It was dinnertime and Hermione had again gone the entire day without eating. The others had noticed and were trying to force her to eat under pain of telling Madam Pomfrey, but to no avail. Her mind was everywhere. Easter's disappearance, her inability to figure out what creature he was, her missing bag, Draco's behavior, and now Celeste's actions this afternoon were all spinning about in her mind.

After lunch, Hermione had Arithmancy and found that Celeste was also in the class. The strawberry blonde was fairly popular, especially amongst the boys, so it was no surprise that there were so many people surrounding her when Hermione came in. Hermione had just sat down when Celeste noticed her.

"I hear you got into a fight, Hermione," she called over. "I didn't think you were much for fighting during the school year."

Hermione sighed in a self-suffering manner. "I didn't get into a fight, if you must know."

"Oh, that's right. They were fighting because of you, right?"

Other students chuckled at this, but Hermione could only scowl and turn to her book. Celeste excused herself from her friends, coming to stand in front of Hermione.

"I'm sorry about that," she said with what Hermione assumed was meant to be a friendly smile. "I was just trying to have a bit of fun. We haven't actually met, but I know so much about you."

"I know so little about you."

Her smile turned sour. "I know that you're very intelligent, Miss Hermione Granger," she said, leaning in so that no one could hear them. "So I'll only have to say this once. Don't be such a bitter bitch. Nobody likes sore loser."

Hermione's lip curled. "Aren't you sweet?" she muttered cynically.

"I can be sweet as poison if I need to be." Celeste's eyes flashed in amusement. "I can see why they didn't pick you as Head Girl. Nobody wants a socially inept, problem starter as Head Girl. And you obviously can't be as smart as they say if I'm the one with a badge on my robes and you…well, you've got nothing on or in your robes, have you?"

Cheeks ablaze, Hermione could only watch dumbstruck as Celeste tossed her hair and strutted away.

So sat Hermione at dinner, with an empty stomach, a heavy heart, and an angry mind.

"Hermione, please eat," Ginny said as she placed a plate of ham and potatoes in front of her friend. "Please, you haven't eaten all day and Madam Pomfrey said-"

"I don't much care what Madam Pomfrey said."

Her irritable tone caught everyone's attention. Ron touched her arm.

"Hermione-"

She shook her head, offering Ginny an apologetic look. "I'm sorry. I just have so much on my mind right now and…oh, that girl!"

"Who?"

Hermione gestured to Celeste. "Her. She's just…insufferable!"

Harry shrugged. "I don't know. She seems okay to me."

"Of course she does, you're a boy." She stood up. "I have to do homework."

"But you have-"

"Alright, that's it!" She glared at them all. "If someone tells me I need to eat again then I swear I will curse you."

She had just passed into the Entrance Hall in time to see Nott and Cruller arguing in the corner. She hesitated only a moment before ducking into a corner.

"You're telling me its been in the castle the entire time?"

"Don't yell at me, Nott. I told you this thing isn't precise." She saw Cruller pull a black device out of his pocket. He tapped it with his wand and it unfolded, displaying something to the two boys. "Look, see! It's in the castle."

"Where?"

"I don't know! You know, this wouldn't have happened if you had kept it better secured."

"This wouldn't have happened if you had done what you were supposed to when we got the damn thing!" Nott shook his head. "Look, we need to find it. Arguing about it isn't going to help any. Come on, lets go look down in the dungeons. It's used to being in shadows. Lots of dark down there."

The two moved off and Hermione came out of the corner, more perturbed than ever. "Where are you, Easter?" she whispered, almost tempted to go after Nott. But she decided against it, having no excuse available for being down in the dungeons if she got caught. With a sigh, she went to the commons. She was still there doing homework when the others came in. She glanced up at them but did not offer a greeting as they sat down. She knew she should not have acted the way she did, but she was much too proud to admit any of that.

Hermione stayed up later than everyone else finishing her homework. The fire was dying out and a tired yawn signaled it was time to pack up. She collected her things and was about to head off to bed when her strength failed her and she dropped down into the couch. Curling up, she felt tears welling up in her eyes and huffed.

"This is ridiculous! What are you so sad about? It's not like you need a cat for anything…and Celeste is a self-absorbed prat anyway, so what do you care what she has to say about you! Get a grip on yourself, Hermione!" She wiped her face, sitting up. "You don't need to be Head Girl to be validated and you know you're a damn bit smarter than Celeste! You know that's the only reason everything else is bothering you. Not being Head Gir-oh!"

Out of the shadows leapt Easter, hissing loudly. It sprung into her bag, reducing its hiss to a low rumble. Hermione pulled the bag into her lap, smiling.

"Easter, you're back." She reached in for him and gasped at the scratch she received. "What's wrong with you?"

He just continued his growling and she sighed. "Fine." She got up to her room, thankful that the other girls were asleep. She quickly got ready for bed and returned to bed to find Easter still in the bag, though he was quiet now. When she had pulled the curtains and lay down on the bed, he crawled out and came up near her head, staring at her. She touched where he had scratched her, a little worried.

"What's going on, Easter?"

He curled up next to her chest and the white barb soon put her to sleep.

As October rolled in, things returned to normal. Hermione had gotten into the swing of classes and had finally gotten to eating again. Most of this was due to her finally accepting Easter's presence as a nightly thing only. She had taken to doing her homework in her room so that she could spend more time with him. He became more amiable, rubbing up against her while she scribbled out essays, purring and once he licked her hand. The same one he had scratched and, to her concern, had not healed. But her mood improved so much so that she and Ron were on good terms, and Celeste rarely bothered her. She had even put a hold on the search for the bag, Nott's search, and Easter's identity. Malfoy's behavior had passed from her mind as well.

On a particular weekend, Hermione woke up with Easter still asleep near her pillow. She dressed quickly, packed him away in her bag, and started out towards the Quidditch pitch. But as she made her way down the hall, Easter started to shift more. She had just gotten to the staircase when he released a hiss and slipped out of the bag.

"No!"

She sprinted down the corridor after that flashing white barb. Easter took a sharp turn around a corner and when she came around it, he was gone.

"No, no!" She looked around frantically, calling softly for the creature. A loud yell of surprise caught her attention and she rushed down the hall. She recognized the second floor girl's bathroom and came to a halt in front of it, hesitant to enter. Another yell, however, dispelled hesitation and she sprinted inside.

"Off, kitty!" she heard Moaning Myrtle yelling. "Go away!"

"Get the hell away from me!"

Hermione came around the corner to a strange sight. Moaning Myrtle floated up above the sinks with the same worrying look on her face she usually had. On the floor near the sinks was Draco fighting an odd little fight against Easter, who seemed unusually interested in getting to Draco's terrified face. Hermione broke into a smile and she watched as Draco continuously flung Easter away from him only to have the little cat dive back at him. Then the blonde pulled a wand and Hermione moved in.

"Easter, stop!" She reached for Easter, but he hissed and dove for Moaning Myrtle. The ghost girl shrieked and flew into her stall. Growling, Easter stalked back towards Draco. Enjoying Draco's predicament but not wanting to be responsible for anyone getting hurt, Hermione placed herself between Draco and Easter. "Easter, cut it out!"

Easter dropped to his belly, a low growl erupting from his throat as his tail twitched agitatedly. But he stopped. He even allowed Hermione to pick him up. With a deep breath, Hermione then turned around.

Draco stared up at Hermione and Easter with such confusion that Hermione was tempted to think he had never seen her before. His mouth hung open, his eyes were wide, and his chest was still heaving from the fight. She noticed his hand clench tighter around his wand and held Easter closer.

"Um…"