Note: So, I've finally been able to get through all 9 previous chapters. Which means as of now 13/01/2025 this story is completely up to date. All chapters have been reworked slightly and edited extensively without taking anything from the mystery or content of the story so far. (Hopefully this edit has actually added to the mystery and enhanced the story for you all). As always, I cannot thank you all enough for the sheer support you always offer me. You all honestly blow me away with the love, feedback and strength you offer. So many of you have reached out in similar situations to myself with such empathy and encouragement and I truly feel blessed. I want you all to know that you are a blessing and no matter what this crazy little world throws at us, please, please keep going. Keep fighting and keep spreading the love you show me out in the wider world.

I will forever be in each and every one of your debts.

All my Love – Nell xoxo

~ Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry ~

~ September 5th 1994 ~

~ Hermione's POV ~

The young brunette woke up slowly, an intense pounding in her head, her eyes also stung, and her temples throbbed horribly. It took her more than a long minute to figure out where precisely she was. The cold stone of the astronomy tower, at first glimpse, was completely foreign to her. It wasn't until she spotted the stairs that surrounded her that a little clarity snuck into her mind as to her whereabouts. She had woken in the same place she had fallen, inches from the window she had been staring out of. Her entire body feeling just as feverish as it had before, and that same sense of urgency was racing through her veins once more. This time with a sense of desperation that only added to her distress. It felt as if every fibre of her being was urging her to hurry. As if magic herself was stressing the importance of this thing that lingered in her bones. Whatever it was, Hermione felt clueless, a sense of foreboding sitting in her stomach as her feverish bones ached familiarly. A reminder to the brunette that there must be something abstractly wrong with her that she wasn't seeing.

Her symptoms made no sense, but she had the disturbing suspicion that it all had something to do with those Beauxbatons girls that had emerged last from their carriage. Not that the link was clear at all. The brunette was only certain of one thing and that was that her magic had reacted to them. The whole time it surged and coiled and searched. It had been searching for them, and she didn't know what to make of that in the slightest.

It had to be linked. Her mysterious illness, the way her magic had been wildly out of control, the heightened senses. It had to be linked.

The first thing she had done upon arrival at Hogwarts after the summer had ended was go to the library to check out every book, she could think of that might contain the answers she sought. Though no amount of research had resulted in any sort of tangible reason. The fever, the heightened senses, the irritability and bouts of accidental magic, all the things that ailed her, had garnered no explanation in her books and that had upset the brunette greatly. Lady Lestrange had been stumped too as to what was causing her to feel so awful. But the fever was yet to abate, and Hermione was even more confused than she ever had been. Especially now after seeing the way her magic reacted to those two unknown girls.

She couldn't lie and say it hadn't unsettled her. For it had, but Hermione really couldn't work out just what part of this entire mess she found herself in to focus on. Everything was so confusing and so very overwhelming for the usually together brunette. The fact that she was feeling so out of control with no explanation wasn't something that she was willing to take lightly. It was something she detested, and she'd always striven to remain at least hyper aware of her surroundings as she grew. This feeling made her feel like she was blind, the more she searched for answers, finding none, the more anxious she became, and the more confusing things got. Hermione groaned silently, sniffling and whipping at her eyes as she realised, she was crying. Her entire body felt like it was on fire and her magic felt wild. The brunette picked herself up. She Forced stiff joints to cooperate as she snuck back to her dorm, answering the Riddle at the entrance and making her way up to her room without conscious thought as she focused everything she had on simply getting there without being seen.

She did not want to risk anyone seeing her like this, her peers were like wolves, and she was already an outcast. She really couldn't give them any ammunition to use to torment her further with.

~ The sky above Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry ~

~ September 6th 1994 ~

~ Fleur's POV ~

Fleur Narcissa Delacour was a proper lady, or at least she tried to be. She was after all the heir to the Delacour Clan. A responsibility and an honour that would be passed down to her from her Grandmother, through her Mother. When the time came. It was a role she had been training for her whole life, her grandmother having drilled it into her from the minute she could form conscious thought. The Clan of Vela would be her responsibility. Hers to guide, to govern, to care for. Though most importantly they would be hers to protect.

