The Last Year

Author's Note: Listen I know that this isn't the best way to start the first chapter, but bear with me. It gets really, really good in my second chapter!!!!!!!! I do not own any characters in this story. I like to think of me writing a story as building a house. I am borrowing some J.K. Rowling's foundation to build what I like to think of as a four-story house.

Chapter One:

The Year of New Beginnings and Secrets

“Where's Ron?” asked Hermione as she looked up from a book. It was morning and the Great Hall was filled with buzzing students ready for their first class of the term. It was raining outside lightly.

“I don't know I haven't seen him since the feast last night. He looked kind of sick though he hardly touched any food at all,” answered Harry as he forked some scrambled eggs in his mouth.

“Really? Maybe we ought to talk to him Harry. Actually come to think of it he's been acting kind of queer since that night we spent in that hotel over the summer,” said Hermione with a quizzical look on her face.

“So, Herms how's head girl been?” asked Harry with a mischievous smile on his face.

“Call me that again and I'll make you wish that you weren't the boy who lived!” she said deadpan. Harry laughed amused that Hermione was so easy to get. “It's been a struggle. The worse part is that it takes time away from my studies.”

“Yes and everyone knows that you shouldn't come between Miss Granger and her studies,” said Ron cheekily as he sat down beside Hermione and removed several pieces of bacon and stuffed them into his mouth.

“Wow, Ron you're so polite. You always ask people for their food and when you're done you say thank you. Oh I hope that one day I'll find a man like you someday,” said Hermione sarcastically as she frowned at Ron.

“Maybe if you let your hair down every now and then, Miss Granger you might find someone like me,” said Ron cheekily as he loaded his own plate down with food.

“I'd be so honored to marry a pig like you Ron,” she said icily.

Knowing that an argument was coming, Harry interrupted, “Where've you been, Ron?”

“Er, um, I was just, um,” he stared up at the staff table. “In McGonagall's office going over me schedule!” he said quickly.

“Really? Then Ron can you explain why you seem to be wet?” asked Harry.

Ron scowled. “Can't a chap be wet without any fucking reason why? I swear you two have been getting on my last nerves!” Ron angrily got up from the table and stalked away.

Over at the Slytherin table, Malfoy's voice echoed out in the Great Hall, “Weasley, are you sure that you want to actually turn away food? I mean you'd think that you'd be slurping it down since we all know that your father doesn't make enough to feed your family at home.” Laughs erupted from the Slytherin table, but Ron just stalked out of the Great Hall.

“Was it something we said?” asked Harry as he and Hermione stared in awe at Ron.

“No, Ron has been a little edgy lately,” said Hermione softly.

“Hermione?” asked Harry.

“Yes?” she said looking up from her book.

“I've been meaning to talk to you about something,” said Harry as his face began to turn scarlet.

“What?” asked Hermione.

“Well um, you've been, er, sorta, er, avoiding me since what happened in Diagon Alley.”

Hermione began to burn red also.

“I really didn't mean to walk in on you like that Hermione. I honestly thought that you were done in with shower that night,” he said turning a shade that would've matched anyone of the Weasley's hair as Hermione did likewise.

“Oh well, um Harry. Well I haven't been, um avoiding you per say. It's just that,” Hermione face turned a shade of red not known even to Crayola. “I haven't ever been seen completely naked by anyone except my parents,” said Hermione.

“Well, I hope it wasn't uncomfortable,” said Harry. “Uncomfortable? What the hell are you thinking?” he thought miserably.

“Um no, actually I didn't mind it at all. It was kind of natural,” she lied. Harry's eyes widened. “Like being naked in front of a big brother really,” she added quickly. “Because you'll only think of me as little sister anyway,” she thought.

“A big brother? Way to go Harry. It doesn't matter that I love her. She'll always see me as an older brother,” he thought. “Well, we ought to get goin' to class, huh?” asked Harry.

“Um, yeah,” said Hermione gathering her books. “Oh, Harry, if you only knew that I don't see you as a big brother, I see you as the man I'm going to spend the rest of my life with, because the truth is that, I love you with all my heart and soul,” she thought as they walked to class.

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Ron knew that he shouldn't have yelled at Harry and Hermione, but he couldn't help it. He'd been on edge for what seemed like two months now, every since that night last July. He didn't feel bad about what he'd done in the least bit. Well, it could've happened better than it did. Call him a softie, but he'd felt that what had happened could've been at least a little bit more special. However, he knew that his parents would be very ashamed if they found out what had happened. He felt that everyone could read what had happened on his face and every time he was questioned he felt that they knew and that they were trying to make him admit what had happened. He hadn't even told Harry or Hermione, how could he? How do you tell someone that you're not a virgin? That you slept with Luna Lovegood?

It had all started in May after Harry had vanquished Voldermort in the Forbidden Forest. He'd been stressed and stuck to himself most of the time. It was then that Hermione suggested that the four of them (Harry, Hermione, Ginny, and Ron) take a vacation after the term ended.

They'd told Mr. and Mrs. Weasley this and they severely objected (mostly Mrs. Weasley.) `You're too young,' Mrs. Weasley had exclaimed. It had taken some serious convincing plus Percy promising to keep an eye on them and Mrs. Weasley decided to let the teens stay at the inn above the Leaky Cauldron by themselves over the summer.

But, at the last minute, Ginny for some insane reason decided to stay at Hogwarts and Luna decided to go in her place. It had been on Harry's birthday that it had happened. Luna had suggested that the four go to a secluded bar (to avoid the press) where they'd ordered round after round of Fire Whiskey and all got dead drunk. They apparated back to their rooms, Harry and Hermione, to their own rooms, but Ron and Luna both apparated back to Ron's room. They'd began to kiss passionately and eventually they made love. They had been dating since January of Ron's sixth year and had been very happy, but just the thought of how his parents would look at him if they knew made him sick. He hadn't even used protection. Or maybe it was the way it had happened. Ron felt that he'd taken advantage of Luna after all she was drunk, but then again so was he.

“Ron, wait up,” came a voice behind him as he marched up the stairs. Ron turned around and stared into the blue and dreamy eyes of his girlfriend, Luna Lovegood. “What was that all about back there?” asked Luna.

“Oh it was nothing,” answered Ron sheepishly.

“Well, it sure didn't sound like nothing,” said Luna. “You've been hiding something these past few whatever, Ron and you won't tell me.”

“I'm not hiding anything,” Ron said defensively. He still hadn't told Luna how he felt.

“Oh really Ron? Listen, I love you and I don't know what I'd do without you. Yet, I feel that you're drifting away from me,” she said.

“I love you too Luna and I promise you that I'm not drifting away. It's just that, well I'm feeling down about the pressures of being head boy and I'm taking it out on everyone else,” said Ron. He then walked down the steps and kissed Luna passionately. “I gotta run to my dormitory and get something before class starts.”

“Okay, well don't forget about our walk around the lake,” she said.

“I won't. Bye,” he said before jogging up the stairs.

“Whatever's bothering you Ronald Weasley I'm going to find out, because if I don't, we might lose our lives to a place must worst than hell,” thought Luna as she watched him jog out of her sight.

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Meanwhile Ginny actually was in McGonagall's office.

“Miss Weasley I do understand that you are well ahead of your sixth year studies and are at the level where you'd be acceptable for several seventh year courses, but it is unheard of for a sixth year to jump a year ahead!” said Professor McGonogall.

“But Professor, when we talked this summer you said that it might possible!” squealed Ginny.

“Yes, I know—”

“And I've even taken my sixth year tests! You promised Professor!”

“Be that as it may, Miss Weasley, there are a few people here at Hogwarts who feel that you shouldn't go on to your seventh year,” said Professor McGonogall.

“But… but, that would mean that I stayed here at Hogwarts over the summer for nothing!” squealed Ginny.

“Yes, well—”

But, Professor McGonogall didn't finish her sentence because the Great Headmaster of Hogwarts swept into the room. “Hello Minerva, Ms. Weasley, sorry I'm late,” he said. “I received a post from the Ministry of Magic this morning and I had to respond. Do forgive me,” McGonogall and Ginny looked shocked wondering if the other had invited Professor Dumbledore. “Go on.”

“Professor Dumbledore, I don't recall inviting you to this meeting,” said Professor McGonogall as she looked at Ginny suspiciously.

“Oh, no one invited me Minerva, I overheard you and Ms. Weasley talking last night at the feast. Well, lets get on with it,” said Dumbledore excitedly.

“Well, I was just telling Miss Weasley that due to certain circumstances, we won't be able to let her skip ahead to the seventh year.”

“Oh nonsense, Minerva. The girl spent her whole summer here at Hogwarts constantly working trying to join her friends in seventh their year. She passed all of her courses with marks that were so good I could've mistook her for young Miss Granger,” said Dumbledore.

“But, Professor—” started Professor McGonogall. “What about the problem?”

“Oh I've already talked Severus into it,” said Dumbledore as he stood.

“Well Miss Weasley, I guess it's settled then. You are now in your seventh year. I expect great things out of you Miss Weasley,” said McGonogall also standing.

“Great things indeed Miss Weasley. Now can you hand me your schedule?” asked Dumbledore. He lightly tapped the paper three times with the wand.

Ginny took it back and stared at it. All of her sixth year classes had been changed to seventh year. Best of all she had most of her classes with Harry, Ron, and Hermione. “Thank you, thank you Professor Dumbledore,” she said happily as she hugged the old wizard tightly. “Thank you Professor McGonogall!” she said deciding not give McGonogall a hug.

“Well now you better get to class, Miss Weasley,” said McGonogall.

“Yes. Yes ma'am!” said Ginny excitedly as she left the room. She paused outside of the door and dreamed about all the adventures the four of them would be having this year. She'd always felt like an outcast and not really apart of the group. She knew the four of them would have tons of adventures even though Harry had vanquished Voldermort to smithereens last April. She decided that she'd go and tell Hermione first, and ask her if she would help her this year. But first, she had to go send two letters, one to her parents telling them that she'd made it, and one to the new love of her life. The main reason why she'd decided to skip her sixth year and jump to seventh year. They'd spent the summer together and he'd helped her with her studies. She had to write him and tell him that they'd be spending a lot more time together, she had to write to Draco Malfoy.

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Ron entered the Gryffindor common room and walked straight into Lavender Brown.

“I'm so sorry, Ron,” she said sincerely.

“It's not your fault I've got a ton o' things on my mind,” he said sheepishly as helped her pick up her books.

“Um, Ron?”

“Yeah?”

“I was hoping to speak with you anyway,” she said as they picked up the last book and stood straight up.

“What about?”

“Well… I wanted to know if you'd go out with me?” she asked sheepishly staring Ron straight in the eye. She then quickly looked away. Ron knew that if Lavender had known about Luna she wouldn't be asking a question like this. In fact, not many people did know about him and Luna. Last year when they'd hooked up everyone was so on edge about Voldermort. Dumbledore had put strict restrictions on what the students could do. They were walked to class by their teachers. No touring the grounds AT ALL. Harry and Hermione had only found out because, Luna had blabbed her mouth off to Ginny. Other than Harry, Hermione, Ginny, and a few other people, not many people knew about his and Luna's relationship.

Ron had always liked Lavender, but would it be right to go on a date with her while he was still with Luna? No. “Lavender, I'm sorry, but I'm going out with Luna Lovegood from Ravenclaw.”

“I know. She's actually the person who made me realize my feelings for you.”

“What do you mean?” he asked astounded.

“I was in the compartment with all of your friends on the train yesterday. She kept going on and on about how great you are and that made me realize that I missed out on something great. So, will you?” she asked.

“Lavender! Are you asking me to cheat on Luna?”

“Well yeah. I mean just one date, Ron. Just one date and if it doesn't work out, you can go back to Luna and no one will ever have to know.”

“Lavender, I don't know, I mean—

“Just one date,” she said pleadingly.

“Okay,” said Ron slowly.

“Fine meet me here in the common room tonight at eleven o'clock,” she said as a big beautiful smile spread across her face.

“Okay,” said Ron not believing what he was doing. Lavender climbed out of the hole. He knew that he shouldn't have agreed, but he really needed a break from his day to day life. Things for the Weasley family couldn't have been worse. Fred and George had been accused of selling defective merchandise, Bill had been accused of stealing from Gringotts, and even Charlie had been accused of making a dragon that he'd been training, attack a rival dragon-trainer. Ron just needed a break.

“You won't regret it Ron,” she called into the common room just before the portrait whole closed.

“Then how come I think I will?” asked Ron to himself.

Author's Note: Thanks for all the great reviews! Especially, Mara Jade Potter, who gave me a boost in confidence with her review! This chapter is great!!!! We'll see an awesome glimpse of a Quidditch match!!!! H/Hr and D/G moments!!!!! R/R or my story will disappear!!!

Chapter Two

Secret Meetings, Secret Loves, and A Long Awaited Kiss

It had started the year before. Ginny had been stressed about her and Dean's break up and she'd been taking a late night walk around the lake. All of a sudden one of the squid's arms broke the surface of the lake and grabbed the young Ginny and pulled her down. Draco who had been coming from the astronomy tower (trying to figure out some of his blasted homework) had been the only person nearby. He saved Ginny from the squid and walked her back to the portrait of the Fat Lady. The next day Ginny had sent Draco an owl with a basket full of sweets and goodies and a note thanking him and telling him that she was eternally grateful. Draco had sent an owl back thanking her for the sweets and with a silver bracelet with a squid on it. She'd thanked him and he'd asked her to help him with some of his astronomy work (Ginny was known to be quite good at it.) They'd then started dating secretly. Just before term ended Draco told her that he would be staying at Hogwarts over the summer (his mother had gone quite mad since his father had been sent to Azkaban. Ginny agreed to stay with him of course and they grew closer. It had been then that McGonogall had approached her about getting a jump on her sixth year and Ginny had delightfully agreed that this was a good idea. She and Draco worked silently in the library and had eventually fell in love.

“Oh god, Flame!” said Draco as he turned and looked at Ginny. It was just before midnight, he was in a clearing in the Forbidden Forest and he'd paced back and forth across the clearing for ten minutes waiting for Ginny. It wan now late October and the leaves were just begin to fall. “Dammit, Gin don't sneak up on me like that! You know that this is the one place that gives me the creeps!”

“I know, that's why I asked you to come, we'd be on an equal playing field. That and the fact that no one else would be here,” Ginny said as she put her arms around Draco.

“You'd think that after meeting secretly like this for nearly a year I'd be a little more at ease, but when I turned around I thought that you might have been Crabbe or Goyle. They wanted to know where I was going tonight,” he said as he peered around the clearing suspiciously his wand bringing light to every place he pointed it.

“Draco, we're in a deep dark and dangerous forest filled with Merlin knows what. The last thing I need is you talking about those freaks Crabbe and Goyle. Or worse us being discovered. I swear sometimes you can be as worrisome as Hermione!,” she said hotly as she peered at him.

“Number one, I don't want us discovered either. Two, I thought we resolved a long time ago, that if I don't talk about scarhead you don't talk about my friends. Three, don't ever compare me to that mudblood slut!” he said angrily. The nerve of her!

“Draco, don't say that!” she exclaimed. She loved him, but sometimes he could be a real bastard! But, there was something about him that told her that they were meant to be. Draco rolled his eyes and Ginny wouldv'e sworn that she saw his lips form the words mudblood whore. She stopped him before he said anything and said, “Okay, okay. Why are we fighting anyway? I mean we have so little time to spend. Why waste it talking about our friends? We could be doing other things,” she said as a sneaky smile spread across her face.

“I like the way you think Ms. Weasley,” he said his smile matching hers. He pulled her closer and she could feel his muscled torso. He kissed her and sent shivers of pleasure up her spine.

“Well, that was interesting,” she said coyly as he let her go.

“Interesting? That's all I get? Interesting? Why Miss Weasley, I must say that I am truly offended,” he said doing his best to put on hurt face.

“Well lucky for you that you're so cute or I wouldn't let you get another chance,” she said coyly as she walked toward him. He kissed her again and her heart skipped several beats. “I've seen better.”

“Really? Then we'll just have to see about that,” he said as she giggled wildly. He leaned in to kiss her when they heard someone nearby clearing their throat.

“What do you think you are doing?” the couple looked up to see Firenze the centaur at the edge of the clearing. Draco's eyes widened and Ginny looked as if she were about to die on the spot. Draco quickly released her.

“Um, nothing Professor Firenze,” answered Ginny as she shown her wand on him. His face was battered and bruised.

“Well, it certainly doesn't look like nothing. It looks as if I got here in the nick of time,” Firenze said sternly as he walked toward them to the center of the clearing.

“What are you going to do to us centaur?” asked Draco, saying the word centaur as if it were something foul and putrid. “Are you so lonely, now that your little friends won't take you back that snoop around in the forest at night following students around? Does that make you feel big centaur? To go run and tell Dumbledore that you caught us? Then you really are as pathetic as everyone thinks!”

“Do not speak to me that way! It is not the centaur's way to meddle. However, if I walk in on a scene like this again, I'll be forced to inform the Headmaster. Now get back to your dormitories.” Ginny and Draco began to walk back to the castle as Draco muttered under his breathe how much he hated Firenze.

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Ron was running down Diagon Alley, Luna was beside him. They were running as fast as they could back to the inn above The Leaky Cauldron. For some reason Luna kept saying that they had to make it before the Ministry of Magic caught them. They made it to the Leaky Cauldron and hurried up the stairs and into Ron's room.

“We made it Ron. We made it. No one will ever no what we did. No one will ever find out what happened. If they ask we'll just say that we spent the night with Harry and Hermione and came back here and made love.”

“No! This isn't right! I mean we deserve to pay for what we did! You know what? I'm gonna send an owl to my parents and tell them exactly what happened,” said Ron furiously as he moved toward the door.

“No! You can't Ron if you do we'll both be sent to Azkaban,” said Luna as she looked at Ron with fear as sweat rolled down her face.

“Well we should, after what we've done!”

“No. Ron I love you. But, I can't go to Azkaban,” said Luna as she raised her wand and pointed at him. She said something, but Ron couldn't hear. His ears now felt as if they were stuffed with cotton. He began screaming as a silver light blasted from Luna's wand and hit him square in the chest.

Ron then woke up in a cold sweat. He looked around him to see Harry, Neville, Dean, and Seamus staring at him.

“Ron? What happened?” asked Harry. “You were screaming.”

Ron started to tell Harry what had happened, but as he thought about it the story sounded ridiculous. “Nothing. I'm fine. It was just a bad dream.”

“Oh okay then,” said Dean. “But next time you decided to have a late-night snack, warn us before you do so we can prepare ourselves,” grumbled Dean as he and the rest of the boys slowly wondered back to their beds.

“Yeah, well it wasn't a late-night snack. It was much more,” thought Ron as he lay awake in his four-poster. He resolved that his dream had been fake. He and Luna had only made love that night and his guilt was getting to him. He resolved not speak of it, but began to think about telling Harry and Hermione about him and Luna sleeping together. But there was more going on Ron's life that was causing him nights of lost sleep. Number one was the fact that he was now secretly dating Lavender Brown. Number two was the fact that he suspected Luna knew, but everyone he tried to break up with her she'd make up some excuse to leave. Number three was the fact that this wasn't Ron's first nightmare, he'd had countless ones before for weeks about the same incident. But every time he tried to talk to Luna about them and get some answers, she'd brush him off, which pushed him closer to Lavender who was persuading him to break up with Luna.

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Harry stalked past several rows of bookshelves to his, Hermione, and Ron's normal table in the library. There he found Hermione at the table surrounded by opened books. She had her head down in one of the books sleeping peacefully. Harry took a seat across from her and began shaking her awake. “Hermione? Hermione, get up! Hermione!”

“ What the hell? Mum? Mum, listen we had a talk about this. Don't wake me so early. I work so hard when I'm Hogwarts and I'd just like some peace when I'm home.” Hermione looked around groggily. “Harry?” she asked looked at him picking her head up off of the table. “What are you doing in my bedroom? Wait a minute, did you sleep over again tonight? Listen last night was wonderful just like I imagined, but now that we're sleeping together, I can't have my parents knowing.”

Harry blushed. “Um Hermione, wake up. We're not in your bedroom. We're in the library at Hogwarts,” said Harry modestly.

At this statement, Hermione realized what she'd said and that she wasn't off in one of her fantasies. She picked her head up completely and looked at Harry. “Merlin's beard! Harry, I was just kidding. I knew that you were there the whole time!” she lied instantly. “I mean the idea of us… well being together is complete rubbish,” she said blushing.

Harry didn't completely believe his friend, but what could he do. The situation was embarrassing and he wanted to skip over it as much as she did. “Of course you were joking. I knew you were, but seriously Hermy, you should get more rest.”

“I know, I know. But, with patrolling the halls and all it's been a struggle.”

“Well, I think you should join us on the Quidditch field and watch us practice, tomorrow.”

“I don't know, `Arry, I mean I've been really busy with being head girl and all,” said Hermione as she bit her lower lip.

“I know you don't quite understand it, but it'll be good for you. Maybe you can fly with us after we finish practicing. I know you've been practicing flying, I saw you at the Weasleys's this summer after we got back from Diagon Alley practicing off by yourself with Luna.”

She smiled at the thought of Harry secretly watching her. “Fine, Mr. Potter, persuader extraordinaire!” They then left the library together happily. Hermione looking forward to tomorrow, a day of rest.

