UPDATE: I will not be able to update at my usual time. I do have a chapter prepared, but I am so out of it right now that I want to wait until later tomorrow to review it so that you are all getting what you deserve! Thanks to reviewers! Your words encourage me and I want to put out my best for you! Sorry for the delays.

The kitchen was once again brimming with everyone's yells. Hermione was clutching Draco's hand, staring out into the sitting room where Easter's body lay. Charlie and Arthur were in there as well, but she could not see them.

"Hermione, are you even listening to us?"

"No, Ron. I really can't listen to you."

Molly slammed her hand on the table and everything got quiet. She turned her gaze to Hermione.

"I do not get upset at trivial things, Hermione. My attitude is usually justified and right now I am gravely disappointed in you. How could you lie to us?"

"I never lied," she muttered.

"You told everyone you didn't see that thing attack Henrietta King," Charlie said as he and his father came in. "Not only did you lie, but it looks like you're the one who brought it into the castle."

Hermione's cheeks flushed but she kept her mouth shut. Arthur shook his head, sighing.

"I am sorry that you are mixed up in this, but…I am going to have to take you to the Ministry with that thing."

"Why?" Hermione stood with wide eyes. "Nothing's happened to anyone!"

"That thing attacked Henrietta King, Hermione," Charlie snapped. He gestured to Draco. "And everyone here knows it attacked Malfoy. How else did he end up with all of those injuries?"

"Besides, we have to take that creature in," Arthur added. "I can't keep it here in the Burrow. Come on, Hermione. We are going to have to ask you some questions."

Hermione started to stand, but Draco forced her back into her seat, standing instead.

"That creature belongs to me."

"Draco!"

"Shut up, Hermione," he snapped, moving around the table to stand before Arthur Weasley. "She didn't have anything to do with it."

"Nobody here believes that!" said Ron.

"Well, seeing as you can't prove anything beyond what I tell you, I suggest you shut your mouth, Weasley."

Arthur glanced at Hermione's anxious face before nodding. "Alright. Come on. Charlie, you'll take that thing with you first."

Blaise caught Hermione's arm before she could dart forward. "Don't, Granger."

"He's going to get in trouble for something he didn't do!" she whispered and Blaise rolled his eyes.

"You are going to get both of you in trouble of you tell them otherwise."

She pushed him away, going to the door to watch Charlie disappear with Easter in the fireplace. "Draco, if you get expelled-"

"Oh, for once in your life!" He glared at her. "You keep your mouth shut, Hermione."

A few seconds later, Draco and Arthur were gone. Hermione kicked the wall in a fury.

"Stupid boy!"

"Hermione."

She turned to the kitchen, wiping her face furiously. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "For all of this." Molly moved forward, taking Hermione's arms.

"Hermione, please. How did this all happen?"

Hermione could see the worry on the woman's face. The woman that genuinely cared about what was happening in her life. But Blaise's words and her own unending feeling that something was amiss kept her lips pressed shut. She shook her head, backing away from them for the stairs. With one last apology, she hurried up to her room.

She could feel Harry's eyes on her and exhaled in frustration. "Harry, you're making me nervous."

"You haven't slept in days."

"I will sleep when you tell me what you know."

"You know they haven't told me anything."

"Then I have nothing to sleep for."

Harry rolled his eyes and turned to Blaise. "Will you talk to her?"

"I have nothing to say, Potter. I was brought into this against my will, unlike you who jumped in it feet first because Granger here asked you to."

"You're involved because Malfoy asked you."

"Oh my God, Harry! That makes us completely relatable! We should totally talk about it over butterbeer."

Blaise's curled lip of disgust told Harry they were never to talk over butterbeer about anything. Harry rolled his eyes. "You're quite the character, aren't you? Your friend is off God knows where and you are here not giving a shit."

"You forget, Potter, that I was involved in this long before you. Do not mistake my sarcasm for apathy. If my friend is off in wonderland, then my place is here, making sure his love toy here doesn't do something worthy of a trip down the rabbit hole."

Hermione almost smiled as she continued looking out the window. "Thank you, Blaise."

"What did we say about first names, Granger," he muttered, pulling out a book.

They fell quiet and Hermione felt her nerves return. They were all returning to Hogwarts and there was still no word on what had happened to Draco Malfoy. Arthur had returned midnight Christmas Day, refusing to speak about what had happened. Charlie had been more talkative, telling the family that Easter had been put under observation while officials figured out what exactly he was. Draco was never mentioned, at least not to anyone who would say anything to Hermione.

Two officials from the Department for the Regulations and Control of Magical Creatures arrived at the Burrow the next day to inspect the orchard. They attempted to question Hermione, but Blaise was surprisingly persistent in making them understand that in no uncertain terms were they to speak to her. After they left, Hermione asked Arthur about Draco's status, but he refused, saying the case was being tightly managed. He did let slip, however, that he was unsure if Draco would be returning to the Burrow for the rest of the holiday.

A knock at the door turned her around. Luna came in, sitting down across from Blaise.