It was an honour that had resided within the Delacour family for many a Century. A pact that had been formed amongst the Vela world-wide long, before even her grandparents, grandparents were on this earth. The pact meant that Clan Delacour would always be The Vela's leaders. Passed from matriarch to matriarch. They were after all the fairest and strongest Vela to have ever existed. Each Delacour Child born to a Vela Elder was predicted to hold immense power and each child would have their own aspect of the Magiks that they excelled in. For Fleur, the future leader, she had always excelled at Healing and upon her sixteenth birthday when her inner Vela had awoken this ability had been magnified tenfold. Her Grandmother had been exceptionally proud of her. As had the rest of her Family. For it was only fitting that the future head would be skilled at caring for anyone sick or injured, able to heal and treat their flock to exceptional standards. Such was the privilege that had been bestowed upon her.

It was a heavy crown to bear but one that Fleur would never resent. She loved her family and her flock dearly and would always strive for the best for them. After years of training under her Grandmother, she knew one day she would flourish as their leader. She had been taught to hold their secrets close and her family closer. She had learned the hard way just how quickly those you loved could be ripped away from you. Her family had lost someone dear to them and they had never recovered. Even now Fleur could feel the pang of heartbreak that clung to her and her sister, The tear in their magic that they carried each day, a reminder of the girl ripped from them. A part of them missing, an ache that they knew as Vela would never go away.

Her sister's disappearance had destroyed her Clans trust in Wizarding Britain, they had little faith in the British ministry and even littler faith in their auror department. After all they still hadn't solved her sister's disappearance. After all this time, they still had no hint of a clue as to where her baby sister was or what had happened to her. Fleur secretly doubted they ever would. If her family were to gain answers it would not come from the incompetent fools at the ministry that had searched for 14 years with no avail.

No, Fleur knew if her family were to get closure for her little sister's disappearance it would be granted by her. It was why she had agreed to represent her school in this Morgana awful sham of a tournament. She had promised her mother's that she would find answers. Neither dared believe her but Fleur had never not fulfilled a task she had set her heart too and she wouldn't start now. As future clan leader she had to do this, not just for her parents or Gabby, not even just for her missing sister but for the clan too. They all deserved answers, they all needed those answers, and they all needed justice. She knew the risk and the danger she and Gabby were in, something that her dear sister Gabrielle had pointed out on numerous occasions even as she too packed for this trip. Intent on accompanying her eldest sister to their birthplace. To return to Britain invited all sorts of awful possibilities in her mother's opinion but the Vela in her wouldn't back down. This was something she knew she had to do.

So, with determination and nerves of steel she didn't know she possessed Fleur had volunteered to represent their school. An honour even if it were a dangerous one.

Her family had relocated to France, back to her Mere's home. To the Clan's sacred grounds where they were safe. France was their sanctuary and the clan's young flourished there. The decision to bring Gabby and her there had been a painful one for her parent's but Fleur was grateful for the safety the clan lands offered her and her sister. That said her mama and her Mere still searched for their missing sister often. They had never given up on trying to find Adharia. Both refusing to accept that she was gone, though they had tried to hide their heart break and desperate attempts at searching from Fleur and Gabby as they grew. But Fleur had seen, and it had broken her heart to see the pain that her parents carried with them every second of every day.