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Meanwhile, Ginny walked into the Great Hall for lunch that day. It was buzzing with excitement. It seemed that everyone was holding a copy of the Daily Prophet. She'd seen lots of people holding them that morning, but now it seemed that everyone was holding them now. Even a few teachers at the staff table were holding the papers whispering. She took a seat at the Gryffindor table next to Ron and Lavender (who she thought seemed to be spending a lot of time together lately. More time than he'd spent with Luna.)

“Ginny, did you read today's copy of the Daily Prophet?” asked Lavender with a glow on her face.

“No, but I see everyone else at Hogwarts has,” said Ginny as she loaded her plate. She was tired from her late night meeting in the forest with Draco.

“Of course they have. Everyone wants to read the story about the Malfoy family and how Draco Malfoy has been carved out to be the big prat he is,” said Ron with pancakes stuffed in his mouth, syrup dripping down on to his robes.

“WHAT?” asked Ginny as she snatched the newspaper from Lavender's hands.

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The Malfoys: A Family of Death Eaters?

Narcissa Malfoy, wife of known Death Eater, Lucius Malfoy, and sister of another known Death Eater, Bellatrix LeStrange, has gone missing. The missing persons report was filed with the Ministry of Magic last week. Every since her husband was sent to Azkaban, Mrs. Malfoy has been under close watch by the Ministry. She has frequent visits with a probation officer and an auror from the Ministry. It was on one of these visits that the probation officer and the auror inspected the Malfoy Manor and didn't find the witch.

Many wizards and witches at the Ministry believe that Narcissa, just like her husband, was a Death Eater. It is well known that free Death Eaters are meeting up somewhere trying to start a force and avenge the death of He-who-must-not-be-named. So, could the witch be a Death Eater?

“Yes, she's a Death Eater!” exclaimed ex-auror, known as Mad-Eyed-Moody. “How can you spend all those years with a man who's a death eater and not be one yourself?”

Well Lucius Malfoy's influence has sure rubbed off on his son, Draco Malfoy.

“He goes around the school terrorizing all the half-bloods and playing pranks with his Slytherin buddies,” said sixth year student, Colin Creevey, when we interviewed him at Hogsmeade. “He's a big stupid prat and no one likes him! We all wish that he and his gruesome friends would just leave the school. His main victim is Harry Potter, himself. I mean how could any knowing witch or wizard terrorize the savior of the magical world?”

“I've seen him and his friends in the midst of pranks many times since I began working here at Hogwarts,” says Firenze a centaur and a teacher of Divination at Hogwarts. Article to be continued on page 4C.

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Ginny threw the newspaper down on the table angrily.

“Isn't it great Gin'?” asked Ron enthusiastically.

“Yeah Ron, um it was really great,” said Ginny in a not so enthusiastic voice, as she looked over at the Slytherin table to Draco's empty seat. “Really great.”

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Luna knew that Ron was dating Lavender Brown and that he wanted to end things with her. But she couldn't let that happen, she loved him too much. It wasn't fair! She was losing him and there was nothing she could do about it. And as for his questions, she could never answer those. Ron would feel guilty and he'd confess and they'd both be sent to Azkaban. Luna was walking to the library it was lunch time. She needed time to think and she couldn't do that with everyone talking about Draco Malfoy and his evil family.

“Hi, Luna,” Luna looked up to see Harry and Hermione walking back from the library.

“Oh, hi Harry. Hi, Hermione,” she said dully.

“Luna, are you alright?” asked Hermione in a concerned voice.

“Yeah, why do you ask,” asked Luna.

“Well there is the fact that we haven't seen much of you lately,” said Harry.

“Well, that really isn't my fault that I'm not around much anymore, is it?” she asked narrowing her eyes at Harry.

“Luna, can we talk?” asked Hermione.

Luna took a deep breath and said, “Yeah sure.”

“Um, Hermione, Luna, do you two mind if I run ahead to lunch? I skipped breakfast to finish some work.”

“Sure, Harry go ahead,” said Luna. “I'm sure you'll find something to your liking in the Great Hall.”

“What do you mean?” asked Harry, he hated playing Luna's little games.

“Just run ahead,” she answered. Harry shrugged and walked away.

“Listen, Luna,” began Hermione. “I know that its none of my business, but I really like that you and Ron are a couple. You two are good for each other and I want to see you together.” Hermione took a deep breath. “With that being said, I know why Ron is avoiding you,” said Hermione.

“Really? Why?” asked Luna in a tone of false curiosity.

Hermione noticed this but decided to ignore it. “Well, he told me and Harry a few weeks back that you two um well…” she then lowered her voice to a whisper. “Since you two had sex.” Hermione quickly looked around to make sure no one had heard her.

“Really? It took him that long to tell you and Harry about it? I thought that he would've blabbed to you months ago.”

“Can you please let me finish?” asked Hermione getting tired of Luna's bitchy attitude. Luna nodded. “Ron's upset because he thinks that he took advantage the night you two slept together, because you were drunk!”

“What?”

“Yeah, that's what it was. But, now I'm starting to think that he's avoiding you because you're a bitch!” spat Hermione. This was so out of character for her that she was shocked herself that she'd said it. But, Luna had really rubbed her the wrong way. Here Hermione was trying to help her and Luna was being cynical and rude. “You know what, Luna? I think I'm going to catch up with Harry.” Hermione turned and walked away angrily.

“So, that's why. I'm sure little Ronald will forget all about that tramp, Lavender if I gave him the one thing that he craved. The one thing that's been bothering him for months now. If we made love. That'll fix everything. That'll Fix everything,” Luna thought as she walked to the library. “That'll fix everything.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

It was Saturday and Hermione was sitting in the stands on the Quidditch pitch as the Gryffindor House team flew around above her in the cloudy sky. The school was still buzzing with excitement over the article.

“You're doing great guys,” she yelled up at them. She was sitting in the stands with Lavender and Parvati. They were both getting on her nerves chatting about makeup and any other insane thing that popped into their bubble gum heads.

“So, Lavender what are you going to do about that Loony Lovegood?” asked Parvati.

“I don't know. Ron says that every time he tries to talk to her she runs off. Honestly, I'll never know what my Ronnie-pooh ever saw in that freak,” said Lavender.

“He saw a compassionate, beautiful, understanding, and smart girl that he really liked,” snapped Hermione. She may not have been on good terms with Luna, but she was still her friend.

“Wow, Hermione. If you feel that strongly about Lovegood then maybe you can take her off of Lavender's hands and then maybe you two can start dating,” said Parvati.

Hermione reached for her wand, but her hand never made it because she and the rest of the people in the stands were distracted by the Gryffindor team flying down onto the ground. They were met by the Slytherin House team.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

“You know we reserved the pitch for today, Malfoy!” screamed Harry.

“That's exactly why we're here Potter,” said Draco who seemed unaffected by his new fame. “We want a practice game of quidditch with you freaks.”

“No way,” said Ginny as she stepped forward beside Harry.

“If these losers want to get their asses kicked, I say who are we to stop them,” said Ron stepping forward beside Harry. The other four players behind Ron, cheered as he finished.

“You have big dreams, Weasley. Too bad your folks doesn't have enough money too pay for your dreams or your pathetic little sister's dreams,” said Draco's.

“Yeah well, at least me and Ginny have parents, your dad's left you and your mum's gone mad. So, I guess I'd rather be a poor idiot, than be a stupid pathetic, bastard,” said Ron.

“Ron!” screamed Ginny.

“Listen, we'll handle any feelings any of you had with each other, in the air,” said Harry just itching to be the snot out of Malfoy. The team flew up into the air.

The Gryffindor chaser scored three goals in the first ten minutes of the game. Harry flew high above the field looking for the faintest sign of the golden snitch. Below him a Slytherin a chaser tried to score but Ron blocked the shot.

Down below in the stands Lavender, Parvati, and Hermione cheered the team on as Hermione moved from her seat down to a seat in the first row.

Then suddenly a Slytherin beater aimed a bludger toward Ron. Ron didn't even see it coming. The bludger hit Ron in his left arm and made a huge hole in his robes, revealing a tiny, old, moth eaten, faded, second-hand, shirt, which now had a big hole in it.

The entire Slytherin team burst into fits of laughter. “Now, who's pathetic, Weasley?” asked Malfoy in a mocking tone.

“SHOVE OFF, MALFOY!” yelled Harry from above.

“Yelled, the honorary Weasley!” said Malfoy. “Which is worst than being a Weasley because at least they have well somewhat of a family. All you have is pathetic little muggles who don't give a damn about you! You can call me pathetic, but I had it all. Things you and Weasley desperately want but can never have. Weasley wants money and you want parents I had both. You will never have parents, Potter. NEVER!”

Harry saw the snitch it was right underneath Malfoy, but he hadn't even noticed it. But, Harry didn't care anymore, because at that very moment he and Ron were rushing toward Malfoy. Harry made it there first and at that point, Malfoy was sixty feet in the air. Harry collided with Malfoy and knocked him off of his broom. Harry began a downward out of control spiral on his broom toward the ground, but pulled up just in time to see Malfoy in mid air falling to the ground screaming. Everyone on the pitch was in shock and didn't move for a full minute as Malfoy finally fell to the ground with a thud. Then screams erupted and broke the silence. Harry and his other Gryffindor team members landed on the pitch at least twenty feet from where Malfoy had fallen. Seamus and Dean landed on either sides of Harry and Ginny landed right in front of him. Hermione, Parvati, Lavender and the rest of the people in the stands hurried onto the field.

“You son of a bitch,” said Ginny angrily, as she walked toward Harry. She then punched Harry, so hard on the chin that he fell backwards onto the ground. Dean and Seamus lifted him back up as Lavender and Parvati held Ginny back from hitting Harry again. The people from the stands circled around the group.

“Ginny!” exclaimed Hermione. Ron landed nearby and broke through the crowd hold something gold.

“I got the snitch,” he said happily. “I guess we win.”

“What the hell were you thinking, Harry? You could've really killed Draco!” exclaimed Ginny.

“Um, Gin' since win are you on a first name basis with Malfoy?” asked Hermione.

“And when did you start caring about Malfoy so much?” asked Ron.

Ginny realized her mistake. She'd voiced her personal feelings about Draco out in the open. “I'm not on a first name with Draco,” she said angrily. “We take so many classes with him, I'm just used to saying that! And I don't give a damn about Malfoy! It's just that if Harry had killed the prat, then he would've been out for the rest of the season and we wouldn't have had the satisfaction of kicking his ass in the Championship in our final year,” she yelled at the surrounding crowd. She was dying to throw caution to the wind and run over to Draco and be by his side.

“Look,” said Dean pointing to where Draco lay. His entire team was carrying him on their shoulders back to the castle.

“Is he alive?” asked Parvati loudly to one of the Slytherin chasers.

“Of course he's alive. He's a pure-blood Slytherin!” yelled the chaser. “But make no mistake, you'll pay for this Potter!”

“I'm going to my dormitory!” yelled Ginny as she pushed through the crowd and walked back to the castle.

The crowd began to break up. “I wonder what's wrong with her?” asked Lavender.

Luna passed Ginny and walked over to the crowd which was now breaking up. “Ronald, I need to speak with you,” she said.

“Well, that won't be possible, Lovegood. Because you see Ron is walking me back to the castle,” said Lavender and Parvati nodded in agreement.

“No, it's okay Lavender. I need to talk to Luna about a few things,” said Ron and Lavender seemed to catch his drift because she nodded. “You and Parvati should walk to the castle.”

“Okay, I'll see you in the common room,” she said and she and Parvati began to walk to the castle.

The only people that were now on the pitch were Harry, Hermione, Luna, and Ron. “Ron, I just wanted to tell you that I won't you to meet me in the room of requirement on Wednesday night at ten-fifteen. Ok?” asked Luna

“Sure.”

“Oh, Hermione. I'm sorry about yesterday. I was kinda in a bad mood,” said Luna.

“Its okay,” said Hermione glad that she had defended Luna earlier. Luna then turned and walked away.

“What was that all about,” asked Harry.

“I think that means that I'm finally going to get some answers about what happened between me and Luna on your birthday,” answered Ron.

“Oh Ron, please don't break up with her for that bubble headed Lavender,” pleaded Hermione.

“I don't know what I'm going to do, Hermione,” he began, the happiness in his voice gone. “Luna's hiding something from me I know it. If she wasn't she wouldn't be avoiding me. And as for Lavender, she's actually a good person, Hermione. She's just a little flamboyant. She's honest and sincere and actually understands me. She comes from a poor family, too. We both have loads of siblings! And forgive me, but I can't be with Luna when I know that she's lying to me!”

“Oh Ron, those dreams you've been having are rubbish. All you and Luna did on Harry's birthday was have sex anything else is preposterous!”

“Hermione! Those dreams are real! No one told Harry that his were fake! Luna has been lying to me DAMMIT! We didn't sleep together!

“Hermione, Ron's right. If he feels that his dreams are actually memories we should support him, because we're his friends,” said Harry as the sky went dark with rain clouds.

“Thanks, Harry. I think I'm gonna head up to the castle and try to talk to Ginny,” said Ron. He then began his walk to the castle.

“Well Herms, are you ready for that flying lesson?” asked Harry.

“I told you not to call me that,” she said as she pushed Harry down and landed on top of him.

“As if I hadn't had enough abuse for one day!” exclaimed Harry as he rolled Hermione over so that he was on top. They both laughed. “Hey, Hermione? Remember when you told me that you weren't ticklish?”

“Yes, why?”

“Because I want to know if its really true,” he began tickling her stomach and she giggled wildly while pleading him to stop. She pushed him off of her and scooped up a handful of moist mud and threw it onto Harry's face. It began to rain lightly.

“Oh, Miss Granger. Now that's playing dirty!” He exclaimed as he lunged for her. She moved out of his way just in time and he began to chase her around the pitch as rain dropped onto them. “I'm gonna get you Herms!” Harry scooped up an even bigger blob of mud in his hands. It hit her on her back.

“Oh, Harry. You'll pay for that,” she yelled at him and she lunged for him. Harry quickly dodged and Hermione fell head first into a huge mud puddle. She was completely covered in mud.

“Miss Granger, I must say that, that is not a good look for you,” said Harry as he helped her up. “Truce?” he asked holding out his hand.

“For now, Potter. For now.” They began walking toward the castle and the rain began pouring down on them. They ran the last leg of it.

Harry lead her to the Room of Requirement. When they opened the door they saw that it resembled a nice little cottage.

“Why are we here, Harry?” asked Hermione.

“Well for one if we went back to the Common Room everyone would be congratulating me for nearly killing Malfoy. And I feel kinda a guilty about it.”

“Well, that makes enough sense,” said Hermione as she took a seat on the white couch in the middle of room which was heavily furnished. Harry appeared beside her minutes later with a large blanket and two cups of cocoa.

“I spotted these when we first came in here,” he said referring to the cocoa and blanket. Hermione took her cocoa in her hands and sipped it. Hermione curled up on the couch while sitting in front of a roaring fire. Harry spread the blanket over both of them.

So many things were racing through her head. She loved him, now than she had ever before. He was gentle and warm and kind and she could imagine their life together. She could imagine them having children. She could imagine him playing with their kids. She could imagine their wedding day. She could imagine him walking their daughter down the aisle. He was the only mad she would ever love. She knew that now. She loved Harry with all of her heart and just being by him right now and not expressing her feelings, she felt that she'd burst. She had to do it. It was now or never. She had to tell Harry how she felt about him. She had to get this off of her chest. It was making her stomach do acid flip-flops. She loved him. She wanted to shout it from the mountains and tell the whole world and then she did it. Out of the blue even as a shock to herself, she yelled, “HARRY, I LOVE YOU!”

Harry stared at her, shocked. Harry's heart skipped several beats. Had he just heard what he'd thought he'd heard? Was he dreaming? Could this be true? Had he just heard Hermione, the woman he loved and would always love, tell him that she loved him too?

Harry must've been quiet for a while, because the next thing he heard was, “Oh my gosh, Harry! I should've known that you don't feel the same way about me,” said Hermione on the verge of tears as she got up from the couch about to leave.

“Wait! Have a seat. You didn't give me a chance to answer you.” Hermione sat back down. “Hermione, I never knew that you felt that way about me.”

“Well…. I do. I have for a very long time.”

“I thought that you and Ron would eventually well……you know.”

“Oh, no!” she answered quickly. She felt sick. How could she and Harry actually be talking about this.

Harry took a deep breath and took Hermione's hand into his own. “Hermione, I've been deeply in love with you for a very long time. But, I thought that you would only see me as a friend. You don't know how many times I've wanted to take you into my arms and kiss you. I first realized how much I cared for you back in our fifth year when you got hurt at the Ministry of Magic. And my love has grown for you ever since.” Hermione thought that she would melt right there on the spot. She began to smile and so did Harry. He stared at her with those big beautiful emerald eyes that were now dancing like fire. They stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity, before Harry leaned in for a kiss. Their lips met and pleasure that they'd dreamed about forever spread through them. The kiss was soft and tender. He stopped and leaned back.

“So, what does this mean?” asked Hermione happily. This couldn't be happening to her.

“You're the genius. You tell me.” They both laughed nervously.

“I guess… that this means that …we're dating now.” The words sounded foreign. She was dating Harry Potter.

“I guess we are, Miss Granger. Well to make this official. Hermione Granger,” again he took her hand in his and looked her in the eye, “Will you do the pleasure of escorting me on a date this Wednesday?”

Hermione blushed. “Why yes, Mister Potter, I will.” They were both beaming. “May I ask where?”

“Well, Miss Granger, they don't call me a hopeless romantic for nothing, now do they? They say the surprise is all apart of the moment.”

“Who's they?” asked Hermione trying to sound worried.

“Oh my, my, Miss Granger you are a nosy one aren't you? Know one has ever solved the mystery of Mister Harry Potter.”

“Then maybe, I shall be the first.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

They left the room of requirement minutes later. It was quite dark outside. The storm was still blazing on at full force.

They were about to round a corner to when they heard two people speaking. They stopped and peaked around the corner. Standing in the middle of the corridor, were Filch the caretaker and Madame Pomfrey.

“Oh Argus, you're the most wonderful man I've ever met,” said Madame Pomfrey. Madame Pomfrey's hands were in Filch's the same way that Harry had taken Hermione's hands into his own.

“And I feel the same about you times ten, Melinda! I can't believe we've been together a whole twenty years now!” said Filch.

“I love you, Argus. You make me feel as if I were a young witch again.”

“Oh, but you are my sweet. You look young enough to pose on the witch's swimsuit calendar.” Madame Pomfrey giggled. “I love you, Melinda”

“Oh Argus, I wish that we could show the magical world our love. Mostly, my family.”

“Melinda, we've talked about this for nearly twenty years. Your family is made up of completely purebloods. If they ever found out that you were with a squib, they'd disown you in a heartbeat and you'd lose your job at Hogwarts. Wizards are all too quick to accept a muggle, but you know that there are laws against wizards or witches and squibs being together.”

“Who cares? We'd be together wouldn't we?”

“I couldn't do that to you. I love you too much.”

“Well, I must be getting back to my post. I have to watch over him. Someone finally gave the little brat a taste of his own medicine.”

“I'll walk you back,” said Filch and they walked back arm in arm.

“Well, don't that be it all,” said Harry in shock. “Don't that be it all.”

To be continued………………………………………………….

Thanks to my beta-reader: HarryP5875. Here's my favorite chapter so, far!!!!!! I wanted to post the first three chapters altogether, but they were busy being beta-read! Thanks for all the reviews and I promise to never threaten to remove the story again!. Special thanks to SexyTexy(I loved your inspiring words) Vegasbaby20(for helping me reach my 30 reviews) and finally to Jhonyjhonjhon(for letting me in on something I didn't know. It'll be corrected next chapter!) This is a really god chapter. Enjoy! And to all those who hate Draco going soft, I hope you're not angry with me! (he'll be his regular bastard self next chapter!)

Crazy in Love

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!” was the noise that rang out in the boys' dormitory Sunday night. Ron was not only screaming, but also bleeding. He was sitting straight up in his four poster with his eyes wide open, yet he still seemed to be sleeping.

“Luna! Look what we've done. How could we? How could we Luna? Run? You want us to just run? We can't. Because it's not right, that's why. Let go of me, Luna. Let me go. Yes, I do hear someone apparating. Okay lets run!” He seemed to be holding an actual conversation with Luna. He was silent for a few minutes. Then he started screaming again. “Luna, it's my shoulder. I tripped on my robes they're ripped! I think it's bleeding. I'm not trying to alert the Ministry to where we are! Okay, I'm getting up. STOP YELLING at me! We deserved to be caught.” Strangely, in real life, Ron actually was bleeding from his shoulder.

Dumbledore appeared in the doorway of the dormitory. Dean and Neville moved aside so that Dumbledore could stand by the bed. He began to slap Ron's face lightly, when Ron didn't snap out of his dream, Dumbledore took his wand pointed it at Ron and murmured a few words. A light blue light came out of the wand and hit Ron. Then Ron took a deep breath, the kind you take when icy cold water is thrown on you. He looked around him in shock.

“Professor Dumbledore? Harry? What's going on?” he asked innocently as he looked around him. McGonogall and Snape were both standing in the doorway.

“Minerva, please go awake Miss Granger and bring her to my office. Severus, can you go get Madame Pomfrey and tell her to do the same?” asked Dumbledore. They both nodded.

