And a new chapter is up! Success lol. I hope you all like the direction I'm about to take you in, I've not read a story that's done this before (but then again, have you seen the amount of fanfiction!) and all will be revealed in the next few chapters. I just think for every extreme opinion there is always the opposite but just as extreme opinion (even if arguably very justified it is all about the execution of said actions and implications of the ideas).

JackSam – thank you! I'm so happy you're enjoying it :) and there will definitely be more coming your way (hopefully posted a bit more regularly haha).

Doctor Lumos – I'm so with you for the spending too much time reading fanfics lol, my screentime is not okay. And I'm glad you understand what I like to think of as 'creative liberties' and that yes, I write fanfiction so there will definitely be a lot of plot holes (that may or may not be addressed later on, we shall see mwahaha – I'm also thrilled you like the more political side of my story, that will be returning to the forefront in the next few chapters). As for your last point I very much doubt you could be this delusional of a commenter haha, you seem like a very sensible, intelligent and well thought out individual but yes, everyone has their bad days! And sometimes people can read into things too much (curse of an overthinker) but constructive criticism is always okay, as long as it stays constructive and you certainly don't have to always agree with the author :) and all the best to you to! Sorry for the essay haha

decandenceofmysoul – aww, thank you so much! I hope this one is as good too haha, but really, these kind of reviews make my day so thank you.

dennisud – yes, that's a plot point I will certainly continue with (though it won't be the main focus of this chapter, or the next few)

happylady – I know right! I've given him such a hard time lol, but I promise things will get better!

Chapter 26

A bang rang out of Hermione's wand, silencing the chattering of the DA members. Once assured they wouldn't begin talking again she turned to Harry, raising an eyebrow. Harry sighed. He knew everyone had questions, gossip and theories about his recent quidditch match and that he really should address them. Catching Neville's eye the smile his friend sent him gave him the strength to get to his feet. Squaring his shoulders his eyes flickered over everyone, each name flicking through his mind. Still in danger, because even now the ministry still hadn't caught all the death eaters. Shielding his bitterness to the ministry, Harry decided to give a clipped version of the events before agreeing to answer a few questions, something he had agreed to beforehand with Hermione on the agreement that she would step in if he became too uncomfortable. Then he'd move straight on to the lesson. After all, they were here to learn how to defend themselves, not a gossip session.

Upon watching everyone leave Harry sat down, scowling at the sensationalised titles about the match.

"It's a nightmare, isn't it?"

He glanced up to see Hannah sit opposite, Justin and Susan dropping down next to her.

"The fact it's happening again, when we all thought it was over." She shook her head, eyes sorrowful.

"I know Auntie Amelia's confused too, she was so sure they hadn't missed a single death eater and especially not this many," Susan joined in, frowning.

"It just doesn't make sense," Justin added and Ron shrugged.

"Seems pretty simple to me, Harry took down Voldemort and got most of his supporters in jail or dead. He and anyone close to him who helped is now a target for their anger."

"No, but, the attacks don't make sense. I mean, the quidditch match was the first one but there's been five or six since. Some injuries but no deaths however what I've noticed is most of them were on pureblood houses, and all who were attacked were purebloods."

There was a pause before Hermione snatched the pile of newspapers from next to Harry, flicking through them with a mildly crazed look on her face. Harry exchanged an amused smile with his friends while they waited for her to validate Justin's claim.

"He's right, I don't understand how I missed this!" Hermione stated, eyes wide as she double checked each article. "It's always purebloods who are attacked, indiscriminate of their beliefs."

"Beliefs?"

"Yes! Some," Hermione began, falling into her typical lecture pose, "are purebloods who worked with the Order of the Phoenix, hence the attack on Kinglsey Shacklebolt. However other attacks are on purebloods who have similar beliefs to the death eaters and even Narcissa Black was attacked."

"Well, it was proved her husband forced her into it so perhaps that's why they targeted her?" Neville wondered.