She and Gabrielle had lost a sister, and they felt her loss profoundly. The three sharing a sacred bond that was truly unbreakable. A little-known fact about Vela was that all children born of Vela descent were linked to their siblings by magical bonds that were as powerful as any known bond in the wizarding world. It meant that Fleur and Gabrielle physically felt the absence of their little sister in their magic. Adharia having been far too little for their Magiks to bond properly. She had been ripped away before the three had ever gotten the chance to fully form their bond and it left a permanent hole in Gabrielle and Fleurs own Magiks. It was a constant aching absence that haunted them. It always would. But they had learned to adapt their magic and their heart. They missed her, yes. Terribly so and they would always long for her, search for her and miss her fiercely but they had lived more of their lives without her than with. They heartbreakingly knew how to survive in her absence.

For Fleurs parent's however, she knew the loss of their sister had slowly but surely broken them down piece by piece. Her mama blamed herself, having been the one at home with them the night Adi had been taken. Fleur had watched her mama withdraw into herself, she would smile and laugh and love with Gabby and Her and even Mere on occasion but the minute her mama thought no one was looking all sign of light left her pale blue eyes. Her Mere also blamed herself, for she had been at work the night it happened, and it devastated her Mere's inner Vela. She had been at the ministry, working as the international liaison officer between France and the united kingdoms. They were planning a new creature treaty that would have shown more compassion to the magical creatures that had so often been mistreated. The treaty never passed. The British ministry claiming the disappearance of a magical child to be the responsibility of the house elf that had been murdered. It was twisted to the media that the elf had secretly helped the intruder in their kidnapping of the young witch and the treaty had lost substantial support and had been disbanded, swept inside a desk drawer beside twenty other creature treaties that had never made it past a rough draft, coincidentally.

Vela by nature were the protective kind, they were territorial and caring and nothing was more important to the Vela than her family. The Vela would without question burn the world to stop harm befalling their young and Fleur knew that her Mere struggled every day to stop her Vela from slipping into the darkness at her own perceived failure to protect her family.

Fleur knew she and her sister were all that held their mothers together and she was determined to change that. Determined to find out what happened to their baby sister and if she could Fleur would make sure that whoever had harmed Adi, would pay dearly for their crime.

"Fleur we are landing". Gabrielle's angelic voice spoke quietly, the slightly younger girl placing a gentle hand on her sister's tense forearm. "Thank you, Gabrielle. Give me a minute to collect myself oui?" The taller blonde answered back. Her voice just as soft and angelic as her sisters was. Fleur quietly summoned her hairbrush, running it through already pristine locks methodically. Strategically working on her "public face" as her mere liked to tease.

"You are thinking of her again, aren't you?" the ever-astute sea blue eyes of her baby sister studied her face carefully and Fleur knew Gabrielle knew her far too well. Neither of them needed to clarify her they were talking about. They had always been inseparable, especially after their sister had been snatched. Their broken hearts clinging to one another for survival as they had grown. But the older blonde also knew as much as Gabrielle missed their sister, she didn't remember the tiny infant, not truly. Nor did she remember the night their baby sister had been snatched. Not the way Fleur did.

Without responding out loud, she nodded once. Confirmation that wasn't strictly necessary. She felt rather than saw her sister move closer, blonde curls tickling the older witch's bare arm as Gabrielle rested her head against her. A gentle sort of soothing support that Fleur only ever found in moments like these with Gabby. "I don't know how or when sister. But we will find the truth" The younger blonde whispered. A promise as much as it was a prayer. One both witches begged Morganna and all the gods to answer as they took the moment to simply be.

"Mademoiselle's Delacour, Vous êtes tous les deux requis. Veuillez-vous ranger en ligne, vous êtes après tout notre champion''. The stern tone of their Headmistress Madame Maxime startled the teens from their solace as they had stood watching the grounds of their host school come upon them. The last part of her sentence was directed at Fleur, but she felt her sister preen beside her. Her inner Vela proud of her sister in a way that only the Vela could truly grasp.