“Ron, can you get up and walk to my office?” asked Dumbledore. Ron nodded. “Good, then come along.” Ron used his left arm to prop himself up, which was the arm from which the shoulder was cut.

“Ow!” he moaned. “What the—” he began. He then looked at Dumbledore and stopped. “How did this happen?” he asked.

“That's what we'd like to know,” said Dumbledore.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

“Professor Dumbledore, what's going on?” asked Hermione trying to stifle a yawn. She was royally peeved. It was three a.m. and she's just fallen asleep a couple of hours ago. She'd had to endure patrolling all night before she could actually study. She couldn't use the common room because they were still celebrating Draco's fall from grace. She was now disgruntled, angry, sleepy, and sitting in Dumbledore's office with Ron.

“I know it's late Miss Granger, but I thought that I should inform you right away of a change being made at Hogwarts to your sleeping arrangements,” answered Dumbledore.

“Young, Mister Weasley here has been having problems sleeping—”

“Oh, Ron not those stupid little nightmares again?” asked Hermione cutting Dumbledore off.

“They're not stupid, Hermione! Their real and I have proof. I woke up a few minutes ago bleeding from a cut from my shoulder. And coincidentally, in my dreams, I got cut from that same SHOULDER!”

“Really?” she asked softly.

“Yes Madame Pomfrey, just fixed it,” said Ron angrily.

“Oh, Ron I'm so, so, sorry,” said Hermione as she hugged him tightly. She laughed to herself about Madame Pomfrey and Filch. She'd told Luna about the two earlier that day. They'd laughed themselves to death. The one thing she hadn't told anyone was that she and Harry were now dating. She silently wondered what they were going to do on their first date.

Dumbledore sat watching the two with an amused look on his face, “Finished?” he asked.

“Oh, I'm sorry, Professor Dumbledore,” said Hermione as she sat back in her seat.

“It's quite fine, Miss Granger. Now back to what I was saying, due to Mister Weasley's sleeping problems, I have decided to reopen the head boy/head girl room.”

“What's that?” asked Ron.

“Ron! I keep telling you and Harry to read Hogwarts A History!” she yelled and suddenly it dawned on her that Harry wasn't there. “Where is Harry?”

“Well, seeing as this only concerns the head boy and head girl, this doesn't concern Harry,” said Dumbledore.

“What about that room?” asked Ron.

“We think that you need a room of you own to deal with your sleeping problems,” answered Dumbledore.

“Me too?” asked Hermione her heart rising at the thought of finally leaving, Lavender, Parvati, Jessica, and Elizabeth. Jess and Liz she could deal with seeing as they were pretty down to Earth it was just lavender and Parvati who were impossible.

“Yes, you too, Miss Granger. You will report there tomorrow night,” said Dumbledore. “You are dismissed.”

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The next morning Ginny walked into the Great Hall. All around her the students were buzzing. She thought that they were talking about Hermione and Ron getting their own rooms (they'd told her in the common room,) but when she took her usual seat at the Gryffindor table beside Hermione and across from Harry and Ron she quickly found that the students were speaking about something else.

“I guess you haven't seen the Daily Prophet yet, huh?” asked Ron as he forked food into his mouth smiling brightly. Ginny's heart sank as she thought back to only a few days ago when Draco and his family were in the paper. Ron handed her his copy.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

A Death in Azkaban:

Lucius Malfoy dies.

It was reported yesterday that Lucius Malfoy, convicted and widely-known death-eater died yesterday of malnutrition in his lonely, dark, dank, cell at Azkaban.

“He refused to eat,” said the Assistant to the Minister of Magic, Percy Weasley this morning in a press meeting.

Sadly, Lucius didn't even have a proper burial. With his wife missing in action and his son lying in the hospital wing at Hogwarts after being knocked off his broom by, none other than Harry Potter, No one was there to claim the wizard's body. He was buried by the dementors near Azkaban.

To be continued on page 6e

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“This week has started off pretty damn good if I do say so myself,” said Ron.

But, neither Ron nor Ginny had any idea of the shatters their lives would be in my the end of the week.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

“Ron?” asked Lavender, as she and Ron walked hand in hand around the lake.

“Yeah?” asked Ron.

“I want you to come home with me for Christmas to meet my family,” she said looking at him with a sheepish smile on her face.

“So soon?”

“Well yeah. I know we've only been dating a couple of months, but I really like you. We have so much in common,” said Lavender.

“I like you a lot too, Lavender, but right now I'm still technically dating Luna,” said Ron as he took a seat in the roots of a big elm tree.

“I know, but you're going to talk to her in a few days and then it'll be over. Right?” asked Lavender as she took a seat beside him.

“Yeah of course. Christmas with your family'll be great,” he said as he put his arm around her.

“I love Christmas! I remember when I was four and my family didn't have very much money so my mum and dad made us homemade gifts. You remember that year was the year when everyone wanted the Wailing Witch doll?” she asked.

“Yeah, Ginny kept begging our parents for one,” said Ron.

“Well, I didn't get one. My mum took my teddy bear, Quails, and enchanted him, so that he could talk and play with me. And another year I got a Bertie Botts Every Flavor Jelly Bean necklace from my sister, I treasured it,” said Lavender smiling.

“I always had to get my brothers' secondhand clothes, so one Christmas, my brother Percy did a temporary charm to make them look like they were brand new,” said Ron.

“That's so sweet,” said Lavender.

“Once, when I was seven, my brother Cory enchanted my clothes so that they would chase after me and once he gave a hair bow and when I put it on my head it changed into a tarantula.

“Ugh,” said Ron. They both laughed. They kissed!

“You're startin' to grow on me Weasley,” said Lavender.

“Oh really, Brown?”

“Yep, like a kind of icky mold,” she said with a grin.

“And you're so great yourself?” he asked and they both laughed.

“No, but I think I love you,” said Lavender.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

“Draco, you're late,” said Ginny. They were meeting in an abandoned classroom.

“I had to wait until everyone left the common room,” he said. They hugged.

“Oh, Draco,” she moaned while wrapped tightly in his arms. “I've wanted to talk to you so much lately, but I couldn't.” It was true. The only reason that they'd met tonight was because while in potions Ginny'd been passing out papers and had slipped him a note.

“I know you did. It took Pomfrey fifteen hours to revive me, but when she did my teammates told me that you knocked Potter on his ass,” he said chuckling. She smiled at him.

“Harry, just made me so damn angry!” she said on the verge of tears.

“I know Flame, but, you have to control yourself or people will become suspicious of us,” said Draco.

“This last week has been complete and utter hell,” said Draco.

“I wanted to be there for you, Dray. I really, really did,” she said crying.

“I know baby, I know. But, with everything that's happened to me, I don't think that I would've gave a damn if anybody found out, just to be with you when I needed you,” he said his voice cracking, him now on the verge of tears. “First, my mum going missing,” he said as tears rolled down his soft pale face. “God, I wanted to kill your brother and Potter on Saturday. I'm so sorry for talking about your family that way, Gin. It's just that… I don't know. I just don't know anymore.”

“It's okay, Draco. I know that you were just putting on a show, to impress your Slytherin buddies, but I don't care,” her tears hitting his shoulder and his hitting hers.

“My mum, oh god my mum. That damned Daily Prophet is making her out to be some kind of evil-person and my dad. Damn him, Ginny. Damn that bastard for thinking that the Dark Lord was more important than me and my mum. Damn him for abandoning us. Damn that son-of-a-bitch. I hate him, Ginny. If he didn't care so damn much about the damn Dark Lord he wouldn't have been sent to that fucking place and he wouldn't have died and my mum wouldn't have gone crazy! DAMN HIM! DAMN HIM! DAMN HIM!” exclaimed Draco crying so hard that he was now shuddering.

“It's okay now, Dray. I'm here for you. I'm here for you now,” said Ginny.

“I love you, so much Gin'. I really do. You're the only one I have left now,” he said.

“I love you too, Draco.”

Little did Ginny and Draco know, they were being watched, by a very dangerous person.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The next day at lunch Ginny, Harry, Hermione, and Ron were in the library studying. (Hermione had convinced them that they hadn't been studying enough.)

The other three were talking, but Ginny was quite pale and looked quite sick. She was still thinking about Draco and how rough things were for him. He was right, he did need her, and yet they couldn't be together. She would've run away with him if he'd asked her to, but he hadn't. She loved him. She really did love him. There was no other man on earth for her. She often mused to herself, that most people's relationship often centered around sex, but theirs was more emotional than anything else.

She was so into her thoughts that she didn't even notice that McGonogall had walked into the library and stalked over to their table.

“Hi, Professor McGonogall,” said Hermione cheerily.

“Hello, Miss Granger, Mister Potter, Mister Weasley, and Miss Weasley,” said McGonogall. “I'm glad that you're both here Mister and Miss Weasley and I guess that it's alright that you two are here too, Miss Granger and Mister Potter, seeing as you're apart of the Weasley family.”

“Professor McGonogall? Has something happened?” asked Harry becoming worried.

“Yes, its Percy Weasley,” began McGonogall. Percy's name snapped Ginny out of her thoughts. Something had happened to Percy!

“What about Percy? What happened to him?” asked Ron standing up becoming alarmed.

“He's been arrested!” announced McGonogall.

The four did a collective gasp.

“WHAT? Professor are you sure?” asked Hermione. She knew that McGonogall was sure, she was always sure, but the shock was so great that she had to know if she'd heard correctly.

“Yes, Miss Granger,” said McGonogall.

“For what?” asked Harry. Ron was just standing there with his mouth opened and Ginny was sitting there stunned.

“For murder, Potter. Murder.”

“Murder?” asked Ginny, but it was more to herself than to anyone else.

“Murder? That's preposterous! Percy Weasley is as by the book as Albus Dumbledore himself!” said Hermione.

“Yes, I know and I agree with you, Miss Granger. But, it's not up to us,” said McGonogall.

“M-m-m-murder?” Ron stammered his face now pale as chalk.

“Who is he accused of murdering, Professor?” asked Ginny, so softly that it was almost a whisper.

“Ludo Bagman.”

“WHAT?” asked Harry. “Ludo Bagman's been dead for months now. They found his body in Diagon Alley in late August.”

“Yes, but the Ministry sent Bagman's body to a muggle forensics lab. They found Weasley DNA on the body and they have an eye witness who says that they saw Percy leaving the scene of the crime. Plus, before he died, Ludo and Fudge had been arguing about a few things. Fudge even threatened Bagman in front of people.”

“So?” asked Hermione.

“The ministry thinks that Fudge, put Percy up to murdering, Bagman. And they found a piece of Percy's robes. The piece with his name on them.”

“P-p-percy?” stammered Ron.

“What about my parents,” asked Ginny.

“They're at the Burrow with the rest of your brothers,” said McGonogall.

“Well, then Ginny and I are going home too!” said Ron, snapping out of his shock.

“I'm afraid that you won't,” began McGonogall.

“Try and stop me!” said Ron.

“Ron! Hear McGonogall out!” said Harry.

“Fine!”

“Thank you, Mr. Potter. Your parents have requested that you remain here at Hogwarts,” said McGonogall.

“They can't do that!” protested Ginny standing up. Harry and Hermione then stood quickly, too.

“I'm afraid that they can Miss Weasley. I must go now,” said McGonogall. She then turned and stalked away.

You know the world had gone topsy turvsy,” said Ron as he sat down in his chair. “When Percy Weasley is accused of murder!”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

There was a knock on the Head Dormitory Door. Hermione answered it. She was wearing a nice, white, short, silk Versacci, spaghetti-strap dress. She had two-inch white heels on, a beautiful sting of pearls around her neck, and her hair was done up. She had a black duffel bag on her shoulder. Her face was made up and she looked absolutely stunning.

“Hermione!” said Harry in awe. “You look beautiful!” he said. He was wearing a black tuxedo, with a red tie. He had on shined black dress shoes. His glasses were gone and his emerald eyes looked shiny.

“Contacts?” guessed Hermione.

“Yep,” he said handing her a bouquet of roses. He also had a duffel bag.

“Oh, Harry they're beautiful,” said Hermione.

“You're ten times more beautiful than them,” said Harry.

“Thanks you. You look very nice tonight Harry.”

“It was nothing,” he said. “Are you ready?”

“Yes, as I'll ever be. Um, Harry?” They locked arms and began to walk.

“Yeah?” he asked looking at her.

“Lets agree not to talk about everything that's going on lately.”

“Sure,” he said smiling.

“Oh Merlin! He looks so good tonight. Especially without his glasses. Damn, he looks good!” thought Hermione. “Where are we going?”

“You'll see,” said Harry.

They left the castle and it was few minutes before Hermione realized that they were going to Hagrid's hut.

“Harry, please don't tell me that we're going to Hagrid's,” she moaned feeling let down. She'd expected more.

They reached the hut and Hermione saw that red curtains covered the windows from the inside. Harry stepped in front of her and held open the door. Hermione gasped. It was beautiful, Hagrid's hut had been transformed into an Italian restaurant equipped with a dance floor. There were other people in the restaurant.

“Oh, Harry this is magnificent!” moaned Hermione.

A young boy no older them ran over to them, “Welcome to Lucciano's! May I take your bags?” he asked.

“No thank you, we'll hold on to `em,” said Harry.

“Then I shall escort you to your table.” The two followed him to the window that Hermione had just seen, the one which had a curtain covering it. They took their seats across from each other. There was no curtain, instead they looked out the window and could see all of muggle London.

“May I take your order?” asked the boy once they were settled.

“I'll have the meatball pasta,” said Hermione looking at the menu.

“And I'll have the lasagna,” said Harry. The boy left.

“Harry, that's my favorite, food! I didn't even see it on the menu. I know. I ordered it, so we can eat off of each other's plates.”

“Oh, Harry how did you do this?”

“I told Hagrid about how you love Italian food and that it's been such a long time since you've been to an actual Italian diner. That's when I had the thought of leaving Hogwarts to take you, but Hagrid said that he'd get in trouble if someone found out that I'd done that and he'd known about it. So, that when he came up with the idea for this place.”

“Oh, it's wonderful Harry. Simply, wonderful.”

Their food was delivered. They ate and talked and enjoyed themselves, and not once all through their meal did they talk about Percy.

They'd jut finished their desert when the band started playing Hermione's favorite song, My Girl by the Temptations. “Harry, that's my favorite song,” she said.

“I know, I asked the band to play it,” he said Harry with a mischievous grin on his face. He got up from his seat and walked around to Hermione and asked, “Miss Granger, may I have this dance?”

“Yes,” she said. They moved onto the dance floor and started dancing with the other people. “Harry, who are these people?” she asked. She'd been wondering all evening, but she'd been having such a good time that she hadn't cared.

“They're fake. The minute we leave here they'll disappear. Hagrid and Dumbledore created this illusion.”

“Dumbledore knows about us?”

“Hagrid told him.”

As they danced Hermione put her head on Harry's shoulder and slowly the other people around them disappeared and they were the only people in the room. The song ended and Harry suggested that they get their bags and leave.

“What are the extra clothes for anyway?”

“You'll see,” said Harry. They began walking and suddenly Hermione realized that he was taking her to the Quidditch pitch. They entered the locker rooms and changed. When they emerged they were both wearing, jeans, tees, and sneakers.

“We're goin' flyin' Hermy!” said Harry, his emerald eyes twinkling.

Hermione wasn't even annoyed. The name was starting to grow on her. “Harry! I left my broom back in my room!” she said.

“Don't worry, I had Dobby to steal it last night and store both of our brooms here,” he said grinning.

“I guess you just thought of everything, didn't you?” she asked.

“Of course,” he said before disappearing to fetch their brooms.

When he returned, Hermione asked him, “I wonder if this was your idea, Hagrid's or Dumbledore's?”

“All mine. Ready?” he asked as they mounted their brooms.

“Yes,” she said thinking that the word yes was the biggest understatement in the world. Because, in actuality she was ready to give her heart and soul to Harry in a second if he asked her. But, there were no words to explain this feeling, so yes would have to suffice for now.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Ron walked slowly to the room of requirement. He'd been regretting this moment since Luna had asked him to come. He really didn't feel like talking with Luna right now. He was too upset about Percy. He thought that Ginny would be there or him and that they could deal with it together, but she'd ran off to the owlery yelling that she had to see someone quick. Harry and Hermione had been great and so had Lavender. Lavender had told him that the ministry would find Percy innocent. He was really started to like her a lot. The Daily Prophet had printed the story that morning and Lavender, Harry, and Hermione had made it a point of telling anyone off, who were stupid enough to ask them what had happened. He'd wrote to his parents to see what had happened, but his answer was a piece of parchment and the only words on it were: Don't worry about it!

He felt sick to his stomach and now the fact that he had to confront Luna didn't make him feel any better. But, he needed answers. His dreams had become, so real and he was increasingly starting to believe that Luna was lying about what had happened on Harry's birthday.

He opened the door and stepped into the Room of Requirement. There were white candles burning all around the room. In the middle of the room sat a huge king size bed.

Luna walked out of a door on the other side of the room. “Oh, Ronald. You're early,” she said smiling lightly. She was wearing a see-through negligée.

“Luna?” asked Ron in shock.

“Ronald, close the door quickly, before we're discovered,” she hissed. Ron shut the door and walked into the room.

“Luna, just what's going on?” asked Ron mystified.

“Hermione told me that you were feeling bad about,” she began as she walked over to him and put her arms around him. “the first time we made love, because you thought that you took advantage of me so, I decided to make you see that we can be together and that you didn't take advantage of me. I wanted to be with you.”

“No!” Ron said as he pushed Luna away from him. “Luna, I came here to talk!”

“Who needs talking when you can make love?”

“ME! I know that we didn't have sex on Harry's birthday!”

“That's a lie!” yelled Luna.

“Oh really? Then tell me why do every night I close my fucking eyes I have god awful nightmares that paint a different picture than you about that night?”

“I don't know! People have nightmares! Every human being has had a nightmare!”

“Funny, because weren't you the one who told me that dreams are the voices of our subconscious. That they try to tell us what our regular conscious can't? Becuz mine has been bothering the hell out of me since Harry's birthday!” he yelled. He wanted answers, he needed them and there was no damn way now that he had a chance to get them she would deny them.

“How dare you? We made LOVE! AND NOW YOU'RE TRYING TO BREAK UP WITH ME OVER SOME DAMN DREAM?”

“We didn't make love! We were out in Diagon Alley and we did something illegal. We ran back to the inn and then I said I was going to tell and you cast some kind of spell on me!”

“You son of a bitch! I love you Ron! If you can't deal with that then that's your problem! But, for you to stand there and pretend that the best night of our lives didn't exist is dead wrong!”

“We didn't do anything! What proof do you have Luna, that we did anything?”

“Proof? Proof?” she asked (it sounded more to herself than to Ron.) Her eyes lit up and she said, “I haven't had my period since Harry's birthday. That's your proof, Ron. That's your damn proof. I'm pregnant!”

TO BE CONTINUED…….

Author's Note: Thanks for all the great reviews! Sorry it has taken so long to update, but we're doing a lot of quizzing and studying to prepare for the national test(TAKS.) I wrote Chapter4 right after 3, but didn't get around to sending to my beta-reader. Again special thanks to special individuals: KypDurron, shawnpickett, and as always my fantastic beta-reader (who takes time out of his day to edit my story) HarryP5874!!!!! I hope this is to your enjoyment and delight! There will be a coule of more chapters until I actually explain everything (Luna's behavior) but I hope you enjoy Chapter 4 and five and the little surprises I've added! Enjoy!


Chapter 4

Luna, the Baby and Me makes three.

Ginny looked at her watch, it said 8:15 a.m. It was a Thursday morning, she could be eating breakfast, but instead she was sitting on the couch in the Head Boy/Girl Common Room. To her left were Harry and Hermione who kept smirking at each other as if they were hiding the greatest secret in the world and to her right was Lavender who was disgruntled about missing breakfast. Ron was standing in front of them about to speak. He'd summoned them all here first thing this morning. Ginny was hoping and praying that her brother had good news because she was becoming quite sick with all the bad news over the past week. First, her and Draco being caught by Firenze, then Draco's mother gone missing, then Draco getting knocked off his broom, and then finally hearing about Percy being arrested. She thought she was going to crack. She'd stopped eating, literally. When, she did eat she'd throw it all back up, she was taking all the things going on really badly.

"I know you're all wondering why I asked you here this morning," began a pale-faced Ron. Ginny knew just by the tone of his voice and by the way he looked that this meeting was going to end in people getting hurt. "Well, Harry and Hermione are my best friends, Ginny is my sister, and Lavender is..." he looked away awkwardly.”I felt that you should all hear this from me and not from someone else."

"Hear what?" asked Lavender.

"Please, just wait until I finish. Then you can do all the yelling and stuff you want to do. Last night, I went to see Luna in the Room of Requirement. I was going to break up with her," he began and Hermione gasped.

"What do you mean that you was going to break up with her? `Was' is past tense," said Lavender standing up angrily.

"Please, let me just finish." Lavender sat back down. "But we began to fight about what happened between us the night of Harry's birthday."

"What happened between you and her on Harry's birthday?" asked Ginny becoming alarmed.

"Luna says that we slept together," said Ron slowly.

"WHAT?" asked Ginny and Lavender collectively, while jumping up in alarm at the same time. Ginny noticed that Harry and Hermione didn't jump up. They'd probably known already. Ginny didn't notice that Harry didn't have his glasses on.

