For anyone following this fic, the image of the mark of the Black Hand and unbreakable vow on the arm of Miranda Talassee is not in my profile anymore - if you want to see it let me know in a message, e-mail or review and I'll be happy to share it. I'll continue to upload images related to the story in my profile as the story is updated.

I'm working on creating smaller chapters this time around, so that fourth year is broken down instead being one huge 10,000 word chapter. It may take me long to update since I keep writing random parts of the story and then piecing it together, but I really hope you enjoy.

Please review.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

FOURTH YEAR – The return of evil

The Hogwarts Express and following Estella Swanson

"Bye mum, bye dad, I'm going to miss you" said Hermione as she hugged her parents at the platform. She soon saw Harry and Ron coming to say hi to her parents.

"You two take care of my girl as good as you did last year and we'll have you back over next summer. We can even take you out to more fun places next time!"

"Thanks Mr. Granger!" they both said before heading into the train.

They soon found an empty compartment and in Ron's words Hermione began her tirade on one Estella Swanson.

"Would you stop it! Harry already said he doesn't think she's done anything wrong?"

"Yes, but we agreed that it was weird how she always knew what was going on and that we would try to follow her and Malfoy using the cloak!"

"How come you are so obsessed with her and not her cousin? He seems to be just as suspicious"

"Because she's a Slytherin, which means she would be closer to Malfoy"

"She's right Ron, we did agree. Now, I can go find Estella and try to talk to her pretending I'm curious about what they did after we left Norway. You or Hermione can wear the cloak and follow behind me, then stay around her and see what she does."

"Alright I'm going" said Ron.

"I think not. I'm the one that wanted to follow her, so I get to go."

"No, you are so fixed on hating her, Merlin knows what you would try to look for"

"Excuse me! Are you trying to say I would make something up? You unbelievable…"

"Enough! How about you both go? The cloak is big enough to cover the two of you"

"Fine!" snapped Hermione

"Fine then!" exclaimed Ron. The two friends stood a bit closer to each other and threw the cloak on themselves.

"I can still see your feet and even parts of your arms! You're going to have to get closer and Ron hunch a bit." They did as Harry said and they soon became invisible. "This was not a good idea. I should have just let him go on his own. It's so warm in here and I can hear his heartbeat because my head is right by his chest. He smells nice. What is wrong with me?" Hermione thought as her heart began to beat uncontrollably fast and she felt butterflies were flying restlessly in her stomach.

"This is it. You two have to stay extremely quiet." With that they left their compartment to find Estella Swanson. Harry peeked in the windows of several compartments until he found Estella sitting with her cousin and his girlfriend. He opened the door and held it open for a while before going into the compartment. He hoped Ron and Hermione got in.

"Hi"

"Hello Harry" said Ely

"Well I was just coming to ask how the rest of your summer was after we came back from Norway. I know you were at our bash, but I didn't get to talk to you much" he asked looking mostly at Estella.

"It was fine, we just went home. Ely left to spend some time with Melinda's family and then we headed to the party at your parents. That was nice" said Estella. After this Ely and Melinda left saying they needed to head to the prefect compartment to lead a meeting. Harry fell silent for a while and then decided to make some more conversation.

"The bash was nice, wasn't it? Ron, Hermione and I really enjoyed the fireworks. What did you enjoy the most?" asked Harry while thinking it was a lame question, but he needed to stay and talk for a while to not raise suspicion.

"Oh… I liked the fireworks a lot and I guess it was fun to see the Weasleys prank their older brother"

"I must have missed that… What prank did they pull?" Harry asked, knowing full well how that story went.

"It was so funny! They approached their older brother, the one that is all prim and formal. What's his name?"

"Percy!"

"Yeah! So, Percy is sitting with his wife and waiting for the food, in the same table we are in. I reckon he was trying to butter up to my uncle. You see my uncle is an unspeakable and the minister always tries to get one of his people to get to know him better and try to find about their secret work. Anyways, he is sitting with us and the twins come and one of them distracts him and makes him and his wife look away while I see the other crushed a pill into powder and put it in his drink. He looked at me and put a finger on his mouth asking me to keep quiet and I did. Next thing I know they leave and Percy drinks his pumpkin juice and then begins throwing up everywhere. Mostly he threw up on my uncle, which really really threw his chances of getting any secrets right out the window! It was hilarious! Absolutely disgusting, but hilarious!"

"Yeah, Ron told me about that! It happened when I was at the loo"

"Well it was really funny. I would love to know the recipe for those things, very ingenious! How about you? What did you do the rest of the summer?"

"Ron and I went to Hermione's house in the muggle world, it was brilliant!"