"Nous vous prions de nous excuser, madame la directrice, nous ne voulions pas donner l'impression d'être en défaut." Fleur replied instinctively, ushering her sister forward. The older witch had to try a little too hard to address their headmistress without sneering at the poor woman. Madame Maxime always meant well and truly cared for her student's, but the woman's own anxieties often slipped in to her mannerism's. An unfortunate consequence was that the woman often came across brash or ill tempered. Though intentional or not, the slight was enough to have Fleur's inner Vela sneering at the woman's indirect disrespect. The headmistress smiled, accepting the easy apology as she ushered the girls forward. Towards the carriage doors.

"Nous débarquons par deux, mesdames. Juste comme nous l'avons répété." The Beauxbatons head mistress commanded as they came to a halt on the gravel path on the entrance lawn. "Rappelez-vous qui vous êtes les filles. Quoi qu'il arrive, nous sommes Beauxbatons. Fier. Affectueux. Féroce." The woman continued and she met each of their eyes. Critically inspecting their robes and hair one last time. First impressions were key after all, and Fleur could see that their head mistress was determined to make a good one at the very least. Their school after all had never won this tournament in the entire time it had run all those years ago. It's return meant that France finally had a chance to even the scores slightly and redeem their ancestors. The blonde could see why the school's though it such a big deal, but she would never be at peace with the idea of reckless competition meant to feed ego instead of growth.

When the carriage door opened Fleur felt her magik jump in her veins, Gabrielle stumbling beside her let her know that her sister felt it too. It was a strange urgent sort of feeling that made both blondes feel as if their very being was calling them forward. Demanding that they move and seek. What they were to seek however was a mystery and they really weren't in any position to follow the magik that insisted they move. They were after all standing at the back of their peers waiting to descend the stairs officially starting their stay at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

"Fleur." Gabby whispered, hand on her arm tightening imperceptibly at the strange sensation. "I know Gab, Calm" she instructed back. Knowing that there was little they could do without drawing negative attention to them and therefore the school. The curly hair blonde nodded minutely, accepting her sister's instruction easily. She would never doubt Fleur, trust lived and breathed between the two implicitly. It always had and this although frightening to the younger blonde, was no different.

Fleur breathed deeply as an afterthought hoping her sister would follow her lead. It wouldn't do for them to lose control of their magic or their vela's so she needed her sister as grounded as she possibly could be in their current predicament. As for the Magik that pulsed within her Fleur was at a loss. She could feel it. The insistent tugging and pulling in the direction of the large tower 200 meters away in the distant. It's ancient grey stone rising proudly above them. The blonde looked around with her eyes as she descended the carriage steps, briefly taking in the other two schools already lining the grass. The boys, and many of the female student's already reacting unfavourably to the Vela allure that she and many of her classmates were blessed with. For the vela were an intimate people. Known for their prowess, insatiability and need in the bedroom. Part of that was what was known as their 'thrall' a chemical pheromone that their bodies produced, a well-trained vela could control it's intensity, but the Thrall was designed to entice and lure willing bed partners to Vela. It was said it was a gift passed on to the Vela from their relatives – Sirens. Only the Vela as people were kindly and loving. They taught peace and only ever harmed another if in defence of their family or all other options were ineffective.

The thrall now was only ever used with a Vela's mate or in severe situations when a vela's life was at risk. That's not to say the Vela thrall wasn't always there. Because it was, however, vela learned to control its intensity. Muting their thrall around others to ensure minimum effect on others. However, unfortunately those not accustomed to the Thrall were often ensnared by it if receptive, regardless of how muted it was. If anything, the Thrall was often a nuisance to them attracting unwanted attention to them at inopportune times.

Once they had all filed out of their carriage, heads held high, cloaks wrapped around themselves tightly to fight the Scottish September chill, Fleur continued her surveillance of their surroundings. Her Magik still insisting she move, toward the tower. Away from the crowds around them.

"The tower Fi" her sister whispered, and Fleur found herself squeezing her sister's arm imperceptibly in agreement. Both turning their eyes towards the tower in question. A strange feeling of being watched began to couple with the urgency and both blondes clenched their fists, fighting the urge to listen to their Magik. Their Vela were awake also, pacing within as they grew anxious at the way their Magiks coiled and spiked.