"Please, just sit down. Let me finish," he said. They both sat back down. "I didn't believe her. I don't remember sleeping with Luna. In fact, I've been having recurring dreams that told me and Luna did something else that night. But, Luna proved me wrong, she told me that she hadn't had a period since the before the night of Harry's birthday. She told me that she was pregnant," finished Ron.

All four people on the couch jumped up together in concern, but Lavender was the fastest to speak. "Ron! You bastard! How could you?" she asked as tears streamed down her cheeks. "I loved you! Do you hear me? I loved you, dammit! And I thought that we had a fucking future together, but I guess that I was wrong, huh? What happened to you spending Christmas with me and my family? Did you conveniently forget to tell me then, 'oh hey I slept with Luna Lovegood' or were you ever planning to tell me? I loved you, Ron. I really did. I thought that we had something special," she said through tears.

"Lavender, I'm so, so sorry," Ron began.

"Sorry? You're sorry? Oh, I guess the fact that you're sorry is supposed to make me hurt less than I already am. Well screw you Ron."

Ron walked over to her and tried to put his arms around her for a hug, "I love you, too. I never meant to hurt you, Lavender. I never meant to hurt you," he said as she moved out of his reach.

"Don't touch me," Lavender hissed as she moved out of his reach and backed to the door. "In fact Ron, do me a favor. Don't even speak to me again. Okay?" she then opened the door and left.

"Oh, fuck!" exclaimed Ron as he watched Lavender go, tears now streaming down his face.

"How could you?" asked Ginny angrily. She was pissed. How could he do this? "How dare you disgrace what little fucking pride our family has by getting Luna pregnant and you're not even married!" she said moving toward him. "You know what the hell our family has been going through these last few months with Bill in the spotlight because those damn goblins thought he was stealing from Gringotts, then Fred and George with their defective merchandise, now Percy, and now you! And you know that Luna's father will make a big fucking deal out of it in that wacko magazine of his!" she said. She walked over to him and slapped him, so hard on the face that he fell backward onto the floor with an imprint of Ginny's hand on his face.

Ron picked himself up off the floor rubbing the side of his face where he'd been slapped. "Ow! Well, Madame Pomfrey's doing an examination in forty-five minutes to see if she really is. Will you be there?"

"I will," said Harry remembering all the times that Ron had supported him.

"And so will I," said Hermione biting her bottom lip looking pissed.

"Well, I won't," said Ginny. "Do you think that I'm going to sit and wait for Madame Pomfrey to announce what little ounce of pride down the toilet? Hell no!"

"Oh Merlin," said Ron hopelessly. "I'm screwed."

"No, but you're going to be when I send mum and dad an owl," said Ginny.

"Why are you going to send an owl to mum and dad about this?" asked Ron with a look of terror on his face.

"I think I have to. Otherwise, they'll find out from McGonogall, Dumbledore, or even the Quibbler. I have to get to class," she said and she turned her heel and left.

"Oh no, I really am screwed!" exclaimed Ron as Ginny closed the door.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Luna wasn't pregnant, hell she was as far from it as possible. To really be honest, she was as every inch a virgin as possible and this was exactly what she expected Madame Pomfrey to tell her after her examination. She was ready, she had it all planned out.

After she'd told Ron that she was pregnant, he'd demanded that Madame Pomfrey examine her. Luna had been horrified at the thought. She'd known that Madame Pomfrey would say that she wasn't pregnant. Therefore, after Ron left, she got dressed and went back to the Ravenclaw common room. She'd stayed up half the night trying to figure out what to do. If Ron found out that she wasn't pregnant, much less that they hadn't even slept together, he'd freak. He'd try to find out what they'd done on Harry's birthday.

He couldn't. He just couldn't. They would be given life sentences in Azkaban if anyone found out. No one could ever know that she and Ron had killed Ludo Bagman. It had happened so fast. It was a beautiful night out and Luna had convinced Ron to walk back to the inn. However, they had been followed out of the bar. The drunken Ludo followed them begging them for money.

He was dead broke since the goblins had taken all of his money. His family had left him and all he had was his pathetic little job at the ministry. Unfortunately, what he made there was divided two ways; between his family and the goblins, and he was left flat out broke. Sadly, he was on the verge of losing his job, because he was doing so poorly at it.

He kept bothering them until they finally told him to shove off; he then tried to curse them. Ron pushed him and Luna used a knife her father had given her and stabbed him in the chest. They stuffed the body in a place hidden from the average eye. Luna had apparated away quickly, but Ron (who wasn't very good at apparating) ran off. He eventually caught up with Luna and tried to convince her that what they'd done was wrong, but she made him run nonetheless. Back at the inn Ron threatened to tell his father and the other authorities at the ministry, but Luna couldn't risk a life sentence in Azkaban. So, she put a memory charm on him.

The body hadn't been found until a few weeks later. She'd lucked out that Percy was accused of the murder. It had all worked out perfectly, Ron from a far distance looked like Percy fleeing the crime. Ron tripping and tearing his robes, and his Weasley tag coming off had been perfect. The problems Percy was having at the ministry also made him look guilty and the fact that Percy lived in a flat near the murder scene was too perfect.

Sure, she was sorry that Percy would probably be locked up in Azkaban for the rest of his life, but it was better him than her, she often mused to herself. She and Ron would be happy. She'd pretend to be pregnant for a few months and then she'd fake a miscarriage. As for Lavender Brown, Luna knew that once she found out about Ron's baby she'd never want to speak to Ron again.

Everything was perfect.

"Ms. Lovegood," began Madame Pomfrey. She had just finished Luna's examination. "I can safely say that you are not pregnant. As far as I can see, you haven't even been... well... intimate with a man before."

"Yes, I have," said Luna sweetly.

"No, you haven't," said Madame Pomfrey firmly. "I have been in this business since before you were born; Ms. Lovegood and I know that you are not pregnant."

"Yeah, I bet you know about the laws that say squibs can't marry normal magic folk, too. Because, unlike muggles, squibs are completely incapable of producing magical children. The ministry thinks that if squib blood is mixed with regular magic blood, it could endanger the entire wizarding race. Did you know that? I mean, because everyone knows that squibs carry an antibody in their blood that deletes the magic in witches and wizards."

"What are you trying to say, Ms. Lovegood?" asked Madame Poppy Melinda Pomfrey, fear creeping into her voice.

"I'm saying that I know about you and Filch and if you don't tell everyone that I'm pregnant, I'll expose the two of you!" exclaimed Luna.

"You wouldn't!"

"Oh, yes I would. So, I think you have a decision to make, Madame Pomfrey. It's not a hard one, really. You can choose to help me, or you can choose to have your and Filch's lives made into a living hell."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Ron, Harry, and Hermione were sitting in the reception area. Luna and Madame Pomfrey had been gone for over an hour.

Ron sighed loudly. Once Ginny had left the Head Common Room, Hermione had put her two cents in. She was now sitting quietly on his left side grumbling to herself about missing class.

Harry was telling Ron that if Luna really was pregnant, he'd stick by both of them and he'd be the best honorary uncle he could possibly be. But Ron felt like he was sick and felt like vomiting.

Madame Pomfrey stepped into the reception area. Her face was pale and stricken and she looked like she was about to faint. "Congratulations, Weasley," she began he voice firm and tight. Ron stood up. "You're going to be a father!"

Any color left in Ron's face and he fainted dead away.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Thank you, Professor for agreeing to meet with me," said Firenze. It was around eight in the morning and he was in Dumbledore's office.

"I understand. Now tell me why you've been going to meet with the other centaurs?" asked Dumbledore.

"You know?"

"Yes, Hagrid has informed me that he's seen you go there at night," answered Dumbledore.

"Well, because to be honest I miss them, but I also fear for their lives and mine as well," said Firenze.

"Why?" asked Dumbledore.

"I have foreseen a vast darkness to spread over Hogwarts," said Firenze. "I first saw it around June and signals point to it becoming real."

"What is it?"

"There is someone out there seeking revenge against you and Harry Potter!" said Firenze. "And they will kill anyone who gets in their way. The centaurs know it, too!"

Unbeknownst to either of the two, they were being watched.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Gin'!" exclaimed Draco as he walked into his dormitory. "What the hell are you doing in here?" It was lunchtime and that morning Draco had been given a note from Ginny as they walked to Hagrid's hut for Care of Magical Creatures. Ginny was sitting on his bed.

"I bribed a sixth year for your password and snuck into your dorm," she answered in a nonchalant tone.

"You are becoming more and more like me everyday! Do you realize if someone saw you that you could be in major trouble?" he asked as walked over to her and took a seat beside her on his bed.

"I know, but I really needed to talk to you about everything that's happened," said Ginny hoping he would understand.

"Listen, I'm really sorry about your brother, Perry-"

"PERCY!"

"Percy. I know he didn't do it. That kid was as straight and narrow as it gets. Had the personality of a worm and sort of looked like one too," he said chuckling softly.

Ginny rolled her eyes and decided to ignore his comment. "Thanks. But, there's more, but I'm sure you heard this morning at breakfast," she said.

"Hear what?" asked Draco dumbfounded

"You must not have been in the Great Hall this morning, because she seemed to have told everyone," said Ginny.

"I wasn't. Who's told everyone what?"

Ginny sighed. "Luna Lovegood has been announcing to anyone who'll listen to her that she's pregnant," said Ginny.

"WHAT!? Loony Lovegood's trapped some poor idiot into sleeping with her?"

"Watch your mouth!" Ginny said decisively. "That poor idiot is my brother."

"You mean? Weasley and Lovegood shagged?" he asked amazed. "The trash and the wacko? It's not shocking that the only person that would even want Weasley would be a wacko!"

"Don't talk about my brother like that!" exclaimed Ginny. What was wrong with him? Didn't he know that she was trying to confide in him? "What the hell is wrong with you, Draco? That's my brother you're talking about! And the next time you let something slip I'll have to slip my fist onto your face!"

"I'm sorry, it slipped out. But, they actually slept together?" asked Draco.

"Yes," answered Ginny coldly.

"I didn't know that the two were even dating," said Draco.

"Not many people did," said Ginny. Draco noticed the worried, (but angry) look on her face.

"How are you taking it?" asked Draco forgetting all about his problems.

"I don't know. I mean how can he do this to our family?" asked Ginny more to herself than to Draco.

"You'll make it, because you're strong," said Draco.

Ginny smiled. She really did love him. She leaned in for a kiss, but her eyes glanced at his watch on his arm, which was reaching toward her face.

"Oh, shit!" she exclaimed glancing at it.

"What?" asked Draco a little annoyed that he'd been rejected.

"If we don't leave now for double potions we're going to be late and it might look suspicious if we both walk in late," said Ginny as she got of his bed and moved toward the door. She walked out and Draco followed her, but when he got to the door, Ginny had disappeared.

"Ginny?" he asked in whisper.

"Yes?" came Ginny's voice out of thin air. It made Draco jump.

"Where the hell are you?" he asked not knowing whether to be afraid or amazed.

"Right beside you of course," she said.

"How?"

Ginny did not know how to answer this. She was using Harry's invisibility cloak and seeing as how Draco was Harry's number one enemy with he-who-must-not-be-named out of the picture, she didn't know whether to tell him that she was using the cloak. She decided that she'd tell him about the cloak, but not that it belonged to Harry.

"I'm using an invisibility cloak. I wasn't about to risk getting caught," she whispered. "Now let's go."

With Draco's help, she made it out of the Slytherin living quarters and they were still walking together, when they passed Firenze's classroom. (Ginny still had the cloak on.) Firenze had been following them, once they'd reached the ground floor.

"And just where have you two come from?" asked Firenze. Ginny and Draco both turned around quickly. They both noticed that he had some kind of fabric on his feet, probably, so that he wouldn't scuff up the floors and so that he didn't make much noise when he walked.

"What do you want, centaur?" asked Draco icily.

"I want Ms. Weasley here to take off that cloak and I won't an explanation of why a Gryffindor was in the Slytherin living quarters," said Firenze, looking at Draco with the same amount of disgust as Draco did when he looked at him.

Ginny and Draco's hearts stopped in mid-beat. He'd seen them.

"Go, ahead Miss Weasley, take it off." Ginny slowly took the cloak off. "As you know, centaurs are wise and good and can see far beyond what the common folk can, and I saw you after I came from talking with Professor Snape."

"But, how did you get down the stairs?" asked Ginny trying to avoid the inevitable: him threatening to tell Dumbledore.

"There are secret passages in this school that lead to every single room in the building. Now why were you in the Slytherin living quarters?" asked Firenze.

"Why were you following us, centaur?" asked Draco saying centaur as if it were a foul tasting meet.

"As a teacher and member of this staff it is one of my duties to look after the students' well being. Now, answer me!"

"I went to borrow a book," lied Ginny feeling sick that she couldn't think of anything better.

"That may be so Ms. Weasley, but students aren't allowed to venture inside any other houses than their own. Besides, knowing your two's status, I highly doubt that you were looking for a book. I think that you were doing other things," said Firenze sharply. "You have broken the rules twice and I have warned you both! I shall be telling Dumbledore all that I know and what I suspect that you were doing this afternoon. You may continue on with your business," said Firenze and he turned and entered his classroom. Ginny's heart dropped and fell to the bottom of her stomach. This couldn't be happening. What would her parents think? Then she remembered that her mother had sent her an owl just before Ginny'd snuck off to see Draco. She was coming this afternoon to talk to Dumbledore! The shame she'd bring to her family. This just couldn't be happening.

"I guess I'll go first," said Draco icily and he turned and walked angrily away in the direction of the Great Hall mumbling something. Ginny only caught a piece of it:

"I kill that damn centaur if it's the last thing I do!"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Firenze sat in the forest clearing and breathed deeply. He liked his surroundings a lot, but this classroom was nothing like the Forbidden Forest he'd called home all of his life. He felt heavily conflicted. He knew that horrible things were on the horizon and he wondered if Dumbledore took him seriously. As for Ginny Weasley, he hoped that she would take the hint and dropkick that Draco Malfoy. Firenze worried for Ginny's safety. He hadn't told Dumbledore that Ginny's fate was intertwined with his and Harry Potter's. As long as Ginny stayed with Draco Malfoy she would be in much danger.

His thoughts were broken as he heard someone else's breathing. He turned to see Draco Malfoy staring angrily at him.

“Classes are over for the day, Mr. Malfoy,” said Firenze sharply. “This is my reserved time and space and I would like to be alone. If you wish to speak to me about today's event, then do it tomorrow!”

Draco chuckled darkly. An evil smile spread across his face. “You must really think you're something huh, centaur?” asked Draco as he leaned against a tree. “You walk around this damn school making threats and etceteras, etceteras. You never realized that the threats you were making could get you into a lot of trouble did you, centaur?”

“What are you implying?” asked Firenze in a far-away voice.

“I'm implying that filthy animals like you should watch their steps! You disgust me, centaur! You centaurs think you're better than every-damn-body else! YOU'RE NOT! In fact you're even more worse than the mud-bloods! At least they can control their bodily functions and not shit everywhere! I guess that's what separates men and ANIMALS! Animals are stupid and disgusting and have no control. You're nothing but Dumbledore's pet! How pathetic! You think that you actually have power? Ha! Dumbledore had lured you into a false sense of security. He can't protect, he doesn't even acknowledge you! You don't fit in with the rest of us! We eat in the Great Hall with eating utensils, you probably attack a helpless animal and eat it, like a savage!”

“You are a dark person incapable of love! Your insults do not hurt me! I parade up and down the streets to see an evil person like you in misery!” exclaimed Firenze determined not to be intimidated by this Dark Wizard.

“You son-of-a-bitch! You fucking animal!” exclaimed Draco getting angry. A thought came to him and he calmed down. It'd be a shame if I let the rest of your little centaur friends in the building and kill you. But, don't worry I'll figure out a way to get you.You'll get yours centaur! You'll get yours!” Draco then turned a disappeared through the trees and was gone.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

It was dinnertime and all the students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry were enjoying all the food they could get their hands on after a hard day of school. Tomorrow was Halloween and all the students were excited. That is except Ron Weasley, who that same Thursday morning had been told by Madame Pomfrey that he would be a father.

All of the students talked excitedly about the Great Feast the following night. Except two, who sat in Dumbledore's office with their parents discussing plans for the future.

"Luna will remain here at Hogwarts until she finishes testing," said Dumbledore who had been arguing with Mr. Lovegood.

"But, the baby is due in May," persisted Mr. Lovegood.

"I'm fully well aware of that, but she'll be behind in her studies if she leaves now. Besides the baby is due at the end of April, and that's at least three weeks before testing is started. I see no reason why she and the baby cannot stay until after she finishes testing. She can leave Hogwarts the minute she has finished testing," said Dumbledore firmly.

"Fine," said Mr. Lovegood giving up. He was quite happy about the situation, something Mrs. Weasley disapproved of.

"Well, I don't want my first grandchild born into wedlock so they'll have to marry!" proclaimed Mrs. Weasley.

"Of course," agreed Mr. Lovegood.

"Now wait a minute, this isn't the fifties anymore. People's views on this type of thing have changed," said Dumbledore.

"Well mine haven't, Albus. It's bad enough the child was conceived in wedlock, but anything else beyond that isn't negotiable," said Mrs. Weasley firmly. "Ron and Luna will marry."

"I completely agree," said Mr. Lovegood. "And it'll be on the cover of my magazine!"

"Like hell it won't," proclaimed Mrs. Weasley. Any other time Ron would've taken joy in his mother using profanity, but right now he was to depressed. "My family has been through enough without being in another scandal because our youngest son married before he even left HOGWARTS! It'll be small ceremony on the grounds of the Burrow."

"Fine, but I'm still doing an article about it. With pictures! She's my daughter and you can't stop me!" yelled Mr. Lovegood.

It was obvious that they were about to go toe-to-toe, so Dumbledore broke it up.

"Enough! Have you stopped to think of what your children want?" asked Dumbledore.

"Well I think that boy has done enough thinking," said Mr. Lovegood.

"What exactly are you implying?" asked Mrs. Weasley.

"Well, it's obvious that your delinquent forced my daughter-"

"You say another word and you'll be picking your teeth up off of the floor!" said Mrs. Weasley.

"I do pay attention to the news, Molly. I happen to know what sort of family you've raised!"

"STOP IT!" yelled Dumbledore. "Ron, Luna, what do you want to do?"

"Well, I love Ronald and I want our baby to have a real family," said Luna innocently.

Ron felt that all the food that he'd ever eaten would come out of him at that moment. It didn't. Instead, Ron got down on one knee and asked Luna to marry him. She squealed with excitement and answered yes.

"Well, I think that we can all agree that the wedding will take place over Christmas holiday," said Mrs. Weasley. Everyone in the room grudgingly nodded their heads yes. "On New Year's Day." Everyone nodded.

There was a knock on the door and Hagrid rushed into the room.

"Dumbledore, come quick it's Firenze!" he yelled.

"What's happened?" asked Dumbledore.

"No time to explain!" said Hagrid.

"Mrs. Weasley, Mr. Lovegood, I would appreciate if you take a portkey back to your homes," said Dumbledore as he ran out of the room.

"Hagird, what happened?" asked Ron.

"Firenze was murdered."



To be continued........................

Author's Note: After having my AOL mailbox flooded with angry letters, I've decided to at least finish the story (I owe you all that much). It has been so hard to balance out Draco as a bastard for the general public and as a sweetie pie for Ginny. In this chapter, you'll see a little of both. In addition, we'll see a little clawing action between Luna and Lavender, and maybe Hermione. Special Thanks to: Antone, KypDurron, Moose, SexyTexy, Swtpinay, my beta-reader HarryP5874, and everyone who's followed this story. So, here you are:


Chapter Five:

A Reconciliation, Revelations, and A Tragedy




"Oh dear god," said Dumbledore said as he looked at Firenze's dead corpse laying on its side in the grass near the forest. The body had been stabbed at least a hundred times. "It looks as if wizard did this," said Dumbledore to McGonogall. They were the only ones out there at this point. They knelt by the body looking it over. Hagrid had gone to fetch Snape.

"Why do you say that?" asked McGonogall.

"Because he was stunned first," said Dumbledore.

Just then, Hagrid and Snape ran over to them.

"Oh, great Merlin's beard," said Snape. "Who did this?" demanded Snape.

"Those damn centaurs," growled Hagrid. Just then, a group of centaurs came out of the forest led by Blaze.

They looked at Firenze's body and led out horrible horse noises. Blaze galloped over and knelt by Firenze.

"Brother?!" he said weakly as he looked at Firenze. He then turned his head sharply to Dumbledore. He was breathing frantically. "You savage! My brother trusted you, Dumbledore! And now your kind, your kind murders him?"

"Hey, ya' watch ya mouth there, Blaze!" said Hagrid. "Dumbledore's not responsible for this and besides when did you start caring about Firenze so much anyway? You probably murdered him yourselves!"

"You take that back, giant!" said Blaze as the other centaurs hissed at Hagrid.

"Blaze is right, Hagrid. Firenze did entrust his life to me, but only because he feared that his own kind would murder him. And a wizard or witch did kill him," said Dumbledore.

"What?" said Hagrid and Snape together.

"Yes, Firenze was stunned by a wizard or witch before dying," said McGonogall.

"I knew it!" said Blaze. "I'm taking my brother back to the forest to be buried!"