"That's nice" then Estella looked at her watch and sat for a bit. "Well Harry I have to go to the loo. It was great talking to you and I really look forward to seeing you around school." Then she left the compartment.

"What do you want to do?" murmured Harry.

"We'll stay here and wait for her to come back and see what happens." Hermione said quickly. Harry then left the area.

Ron and Hermione stood huddled together in one of the corners close to the compartment doors. "Bloody hell she's close, too close. Her hair is kind of ticklish under my chin. It's nice. No! No it is not. What is wrong with me?" Ron thought as he felt his pants grow a bit tight. "Merlin! Not now! Please not know" he began think and then he was thankfully distracted by the nervousness of seeing Estella come back. She pulled a book from her bag and began to read while constantly looking at her watch. After a few minutes Draco Malfoy walked in and he closed the blind of the compartment window, Ella muttered "imperturbis" and the door glowed blue for a minute. Hermione turned her head up to Ron and gave him her best I told you so look.

"How long do we have?"

"A bit, I told Crabbe and Goyle I was feeling sick and needed to head to the loo. Those two are not so bright so they probably won't even know I'm gone" said Malfoy.

"Did Nott or Parkinson see you leave?"

"No! Of course not! I wouldn't leave if either of those two were paying attention."

"Alright, so what have you found so far?"

"Well not much. I got a note from Bletchey saying to meet in his room tonight after the feast, McDavol's orders. So, I guess I'll find more tonight."

"Do you have the quill and the gloves?"

"Yes, I'm wearing the gloves right now under the disillusionment charm that professor Snape taught us this summer and I have the quill in my pocket."

"Good. Professor Snape says to meet him tomorrow after dinner in his office and tell him about anything you find. Your excuse to go is that he asked you to meet with him about the possibility of becoming a prefect next year."

"What is your excuse?" Estella laughed.

"Like I need an excuse to leave the common room after the feast. I've been putting on the charade of studious prude long enough for people to think I'm just going to hide in the library. Plus I'm not friends with any Slytherins, so I won't be missed."

"Right"

"Well I think you should go. Crabbe and Goyle might be daft, but knowing Parkinson, she must already be dying not knowing where her pretty boy is."

"I suppose I'll let you call me that sassy girl. But, I'm not her boyfriend! She's dreadful!"

"Right" she said laughing again. "See you tomorrow in Snape's office." She lifted the imperturbable charm and Draco left. She then began reading the book she had on her lap until Ely and Melinda arrived and then relayed what Draco had told her.

"Do you think he'll succeed and help us find out what the Black Hand's next move is?" asked Ely.

"I reckon he will. He hasn't failed us yet" Ella answered.

"Yes, but what if he chickens out? This is harder than last year. McDavol is suspicious that someone leaked the information about the Periculum."

"I know, but trust me. I know Draco will pull through, I read his feelings"

"Ella you are not supposed to use your powers at school" said Melinda.

"Well we're not at school yet, are we? Plus I found what I needed. Draco is scared, but also determined to not let his dad pull a repeat of last Christmas and he really doesn't want to marry Parkinson. Plus he is the last on the list of suspects because his father was the lead in the attacks last year… along with McDavol off course."

"Right. Just don't get caught hanging around him. McDavol was too close to getting you last year and he knows who you really are. He won't stop you know" said Ely. They went quiet for a bit.

"What did Harry want?" asked Melinda.

"Nothing much, just to talk about the summer"

"You think he has a thing for you?" Melinda said with a smile.

"He and half the boys at school Mel" Ely replied bitterly.

"No, he doesn't. I read him too and spare me the lecture; I won't do it at Hogwarts. Harry was nervous like he was hiding something. I think he just came to talk to me to get closer and try to find information. I reckon he's suspicious about this summer."

"Well that's great, one more person to hide from" said Ely clearly displeased.

"It's fine. We've made it through the last five years and you are head boy and head girl now. We can meet all we want in your private quarters and talk as we please without all the hiding"

"What about Malfoy?" asked Ely.

"What about him? I told you all he said."

"Not that. Is he in this because of last year or because of you?"

"Meaning?"

"Right, 'sassy girl', I think you know perfectly well what I mean"

"Oh that. No he is not in this for me. I told you I read his feelings and he just calls me that to exasperate me. He really is not interested especially after the bet fiasco."

Soon the train arrived at the station and the Swansons along with Melinda Cooper left the compartment. Ron and Hermione stayed huddled together under the cloak for a while to make sure it was safe. Then they ran to their compartment to meet Harry. He had already got their things ready and was waiting by the door. They headed out to catch the carriages. After the feast the trio did not stay at the party in the common room. Instead they went to the library to have a long discussion about what Ron and Hermione had heard.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

NEXT CHAPTER

First Hogsmeade weekend