"But she's not the only pureblood house targeted that held those kind of views. It doesn't make sense for it to be death eaters when none of the attacks are on muggleborns. The only half bloods targeted have been around purebloods or have married into a pureblood house. It just doesn't make sense!" Susan exclaimed, huffing in frustration. "I mean, who says it's even remaining death eaters at all?"

"You think it's completely separate?" Justin said, concerned.

Harry frowned as he listened, chest tightening. No wonder the ministry hadn't found anything if that was true.

"But they're using the death eater symbol?" Hannah pointed out, deepening everyone's frowns.

"To throw us off perhaps?" Hermione theorised. "After all, if everyone's looking for death eaters then they escape unscathed. Means they can slip through the cracks as everyone's hyper focused on the use of the symbol that they must be leftover death eaters."

"Maybe they want to hurt the ministry?"

Silence descended as everyone looked at Ron.

"What?" he asked, shrugging. "You've seen the papers, the things they've been saying about how the ministry is still failing us, that your aunt is no better than Fudge, all that rubbish. Maybe that's why they're doing this? After all it's not like they've killed anyone in the attacks, just injuries have been reported."

"You think this is just to slander the ministry?" Hermione repeated, frowning. "I mean, it's possible, especially when you consider no one's died. It just doesn't fit with the death eaters so I think we're right at least on the part where it's a different group."

"The question is," Harry interjected gravely, "is what are their motives for these attacks? All we know is they seem to be targeting purebloods but since it's irrespective if their beliefs we can't narrow down why. We have no information to go off to work out who's behind the attacks and why."

Harry shifted uncomfortably as the room feel into an unsettled stillness, uncertainty weighing on everyone's mind. The death eaters may have been mad, but they had a known motive. This group, if they weren't death eaters, they could target anyone. It may only be purebloods at the moment but it could quickly escalate, and the lack of a clear idea of intent and an unpredictability made whoever these people were very, very dangerous.

"We need to find out who they are as quickly as possible," Hermione eventually spoke up. "And for that, we need a plan."

Bright brains or a Greedy Grubber?

The so called 'Brightest witch of the Generation' shot to fame upon becoming friends and then eventually dating the Wizarding World's Chosen one, Lord Potter. But is she all as she seems? Some sources say she isn't, and that the shy girl cover is nothing more than that, a cover. After all she is incredibly bright, and who is to say she is not concocting the same scheme Ginevra Weasley did, but far more successfully. With their distinct personality differences, sources say it wouldn't be surprising as she is known at school as a teacher's pet, desperate to climb the classroom ladder like it was a corporate one and would do anything to achieve it. This fixation on fame and fortune however has now affected our golden boy and we are quoting that 'he is becoming more and more unhappy with this girl and is starting to see her as she really is, nothing more than a conniving gold digger'.

Muggleborns supporting Pureblood supremacy? It's more likely than you would think.

Hermione Granger was the top student of her year at Hogwarts and one of the brightest students ever to take on. As a muggleborn she became a figurehead of inspiration for others like her, born without privilege in the lottery of life. However in dating famous Victor Krum and then is now the girlfriend of the rich and mega famous Lord Harry Potter has she decided to cross to the other side? To abandon her future as a role model and bend down to the Wizarding World's Pureblood whims. Does she not understand –

"Reading it won't make you feel better." Hermione blinked at the voice as Katie took the newspaper she was holding. Eyes flicking down the page she scoffed, tossing it away. "Ignore it, it's utter rubbish as are the so called sources. Anyone with eyes know you two are made for each other, that it isn't forced."

"Thank you," Hermione answered honestly before falling silent, unsure what to say. Oh how she wished Harry wasn't currently in class. He'd know what to say, even if it was to give her a kick up the butt to get it together.