"Like hell you are," said Snape. "I think we can all agree that body needs to be reviewed by a specialist!"

"Try and stop me!" said Blaze and he reached down and put his hand up under Firenze to pick him up, when the body floated up into the air. Firenze turned right side up and opened his mouth.

An evil, unidentifiable voice leapt out. "Poor stupid Dumbledore! The pathetic centaur warned you didn't he? However, you didn't act fast enough did you? Now he's dead! Let the centaur be an example because next time, I'm coming for you and Potter!" Firenze then exploded in flames and burning lights.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

It was early December. Temperatures had severely dropped and students could often be seen out in the snow playing. But sadly they were often under adult supervision. Everyone at Hogwarts were still a little jumpy since Firenze had been brutally stabbed to death on the edge of the Forbidden Forest. For the first month, Dumbledore had promised to expel anyone caught outside of the castle. He'd gone to the Ministry and had had to fight Fudge who'd wanted to put dementors back at the school. Then winter had come and the staff had taken a vote to let the students tour the grounds with supervision. The Ministry was still furious though.

With the snow came invitations to the Burrow for a wedding on New Year's Day. Luna seemed ecstatic when the invitations to her wedding started coming.

Shockingly, many Hogwarts students were invited. They'd pass Ron in the hall and say congratulations, which would make Ron nervous.

Ron looked a lot like a skeleton lately. He seemed to have gotten thinner and he was definitely a lot paler. He didn't even defend himself when the Slytherin students made fun of him.

Hermione didn't look as bad, but she was definitely acting weird these days. She spaced out during conversations. She got extremely quiet around Luna and seemed to always be scribbling in a tablet.

Ginny was another story. Hermione and Ron were acting strange, but they seemed to socialize with people. Ginny, on the other hand, didn't seem to be eating, sleeping, and she was never seen talking to anyone. The only time anyone ever saw her was in class. She never ate breakfast, lunch, or dinner. After classes, she would go straight to her dorm where she would do her homework then she would take long walks around the lake by herself. Harry noticed this and cornered her one day after double potions. He had forced Ginny to eat and told her that he, Ron, and Hermione were there for her.

Ginny had been extremely grateful and had made an effort to socialize. Just not with Ron. But Ginny had a lot more on her mind than not eating and not socializing. She had had something on her mind every since October 30, since Firenze's death.

She loved Draco with all of her heart and soul. But there was something inside of her that told her that he had killed Firenze. She remembered everything leading up to Firenze's death: Firenze catching her and Draco after hours in the Forbidden Forest, Firenze telling the Daily Prophet what a bastard Draco was, and Firenze threatening to tell Dumbledore on them. Just thinking about it brought tears to her eyes.

It was killing her to be apart from him, but before she could face him, she had to be sure of her feelings. How could she ever let him hold her in his arms again thinking that he was a murderer?

She felt as if she was going to vomit when she heard a tapping on the window of her dorm. She looked over and saw an owl holding a letter. She opened the window, grabbed the letter, and sent the owl away. She opened it and read the letter.

Dear Gin',


Please answer me. I love you! Why can't you see that? I want to spend the rest of my life with you. You're the only person I have! You know that! Don't abandon me like the rest have. Don't. I know what you're thinking. I didn't murder Firenze. I don't have an alibi, all I have is my love for you. Please, please answer me! I'll expect you to meet me by the lake at midnight tonight. If you don't I'll take it as a sign that it's over. I wish it didn't have to be like that. So, meet me tonight by the lake!

Forever Yours,

D. Malfoy

Her heart softened. She would meet him. She owed him that. To tell him that it was over. She could not be with him and that was final.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Luna walked gallantly into the library. She was on a mission and wouldn't be stopped. She reached her destination and took a seat at a table. She smiled mischievously at the thought. She was sitting directly in front of Lavender.

"Hello, Luna," said Lavender nervously. Somehow, she was not comfortable sitting across from the mother of her ex-boyfriend's baby. It made her uneasy.

"Hi, Lav'," said Luna cheerily. "Listen, we need to talk."

"About what?" asked Lavender. Of course she knew about what, but her stomach did acid flip-flops just thinking about the conversation. The longer she played ignorant the less time they'd have to talk.

"Don't play games with me, bitch. You know what!" said Luna seriously.

Lavender inhaled sharply. This wasn't the Luna she'd heard about. The Luna she'd heard about was well a mix between a sweet girl and a wacko!

"Excuse me?" asked Lavender in shock.

"I saw you at breakfast this morning, making goo goo eyes at my Ronald!"

"Who do you think you're talking to, Lovegood?" asked Lavender.

"Listen, you just better watch where your eyes are going or they might get knocked out of that big bubble gum head of yours!" exclaimed Luna.

"You know, I heard Hermione tell Harry something the other day that was quite interesting," said Lavender as she packed up her things.

"What?" asked Luna.

"She said, 'Isn't it funny that Luna didn't start showing until the day she went to Madame Pomfrey for her check up?'," quoted Lavender. She then snarled at Luna and got up from the table with her things. "What happened to the old Lovegood?"

"You mean, Loony Lovegood?" Luna gave a dry laugh. "She grew up and opened her eyes. She's learned that the world isn't all gentle and sweet. She's learned that she knows what she wants and she's learned how to get what she wants. And she'll destroy anyone who gets in her way or tries to stop her!"

Lavender then frowned and walked away.

Luna thought quietly to herself, "Well, well Hermy. Looks like you gotten in my way!"

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Madame Pomfrey sat in her quarters humming pleasantly to herself. "Oh, Miss Lovegood," thought Poppy. "You think you're so, brilliant." Poppy did a short dry laugh.

"Well, let's see how you like it when, I get my revenge! You'll never ever even see it coming you silly little girl. You don't work for over twenty-five years as a healer and don't get ideas. All I need to do is keep doing my services for you for the next few weeks and then you'll wish that you never ever crossed Poppy Melinda Pomfrey!"

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

It was 12:15 and Draco had walked around the lake twice. He was starting think that she would not show when he saw her figure moving toward him.

"I didn't think you'd come," Draco said happily.

"I started not to," said Ginny coldly determined not to make any aspect of this personal. She'd keep his secret if he had killed Firenze, but that also meant that she couldn't be with him.

"Why did you come?" he asked pleadingly.

"I had my reasons as I'm sure you had your own, Malfoy," she said. Draco knew what she was doing and a part of him was hurt by it. But he'd managed to get her out here so there was still hope that he'd get her back.

"Well, my first reason was, that it has been hell without you!" he exclaimed as he reached toward her for a hug, but she dodged out of the way in time.

"Well that really isn't my problem, now is it, Malfoy?" she asked coldly.

"Gin', don't do this to me," pleaded Draco.

"Why not?" asked Ginny all the emotion she'd kept buried during their nearly year long relationship coming to the surface, all dying to burst out and claw this, this pathetic s-o-b, to pieces. "You talk about my friends like they're the fucking scum of the Earth! You mock my family every got damn chance you get! You've given me and my friends a hard time ever since we arrived! You openly support the Dark Arts and even after we started dating you never dropped your stance! We were never meant to be together! This whole thing was one big MISTAKE!" she said feeling as if the words were coming from her very soul.

Draco gaped at Ginny in pain. "A mistake?" he thought to himself. "How can you say that the most wonderful thing in my whole life is a mistake? What we had, have, is far from a mistake! I love you Ginny! I really do!"

Ginny felt sick. She'd heard those words from him so many times, but now, they were being said with feeling and they truly sounded as they were coming from the depths of Draco's soul. Ginny wanted give up her iciness for him, abandon her attitude toward him, and leap into his arms, but he had murdered an innocent being! She could never love a man who did that. It was killing her not to walk over there and be with him. "Don't say that Draco," said Ginny her voice cracking for the first time.

"It's true. I'm sorry that I feel that way, but I do and I think that I always will!"

She couldn't stand it any longer. Her lips were aching to touch his, her hands were aching to run over his face, her torso craved to be pinned against his. It was taking every bit of her soul and being to restrain herself from kissing him. "Did, did you kill Firenze?" she asked slowly and softly. She knew she should have just walked away and left the miserable bastard crying by the lake, but her feet were planted firmly and the part of her that suspected Draco was dying quickly.

"No," he whispered softly onto the night air as the serene reflection of the lake mirrored in his eyes. "I hated the centaur, but not enough to kill him."

She wanted to believe him, desperately.

"Besides, I was with McGonogall working on some transfiguration when the centaur died," he whispered. "You can ask her if you want Ginny."

They stared deep into each other's eyes for what seemed like an eternity. Thoughts raced through Ginny's mind like the speed of light. Draco just wanted her to take him back.

"I'm sorry," she whispered in a whimpering a little. "I should've known, Draco. It's just that..."

"What?"

"I see a lot of darkness inside of you, Draco and I know that you're capable of great evil," said Ginny.

"I forgive you Ginny. I wish you didn't see me that way. I'm not. I don't want you to see that side of me," said Draco. "I just want you to love me!"

Tears streamed down Ginny's face. How could she have thought those things about him? She walked over to him and hugged him tightly while she whispered through tears, "I do love you, Draco. More than you'll ever know." They kissed under the moonlight and had a joyful reunion. They then walked hand in hand back to the castle.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Draco was on a natural high the next day as he and some other Slytherins ice-skated on the frozen lake. He decided to take a walk into the Forbidden Forest before going back to the castle.

He'd been walking for a good five minutes when he heard voices.

"Oh, it's beautiful!" said a female voice.

"I thought you would like it," said a masculine voice that Draco would have know anywhere. It Potter! But who was he with?

Draco walked closer to the voices and saw two people standing in the clearing that he and Ginny had stood in so many months ago. He hid behind a tree and watched the two. But, what were Potter and Granger doing meeting in the forest together?

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Oh, Harry this locket is beautiful!" exclaimed Hermione. Harry had given her an early Christmas gift. It was a golden locket shaped like a heart. Inside was a picture of the both of them together. (They'd taken it while on a date in the muggle world.) On one side was the picture and on the other was an inscription that said: Harry P. and Hermy G. together forever.

They'd managed to keep their relationship a secret. They'd tried to tell Ron and Ginny, but they were too distraught to listen. In the end, they'd decided to keep it a secret.

"I thought that you might like it," said Harry.

"Like it? Harry I love it! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she said as she kissed the locket.

"Should I be jealous of you and the locket," asked Harry playfully.

Hermione lightly shoved him. She then walked up to him and hugged him. "Of course not, Harry. You know that my love is all for you!"

Harry smiled and the two kissed.

"But why did you give me this now?" asked Hermione.

"Well, with everything that's going on with the Weasleys, I thought that we could have our own little Christmas before we go to the Burrow," whispered Harry as he blew into Hermione's ear.

"Ah, Harry that's so romantic," said Hermione.

"I thought you'd like it," said Harry smiling brightly.

"I do. I really, really do!" she said smiling. Then her smile turned into a frown. Hermione turned away from him and folded her arms across her chest and she walked a few feet from him.

"Hermione, what's wrong?" asked Harry concerned.

"It's just that," started Hermione as she bit her lip.

"What?" asked Harry getting irritated.

"I wish that we could tell Ron, Ginny, and everyone else about how happy we are," said Hermione.

"I know. But would it be right of us to be happy while they all still miserable?"

"I know, but it's just that they've become like a second family for both of us," said Hermione. This had really been bothering Hermione for a while, as well as other things.

"I know, but-" started Harry, but he was interrupted.

"Harry, I know they'd be happy for us. And I know just know they'd be happy for us!"

"Okay, fine! We'll try to tell Ginny and Ron when we get back to the castle," said Harry reluctantly.

"Oh, Harry!" she squealed and ran over and kissed him. They then heard a rustling in the trees. Afraid of being caught, they ran over to the spot where they had heard the rustling. When they made it, they saw the figure of Draco Malfoy running happily back to the castle.

"Malfoy," hissed Harry and he took off after him.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Harry and Hermione arrived in the Great Hall ten minutes later, but they were too late. They'd stopped because Hermione had fallen.

The Great hall was buzzing with excitement and came to a hush when they walked in. Draco was standing on top of one of the tables with a huge smirk on his face.

Ron hurried over to them. "How could you?" he asked a little hurt.

"Ron, we're so sorry," said Hermione. The rest of the students started to form a crowd around them.

"Sorry? Sorry? Well your damn sorry isn't good enough! My two best friends? I hope you two burn in hell together!" said Ron before pushing through the crowd and leaving.

"Well, well, Potter!" said Draco with his Slytherin crew behind. "After all these years it seems that Weasel has finally realized that you've got as much hots for the mud-blood has he does. It seems orphans and homeless people are the only people attracted to you, Granger. Personally, I would not touch you with ten-foot pole seeing as I don't want to breed filthy disgusting half-breed-mud-blood children. Then there's the fact that if I wanted to shag a buck-toothed whore, I'd sleep with a horse something you look like, but is less dirty!"

Harry knocked Draco out. "Don't you ever talk about Hermione again, you miserable son-of-a-bitch!"

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Harry and Hermione found Ron in the Head Dorm Common Room.

"Ron, we didn't mean for it to happen," said Harry as he and Hermione took seats in the armchairs on either sides of the couch.

"I DON'T CARE!" exclaimed Ron.

"We thought that since you were with Luna," began Hermione, but she stopped and put her head in her hands.

"That I what? What?" asked Ron getting up quickly.

"That you wouldn't have feeling for Hermione anymore," said Harry softly. Hermione lifted her head out of her hands.

Ron sat down slowly. He sighed heavily and the once close trio sat quietly. "When did it start?" asked Ron after what seemed like an eternity of silence.

"The day Harry knocked Malfoy off of his broom," said Hermione quietly.

"The same week Percy? The same week-" His voice trailed off, but his two friends knew that he was talking about Luna and the baby.

"Yeah," said Harry.

Ron sighed again and ran his hands through his red hair. "Why didn't you two tell me?" he asked.

"Ron, we tried, but you were so caught up in what was going on," Hermione voice trailed off.

"Oh," he said. "Do you love her Harry?" asked Ron.

Harry felt that daggers were going through him as Ron spoke. He'd rather face Voldermort a thousand times than be put in this position. Sitting here talking about his feelings for Hermione to Ron!

"Yes. Yes I do. With all of my heart," said Harry. Hermione fought back a smile (she didn't want to make Ron anymore angrier than he already was.)

"Then, I guess that I'll try to be happy for you," said Ron meekly.

"Why do you have such a problem with me and Hermione?" asked Harry. He was outraged. Over the last few months, he had stood by Ron's side and now Ron was going to try to be happy for them? Un-ac-cept-a-ble!

"Why? I'll tell you why. I had feelings long before you did for Hermione and even though I've moved on they're still there! I had her first and I thought for once that Hermione was the one perfect thing that I'd had that the great Harry Potter would never have! I mean you get fame, glory, and wealth! I had Hermione and when we were together I felt that she was worth a lot more than that!" Ron and Hermione had dated for a few months at the beginning of sixth year, but had ended it because of Ron's immaturity.

Ron really did feel this way. He'd always felt that Harry would never have Hermione because she was too smart to fall for someone who was always in so much danger. He loved Luna and even Lavender, but who's the say that they wouldn't ever wake up someday and go 'hmm, I never knew how much I liked Harry!'

"Ron! I never asked for any of that! I never asked for a big fucking scar on or for people to thank me in the streets for killing someone! My parents left me that money so I could survive! That's all!"

"I know, Harry.”

“I'm sorry that I love Hermione. But the truth is that I do! She loves me, back! I'm sorry we kept this from you, but we didn't think that it was right that you had to see us be happy while you were miserable," said Harry.

Ron's color was returning to his face for the first time since October thirtieth.

Hermione wished she could say something, but words were caught in her throat. "Stop yelling. Please!" yelled Hermione angrily. "This is why I didn't want to tell you Ron! Not because of what you were going through, but because I knew how you would react. Harry and I love each other! You are our best friend! So, please just be happy for us. You owe us that much!"

"Listen, Harry you two are my best friends and I've put you two through hell for the last two months. I'm not going to just say that I'm thrilled, but I will try to accept that you two are together and I hope that you two can accept that. Because, I don't know what I'd do without the two of you," said Ron.

Hermione smiled and ran over hugged him. "Oh, thank you, thank you Ron!"

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Hermione was coming back from the library with a ton of books. She reached the corridor that the Head Dorm was on, when she ran into Luna.

"Hello, Luna," said Hermione. It had been two weeks since Draco's revelation and true to his word Ron had tried to accept their relationship. There were two more weeks until Christmas Break and the school buzzed with excitement. "Coming back from seeing Ron?"

"Don't speak to me, mud-blood!" hissed Luna.

"Excuse me?!"

"I don't repeat myself for filth!" said Luna coldly.

“Remember Hermione, don't hurt her she's pregnant. She probably has hormonal problems or something,” thought Hermione although her anger was rising.

"Listen, Luna I'm going to just walk away," said Hermione calmly.

"Figures. All you mud-bloods do is cower away," said Luna.

"What's wrong with you?" asked Hermione concerned.

"Wouldn't you like to know, you nosy little bitch!" said Luna.

"You know what; I'm not going to hurt you, Luna."

"Too bad, because I'm going to hurt you!" said Luna as she pointed her wand at Hermione. "Stupefy!" Hermione felled head first to the floor in pain. Luna knelt beside her and whispered, "The next time you have any comments about me and my baby, keep your mouth shut Granger, instead of running to Brown!" She paused and then said. "Yes, master." She then ran down the hall at full speed as another pair of footsteps approached.

The closer the footsteps got the worse Hermione felt. She wanted to yell out for help. She felt like she did when she'd been attacked by a couple of dementors last year. The closer it got the colder she felt emotionally. But this was a living and breathing human. It too knelt beside her and then it murmured a few words.

The voice was cold and mean and she probably would've noticed how familiar it was if she wasn't in such a deep dark place. "Now, die like the weak mud-blood you are," it said and then their footsteps disappeared.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"You did great in practice, Ron," said Harry. They were both sweaty and tired after a long day of practicing. They entered the castle and went up the stairs.

"Well, I do have one hell of a captain," said Ron.

"Thanks. Ya' know your game has really improved since you started, maybe you could go pro," suggested Harry. They were trying to be as friendly as possible.

"Ya', really think so, 'Arry?" asked Ron.

"Of course," said Harry genuinely.

"Hey, ya' wanna come to the Head Dorm Common Room with me?" asked Ron.

"Sure," said Harry and he smiled brightly. After a few minutes the two reached the corridor where the Head Rooms were. From a distance they saw a figure slumped on the floor.

"Oh god," said Harry. He and Ron then ran toward it.

"Oh, Merlin! It's Hermione!" said Ron once they were close enough to see her. They knelt down on opposite sides of her.

Ron felt her arm and said, "Harry she has a weak pulse!" (He'd learned it from Charlie, who'd learned it from a girlfriend of his who was a healer.)

"Hermione?" asked Harry frantically as she tried to wake her. On the other side of him Ron tried to do the same.

"It's no use Harry. We've got to get her to Pomfrey," said Ron genuinely afraid for Hermione too.

"Okay, okay. Let's go," said Harry and he picked her up in his arms and carried her to the hospital wing.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Ron and Harry sat in the waiting room together. They'd brought Hermione in over an hour to the Hospital Wing and Pomfrey was still inspecting her.

"Oh god! Who could have done this to her?" asked Harry his head between his hands.

"I don't know," said Ron. "But, when I get my hands on 'em they'll pay." Dumbledore and all the other important people had already been in and out.

"Oh, god!" cried Harry to no one. "Why? Why did this have to happen? Hermione never bothers anyone." At that point Ron truly did understand how much Harry and Hermione loved each other and silently vowed to accept their relationship completely.

"Don't worry Harry. She'll make it through this and then you to can be happy and together again. You two are going to go on and have a wonderful life together and have beautiful kids together that I can spoil rotten!" exclaimed Ron with a big goofy smile on his face. Harry then knew at that moment that he and Ron were best friends again and although neither of them said anything, there was an unspoken bond between them that night. They were much more than friends now, they were like brothers. Both equally protective of their little sister.

At that moment, Madame Pomfrey entered. "She's going to be okay, boys," she said firmly. Ron and Harry let out sighs of relief. "But, I'd like to keep her overnight for observation. I don't know for sure what happened, but I do know that she'll be fine in a few days. Now, I'll have to ask you both to leave so that my patients can get some rest."

"Can I see her first?" asked Harry.

"Sure, besides I need to speak to Weasley alone," said Madame Pomfrey. Ron let out a groan.

Harry walked over to Hermione's bedside before leaving. He kissed the motionless Hermione's forehead and said, "You gotta make it through this, babe. Hermione I don't know what I'd do without you! You complete me Hermione. Please, please, please, don't leave me," he said as tears ran down his face. He walked back to Ron after having wiped his face and they walked back up to their rooms.

Alone, Hermione gripped the locket around her neck as she slept.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The Dark Wizard stalked across the Gryffindor Common Room. His blue eyes glowed in the dark. His short blonde hair was slicked back. He maneuvered his way past chairs, tables and everything else in his way, until he made it to the foot of the stairs.

If there had been people in the room they wouldn't have seen the wizard, for he had cast an invisibility charm on himself.

He paused at the foot of the steps. Which to go up first, the girl's stairs or the boy's stairs.

"The girl. Father would turn over in his grave if he knew that a Weasley had come close to being apart of our family," he thought to himself. "Besides, the girl will be easier to kill," he mused to himself.

