A/N: Hey everyone, I'm back! Sorry, it's been almost 12 days since I last updated... School has KILLED ME with all these damn assessments! But hey, I passed level 3! (To all my NZ readers; you know what I mean :D) So, hopefully this chapter explains a little bit, and maybe we find out suspects...

Thanks heaps to MARTINA MALFOY LESTRANGE! I am so touched and grateful for your reviews; and the fact you reviewed my first eight chapters. You pushed my review mark to 90! YAY! Thank you so so so so so much! And I want to let you know, Martina, that no matter how many reviews I get, they will always make me happy! *enter happy dance here*

Anywho... Next chapter!

Chapter 16

Draco led Hermione into the kitchen. The loud noises from conversations and cutlery on plates stopped when everyone saw her. Hermione stood in the doorway awkwardly, but with her head held high.

"Hermione, dear! How are you feeling?" Mrs Weasley's motherly voice asked her.

"I'm okay, Mrs Weasley, thank you. I'm just tired", Hermione lied. She was not just tired. Her brain had been working over time, and Hermione had come to a shocking conclusion.

Someone was out to get her and Draco.

They had both been tortured by other means than the Cruciatus curse. Both had been subjected to visions of horror. Hermione had seen her friends and family murdered. Draco had seen every bad memory from his life; mainly from Voldemort's reign of terror.

She knew that people did not like the idea of a Slytherin and a Gryffindor being in a relationship. She had expected that. But she never thought that people she considered to be friends would hurt her like this. Hermione loved Draco, anyone could see that. But her own friends would rather destroy her happiness, and put her through torture, rather than accept her boyfriend. And those same "friends" obviously hated Draco; he was cursed in a similar way to Hermione, when they had begun their tentative friendship. But what were there motivations?

Hermione seethed quietly as she sat at the table, and watched Mrs Weasley load up plates for her and Draco. She refused to meet the eyes of anyone, because people at this table were very perceptive. Conversations resumed when Hermione started eating. Cautiously, she looked around. Nobody looked suspicious. Damn, they were good at hiding their guilt. How could they look so calm? She looked at Draco, who was looking at her with narrowed eyes.

Draco knew Hermione was keeping something from him. She kept biting her lip, and quickly glancing down the table at someone, but he couldn't see who. Draco was worried about her. He had never felt so protective over someone, and it made him nervous. As he watched her glance, again, down the table, he clicked.

Whoever cursed Hermione is here. Draco was furious.

One of Hermione's friends, or a family member, had done this to her. She had been tormented with horrific visions of dead loved ones. He was going to find out whom; as soon as he could.

Draco continued eating, when someone cleared their throat.

"So, Draco, where is your mother this Christmas?" Bill asked politely.

Draco froze. Uh oh. Touchy subject. Way too touchy! Back away, NOW!

"His mother abandoned him!" Ron piped up.

There was an absolute silence.

Awkward. Very, very awkward.

"Oh, I'm uh, sorry, mate. Didn't know."

Draco shrugged. "It's okay. She's somewhere in France, I think." He felt Hermione's eyes on him, but decided not to look at her.

When Ginny nervously suggested a game of Quidditch, everyone jumped at the chance. Hermione offered to keep score. Draco offered to keep her company. Penelope also decided to watch with Fleur.

The teams were:

Bill, Fred, Ron, Angelina, Katie, and Percy.

Charlie, George, Ginny, Alicia, Harry and Allie.

Hermione sat on the snow covered grass with Draco by her side. The teams kicked off, as Fleur and Penelope cheered. Hermione tried to concentrate on what was happening above her, but Draco's constant staring was very unnerving.

"What's wrong?" She finally asked.

"What's wrong with you?" he shot back.

"Nothing", Hermione tried to look innocent.

"Yeah, right. And I'm a bloody Weasley. Seriously, Hermione, you're hiding something. What's. Wrong?"

Hermione bit her lip again.

"Well?" Draco prompted.

"I – "

"You -?"

"I – nothing!" Hermione burst. She had tears in her eyes.

Draco looked concerned. He scooted closer, and put his arm around her shoulders. She rested her head on his chest, and sighed.

"Why did your mother leave?" she asked quietly.

Draco pursed his lips. "After Dad died, she just gave up. I look too much like him, and the reminders were much too painful. She hated being reminded of what she was put through, and what I was too. So she left. Couldn't take it anymore. That was one of the visions I saw. I felt so... rejected, I suppose. It pains me to remember it."

"I'm sorry." Hermione sobbed. She couldn't imagine losing her mum like that.

"Hey, hey! It's okay. I'm not sorry. It made me a better person," He soothed.

"I – know – Who. Did. IT!" She gasped suddenly.

Draco was shocked. She knew? She knew who attacked her? How? He thought she just had suspicions.

"Um... Who?"

"I can't say!" She wailed.

Draco looked around. Fleur and Penelope were too busy watching the game, and no one else was nearby.

"Why can't you say?"

"Because, they are – were – my friends! I love them, even though they did this to us!"

"To us?"

"Yes, I am almost certain they cursed you too, that time."

"Hermione, really, I know that they are your friends, but come on. They attacked you. Attacked us! They hurt you, babe." Hermione started. Babe? Hmm, she liked it.

She took a deep breath. "Okay, okay. Um. It was Ron –"

"WEASEL?"

Hermione gasped. Draco turned around.

Ron was standing there, glaring.

A/N: Okay, I'm not too happy with this... Let me know what you think, my loves!

KaylaKay xxxx