"How are you feeling, Hermione?"

"Like I haven't seen or heard of Draco in days."

Luna exchanged looks with Blaise before gesturing out the window. "We're coming into Hogsmeade. Perhaps Headmistress knows something."

When they got into Hogsmeade, Hermione felt eyes on her as she got off the train. Somehow, word had leaked to the Daily Prophet of Draco being brought in along with the creature. Henrietta King had been interviewed, something that offered little to distance Hermione from the debacle. All of this added onto Hermione's behavior at the last day offered only more room for the student body to speculate.

"Hey, Granger!"

Hermione turned to see Celeste stroll up. "What do you want?"

"Did that perky personality of yours leave with your boyfriend?"

"Don't be so pleasant, Gibbons," Blaise growled. "It doesn't go with your sour reputation."

"Nobody asked you," Celeste snapped before returning her sickly sweet smile to Hermione. "So it's true, hm? You spread them for Malfoy?"

Hermione's cheeks flushed. "You're sick."

"At least I don't endanger the lives of students." Celeste leaned in, eyes narrowed. "You and Malfoy deserve each other. Both of you are traitors to your school. No wonder you didn't become Head Girl. Oh, and by the way," she added quietly so that no one else could hear. "Henrietta is my cousin, you bitch. Don't think I'm going to let this go. My father has pull in the Ministry. Your boyfriend is never coming back to Hogwarts if I can help it."

Hermione curled her hands into a fist, glaring at Celeste's smirking face. "I wouldn't threaten me if I were you."

"Oh, what are you going to do? Sick your beast on me? Or get that cat to come after me?" Celeste laughed at Hermione's clear rage and walked away. Blaise sidled up to Hermione, eyebrow raised.

"Are you going to do something stupid?"

"I'm about to throw her down a rabbit hole," Hermione growled. "Is that stupid?"

"I'll find Alice and we'll make a party of it."

Hermione cast him a glare worthy of Draco and stalked off. Blaise rolled his eyes.

"Malfoy, I will kill you if I don't kill her first."

Up in the castle, Hermione and Blaise sat down in the Library to get away from the stares. Harry, Luna, and Ginny joined them later to find Hermione huffing and groaning while Blaise ignored her. When Luna appeared, Blaise leapt up.

"I have ten other places I need to be, none of them here and without you," he said quickly, grabbing her arm and dragging her out. Harry and Ginny watched them go while Hermione continued to mope.

"What…Hermione, did you see-"

"I can't take this!" She looked at Ginny. "If you know anything-"

"I don't, Hermione." Ginny pursed her lips as she took in Hermione's appearance. "I think it's good that this has happened."

"Really?" Hermione's face got dark. "You think Draco being detained somewhere is good?"

"I think you distancing yourself as far away from him and that creature is the best thing for you!"

"This is not Draco's fault!"

"But he didn't help, did he?"

"I am not doing this with you, Ginny."

"You need to listen! People here…they're talking, Hermione. They are all starting to think that maybe you sent…never mind."

Hermione caught Ginny's arm before the girl could leave. "They think what?"

Ginny sighed. "They're saying you may have set the creature on Henrietta."

"Is Celeste telling people that?"

"It doesn't matter who's saying it! People believe it and if you keep holding up for him you are going to get into trouble."

Hermione released Ginny with an unsettled look. "Ginny, if you ever tell me to distance myself who may have gotten himself expelled because of me, then…" She could not finish. The thought of threatening a friendship over words made her feel horrible. "I'm sorry," she whispered before hurrying out. But there were students everywhere and she soon found herself out by the lake, pacing back and forth on the shore as she struggled to get control of her raging emotions.

"Draco, you idiot!" she gasped, crouching by the water line. "This is unbearable!"

"How curious."

She stood as Nott, Cruller, and two other boys came walking up, having followed her from the castle. "What do you want, Nott?"

His unflinching gaze made her skin crawl and how close he came up to her did nothing for her either. She instantly wished she had her wand. "Where's Malfoy?"

"Everyone's got their own idea about that. I think they're running a pot about it."

"Cute, Granger," he said. He was still approaching her so that she had to start backing away. "You know, there's a poetic irony in you trying to bump off Gibbons' cousin only to have your weapon of choice turn around and went after Malfoy."

"Well, since that's not what happened, I see no irony."

"I'm sure it's there somewhere. How disappointing that it didn't finish."

Her back hit a tree and his arms blocked all escape. "Malfoy being gone can either be beneficial or detrimental to your health, Granger," he whispered, fingers brushing her hair away so that he could see her pale neck. Her lip curled in disgust and she met his gaze.

"I would rather die."

"That can be arranged." His fingers curled around her neck, tightening quickly. "You remember this, Mudblood," he growled into her ear before kissing her cheek. "You had your chance. I can spare you from what's about to come, or I will ruin you."

She spat in his face. She was on the ground a moment later, clutching her smarting cheek where he had caught her with a backhand.

"You filthy mudblood bitch!" he snarled as he and his friends walked away. "You are dead, do you hear me?"