He then levitated four feet into the air and floated up the girls' stairs. He knew about the stairs turning into slides, he was no fool. He opened every door he could until he saw her. Her beautiful long red hair spread across her pillow.

"Merlin!" he thought. "She's beautiful. She reminds me of-"

The red haired girl stirred as he moved closer to her. He took a knife from his robes. He wasn't powerful enough to use the killing curse, Avada Kedavra. Not yet anyway. But one day he would be just like his father had, as he slaughtered millions along side the Dark Lord. He'd make his father proud of him at last.

He approached the girl's bed and raised the knife above her and brought it down swiftly into her heart. She gasped as she took her last breathe.

Blood gushed out of her chest as he removed the knife. He pointed his wand at the blood and sucked it into the wand. It then spat it out where it stood in mid-air. It formed a short sentence:

Bye, bye, Virginia Ann Weasley!

He took a final glance at the girl before leaving the room. "Damn, what a shame! She looks good even in death!" he thought before leaving.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

He entered the room quietly. Four boys slept quietly. But this wizard was only after one! Harry Potter. He saw him sleeping peacefully, his glasses beside the table.

The wizard's stomach burned with hatred. He let out a loud battle cry as he charged over to Harry's bed the knife raised in the air.

"Tonight, you die Potter!" he screamed. But when he got five feet from the bed an invisible force-field knocked him backwards onto the floor. The knife flew out of his hand and landed in the chest of another boy. The boy groaned as he died.

The dark wizard heard people coming. They'd probably heard him screaming. He ran to the wall beside the door and pushed a piece of the wall in. A secret compartment opened and he disappeared into it. After all, he wanted to stay inside the castle, didn't he?

Over in the boy's chest the knife was still planted firmly in his chest. The night moon reflected on the part of the knife's silver blade that was sticking out of the boy's chest, and on that blade was a name written in blue:

Malfoy.

To be continued …………

Author's Note: This has been the hardest chapter to write, so far. I originally planned to burn Hogwarts down in this chapter, but after several arguments with my beta-reader, I decided that this route would probably be best. It took me 4longwks to get my application accepted and I'm glad that it did. Special thanks to: SexyTexy, Tink18, Moose, Swtpinay, Shawnpickett, KypDurron, Coolone007, HarryP5874, and all the other readers!

Chapter 6:

Many Lies, Many Die, and Many Cry

Harry woke up in a hurry. He'd heard something a collision or something. He checked his watch, five-thirty a.m. He grabbed his glasses off of the night table and climbed out of bed. He was shocked by what he saw. The Creevy brothers, Dean and Neville were all standing around Seamus's bed. They blocked the actual view of Seamus.

“What's going on?” asked Harry as he approached the group. “I thought I heard something. Is there something wrong with Seamus?”

The boys all turned around. They were all white in the face. Dean stepped forward holding something behind his back. “Yes, Harry. Something is wrong,” Dean said his voice cracking and tearing up with every word. His voice softened and Harry tried to read the faces of the other boys. Dennis was fidgety and trying to avoid eye contact. Colin was white and looked as if he were about to puke. Neville, looked hurt and on the verge of a stroke.

“What's going on?” asked Harry concerned.

Dean walked all the way up to Harry and took his hand off from behind his back. In his hand he held a knife dripping with blood. He handed Harry the knife. “Yes,” said Dean his voice full of pain. “Seamus, my best friend, is dead!” The other three boys stepped aside and Harry got a full view of the very dead Seamus. Harry looked down at the knife in horror and read the name on the blade, Malfoy!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Stephanie Curry awoke early. It was six o'clock a.m. Sunday morning. She was the first was the first to awake in her dorm. She was a bright and beautiful seventh year Gryffindor. She had to get up early, so she could have some time to herself on the Quidditch pitch before everyone else did. She opened up her curtains and she stepped out of her four-poster. She yawned and put her hand over mouth. When she opened her eyes, a horrible sight greeted her.

There were four words made of complete blood hanging in mid-air next to Ginny's bed. She read the words. But, they didn't make sense. They just didn't make sense. She ran over to Ginny's bed and snatched open the curtains.

A corpse greeted Stephanie's eyes. Stephanie gasped quietly. She wanted to scream, but no sounds escaped her lungs. She slowly backed to the door of her dormitory she opened it not taking her eyes off the corpse and the blood-words as she opened the door left, finally turned around and ran all the way to Dumbledore's office.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Draco awoke Sunday morning with a strange feeling. He hadn't slept very well all night. He felt unsure about what to do, so he got up and reached for the Malfoy Jaded Blade. The knife had been passed down through the Malfoy family since at least the sixteenth century. But, during hard times the tradition had been dropped.

It had been his grandfather, Alistar Malfoy, who had revived the tradition of the Malfoy blade. He had been a firm believer in pure-bloods and Dark Magic.

Draco got out of bed and walked over to his trunk. After rummaging through his things for several minutes he discovered that his knife was gone!

Unbeknownst to Draco, his knife was lying on Albus Dumbledore's desk at that very moment.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

“How do you know that Draco actually did it? Did you see the culprit? What time did you make it to the crime scene? How do we know that you didn't do it?” asked Snape not giving Neville the chance to answer. It was six-thirty in the morning. Snape, McGonogall, and Dumbledore had questioned all five boys for the last hour. Neville was the last. Harry had run and woke Dumbledore up. Dumbledore had sent Fawkes to get McGonogall, Pomfrey, and Snape. Pomfrey had taken Seamus to the Hospital Wing where she'd examined the body and owled Seamus's parents.

“I don't know! I don't know! I just don't know!” yelled Neville frustrated and scared.

“That'll be enough, Neville,” said Dumbledore as he sat quietly in his chair. He hadn't said much during while McGonogall and Snape had questioned the students. He was still in a bit of shock. Over the last few years, Dumbledore had been accused of being senile and incapable of being headmaster of Hogwarts many, many times. But, in the past few years the accusations had been increased and so had his fears that his accusers might actually be right. In the past years Hogwarts had been broken into several times, exploded (sixth year), the students had been on the verge of death, and a million other things and all this time and his decisions cold have really put the faculty and students at risk. In November, Fudge had insisted that he take some time off or at least allow some type of security at Hogwarts, but Dumbledore had vehemently refused. Now, look what had happened. Another death. Seamus Finnigan. An innocent teenager with his whole life ahead of him. “You may go now Neville.”

“Yes, yes sir,” said Neville quietly and he got up and left the room.

“Albus, this is ridiculous! Draco could've never murdered Finningan!” said Snape as soon as Neville had left.

“Oh, that's hogwash, Severus! You as well as I know, that Malfoy is destined to follow in the steps of his followers!” screamed McGonogall passionately banging her old wrinkled hand down on Dumbledore's desk.

“Don't you dare take that tone with me Minerva! Sure, Draco has had some mishaps, but he'll never be anything like Lucius Malfoy! Ever! And if—”

“THAT'S ENOUGH!” said Dumbledore angrily. He was about to speak when Stephanie burst through his office door. Out of breath.

She'd waited for thirty minutes for someone to emerge after realizing that she didn't know the password. She'd nearly knocked that kid down. She ran all the way up the stairs disregarding their escalator like uses.

“Miss Curry, what are you doing here?” asked McGonogall sharply.

“I, I, I,” Stephanie paused as the horrible scene flooded back into her head. Tears came to her eyes as she bent over trying to catch her breath.

Snape eyed the girl. Then he said, “Oh dear god!” He then spun around and face Dumbledore. “Albus, there's another body!”

“Who?” asked Dumbledore standing up.

“According to this girl she just found Ginny Weasley dead less than an hour ago!”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Madame Pomfrey walked over to Hermione's bedside. Her mind was set on Seamus. She had dealt with many dead bodies over the years, but Seamus's body had literally mortified her.

She shook the thought away took a strand Hermione's hair and dipped it into a green liquid.

She was trying to figure out if Hermione had caught any kind of disease as a result of defective magic. So, she was testing her for every magical disease possible.

The green liquid she was testing now was a disease named Colemras. CO/ LEM /RAS. If the liquid turned pink, she had the disease, colemras. Colemras was a fatal disease. If it turned blue she was okay. The test took a total of five minutes to work, so Madame Pomfrey went to check on Seamus's body.

He was in a private room that was used in case of deaths. She'd checked him at least six times since she'd brought him in an hour earlier. She guessed that his dead body reminded her of the way her son looked when he had died. He'd been a baby, but sometimes she imagined how he would look if he were older. She'd been hers and Argus's. She'd never told Argus about the baby. She'd simply taken a leave of absence and ran off and had him. He'd been so perfect. But, he'd died minutes after being born. Madame Pomfrey had been devastated.

She'd never ever told Argus about the baby. She'd felt so horrible. She'd returned to Hogwarts a broken and bitter woman. She and Argus had broken up, but finally had gotten back together after the Dark Lord had risen again (when Harry first arrived at Hogwarts.)

Madame Pomfrey looked at her watch and realized that she had been staring at Seamus lost in her thoughts for over fifteen minutes. She walked back to Hermione's bedside and looked at the liquid. The color had changed into…

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Harry sat on the couch in the Head Dorm with his head in his hands. It was only six-forty-five. He slowly moved his hands up his face and ran them threw his hair and took a long sigh.

“I can't believe it,” said Ron sitting in the chair. “I just can't believe that Seamus is dead. We shared a room with him for six years and now,” his voice trailed off. He couldn't finish his sentence it was too painful.

“I know. It was so horrible. I mean. When Dean handed me that knife,” Harry's voice also trailed off and he shuddered as the scene went through his head.

“Poor Dean. They were best friends,” said Ron sadly.

“I know. I don't what I'd do if I lost you or Hermione,” said Harry.

Ron looked grateful. “I just wish I knew the son-of-a-bitch who did it!” yelled Ron getting up angrily.

Harry looked down at the floor guiltily.

“Harry, is there something you haven't told me?” asked Ron sensing that he hadn't got the whole complete truth. Dumbledore had instructed all five boys to keep quiet about Malfoy's name being on the knife, but Harry knew that if he saw Malfoy he'd burst and make the s-o-b pay for what he had done to Seamus.

Harry wanted to tell Ron, so badly. After all Ron was his best friend. He just couldn't keep this secret. Of course he could talk to the other four about it, but they weren't the same as Ron or Hermione. “Yeah there is. There was a name on the knife, Ron.”

“Whose name?” Ron asked suspiciously.

Harry paused as he tried to think this through. “The knife said: Malfoy.”

“WHAT!?”

“Yeah,” said Harry calmly.

“That sorry bastard will pay for this,” said Ron rushing for the door.

“Ron, wait!” said Harry getting up.

“Wait!? Malfoy killed Seamus! He could've killed you, me, hell he might even have been the one who attacked Hermione yesterday,” said Ron rattling it off quickly. He then stopped dead in his tracks as his last statement settled into his head.

“He could have been the one, who attacked Hermione,” said Harry slowly and numbly letting the words wash over him. “Let's go get that BASTARD!”

He caught up with Ron and Ron opened the door only to find Stephanie Curry with her hand raised to knock on the door.

“Ron, I just found your sister DEAD in our dorm. I just came from Dumbledore's office and he wants you to meet him in the Hospital Wing!” said Stephanie frantically.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Luna awoke bright and early and checked her alarm clock. Seven o'clock on the dot! She climbed out of bed and hummed a sweet tune to herself.

The day before had been magnificent. Mrs. Weasley had owled her and told her that almost all the wedding arrangements were done. Her father had told her that he'd hired a photographer the Daily Prophet take the wedding pictures. The Weasleys' yard had been magically expanded to form a small outdoor chapel. Her great aunt Sally was willing her and Ron her fortune to get the young family started off and she had gotten rid of the mud-blood for her master. And if had followed through on what he had told her about what he planned to do to the rest of those freaks, she'd be celebrating today.

She thought of the master. Shudders went down her spine as thrills of pleasure crawled up it. He had big plans and the best part was that those pathetic meddlers wouldn't even suspect who he was!

She didn't feel bad for them. Not one of them. They all deserved it. Except, Ron. She'd really grown to love him. She could see who… had seen in him. But, the rest deserved it.

She giggled with mad delight at her thoughts. The great Harry Potter, DEAD! The pathetic Ginny Weasley, DEAD! Soon even that mud-blood would be dead, too! Ron would come to her for support and he'd fall in love with her just as he had loved…

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Dumbledore and the others bound into the room. They stopped dead in their tracks as they viewed the words and gasped. They ran over to the body and to their discovery it wasn't Ginny Weasley at all. It was girl who looked just like her, Antoinette Hardy.

“Oh dear,” said McGonogall.

“This isn't Weasley!” said Snape.

Dumbledore gulped. If his fears about being a bad headmaster were big before they were now giants.

Just then in another bed another girl climbed out of her bed. Ginny Weasley opened rubbed her eyes and opened them and looked wide-eyed at the scene. The body, the blood, the people, and finally she looked at the bloody words floating in the air.

Her bottom lip trembled for half a second before she let out a blood-curdling scream leapt out of her lungs and filled the Gryffindor girls' dormitory.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Draco entered the Great Hall for breakfast, the eerie feeling still surrounding him. People were whispering loudly, but abruptly stopped when the people became aware of him. All eyes were on him. There were no teachers at the staff table.

Thinking that another horrible story had filled the front page of the Daily Prophet. So, he yelled out, “You people are pathetic! Mud-bloods, tramps, muggle-lovers, and orphans alike! You believe every damn thing that you read in that paper!”

“No, but what I do believe is that murdered Ginny Weasley and Seamus Finnigan, you bastard!” yelled Dennis Creevy standing up.

The rest of the Great hall cheered him on while the Slytherin table fell silent.

“What are you talking about you filthy, mud-blood?” asked Draco angrily. What was this twit going on about?

“Oh yeah, as if you didn't know that I along with four other boys found Seamus dead this morning with a knife with the name Malfoy in his chest. Or that this morning that Stephanie Curry didn't wake up and find Ginny Weasley dead!” yelled Dennis as Stephanie stood up.

Draco felt as if this wasn't happening. It couldn't be. Ginny couldn't be dead. She just couldn't be! But, the knife! Creevy had found the knife. His knife. Only a selected few of Slytherins knew about that. He searched up and down the Gryffindor table for Ginny, Weasley, or even Potter. But, he didn't find any of them.

“Or that you didn't attack Hermione Granger yesterday!” yelled Parvati from down the table.

Draco shook his head violently. “I, I, I didn't!” he stammered.

“You bastard,” said Justin Finch-Fletchy. He then threw his food at Draco and soon, the rest of the Hall followed. Draco soon found food flying at him from every direction he tried to move out of the way, but found that his feet were plastered to the floor. He looked on while the other students attacked him.

His Slytherin buddies skulked out of the Great Hall after being thrown food at, too.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Luna felt pissed as she walked around the lake. She'd just left the Great Hall. (Before Draco had arrived.) She couldn't believe that her master had screwed up.

She was overjoyed that Ginny gone, but Harry was still alive! Damn him!

Potter had to pay! He just had to! Luna shuddered as she thought ahead to her afternoon meeting with her master.

He'd take it out on her. Oh how she'd grown to dislike him. With all of his preaching about how the Malfoys were the only true pure-blood family in the family.

He was always telling her that they had never had a muggle in their family, ever. She shuddered to think how he would punish her and blame her for his mistake. It wasn't her fault that he hadn't killed Potter. It wasn't her fault that he was such a screw up that he couldn't kill Potter.

Her thoughts were interrupted by his dark cold voice inside her head.

“Nah, uh, uh, Luna. You mustn't that way about the master. I shall have to punish you later. Now, I need you to do something for me. You must out a memory charm on that nosy mud-blood.”

“Yes, master,” said Luna softly. “Will there be anything else?”

“No, that will be all.”

Luna was so afraid to think or move or do anything. He was inside her head!! She begin to have trouble breathing. Out of fear she fainted dead on the spot.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Harry, Ron, and Ginny sat in the Head Dormitory Common Room. Ginny was as white chalk.

She was shaking back and forth violently. Dumbledore had tried to make since of it to Ginny, but it was a horrible experience for her. She and Antoinette had switched beds the night before, because Antoinette was having back problems. Dumbledore had told Stephanie to go to the Great Hall after she'd delivered the message. (This was before they had made it to the room and discovered Antoinette's body.) He'd let the other boy's do as they please since it had been so early.

“Oh god, I'm just so thankful that you're okay Ginny,” said Ron as he poured his sister some orange juice. They had just passed the Gryffindor portrait of the Fat Lady when they'd heard the scream.

Ginny refused it. She didn't even realize that this was the first time she and Ron had been within five feet of each other in a month.

“Why is this all happening? Just when I thought that we were home-free, all this stuff happens. Who is doing this? Who wants to kill us?” asked Harry blankly as he sipped a strong cup of coffee.

“I'll tell you who,” said Ron. “Draco Malfoy!” he said throwing the pitcher of orange juice across the room violently. “That son-of-a-bitch! It'll be a cold day in hell before I let that bastard getaway with this!”

“You got that right, we oughta go down there now and beat the crap out of him!” said Harry.

“No! No! No! NO!” exclaimed Ginny. “You won't touch one single hair on his head and if you do, I'll make you pay!” she screamed before storming out of the room leaving a shocked Harry and Hermione in her wake.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Luna awoke in the hospital wing.

“Hello,” said Madame Pomfrey as she walked over to Luna's bedside.

“Oh, Merlin's Beard what happened?” Luna asked drowsily.

“You fainted by the lake and was bought in, Filch,” said Madame Pomfrey sharply.

“Oh.”

“I have to go check on the other body,” said Madame Pomfrey.

“You mean, Ginny Weasley's body?” asked Luna gleefully.

Madame Pomfrey noticed this and remarked, “No, it's Antoinette Hardy.”

“What?!?” asked Luna in shock.

“Yes, Antoinette Hardy and Ginny Weasley switched beds the night before.

Luna gasped. “Did, you by any chance have any role in this?” asked Madame Pomfrey.

“No,” said Luna trying to maintain an innocent voice.

Madame Pomfrey did a dry laugh and said, “I wouldn't put it pass you,” and she turned on her heel and walked off.

Luna didn't let this announcement sink in. She didn't want to be punished anymore than she would already be, so she hurried over to Hermione's bedside and performed the memory charm and left the hospital wing.

Madame Pomfrey walked out and looked around for her. “Well at least that god awful banshee will be gone, when the Grangers get here.” She then looked over at Hermione and shook her head in sympathy.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Draco's face and clothes were a mess of food. He couldn't even see out of his eyes anymore. But, he didn't care. He was hurt far beyond the physical realm. The fact that Ginny was dead, by his knife nonetheless.

He suddenly felt his legs again, but he was hurting so much that he was frozen by his emotions.

He then felt the food stop coming. He could hear someone talking off in the distance, but his ears were crammed with scrambled eggs.

He felt himself being dragged out of the Great Hall then pushed up against a wall. Then, all of the food disappeared and standing before him was Severus Snape.

“Professor Snape! Thank you for saving me,” said Draco.

“Oh, I haven't saved you Draco. I don't think Merlin himself would be able to save you!”

“What?!?” asked Draco.

“In case you haven't noticed you have been accused of murder!” said Snape sharply.

“But, I didn't do it! I didn't,” he said but was cut off by Snape.

“ Oh, really you don't think I don't know that? I have been arguing with McGonogall all morning that you didn't do it. But, the evidence is stacked up against you!” exclaimed Snape.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Harry walked into the Hospital Wing and was shocked to be greeted by, Dr. Granger and Dr. Granger.

“Dr. Grangers?” Harry asked concerned. In all the years that Hermione had been at Hogwarts, the Grangers had never showed up. Through every single accident, they had only sent their condolences. Harry knew this and he knew that the only way muggles could come to Hogwarts was if the Headmaster invited them and Dumbledore would only invite them if it was something he extremely wrong.

“Harry!” said Jean Granger and she got up and hugged Harry as her husband followed.

“Hello, Harry,” said George Granger.

“Oh, Harry ! What can you tell us about Hermione? Madame Pomfrey is attending to something else,” asked Jean.

“Well, she was attacked by someone, yesterday and I guess if you're here something else has happened,” said Harry.

“Oh, god!” said Jean becoming hysterical as she turned and laid her head in her husband's chest.

“Attacked? By who?” asked George firmly.

“Um, we don't know. She was coming back from the library going to her dorm when it happened. She was alone,” said Harry feeling guilty about not telling them about the other events going on at Hogwarts.

“I told you, Jean. All those years back when we first got the letter, I told you we shouldn't have let her come to this god forsaken place!” said George.

“Don't say that, Dr. Granger! Hogwarts is a great school and I'll protect her,” said Harry.

“Yeah right! You can't promise that! Everywhere you go, there's danger around the corner! I wouldn't be surprised if you're behind my daughter's accident!” said George.

“That'll be enough,” said Madame Pomfrey coming into the waiting room.

Jean took her head off of George's chest and the three walked over to Madame Pomfrey. “So, you must be Madame Pomfrey?” assumed Jean.

“Yes. Yes I am and I'm afraid that Hermione has a fatal disease,” Madame Pomfrey.

“What is it?” asked Harry.

“Hey kid, I ask the questions around here,” said George looking at Harry. He then looked back at Madame Pomfrey. “What is it?”

