Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Harry Potter.

You got me scattered in pieces, Shining like stars and screaming,Lighting me up like Venus, But then you disappear and make me wait - The Heart Wants What It Wants,Selena Gomez.

Chapter 2: Even Angels Can Be Lead Astray.

After the eighth failed attempt at writing, a thank-you note to Narcissa Malfoy, Hermione finally wrote something that didn't make her feel like she was a complete idiot.

Dear Mrs. Malfoy,

Thank you for the book, I cannot wait to read it. I shall return it to you after I finished reading it so it can be added back to the Malfoy library.

Sincerely Hermione Granger.

She had wanted to start the note with Dear Narcissa, but thought better of it.

Usually no one could stop her writing something rather lengthy more than once Professor Snape had scolded her for writing more than requested for a potions' essay.

However, the words she managed to write in the note had been a real struggle for her.

She waited until morning to owl the note she had no choice but to use Errol after Percy point blank refused to let her use Hermes. Not that Hermione had expected him to in the first place, but it would have been a nice if he had surprised her by allowing her to use the owl.

She wanted to use Hermes for three very good reasons: One Errol was completely useless, two Draco was less likely to recognize Hermes and three she felt bad for lying to Mr. Weasley when she said it was to send a letter to her parents.

It wasn't like she could just turn around and say she was sending a thank-you note to Narcissa Malfoy. There would be questions that Hermione didn't know how to answer. If she were honest, she had questions of her own like why couldn't she get Narcissa out of her head.

And thinking about Narcissa left her feeling confused, lonely, angry and nervous all wrapped nicely into one. It was Harry who noticed something was wrong with her first after she didn't chide him for the incident with his Aunt Marge.

Even if she had of done, he wouldn't have listened to her anyway, yes she got that this woman was horrid, and that he hadn't meant to do it, but he needed to be able to control himself better. She loved him dearly like the brother she never had but one day if he didn't think first before letting his emotions take over completely he'd get himself killed or somebody else killed.

He kept asking if she were "Okay," she kept telling him that she worried that all the classes she was taking might be really difficult, and she could fall behind with everything.

It wasn't a lie, she was worried. True, Professor McGonagall had visited her home shortly after her, and her parents had gotten back from France and explained that she could use a Time-Turner to go to all the classes she had signed up for.

But all that really meant was that she could attend the classes it didn't mean she'd be able to the workload.

Mrs. Weasley put her one minute distracted, and the next snappy behavior down to that she was sickening for something. Which explained her barely eating and spending a large amount of time sleeping.

Hermione wasn't sleeping very well, but she wasn't going to tell Mrs. Weasley that because it would only cause her to start fussing.

* * * * Line Break * * * *

It was the day before they were due to return to Hogwarts when Harry and Ron managed to drag her out of The Leaky Cauldron. She had read the book Narcissa sent her three times already, and even though she said she would send the book back once she'd read it Hermione found herself unwilling to let the book go just yet.

It was when she was getting dressed to go out that she remembered the money her parents had given her for her birthday. So it was only the 31st of August, and her birthday wasn't until the 19th of September, she might as well get herself something early.

She decided to get her very own owl from Magical Menagerie.

Mr. Weasley took them to Magical Menagerie after Mrs. Weasley said there was no way they were going along it was like she thought that Sirius Black was going to jump out and murder them all if they didn't have an adult with them.

The whole way there Hermione listened to Ron talk about how they needed to get something to make Scabbers feel better.

There wasn't very much room inside the shop and nearly every inch of the walls was covered with cages. It felt like every animal, there was making some sort of noise and Hermione wondered if it was because they were all unhappy about being stuck there.

"Do you have any idea what type of owl you are looking for?," Mr. Weasley asked Hermione.

"Not really, I mean I want one that's as loyal as Hedwig is but not exactly like Hedwig as people might confuse mine and Harry's owl."

Just the mention of his owl was enough to put a smile on Harry's face.

