldn't have taken the risk to come here.

Finally, Bellatrix heard movement on the other side of the door. Another two minutes went by before the door was opened. At least, he still warded his door heavily.

Bellatrix smiled at the figure that opened the door, still pale and still expression-less.

"Hello, Severus."