Madame Pomfrey gulped. “I'm afraid that Hermione has a disease, that comes from defective magic or it can be given to a person through an old Dark Curse. Her disease is called Colemras. What it does is slowly eat away at her major organs. This disease is very painful, it comes and goes, in other words she'll go through moments of extreme pain where it would hurt her to even blink and at other times she'll have an amazing amount of energy. Sadly, it also prevents it's carrier from having children. It is fatal, the longest anyone has everyone has ever lived with the disease is twelve years. Hermione could die.”

Jean gasped and then burst into tears. “My poor baby!” she yelled.

Harry was about to say something when they heard a voice come from the infirmary.

“Madame Pomfrey! Where are you?” asked Hermione loudly.

“That's Hermione!” said Harry thrilled by the sound of her light and beautiful voice.

The four ran to Hermione's bedside. “Mom? Dad? Harry?” she asked weakly.

“Yes, sweetie we're here,” said George.

“What are you doing here?” asked Hermione.

Madame Pomfrey slowly recounted the disease and when she was done all Hermione all she could do was shake her head and cry.

“Sweetie?” asked Jean. “Is there anything you want us to do? Because if you want your father and I can take you home.”

Hermione burst into tears and buried her face in her hands. “No! NO! NO! Just go away!” she yelled.

“If that's what you want sweetie, with the help of Hagrid, we've made arrangements to stay in Hogsmeade,” said George and he his wife began to leave. Harry stayed behind as Madame Pomfrey walk the two to the door.

“Leave, Harry just go!” Hermione said fiercely.

“Hermione, you can scream, shout, yell or do whatever you want. But, I'm not leaving until you talk to me.”

“About what? About how I can never give you children?” she asked tears rolling down her face. “Or how I'm going to die?”

“Hermione, I love you more than life itself! I would never ever let you die! And as for children, I don't care as long as I have you by my side. Hermione, you're my world! You complete me! You're the sweet smell of a rose on a spring morning. You're the smile and grin on every baby's face. You're the beautiful sunrise that gets me out of bed each morning. Lub beat that completes my heart's lub-dub. So, don't turn you back on me now. Not, now when we need each other the most.”

Hermione smiled. She couldn't resist him and those beautiful words. “I love you too, Harry!” she exclaimed outstretching her arms. Harry ran over to her and kissed her passionately and held her close to him and at that moment no matter what her parents said, no matter if she lived or died or anything else, they were truly together. For their love was true and pure and beautiful.

To be continued…

Author's Note: Thank you for reading and reviewing. I'm sorry that the last chapter was so depressing for many of you, but Hermione's disease was supposed to be a cornerstone in the story. I mean it had so much potential. Anyway, before you read this chapter I would suggest that you re-read chapters 2 and 3(especially the Daily Prophet Articles. This plot might remind of the one from book four! You would have a much better understanding of my little surprise!) Special Thanks to: SexyTexy, Coolone007, KW702955, Antone, KypDurron, Tracie, Talion, Emerald Eyez, Tink18, JayaMioneDurron, and everyone else who reads but, DOESN'T review.

Some people live for the fortune
Some people live just for the fame
Some people live for the power yeah
Some people live just to play the game
Some people think that the physical things
Define what's within
I've been there before
But that life's a bore
So full of the superficial

Some people want it all
But I don't want nothing at all
If it ain't you baby
If I ain't got you baby
Some people want diamond rings
Some just want everything
But everything means nothing
If I ain't got you

Some people search for a fountain
Promises forever young
Some people need three dozen roses
And that's the only way to prove you love them

And in a world on a silver platter
And wondering what it means
No one to share, no one who truly cares for me

Some people want it all
But I don't want nothing at all
If it ain't you baby
If I ain't got you baby
Some people want diamond rings
Some just want everything
But everything means nothing
If I ain't got you

Some people want it all
But I don't want nothing at all
If it ain't you baby
If I ain't got you baby
Some people want diamond rings
Some just want everything
But everything means nothing
If I ain't got you

If I ain't got you with me baby
Nothing in this whole wide world don't mean a thing
If I ain't got you with me baby

(If I Ain't Got You by Alicia Keys: Album: The Diary of Alicia Keys )

A Christmas to Remember

Harry stared out of the window of the London hotel room he and Hermione had rented. Hermione had told her parents that she'd needed some time alone. She hadn't told them that Harry would be spending that time with her. It was a few days before Christmas and snow lightly dropped on the surrounding buildings as the sun peaked over the muggle city. Hedwig then flew into view and sailed over to Harry's window.

Harry opened the window and untied the letter attached to her leg.

He put her in her cage saying, “There you go, girl!” He opened up the letter and read. He couldn't believe it! This was the best news he'd ever had! Hermione would love this gift! He'd have to leave tonight, but it would be worth it. He quickly stuffed the note in his pocket as he heard Hermione wake up.

Hermione walked over to the window beside him yawning. “Hello, sunshine,” she said smiling lightly. “I got up when I didn't feel you beside me.”

Harry smiled warmly at her. She sure was cheery considering the events of the last few days. Draco had been kicked out of Hogwarts by Fudge himself, only to be accepted back in by, Dumbledore. Fudge became so angry that he had shown up on the night before all the students left and fired Dumbledore in front of everyone! Ginny had walked around like an ice-queen. But, who could blame her? Someone was trying to kill her. Meanwhile, Ron and Luna had been working closely together to plan their wedding.

“I came out here to see the sunrise. Did you sleep well?” he asked in a concerned tone while wrapping her in his arms.

“Yeah, I slept alright,” she said in a far-away-voice. She didn't really like talking about her disease. “So, what do you have planned for us today, Mr. Potter?”

They'd had an amazing time in London so far. Harry had been so romantic and now Hermione couldn't wait for what her knight in shining armor had next in store. With all the winter romance and sharing a room it had been hard not to give in to temptation, but Harry had been a complete gentlemen and then there was the fact that he and Hermione were afraid that if they tried anything, they could fatally damage her.

“Well, it won't be romantic if you knew about it, would it Ms. Granger?”

“I guess it wouldn't,” she said lightly rubbing her lips against his.

“I love you, Hermione.”

“And I love you too, Harry. For sticking by me through this and loving me unconditionally,” she said her voice starting to crack. “Despite—”

“Don't you even say that,” he said putting a finger to her lips. “Hermione, I'll always love you, no matter what. You're the most important thing to me in the world. Just face it lady, you're stuck with me!”

She punched him lightly in his ribs and smiled.

“Ouch! Go easy on me,” he said and then kissed her lightly.

“I'll try,” she said softly and they kissed again.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Ron climbed up the countless flights of stairs to Luna's temporary room that had been added to the Burrow by Mr. Weasley.

Luna had insisted on having her own room, saying that she just wouldn't be comfortable being with Ginny. The whole family had respected this (except Ginny who had become quite snippy with Luna) and had just added the room.

It was late at night and Ron had just had another one of those dreams. These days whenever he had them, the only thing that could confirm that he and Luna had been together was seeing Luna and her round stomach.

He had actually started to look forward to the baby's arrival. He could imagine himself teaching his son how to ride a broom, play Quidditch, about girls, and most important how to be a good and upstanding wizard.

He knocked at Luna's door and heard scurrying inside.

She came to the door with wet jet black hair resting on her shoulders. “I just climbed out of the tub,” she said.

Ron eyed her with suspicion. “Luna, since when do you have black hair?” he asked remembering back to their first date. He had told her that he loved the color of her hair, because it reminded him of the sweetest honey. She'd told him that it was natural and that she'd got it from her mother.

Luna paused looking dumbstruck at a lost for words.

“Well?” asked Ron waiting for an answer.

Luna gulped and said, “Always!” while laughing nervously. “I just dye my hair blonde!”

“Really? But, didn't you,” he started, but she cut him off.

“I lied,” she said quickly in a deadpan voice.

“Oh,” said Ron becoming more and more disgusted by Luna. He'd really loved Luna, or had he fallen in love with an illusion? He didn't know anymore what was real or what wasn't. The only thing that mattered now, was his baby.

“So, what are you doing here?” asked Luna nervously, partly angered that she'd been unprepared for his visit.

“I came up here to check on you and the baby,” answered Ron taking a seat on the bed.

“Oh, we're fine. You can go now,” she said fast, trying to sound cheerful.

“Actually, I wanted to, well talk to the little guy or gal,” said Ron nervously. Hermione had leant him some books that said something about talking to the baby so he or she can get used to your voice.

Luna didn't know whether to be thrilled or horrified. She was thrilled that Ron was finally taking an interest in the baby, but she was horrified that he actually wanted talk to the baby. It wasn't even a baby!

Madame Pomfrey had given her a potion to drink that would shape her stomach to make her look pregnant. “Um, I don't know, Ron. It's pretty late and I really wouldn't be comfortable,” she said slowly.

“You wouldn't be comfortable?” asked Ron slowly, processing the statement. He chuckled. He got up from the bed and walked over to the door. “That's unbelievable! According to you, we've been way closer than, me just putting my ear to your stomach! You've been acting strange for a very long time! And a thought comes to mind when I think of that! What you do in the dark, will come to the light!” he exclaimed just before rushing out of the door and down to the room.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Hermione stared back at Harry as they ate their dinner out on the veranda. True to his word their day had been simply magical. First, they had been horse-back riding in the country; they'd had lunch on a yacht while feeding each other chocolate covered strawberries. Afterwards, they'd went up in a hot-air balloon, and to top the day off, they'd rode through the park in a horse drawn carriage, while being serenaded with romantic music, by Frank Sinatra. (They'd cast a spell on him.)

“Harry, I had a wonderful time to day,” she said gratefully.

“I'm glad that I can bring some happiness to you, in the midst of everything that's going on,” said Harry as he looked down at his lobster sadly.

“Harry you don't have to bring me happiness, as long as I have you, I am happy,” she said as she grabbed his hand.

“I know, but,” started Harry letting his voice trail off.

“But, what?” she asked. She stared at him for a while until she figured it out. “Harry, do you blame yourself, for my,” she paused and gulped. “My disease?”

Harry sighed and looked out over the city. “No, but maybe I should have been with you, you know like to protect you,” he said.

Hermione chuckled nervously amazed by how many things Harry blamed himself for. “Harry, you're not superman. You're not responsible for everything that goes wrong in the world, sweetie. Now please, we are in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. We have three more romantic days to spend together, before we go to the Weasleys, now lets just have some fun!”

Harry smiled falling more and more in love with her. Suddenly, a thought clicked in his head. “Um, Hermione? About those three days, you just mentioned. I won't be able to stay.”

“What?” asked Hermione alarmed.

“Yeah, Hagrid's asked me to go to Scotland with him to check on Dumbledore,” answered Harry.

“When did you find out?” she asked impatiently.

“This morning before you awoke.”

“What about Christmas?” she asked.

“I'll be home by then.”

“When do you leave?” asked Hermione heartbroken.

“Tonight,” he said sadly, not wanting to leave her.

“Oh,” she said, crushed.

“I promise, I'll be back,” he said, taking her in his arms. “I could never ever leave you.”

She sighed staring at the moon. “And I'd never let you.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Ginny walked quietly out of the Burrow with a cloak wrapped tightly around her, as the moon shined above. She breathed slowly and pillows of smoke leapt out of her mouth and danced in the night air.

She'd been walking a few minutes when she reached the hill that she, her father, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred, and George had stood on, the morning they left for the Quidditch Cup. She picked up an old empty bottle of Coca-Cola and closed her eyes.

Instantly she felt that sucking feeling from behind her navel and then she landed hard on what felt like shag carpet.

She opened her eyes to see that she was in front of a warm roaring fire.

“Ginny!” exclaimed a familiar voice from behind her. She picked herself up off of the floor and turned around to face Draco Malfoy.

He pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly. “I didn't think you'd make it,” he said, cheerily. They were in a cabin that Draco had rented. “But, I'm so happy that you did!”

They kissed lightly. “So, am I,” she said happily. It was Christmas Eve and after everything that had happened they needed to be together. So, he'd sent her an owl asking her to come.

He smiled back at her, happy to see her face. They hadn't talked to each other face to face since the night they'd spent talking by the lake. “You look beautiful,” he said happily, as he brushed snowflakes out of her hair.

“Thank you. You look er, very handsome,” she retorted awkwardly. Draco looked deep into her eyes and saw a hint of fear.

“Ginny, I didn't,” he began, but she interrupted him.

“Draco, you don't have to say a thing. I know that you would never ever try to hurt me,” she said as they both took seats on the floor in front of the fire. “Or anyone else for that matter. I know that you hate Harry and all of his friends—”

“Except you,” interrupted Draco.

“Except me, but I know that you wouldn't kill them. It's not in you. Not after everything your father has done, I know that it's just not in you to do something like this,” she said.

“Really?” Draco asked, unconvinced.

“Yes. I love you, Draco and that means I know you and I know your heart. You wouldn't do that. You just wouldn't,” she said staring him straight in the eyes.

“I don't know what to say or do,” said Draco, feeling more in love with Ginny in that moment than he had ever felt.

“Well, you can start by getting me something to warm up,” commented Ginny.

“Oh, yeah,” he said smiling happily. He reached past Ginny to the two glasses of butterbeer sitting on the coffee table. But, he lost his gripping and leaned on top of Ginny.

“Um, oh,” said Ginny nervously looking away from his luring eyes. “This is well,” started Ginny forcing herself to look him back in the eyes.

“Perfect? Wonderful? Destiny?” asked Draco as he stared straight into her eyes. They stayed that way for what seemed like an eternity. Both looking into each other's eyes. Both staring deep into the other's soul. Seeing each other's hopes, dreams, ambitions, triumphs, downfalls, and secret desires. Both communicating one secret to the other, with that stare that was becoming more and more comfortable by the minute. A secret floated between them in the warm cabin. They were aching for one another.

His muscled torso pushed against her firm little body. Her bright eyes seemed animated by the moonlight. His blonde hair for once wasn't slicked back, but wildly hung down in his face. Both knew what the other wanted and suddenly, Draco couldn't stand it any longer, he leaned down and kissed her passionately. She moved her hands over his face slowly and longed for him.

He moved down to her neck and began to kiss it wildly. While she tried to pull off

his shirt. They kissed and kissed for several more minutes until Draco leaned back and began to take off his shirt as Ginny did likewise, until they were both naked.

He leaned back down and was about to kiss her again when he asked in small breaths, “Are you sure about this?”

Ginny took a deep breath and said, “As sure as I am of my love for you.”

“That's all I needed to know,” said Draco smiling and he kissed her. The two then spent the night making love in front of the fire.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Hermione paced across the room for the final time and bumped into Mr. Lovegood knocking his wallet out of his hands.

It was late at night on Christmas Eve and Hermione was worried that Harry wouldn't show up.

“I'm so, so sorry Mr. Lovegood,” said Hermione as she bent to pick his wallet up and saw that the pictures inside of it had also fallen out.

“It's okay, I was distracted, it's late,” he said as he bent to help her.

She picked two up and handed to him, but stopped on the third. It was a picture of Mr. Lovegood, a woman with long blonde hair and two beautiful little girls. One the perfect clone of her mother, with long blonde hair, the other the exact same as her sister except she had long jet black hair. In the picture the girls were around three or four.

“Um, Mr. Lovegood?” asked Hermione showing him the picture. “What's this?”

Mr. Lovegood looked down at the floor sadly. “That's my wife, Caroline and Luna and her twin sister Lana.”

“Lana? Luna's never mentioned her before,” said Hermione confused by this new piece of information.

“Well, I wouldn't expect that she would. Lana died shortly after that picture was taken, at the young age of three years old. Her death was so, painful for Luna, that my wife and I decided to use a memory charm to well,” he paused out of guilt. “To make Luna forget about Lana. We planned to tell her one day, but on my wife's deathbed she told me that it was best that Luna never know, because if she did, she'd never forgive us.”

“Oh. Well this is a lot to take in!” said Hermione.

“I know, but I beg of you not to tell Luna,” asked Mr. Lovegood with pleading eyes.

“I don't know, Mr. Lovegood,” started Hermione.

“Please,” he begged.

“Okay, I won't tell Luna,” said Hermione.

Unknown to both Hermione and Mr. Lovegood, Luna had been standing on the stairs quietly listening to their conversation. She thought to herself, “Oh, but I already know father. And trust me, you'll pay!”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

It was Christmas morning and Draco sat before the fire with a huge smile on his face. Ginny had left a few hours earlier to get home before being discovered by her family.

After their night, they'd stayed up talking to one another for hours. From naming their children, to talking about their house, to arguing over whether they'd use generic Floo Powder or name brand.

He didn't even let his mood get pulled down by the fact that this was the first Christmas without his family. Instead he reflected on the good things, such as the fact that at least he didn't have his father yelling at him and telling him to thank the Dark Lord for his gifts.

He was on a complete natural high. He actually had a future with Ginny! She'd told him that she'd be telling her family about them after the holidays. He couldn't wait to be with her in public.

To hell with his abusive father and his alcoholic mother who pretended to ignore that his father was an utter and complete murderer. He was finally free and although the emotional damage they'd left him with was permanent, he was free! To hell with Alistar who had been the first ever supporter of the Dark Lord.

Draco shuddered as he thought of his grandfather. Alistar Malfoy had been Tom Riddle's best friend at Hogwarts. They'd met on the train and Alistar had been loyal to Tom ever since. In one of the first attacks ever in support of the Dark Lord, Alistar had been injured and left wheelchair bound. So, he pushed his son, Lucius, into the Dark Circle.

“Evil bastard,” thought Draco.

He got up to put more wood on the fire, when he heard a voice that he thought he'd never ever hear again.

“If you knew what was good for you, you wouldn't speak that way about your grandfather,” the voice said.

Draco gasped and dropped the firewood on the floor. He turned around as the owner of the voice stepped out of the shadows.

The Dark Wizard smiled at Draco. “Surprised to see me?” he asked.

“It's you!” exclaimed Draco. “You're the one who killed Firenze, Finnigan, and Antoinette Hardy! You're the one who stole my knife! You tried to kill Potter and Ginny!” yelled Draco. He then processed his last words. “You tried to kill, Ginny! You son-of-a-bitch! All the while you were trying to frame me!”

“Draco, you have it all wrong. I wasn't trying to frame you. I killed Firenze, because he could foresee the future and would have revealed my identity. I tried to kill Potter to make my father proud and I tried to kill that Weasel, because she's not good enough for our family!”

“You ignorant bastard! Would you rather me shag with a filthy disgusting muggle, or with Ginny?” asked Draco.

“To be honest, most muggles are cleaner than the Weasel family,” said the Dark Wizard.

“So, are you saying that you would prefer that I sleep with that piece of trash Granger, than I sleep with Ginny?” asked Draco.

The Dark Wizard shuddered. “Well, she is cleaner and she does have twice the brains as Weasel.”

“Don't you talk about Ginny that way!” said Draco.

“Or what? You'll hurt me?” the Dark Wizard asked, cackling wildly.

“I'll make you wish that you were never born!” screamed Draco. “I'm not afraid of you anymore! I know that you've come here to kill me!”

“Draco, you always were very stupid! I won't kill you if you join my forces and avenge the Dark Lord's death!”

“Is that all? Huh? Knowing you, you probably have another demand up your sleeves!” said Draco.

“Oh Draco, you're correct. I wouldn't be a Malfoy, if I didn't. You must give up Weasel!” screamed the Dark Lord.

“I'll never give up Weasley! I mean Ginny!” screamed Draco.

“Well, I don't think you have a choice! Either you join me and give up Weasel, or I'll kill her! I'll only spare you, because we're related. But, Weasel will die!”

“You wouldn't!”

“I've already killed three others! You know fully well what I can do! Now I think it's quite simple get rid of Weasel or I'll get rid of her for you! Now do we have a deal?” the Dark Wizard asked.

“Yes,” said Draco sourly. “I'll stop seeing Ginny, if you agree not to kill her.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Snow fell lightly on the ground as Hermione made her way up to Ginny's room for an afternoon lap. She was tired from staying up all night waiting for Harry.

She reached a landing and yawned. “Harry, where the hell are you?” she asked herself.

She was so dreary that she stumbled into Percy's room and saw Percy kneeling on the floor in front of his fireplace talking to a young woman who's head was inside the fire!

Hermione gasped and realized that she wasn't on Ginny's floor, she was on Percy's floor.

The girl inside the fire screamed and disappeared. Percy looked back in shock.

“Hermione?” he asked alarm.

“Percy, I'm so, so sorry,” said Percy.

Percy snatched her into the room and slammed the door and thrust Hermione onto his bed.

“What did you see?” he asked her angrily.

“A girl,” said Hermione kind of afraid. She hadn't told anyone yet, but her colemras had kicked in during breakfast and she was extremely tired not to mention the fact that she was in extreme pain.

Percy ran his hands through his hair and sighed as he took a seat next to Hermione on his bed.

“Hermione, please you can't tell anyone about what you just saw. I'm in so much trouble right now that I don't need anyone to know about her,” said Percy.

“Percy, I don't get it. What's the big deal?” asked Hermione not really wanting to know.

“Nothing,” said Percy.

“Does this have anything to do with your case?” asked Hermione. “I know that you didn't do it.”

“Hermione, If I tell you something, you have to promise not to tell anyone.”

“What?” asked Hermione.

“I didn't kill Bagman. I have a great alibi, but I can't use it,” he answered.

