Morning Lovely Readers,

Sorry to leave you hanging like that! Just to clarify, I don't think Ginny is evil, I think she it conniving and immature; she's especially furious with Malfoy for helping blow up her spot in regards to Snape. I don't think she is purposely trying to get Draco killed but is merely rationalizing it to her own defense. Let's not forget, the feud between Weasely's and Malfoy's goes back further than we would all care to admit. (Maybe she's still a bit pissed about The Chamber of Secrets?)

As for all raging feelings towards Harry and the mess that has become our favorite couple, I PROMISE you. I will not break your hearts. Well maybe a little bit, but you'll just have to keep reading…. (YOU EVIL BITCH!) hem hem, I am a Slytherin.

M. x

Hermione's head felt as if it was splitting open. If she had to listen to one more Ministry official telling them "no" she was going to scream. Even after Snape had filed the correct paperwork and outlined the new potion in front of the entire board, it now had to be taken down to The Department of Mysteries to be analyzed, following a series of tests.

A snotty looking fellow who smelled strongly of old fish, had just informed them that the process would take at least 48 hours before it was ready. Harry had tried using his status as The Savior of the Wizarding World, but the board had flat out refused to have a possible suspect die under Official Ministry questioning. Snape had been furious and insisted on accompanying the potion itself down to the Unspeakables, as to assure it wasn't misplaced or somehow destroyed.

Both Harry and Hermione had then taken turns questioning Ronan Black, who did nothing but smirk at Harry and sneer at Hermione. He was literally impossible and refused to say anything other than;

"You'll see, Mudblood." It was beyond frustrating, but at least it had distracted Hermione from the awful scene she kept replaying in her head over and over again. The look on Draco's face when he caught her with Harry. She closed her eyes and rubbed the sides of her head, trying to sooth some of the ache there. She was anxious to get back to the house, find him and force him to listen to her. Besides, there was little more they could do at the Ministry until the potion had been approved. Hermione stared at the clock. It was half past eight.

"I do apologize, Mr. Potter, Miss. Granger. That is our final answer. Now, please go home and get some rest." The official was saying as he handed them back their notes. Hermione took one more look at Ronan Black who was clutching the bars of his cell and grinning maniacally at her.

"Filthy, little Mudblood. Flesh so sweet. All the better to peel and eat." He sang in an eerie tone. Harry growled as he took a step towards the man with the intent to strangle him, but Hermione grabbed him, pulling him back towards the exit. The Ministry official watched them warily as they exited the holding cells.

"Harry…Relax!" He was fighting against her grip as the two of them stumbled out into a corridor. He shrugged away from her pushing her back from him.

"Fuck Hermione! Just let me be!"

"What were you going to do? Attack a suspect in front of a Ministry Official?" Her voiced echoed throughout the deserted corridor.

"Yes." She rolled her eyes.

"You heard him, there's nothing that can be done. We just have to wait."

"We don't have time to wait!" He began with sheer impatience.

"And do you honestly think we have another choice?"

"I could question him a bit more." He growled with dark eyes. She looked at him with incredulity. "We have to do something!" Harry raised his voice with growing annoyance.

"Look Harry, I'm the one she's after. I'm the one who has cause to worry about how swiftly this can be taken care of, and I'm telling you. There. Is. Nothing. You. Can. DO!" She turned on her heel and began stalking down the corridor.

"Wait!" He took off after her, grabbing her arm and spinning her around. "Are you only jumping to get out of here so you can go back to him?" She raised a threatening eyebrow at him, her composure cool, but inside she was falling apart. Yes. Yes I need to see him. Yes! She screamed internally.

"Harry, if you are finished being a complete maniac, I would like to go home now. And I'm thinking maybe you should do the same." His hands grabbed her quickly around the waist and before she could blink, his lips were on hers. She was sputtering and gasping against him; within seconds, she had flung him off of her and let out a scream of rage.

"I meant home to Ginny!" She grabbed her head and squeezed her eyes shut. "Will you all just STOP doing that!? It's incredibly ill mannered!"

"Hermione-"

"No, Harry. No. My answer is no. I cannot be with you. We had our chance. And it's gone. I admit, I wasn't completely innocent in all of this, but you have to let me go. Look what it's doing to us! We can't keep living in the past. As much as I…have mourned the loss of what could have been, it's over."

Harry's shoulders slumped slightly and the fight left him immediately.