Two sets of shimmering blue turned their eyes in sync up to the tower in question. Both searching for the source of their urgency as they were stuck in place on the middle of the entrance courtyard. Fleur almost sighed in frustration, catching the slip between perfect teeth. Her frustration mounting the longer the source of their unsettledness remained elusive to them. As soon as they were free to move around uninspected by students and faculty alike, they would find whatever it was.

"Speak with Mama first" the little uncertain voice within her whispered as she remained glued to the tower. It wasn't a bad idea really. But fleur didn't know if she had the ability not to go towards that feeling for very long. Nor did Gabby. She could tell by the way the younger blondes pristine nails dug into Fleurs forearm. As if that grip was all that tethered her in place.

"Welcome, Welcome to all. Beauxbatons and Durmstrang alike it is a pleasure to have you here with us." A booming voice rang out across the grounds. The voice commanding the attention of all three schools' inhabitants in its volume. Fleur too snapped her eyes towards the voice and found herself gasping quietly. A mix between, recognition, confusion and fear colouring her vision as her eyes took in the elderly wizard in front of her. For a moment Fleur could have sworn she was three years old again, her mind suddenly flung back fourteen years into the past.

Her eyes were raw, and her face was clammy and wrought with emotion. Tears streamed down her face as she stared helplessly at the tall, robed figure. Cream coloured robes loomed in their doorway. Green eyes starkly unsettling in the dim light of the night. Malice and determination shinning within in a way that just looked mean to the three-year-old. Adharia was screaming, Gabrielle was crying in fright too and Fleur, Fleur screamed for their mama as loud as she could. The man grinned, a bony finger rising to his lips as if they would follow his direction as he moved further into the room. His eyes focused on their little sisters screaming form.

"I'll leave you two be, I'm only here for her." He whispered, a gentleness to his tone that Fleur knew not to be genuine. His tall form not even pausing once to look at them.

"NO! Leave her! Leave her! MAMA MAMA MAMA!" She screamed,

"MAAAA!" Gabrielle's emotion torn voice joined hers. Their voices hoarse and cracked as the stood, unable to do anything in their beds as the man lifted their baby sister. His pale features up turned in a sinister sneer as he turned. Adharia clutched to him. Her little fists hitting out, grasping at the air as she searched for some form of comfort.

"Fleur, Fleur, what is wrong?" This time Gabrielle sounded much older when she shook her, and Fleur blinked rapidly. A futile attempt to rid herself of that night and of the memory that had never ceased it's haunting of her. But how could she now when the man that had haunted her dreams since she was three years old, the evil man that had stolen their sister, now stood in front of her wearing the disguise of a headmaster. Her heartbeat wildly and her inner Vela recoiled, it too feeling the brunt of her fear as she recalled that night with perfect clarity.

" C'est lui Gabby. Il l'a prise.'' She whispered, automatically switching to French in her panic, praying that her little sister picked up on the importance of what she was saying. Subtly turning her face away from the man in question. Not only so she didn't have to look at him but also because she was sure he was most likely a skilled legilemens and the elder girl could not risk him seeing what she had seen. Unsure as to if he would recognise her. She didn't want him to know she knew who he was either. She needed to speak with her parents and her Grand'Mere.

"Vous êtes sûr, sœur?" The curly haired blonde whispered back. Her sea blue eyes locating the man her sister had indicated. A shadow of anger flashing in her usually kind eyes as she took stock of the man's kindly facade. He looked like a grandfather. A startlingly dissimilar image to the one she had created in her mind of the man who had stolen their sister all those years ago.

