Blaise Zabini shoved past Ron, limping slightly. Blood oozed from a huge gash on his thigh but he didn't seem to care. Again, Severus was somehow well. The Italian limped in to find Hermione untying Draco, the procedures over.

"Bella." Her head snapped up, eyes wide as she dropped the last restraint. Letting out a choked sob, she ran to his side, wrapping her arms around him and hugging him tightly. He hugged her gently back, too tense and she pulled away.

"He'll be okay, Blaise. He was hurt badly and he may never… may never walk correctly again, but otherwise; he's going to be fine. Just some ugly scars."

"and you?" Blaise asked, "are you well?"

"I am now." She frowned, looking around, "oh, Blaise! Your mother!" He laughed, shaking his head,

"Mama can take care of herself, mia, grazi. She has mysteriously… vanished."

"Then, at least, she's alright. Oh, Blaise! I was so worried." She gave him a sheepish grin and then noticed the gash and cried out, "you're hurt! Moony!"

Dittany was painful but Blaise would not allow her in the room, so she sat outside the door, stroking Sirius' fur. He'd gone into dog form to better hear what was going on in each room. She could hear Remus talking to Blaise but couldn't hear the exact words, just knew he was explaining all that had been done to Draco. She was proud though, Dittany was awful like that and Blaise hadn't even whimpered where she could hear him.

"Oh, Snuffles," she sighed, "Ron is about to have kittens I think."

Growl.

"Don't be like that, he has the right to be upset because we didn't tell him. Of course, we didn't tell him because he would be upset but that's how it works I suppose."

Whimper.

"I know, Harry will be fine though. He always pulls through these things. I think he's in love, Snuffles."

Snort.

"He is!"

Snort.

"Mia, are you talking to that dog again?" She looked up to realize that Blaise had opened the door and nodded,

"I told you, Blaise, he's my friend. You talk to Draco."

"Si, but Draco talks back."

"So does Snuffles sometimes." Remus chuckled, wiping his hands, "of course, it's usually snorts and growls."

"That's not fair." Hermione glared, leaning her head on the dog's large one, "he whimpers and huffs too." As if to prove her point Sirius huffed at Remus and lifted his hind quarters to stand and look back. Hermione nodded, "you're right, we'd better get down there."

"Had I known you were dating, I could have assisted in preventing such a disaster!" Severus snarled at Harry, lip curled, "No, instead, he escaped sheerly because he recognized the danger and ran. Had he not an animagus form, he would be dead now."

"What happened?" Hermione asked, "how did he find out?"

"Draco and Blaise were betrayed." Severus snorted, shaking his head, "apparently, miss Granger, Theo Nott felt that they had somehow betrayed him over his love for Daphne Greengrass. So, he betrayed them, to the Dark Lord. He was killed for withholding information for so long."

"Harry couldn't have known Theo would betray them." Remus moaned, "stop being so hard on him Severus."

"He was a fool to think that could ever work!" Sirius snarled and morphed, still barring teeth. Blaise lept up and grabbed Hermione, pulling her behind him, wand pointed.

"No, Blaise, don't!"

"Hermione! That's S-"

"Sirius Black, I know! He goes by Snuffles and Padfoot as well! I told you, Blaise, he's my friend."

"He is also a flea bitten mutt." Severus spat, drawing Sirius' attention and wand back to him.

"Sirius Black is your dog?" Blaise blanched, "I wish you not to ask me to keep this information from Draco."

"You can tell Draco, he doesn't care. He's Moony and Harry's dog actually, he just likes me best."

"She's nicer." Sirius nodded, "scratches behind my ears. Snivellus! Stop insulting my godson or so help me!"

"You're dating Malfoy." Ron said flatly. Ginny groaned and let her head fall to the table with a thunk. "You're dating Malfoy, Hermione is dating Zabini… what else haven't you told me? What else are you keeping from me?!"

"We didn't tell you because we knew you'd flip." Hermione sighed, "but that's it. I'm dating Blaise, Harry's dating Draco."

"We're calling him Draco now?!"

"Ron, you don't have to. With all the insults flying already, I really wish you would let Draco alone." Hermione sighed, "Blaise and Harry are rather sensitive…"

"What about me?!"

"This is the reason no one told you!" Ginny growled, "you'd flip out, maybe blurt it, get Draco killed and here you are, flipping out! You're so concerned about yourself that you don't even realize Draco nearly died to give us information, Blaise is about to hex your bits off, and Harry bloody well needs you! SHUT THE HELL UP!"

"Ginny knew too?!"

"RON!"