"Your wish is my command." He muttered and she sighed in defeat. The silence went on before he spoke, his voice rough with emotion. "Just tell me one thing. Are you in love with Draco Malfoy?"

Yes! Yes. Her mind screamed. GO FIND HIM NOW AND TELL HIM.

"Harry, once this is all over. And Umbridge is gone, we'll talk. But until then, I think it best if we just, keep things professional for the time being." He glared at her with disapproval but nodded just the same.

"I'm sorry, Hermione. For all of it."

"Don't be. What's a life lived with regret?" He looked at her strangely and Hermione was sure he was thinking about Snape.

"I'll be at Grimmauld place if you need me. Just floo if anything comes up. " Hermione squeezed his hand with reassurance before hurrying down the hall and out of sight. She broke into a run as soon as she turned the corner. Draco.

Harry Potter stared after her, the last pieces of his heart shattering through his chest. He had lost, finally, to Draco Malfoy. It was with heavy emotion that he trudged back towards his office to await word from Snape.

The lift dinged open and a shout broke out as both Kingsley Shacklebolt and Sirius Black came flying through the atrium in his direction. Harry immediately grabbed his wand, rushing to meet them.

"What's going-?" But Shacklebolt was clambering into the lift and slamming the buttons as Sirius practically threw Harry in before grabbing him by the shoulders and grinning with glee.

"Dolores Umbridge, Harry. We've got her."

His eyes opened in shock and Kingsley turned to him with a grim smile as they flew downwards, floor after floor.

"It seems my message was intercepted. Earlier this evening, I flooed Grimmauld Place, to inform Severus that she had been sighted. Your fiancé, was the one who took my message."

"Ginny? Why was she at Grimmauld Place?" His eyes hardened as he thought back to her and Snape.

"Apparently, she was waiting for you. Anyway. Remind me never to trust her with an important message ever again."

"Why? What's happened?" Harry felt dread creeping up on him as they exited the lifts and stalked back downstairs towards the holding cells. "And what are you doing here, Sirius?"

"I…have a bit of bad news, I'm afraid. That just might be confirmed within the next few minutes." Harry frowned as they rushed down the corridor Hermione had just left him in. Harry's mind was racing furiously to catch up. "I've been in the library for the last two days, and I'm almost sure…that I know now…" He trailed off and Harry frowned at him in confusion.

"But then…who brought Umbridge in?" Kingsley swung the door open and Harry was greeted with the most incredible sight.

Dolores Umbridge sat tied to a chair and covered in dirt. It looked as though someone had smeared handfuls of mud all over the place. She was breathing heavily, smiling her twisted little smile.

"Mr. Potter." Her tiny, sharp teeth gleamed in contrast against her filth-covered face.

Harry glared at her with immense satisfaction. He was going to break her. He forced his eyes from Umbridge and turned to her captor. Malfoy. He was standing beside her, wand held against her temple, he was looking much worse for wear. There were deep, bloody scratches slashed across his chest and blood was running from his head, soaking his hair, as well as his mouth. It was the first time Harry Potter was sure he had seen Draco Malfoy look absolutely terrifying. His eyes were black holes, filled with hate and pain. The intensity of rage that was coming off of him almost took Harry's breath away.

Draco composed himself as best as he could. Staggering forward, he spit a glob of blood onto the floor at her feet. He stepped up to Harry, looking him dead in the eyes.

"She's all yours, Potter." He slurred, his eyes rolled back into his head and Harry watched as Malfoy hit the floor.

The second Hermione opened the door to number 12 she knew something was seriously wrong. A dark, ominous air was suffocating the house. She drew her wand, creeping stealthily up the stairs, following the currents of magic she could feel radiating from above. She pushed open the door of the Drawing Room and looked inside, her eyes scanning the dark corners. Nothing. Her eyes narrowed as she did another sweep.

And then she saw something lying on the floor. A wand. She hurried forward and picked it up. Ginny? She turned around again, looking for some hint of her friend, when she noticed it. A small note had been tacked to the back of the door. Hermione's feeling of foreboding heightened to another level as her shaking fingers reached out to take it.

She opened it quickly, and looked down at the blood red words.

Mudblood,

This is your formal invitation to come and introduce yourself, properly, to your new family. Now that you have polluted the Black blood with your disgusting filth, it is essential for us to get… reacquainted. I'm sure it's what dear Draco would want.

Just like old times! You know where to find me. I have the little Weasel. If you bring anyone with you, I'll kill her without a second thought. Mommy Weasel won't be here to save her this time.