"Je suis sûr, Gabrielle, que c'est lui." Fleur responded just as quietly as before, grasping her sisters' arm in restraint. Although she was unsure whom she was holding still at that moment. Her or Gabrielle. Every ounce over her being urged her to demand answers. To confront the evil that stood before her, but she knew it would do no good. She was in his school, on his grounds. Thousands of miles away from Dordogne and she and Gabrielle were almost entirely without backup. Despite their headmistress being there she knew the woman couldn't do anything to help them.

Yet again the Vela girl knew that whatever happened next, it would be down to her. To her family and her family alone to put the pieces of their puzzle together.

"Nous devons parler à maman et à mère Fleur. À grand-mère aussi. Avant de faire quoi que ce soit." And Fleur smiled slightly at her sisters' words. Simply nodding her agreement. There really wasn't anything else they could say in their current circumstances. Surrounded by students and teachers. Unable to react or leave. They would have to bide their time before they could do anything. Both Fleur and Gabrielle clung to one another drawing their strength from their bond. Strength they would surely need in the agonising hours between now and when they could floo their mothers. The older Delacour sister had a feeling that she and Gabrielle would need all the strength they could get in the coming weeks.

~Hermione's POV ~

~ Same day, somewhere around midnight ~

Hermione groaned loudly when she was woken suddenly by a body landing on top of hers. Orange fur and the smell of catnip filling her nostrils. Tickling her skin in a way that would have made her giggle if she weren't so perturbed by her feline's sudden appearance on top of her. "Ugh Crooks, why?" the brunette groaned, small clammy hands struggling to push the cat away from her face lest she suffocate.

Whatever flu or illness that had taken a hold of her hadn't abated in her sleep like she had hoped. Not that it ever had since it began in the summer, but Hermione could swear that despite the daily potions of pain potions and dreamless sleep she only ever woke feeling worse than she did before she had given in to Morpheus. It was frustrating and she really didn't understand what was happening to her. Her magic still felt wild. It was still swirling and jumping, demanding she move in the same way it had been earlier. Though now Hermione had begun to adapt to the feeling. Her mind doing it's best not to acknowledge the demand. Not that it lessened its hold, just allowed her to think around it for the most part.

"He came to find me you know." Her friends soft voice startled her causing the brunette-haired witch to sit up suddenly. Crookshanks being flung from her rather harshly. The giant of a cat hissed at his witch from the place he had landed at the bottom of the bed before laying down to sleep where he was.

"Cho?" Hermione asked when she got over the initial fright, her bleary eyes squinting to see her friend stood at the right-hand side of the bottom of her bed. She kept her reply short and simple. Fearful to the reason her friend stood at the end of her bed. Usually, Cho wouldn't invade her space like this. Aware of the importance Hermione held in her own space. Having lived so long needing to share a dorm with several other girls, Hermione had always treasured the fact that Ravenclaw students all had their own individual little rooms with a communal shower for each year. She wasn't a fan of the showers, preferring the prefect's bathroom that was always empty when she used it over the shared facilities. However, this was her room, and Cho had never invaded her space before without specific permission from her.

"You haven't been well since you arrived six days ago. You're more distant than before. Your familiar is anxious and is constantly watching you. Your magik is jumping. Something is wrong Hermione, and I am not going to sit by anymore while you wither. We have known each other for years and I have never pushed you. I have always respected you, supported you and trusted you. You are my best friend, and I tell you everything and still I accept the secrets you have kept. But that stops now Hermione. I won't let you keep doing this. Holding me at arm's length while you suffer the unknown on your own. You come back from the summer every year as if you've been held prisoner and starved. Now you return half the weight you were, with the blackest eyes I've ever seen and looking as if you are about to faint even after sleeping for the past ten hours, including right through the welcome feast. I respected your wishes not to be there, I even kept myself at bay this evening hoping you would come to me, only for your CAT to come meowing at my door in the middle of the night, insistent that I follow him. To You. What is going on?" The raven-haired girl replied, a look of determination in her eyes that filled Hermione further with dread. She had always known this day would come. That one day her friend would no longer except her avoidance and distance, and she had told herself it would be then that she told her friend goodbye. Never really letting herself entertain the idea of truly letting the witch in, but in that moment, Hermione knew her plan wouldn't work. Her own tormented eyes betraying her as a lone tear slipped down her sweaty face. Her racing heart jumping like her magik was.