Dropping down in the seat next to her Hermione jumped slightly when Katie took her hand, eyes dropping down to the table as Katie looked at her. "Hermione, you have got to remember this – this trash is only written because it sells! I mean, you're Lady Ravenclaw for Merlin's sake, you have no reason to be a gold digger or to be with Harry for status and power. You don't need to break up with him to be a role model. These are nothing more than silly stories."

"There are a lot of these silly stories," Hermione grumbled, scowling at the table. At this point she was just waiting for people to get brave enough to say it to her face.

"And? It doesn't mean you should believe them. Come on, I know you're smart. Didn't you help Harry deal with all the hate in fourth year from the press? It's just like that."

"I know, I know," Hermione sighed, pulling her hand away and tugging on a curl. She hated this, and even more she hated how it made her doubt herself and her relationship with Harry.

"Speaking of the devil," Katie said, nodding towards the door. Hermione turned to see Harry and Ron laughing as they strode up, Ron gesturing about Merlin knows what that must have happened.

Harry dropped into the seat next to her, giving her a quick peck on the lips. She tried intently to focus on the warmth of them instead of spiralling again, ignoring the look Katie gave her of 'tell him'. That turned out to be a mistake. Katie tossed the newspapers she had been reading next to Harry's plate, with him already glancing over the covers before she could try to hide them. For Merlin's sake. Giving a side eye to Katie who just grinned before sauntering off, she sulked in silence, waiting for Harry to speak. Even Ron had fallen silent, reading over Harry's shoulder.

"You know this is bullshit, right?"

"I – I know," she said, ignoring Harry's intense stare. She was just so, so tired. Tired of trying to please everyone, tired that no one could see past who she was born as and not who she was.

"They know nothing about us, nothing." She finally glanced up to see Harry staring at her, the laughter long wiped off his face. "And if you want to be a role model, great! Do that! But only if you want, and only how you want. No one can tell you how to live your life."

Chewing on the inside of her cheek Hermione nodded, "I know, it – it can be overwhelming sometimes," she finished quietly.

"Sirius could help with that, couldn't he?"

At Hermione and Harry's questioning looks he shrugged, shovelling more food into his mouth. After swallowing, he continued "Well, he's very used to bad press at this point and must have been learnt with how to deal with it, as well as when he was growing up he would've been taught how to. You could always ask him."

"Thank Merlin for Ron," Harry exclaimed, amused.

"Anything for you mate," he replied and grinned before heading back to his bacon.

Then the mood became gloomy again as Neville sat down next to them, newspaper in hand. "Look what gran just sent me."

Grabbing the offered newspaper Hermione quickly devoured the title, horror sinking into her as she read further and further. They were critiquing Amelia Bones, slating Kingsley, Nymphadora and the rest of the Aurors and even made some horrible jabs at the Wizengamot, chief among them the snide comments insinuating that perhaps Sirius was leading the rogue (death eater) group.

That wouldn't go down with Harry well.

"It's ridiculous," Harry raged, pacing up and down, gesturing wildly. He was pissed. "After all Sirius has said and done, how can they still believe this stupid narrative that he's out to get me, that he's a death eater! He's the best man I've ever known." He huffed, clenching his fists and willing the tears in his eyes away. He. Was. Not. Going. To. Cry.

Drawing in a deep breath he scowled at the nearest painting, watching as the occupants fled, all scurrying away in fear.

"We know," Hermione said, the furrowed brows and concerned tilt of her head causing a surge of guilt to flood in him. It wasn't just him the press was affecting.

"We need to find out who's behind it," a soft voice drifted over to him. Luna watched him from her corner, eyes almost luminescent in the low light. "We need to do some investigating."

"Er, guys, I'm usually not one for being cautious but if Sirius finds out he's going to kill us," Ron pointed out from where he was lounging in his chair, a mildly concerned look on his face.

"He won't," Harry said with a shrug, the adrenaline and determination that came from his 'extracurriculars' as the twins called them rushing in him. "We'll sort this out." He'd fix this, he'd make this all better. He would be better.

"Right," Ron said, clapping his hands together. "Where do we start?"