"Dad, we need to get something for Scabbers," Ron says and Hermione raises an eyebrow because it almost sounded like a childish whine.

"I know Ron," Mr. Weasley replies, but he has that distracted look that both him, and Mrs. Weasley seem to have a lot lately.

While Mr. Weasley, Ron and Harry were looking for something to perk Scabbers up, she was wandering around the shop alone. There were many owls, but none of them felt like they belonged to her.

It wasn't just the owls none of the many animals there felt right, not until she saw a cat with ginger fur. When she looked a little closer she saw the fur was thick and fluffy, the face looked a little grumpy, but when she picked the cat up and it purred.

"What's your name?," Hermione asks, scratching behind its ears.

"His name is Crookshanks. He's been here forever," a voice behind Hermione says, and she knows this voice. She hears it whenever she closes her eyes when she tries to sleep.

"Hello Mrs. Malfoy," Hermione says her voice almost like a whisper.

Hermione turns around and looks at her, her eyes are boring into Hermione searching for something what Hermione doesn't know.

"Hello, Hermione. You know I have never seen anyone to be able to pick Crookshanks up, he must really like you, then again, Kneazles usually do pick their owners," Narcissa tells her.

"He's a Kneazle?."

"Half Kneazle, Half Cat I think. I was going to buy him sometime last year, but he didn't take a shine to me," Narcissa explains before reaching out and stroking Crookshanks. "Yet now he's acting like an angel,"

Narcissa is so close that Hermione can hear her breathing. When Narcissa steps back Hermione has to fight the urge to pout.

"You don't seem the type of person to like cats." Hermione says after what feels like a lifetime of silence between the two.

"I'm not but Lucius is allergic to cats, so I have cats,".

Hermione sees Narcissa tense, just for a second before she hears Mr. Weasley ask, "Hermione are you okay," his voice is full of worry and when she turns to face him she sees the glare aimed at Narcissa.

"I am speaking to the girl not torturing her, there's no need to worry Arthur,"Narcissa says, with a smirk and there's a brief flash of emotion in her eyes that Hermione can't read. Was it hatred?, smugness? or was it disgust?. Was it, all of them or none them.

"Not torturing a Muggleborn that's a first for you and your family," There was no mistaking the disgust in his voice.

Hermione desperately wanted to tell him that they were just talking that Narcissa was telling the truth, but one look from Narcissa stopped her.

"Hermione let's go," Arthur says,

"I need to buy Crookshanks first," Hermione tells him through gritted teeth and its then she realizes she's angry at him for interrupting her conversation with Narcissa.

Mr. Weasley takes Crookshanks from her arms, and just as they are walking away, she hears Narcissa call out "It was nice speaking to you again Hermione,".

* * * * Line Break * * * *

Ron didn't like Crookshanks but Hermione liked the cat a lot and couldn't understand why Ron just didn't seem to be able to understand that cats chased rats it was nature.

She would be glad when she returned to Hogwarts tomorrow, and Crookshanks would have the whole castle to roam.

It wasn't just Ron's attitude towards her cat that was leaving her feeling annoyed but also the constant asking if she were okay by Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.

It was like each time they asked they expected her to turn around and say that Narcissa had done something horrific towards her.

She lies in bed and wonder if they keep asking because they want Narcissa to have, so they can see her as, the monster they clearly think she is.

She was just about to drift off to sleep when she heard the tap on the window just like the night Narcissa sent her the book.

It was the same owl when she let it in it didn't hoot or nip at her like last time it just dropped a letter on the bed and flew away.

She read the letter over and over again until she could say it word-for-word.

Dear Hermione,

I am sorry our conversation was interrupted by Arthur when there were so many things I wanted to ask you, but for now I would like to ask you two things. What do you think of the book I sent you? And if you could brew only one potion from it what would it be?.

Now I have asked my questions, there is not much more to say apart from, I hope that neither Arthur nor Molly was too fussy about us talking.

Sincerely Narcissa Malfoy

P.S Keep the book.