"I don't know, Cho." The brunette began, hiccupping as she tried to withhold the emotion she could feel welling up within. Her mind trying to work out how to word all that she had to say in a way that wouldn't alarm her friend. She didn't know how to say any of what she wanted to say, not really but she knew she had to try, for somehow, somewhere along the lines Cho had started meaning the world to her and seeing the pain on her friends facing, the knowledge that the pain was their because of her? Devastated the brunette and Hermione knew she could no longer pretend that Cho hadn't become her family. The single most important person to her in this world.

"Don't give me that Hermione, I can take whatever it is. I'm your best friend for Merlin's sake." Her fellow Ravenclaw cut her off. Her tone far more demanding than it had been and Hermione found herself deflating. Unable to force the energy it took to mask how she felt anymore. Cho came closer, arms folded purposefully across her chest as she sat directly in front of Hermione. A clear message that she really wasn't going anywhere.

"ok, ok" she whispered, fearful eyes meeting her friends, unfiltered for the first time and Hermione knew by the way that Cho's eyes widened slightly in response that the raven haired girl really hadn't expected her to cave so easily, nor was she expecting the intensity of the pain Hermione truly felt. "You know I'm an orphan but I'm also an orphan that was returned to the orphanage I was adopted from, a year after I was adopted." Because the beginning was the only place Hermione could think of to start. Knowing that for once she needed someone, Cho, to know her truly.

Cho nodded, though she remained quiet. A gentle hand coming to lay on the brunette's own sweat soaked one and for the first time, Hermione found herself truly opening up to the girl in front of her. Cho sitting at her side. A steady gentle support encouraging her to continue. Hermione did, the words spilling from her in a cacophony that was as heart breaking as one could imagine.

Hermione didn't know how long it took to get through everything she felt she had to say to her friend, there was so much she needed to know but by the time she stopped speaking they both lay side by side. Hermione curled up with Cho surrounding her. Both girls had laughed, cried and raged through each aspect of her story and the brunette by the end of it felt as if a huge burden had been lifted from her shoulders for once. There was a comfort in the slightly taller girls' arms as they lay together. Though Hermione knew she would feel raw in the morning.

"Hermione?" Cho's voice interrupted the peaceful silence they had fallen in to. Her voice was soft, almost hesitant and Hermione could sense that her friend didn't really want to interrupt their peace but what kind of Ravenclaw would she be if she didn't seek the answer to all of her questions when the opportunity presented itself. "Hmm?" she hummed, turning to face her friend.

"Do you think we should maybe get you checked over by Madame Pomfrey or even St Mungo's?" The 'just in case' was left off the end but the brunette heard it and couldn't help but giggle at the raven-haired girls' implications. "What, just in case the charitable Lady Lestrange has been secretly poisoning me this whole time hmm?" she asked, laughter erupting at the other girl's sheepish look.

"No to answer your question however, I can't explain it for I really don't have the answer, but despite the WHO of who she is my gut tells me I can trust her. But if it reassures you, come with me to meet her at the next Hogsmead visit?" Hermione continued sobering slightly as she took in the genuine concern in her friends' dark eyes.

"Okay, I trust your judgement Hermione." Was her friend's simple response, the easy-going girl of first year slipping back in to Cho's sleepy features having been reassured of the Pure-blooded witches intent. "Now sleep, hopefully things feel a little better in the morning" Her friend continued, sleepily summoning a blanket to drape over them both and for the first time in forever, Hermione felt herself smile gently when she felt Cho cuddle closer, Crookshanks also moving up the bed to lay against her neck.

Both witches and cat alike slept peacefully that evening, exhausted by emotion and comforted by the others presence.