“What is it,” asked Hermione as her ribs began to ache so bad that she thought that they were about to crumble.

Percy gulped. “On the night that the aurors think that Bagman was murdered, I was getting married in a secret ceremony,” said Percy.

“What?” asked Hermione in shock taking in a lot of air and instantly regretting it. Her lungs ached as the air went through them. She was on the brink of tears as her veins felt, as they were about to pop from the blood running through them. She fought back the tears, vowing to herself not to let this disease get to her. She balled up her fists as her stomach felt as if was turning inside out and the acid from inside of it had fallen onto her kidneys.

“Yeah, I married to Melissa Fudge. Fudge's youngest daughter.”

“Oh my god! Percy, this could save your case!” said Hermione happily, but in a low tone so that she wouldn't take in too, much air.

“Yes, but it could separate me from my family. I'd much rather just be proven innocent,” said Percy getting up to go stand by the fireplace. He looked at Hermione expecting her to say something, but she didn't. She was in too much pain, but Percy had no way of knowing that. “If I go forward and reveal my marriage to Melissa, then I'll be ousted from the magical community and stripped of my magic! Why you ask? Well, because Melissa Fudge is a squib!”

“Really,” Hermione managed to ask.

“Yes. Can you believe it? The Minister of Magic's daughter is squib and he and his council would probably put her out into the muggle world in a second!”

“Because, of the squib-magic law?” asked Hermione on the verge of a stroke.

“Yes,” answered Percy turning away from Hermione and to the fire. All of a sudden Hermione burst into tears and gripped her stomach.

“OW! IT HURTS SO MUCH!” she yelled.

“Oh, Hermione! I forgot! You've probably been in pain this whole time,” remarked Percy rushing over to Hermione. “Can I get you anything?” he asked in a worried tone.

“No, it comes and goes. In a few minutes it'll be gone!” she said as tears rolled down her face.

She bent over and caught her breath as the pain slowly began to subside. She'd felt like all of her organs were being ripped in two.

She inhaled and said, “It's okay, it's worse if I don't resist.”

“I'm such an idiot going on and on about my own problems while you're sitting here in pain.”

“It's okay. I'd much rather not talk about it.” Percy nodded. “So, if you confess to getting married, you'll be separated from the wizarding world forever and forced to be a common muggle.”

“Yeah. The thing is, I don't have much of a defense. Which is why I was thinking,” started Percy. “I've actually been meaning to talk to you for a while now,” said Percy.

“Why?” asked Hermione.

“Well, Dumbledore came up with the idea, really.”

“What?” asked Hermione.

“Dumbledore, thinks that we should pretend to be married for my alibi,” said Percy smiling widely.

“Me and you?” asked Hermione.

“Well, yeah. It would be perfect. You were already in Diagon Alley. We could say that after you finished drinking and I came to you with the idea of eloping and well… we did. We could say that Dumbledore presided over the ceremony,” said Percy.

“I don't know, Percy,” said Hermione.

“Hermione, you could be the only person to save me from Azkaban, or worse losing my family.”

Hermione looked down to her lap and said, “Alright, fine.”

Just then Ginny burst in the door. “Percy, Harry's here!” she screamed happily, with a big toothy smile on her face. But, her smile turned upside down into a confused frown when she saw Hermione in Percy's room.

“Don't ask,” said Hermione before she and Percy climbed down the numerous flights of stairs. Hermione took one look at Harry and knew why she loved him. He looked tired and worn out, but he was still ruggedly handsome. She ran into his arms joyfully

“Oh, Harry,” she exclaimed never wanting to be separated from him again.

“I wouldn't hug and kiss me yet,” said Harry.

“Why not?” asked Hermione.

Harry then took a small glass bottle from his robes. “It's the cure to the Colemras Curse,” said Harry handing it to Hermione. “The Ministry doesn't approve upon it, because it so hard to get, most people who go after it die. But, Hagrid and I went through a lot of stuff to find this for you,” said Harry smiling.

Hermione burst into tears. “Is it really the cure?” she asked. Harry nodded. “Oh, Harry!” she said and hugged him. She then downed the cure in one swallow.

“It'll take a few weeks to work, but your colemras will soon be gone. Merry Christmas, Hermione!” said Harry.

“Oh Harry, I love you. Now it's time for me to give you your gift,” she said leading him and the Weasleys to the grand piano. I didn't know what to get you, I just knew I had so much love for you and I wanted to express it to you! That's when I heard this song! It's called if I Ain't Got You by Alicia Keys.”

Hermione displayed her musical talent by playing the song on the piano while singing it with all of her might.

She got down to the last line and sang, “Nothing in this whole wide world don't mean a thing, if I ain't got you with me baby.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

It was Christmas night. The others were sound asleep after a day of unwrapping and having fun.

Luna crept silently in the night to a wooded area a few miles away from the Burrow. The Dark Wizard had requested a visit with her and she'd learned early on not to deny him anything.

She walked for a few more miles into the woods until she got to a clearing filled with red trees. He'd told her that this was the signal that she'd made it to the right place.

She stood there for several minutes before he walked into the clearing to meet her. “Hello, Lovegood,” he said.

“You called?” asked Luna.

“Yes, I need you to do another mission,” said the Dark Wizard.

“NO!” screamed Luna interrupting him. “I won't!”

“Oh, yes you will! I've put too much effort into this for you to try and wring free!”

“Maybe I will leave! I can't take all the things we're doing anymore! I should leave!” said Luna.

“You wouldn't! You know that the second that you try to abandon ship, I'd have the entire Weasel family killed!”

“You do and I'll tell the world who you really are!” threatened Luna.

“Really?” he asked arrogantly. “You know that I'd find you and kill you first!

Luna sighed. She knew that what he was saying was true.

“I see you've realized how stupid, you were,” he said.

“Yes. Well I must get back to the Burrow before they discover me missing. Until next time, goodbye Dark Wizard, Lucius Malfoy.”

To be continued……………………………………..

Okay, okay I know that was evil, but I couldn't help it!!!!! I hope I get at least twenty-five reviews for this!!! See you in a few!!!!!!!!

Author's Note: We've been through a lot together in the last seven chapters, Ups and Downs, Lefts and Rights, Ins and Outs, etceteras. This chapter is a turning point in this story and the plot will begin to thicken as a result. It was very painful to write this chapter, because I'm a strong believer of H/Hr and D/G. Please, I know there will be a lot of you who will not like this chapter, but stick with me, because the ending I have in mind is really sweet. Thank You for All the Reviews! So, without any further delay here's Chapter Eight:

Here Comes the Bride

Ron sat in his room with a tuxedo on, looking out of his window and over the grounds of the Burrow. The snow had stopped falling and the sun shined brightly. The temperature had risen and it was now a warm eighty degrees out. Today was January the First, his wedding day.

He couldn't believe it. It had been two months since he proposed in Dumbledore's office. It seemed as if the day crept up on him. The grounds were littered with many Hogwarts students, teachers, family members, and friends. His stomach did acid flip-flops at the thought that in just a few hours he would married to a woman he didn't even love.

He out his head in his hands and sighed for the thirtieth time, when he heard a knock at the door.

“Come in,” he yelled from his seat by the window. He felt that his legs were so shaky that if he got up they'd turn into gelatin and he'd fall flat on his face.

Hermione entered the room wearing a thin silk dress with spaghetti straps. “I came to check on you. Everyone's so busy trying to straighten things out, that they plum forgot about you!” she said as she took a seat beside him.

“That's okay. I'd much rather if they did. I don't feel like walking down there a putting a big fake smile on my face, just to please Luna and all those people.”

“Ron, I know that you don't want to marry Luna, but for the sake of your unborn child at least try and act like you're enjoying this. I mean it's no picnic for Luna either. She's five months pregnant and only sixteen years old! She loves you and probably feels that you don't give a damn about her,” said Hermione.

“Maybe I don't!” screamed Ron finding the nerve to get up and walk a little way before standing in front of Hermione.

“What? Listen, Luna isn't exactly my favorite person anymore, but she needs you!” yelled Hermione angrily.

“Hermione, how am I supposed to talk to her when she's been lying to me since day one! She won't even let me touch the baby or feel her stomach. And when we go to Madame Pomfrey's she won't let me sit in on the procedure. I try to bond with her, but she's evasive! I can't take it anymore!” he screamed.

“Ron, in four months, you're going to be a father. Luna is going to need you then. This is the first step to being there for your child, now take it,” said Hermione softly.

Ron sighed then smiled awkwardly. “I guess you're right. Hell, who am I kidding? You're always right!” he said.

“Oh, Ron shove it!” she said. Then a pain hit Hermione. It felt like her brain was frozen. She knew what was happening. It had been happening since she'd drank the cure. It was her memories coming back.

Instantly she was taken back to the day. She saw herself walking back to her room with her arms full of books. She then saw someone with blonde hair confront her in a corridor. The blonde pointed a wand at her.

Hermione moved closer and closer until she was close enough to see the blonde's face. She grabbed their arm and was about to turn the blonde around to see their face when she was knocked out of her vision by Ron.

“Hermione, you were having a seizure,” Ron said as he pulled her up off the floor. “You were telling me off, then all of a sudden you just started shaking and foaming at the mouth and then you fell on the floor. Are you alright?”

“Yeah. Um, Ron? Do you mind if I go lie down for a while until the ceremony?” she asked wiping the foam off her face.

“Yeah, sure. We can't have one of my groomsmen get sick during the ceremony, can we?” he asked trying to make light of the mood. This was true. Luna hadn't asked Ginny or Hermione to be her bridesmaids or maid of honor. Instead she asked family members and some of her Ravenclaw friends.

So, Ron had asked Harry to be his best man, and Hermione, Ginny, Dean, and Neville, were all to be groomsmen.

“I guess not,” said Hermione in a weak voice as she made it to the door. “Well, I'll see you later,” she said before going back down to Ginny's room. But, she wasn't going to take a nap. No, she had to find out if she had been in any kind of conflict with. She would search all of her things until she found out who had attacked her and given her that god awful disease. She had to make them pay for ever doing that to her, and they would pay!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

“Good afternoon, Miss Lovegood,” said Madame Pomfrey as she stepped into Luna's room.

“What are you doing here?” asked Luna crossly, as she pulled on her dress.

“Well, you may not have noticed, but Molly Weasley invited me to your wedding,” she said emphasizing on the `your'.

“That still doesn't explain why you're here in my bedroom,” said Luna fighting the urge to hex the woman.

“Well, I have a little wedding gift, of sorts. You see, I've been a healer for over twenty years and I know just about everything there is to know about the human body,” Madame Pomfrey said casually as she took a seat on the bed.

“So?” asked Luna as she tried on a string of pearls in the full-length mirror.

“Well, you may not have noticed, but you're now twenty-one weeks pregnant,” said Madame Pomfrey as a maniacal smile spread across her face. “That is, you would be if you actually were pregnant!”

Luna sighed annoyingly and turned around and faced Madame Pomfrey. “Listen, I don't have time for this! Say what you have to say and leave!” she said pointing at the door.

“In a few seconds, you'll regret ever messing with Poppy Melinda Pomfrey! If you had the slightest clue, you would've have done some research on miscarriages. That would've been smart especially since you were planning to fake one. Anyway, let's get this over with. After twenty weeks, a woman CANNOT have a miscarriage!”

All the color drained from Luna's face. Her annoyed look changed and she looked dumbfounded as she tried to process the words that she had just heard. “What? No, that can't be!” she said.

“Oh yes, it be! I know that it's not as diabolical as your little plan, but it works. I can't help but, be curious about your next step. What are you going to do in four months, when everyone will be expecting a little baby to pop out?” asked Poppy laughing to herself.

“You BITCH!” screamed Luna. “You planned this all along! Oh, I'll expose you! You'll be ousted, you'll be laughed out of the magical world, you'll be—” she was cut off by Madame Pomfrey.

“You won't do a thing to me! Because, as soon as I leave this room Argus and I are apparating away!” said Madame Pomfrey before she started cackling loudly. “We already handed in our resignations! So, Luna. I think you have a very simple choice at hand. You can confess or be exposed!” Madame Pomfrey then stood up laughed one more time and then left the room.

From the hall, Luna heard a loud cracking sound. “Oh dear lord, what am I going to do?” she asked herself.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Lucius walked amongst the rest of the guests who were dressed in muggle clothes for the wedding. He had used a polyjuice potion with the hair he'd stole from Justin Finch-Fletchy.

He silently laughed to himself at the crowd's stupidity. He saw aurors all over the place probably looking for the Hogwarts murderer and here he was standing there in the midst of it all.

He was smarter than all of them. He truly was. Who else could've come up with a plan so, damn brilliant. Well it had been more coincidence than planning, but in the end it had all worked out for him anyway, so who cared?

Some would probably say that it all began when he discovered Lovegood's secret, but to be fairly honest, it had all started with Bagman.

Bagman had been evading the ministry for a very long time. He'd taken his family with him and hid out in Ireland. But, his wife couldn't take all the running anymore, so she told the ministry their position. The ministry then arrested Bagman and shipped him off to Azkaban to await trial.

There, he'd been put in a cell right next to Lucius Malfoy. Over time Lucius convinced Ludo that the Dark Force would rise again and when it did, those who'd been loyal during the tough years would be rewarded.

Ludo was released after vowing to repay his debt. Fudge gave him his job back at the Ministry. But, unbeknownst to anyone Ludo was still loyal to Lucius.

After reports of Narcissa's madness, Lucius ordered Ludo to bring Narcissa to Azkaban to switch places with him. Ludo did what his master said including shaving Narcissa's head, for a polyjuice potion that would be used later.

Narcissa and Lucius traded places and Lucius took Narcissa's place at Malfoy manor using the polyjuice potion. That had been in June.

But, in the coming weeks Bagman had started to have second thoughts about helping, which is why Lucius had to kill him! He'd murdered him in cold blood in Diagon Alley.

With Bagman gone, Lucius knew that he needed a new assistant and someone to take the blame for Bagman's death. That, was when he discovered Lovegood's secret. He knew that she was devious enough to help him. So, he transformed himself into Bagman and started harassing Lovegood and Weasley after they left the pub on July thirtieth.

He'd known that Lovegood would follow her natural instincts and kill him, which she did. But, she'd shocked him when she put the memory charm on Weasley. That was when he was sure that he'd picked the right partner. The next day, he'd confronted her when she was alone and told her that he knew her secret. From there he'd used blackmail, threats, and anything else he needed to force her to help him.

Now, she would help him kill the Weasleys, Potter, and the rest of the Order!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Ginny walked through the forest in her dress. It was an hour before the ceremony, but with everyone running around checking on last minute arrangements, she needed a break.

She stopped and breathed all the fresh air in. She was about to take another step when, an outstretched leg tripped her causing her to fall flat on her face.

“Hello, Weasel,” said the person who had tripped her. Ginny looked back and was shocked to find Draco Malfoy staring back at her. He looked cold as ice.

“Draco! What the hell is wrong with you I could've fell!” she screamed getting up dusting her dress off.

“I don't know what's wrong with me. I think I'm mentally sick,” he said as he leaned back against a tree. His demeanor was cold and if anything, he was the exact opposite of what he had been on Christmas Eve.

“Really?” asked Ginny concerned.

“Yeah, it seems that I used to like shagging with filth!” he said.

“What?” asked Ginny confused.

“Yeah, I slept with you and you're the filthiest damn thing that I've ever met, so I guess I do have a medical condition,” he said.

“Draco, how can you say something like that? We love each other!” Ginny said, with a shaky voice.

“No, Weasel. You're in love with me. I can't wait to get away from you! I only wanted you for one thing, sex and I got it. And to really be honest, you weren't that good at it! You should've seen how I scrubbed myself to get rid of your filth after you left! I still don't think that I'm completely clean! You were easy!”

Ginny stood there silently as Draco tore whatever pride, happiness, self-esteem, trusting nature, and naivete, she'd ever owned away from her and left her standing there feeling naked and exposed. Tears slowly rolled down her face ruining her makeup. “Draco, what are you saying?” she asked hurt and confused.

“I'm saying that you disgust me! You think that you were the only girl I was with? Ha! You should've seen the Slytherin girls lining up outside my dorm! They were all sexier, smarter, and way cleaner than you will ever be! You think that I was afraid of my father? You think that's the reason I didn't want anyone to know about us? Well, it wasn't! My father's dead! I just didn't want anyone to know that I was with a red spec of dirt! A flat-chested little tramp, who'd sleep with you, the second that you ask!”

Ginny couldn't stand anymore she let out a wild cry and charged at Draco knocking him down. She then began to scratch his face violently, but Draco pushed her off of him.

“You're every bit of a savage as everyone thinks. You're one piece of trash that wasn't worth my time!” he said and apparated before Ginny could get him again.

Ginny then fell to the ground crying violently.

Once back at the cabin, Draco fell onto his bed hating himself for saying those awful words and ever hurting Ginny. But, he knew that it was for the best. If he didn't do it, Ginny would be killed.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Poppy sighed as she took her seat on her bed at the hotel she was staying at in Diagon Alley, until Argus came to whisk her away.

Telling Luna Lovegood off after months and months of being blackmailed had been so, damn liberating. Poppy now looked forward to days of sunshine in the tropics with the man she loved most.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a loud cracking sound. “Oh, Poppy!” said Argus as he ran toward her with outstretched arms.

“Afternoon, my hunk o'hunk of burning love!” she said giving him a kiss. “What
took you so long?” she asked.

“I just came back from seeing Dumbledore. He thinks that Darkness is back on the rise,” said Argus sadly.

“Oh dear, that man has been through a lot and now he'll have to fight darkness once again. But, at least we'll be safe in the Bahamas!” she squealed excitedly.

“Well actually, I'm not going with you back to Hogwarts, Poppy.”

“What?” she asked in alarm.

“Dumbledore has asked me to return to my post at Hogwarts and assist McGonogall when she takes over and I told him that I would,” said Argus.

“How could you?” asked Poppy.

“Listen, Dumbledore has been very good to me all these years and now in his time of need I'm supposed to run out on him?” asked Argus.

“No, you're not,” said Poppy relenting. “But, what about, Lovegood?”

“I don't know. I guess we'll have to deal with her one day at a time,” said Argus. “So, are you coming back to Hogwarts with me?”

“Yes, I couldn't stand be separated from you. Not now or not ever.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Harry walked out of Ron's room after giving his friend a pep talk and ran dead into Percy. It was thirty minutes until the ceremony.

“Well, hello Percy,” said Harry, trying to be friendly to his least favorite Weasley. But, Percy seemed uncomfortable around Harry.

“Um, hi, um, Harry,” he said stammering.

“Percy, is everything alright? You seem kind of well, fidgety,” said Harry.

“Well, I don't feel quite comfortable around you under the circumstances,” said Percy.

“What circumstances?” asked Harry.

“Hermione hasn't told you?

“Told me what?” asked Harry becoming annoyed.

“Oh dear, isn't this quite the sticky situation. Hermione and I married last July on your birthday. We'd been dating for sometime before that and after you all finished drinking I went to her room and asked her to elope and she agreed. Over the last few months we decided to um, well separate. But, with everything going on, we weren't able to get an annulment. We knew that our marriage could save me from Azkaban, but I didn't want people to know that I'd married an underage witch, so I told her that I would be proven innocent with the evidence given. But, now I see that without our marriage, I'm destined to spend my life in Azkaban, so we're not breaking up,” said Percy.

“WHAT?” asked Harry not believing the words that had just come out of Percy's mouth. Harry pinned Percy against the wall. “You married Hermione?”

“Well, yeah. Harry I know that you two are together now, but Hermione and I were together first, and that's what counts. We are husband and wife in every sense of the word,” Percy said whimpering trying unsuccessfully to unpin himself.

“Are you trying to say that you and Hermione were,” he couldn't finish. “That, you slept together?” asked Harry.

“Yeah. We did what all married couples do on their wedding night. We consummated our marriage,” said Percy. Harry's face turned apple red and his green eyes turned violent.

“You little prick! I am going to rip you limb from limb if you ever lie about my Hermione like that again. I am only sparing your pathetic little life, because you're a Weasley. If you were anyone else, I'd kill you,” Harry said slowly.

Suddenly Hermione ran up the stairs and saw what was happening. “Harry, let him go!” she said. Harry reluctantly let Percy go and Hermione got between them so that Harry wouldn't attack Percy. “What's going on?” she asked.

“Percy is lying about the two of you being married,” said Harry gritting his teeth just itching to beat the snot out of Percy.

Hermione grew silent and looked down at her feet guiltily. Percy looked nervously away.

“Hermione? Say something. Tell me that what Percy said isn't true. Tell me that you two aren't married. Tell me something,” begged Harry his voice cracking in fear that Percy might have been telling the truth.

Hermione looked into Harry's eyes and saw the man she loved. The man who had risked his life to find her a cure to a horrible disease. Then she looked into Percy's eyes and saw a man who was in need of a miracle. A man who would be sent to Azkaban if she didn't help him and if not Azkaban, he would surely be separated from his family. She had to help him.

She looked back at Harry and with tears in her eyes and said, “Harry, it's true! We are… married!”

“What? Hermione how could you do this to me? When were you planning on telling me? At my funeral? On your deathbed?” Harry asked with anger raging inside of him.

“Harry, just let me tell you the whole story,” she pleaded.

“NO! I don't want to ever hear or see you again. I can't believe that you slept with Percy! You know all these years Malfoy has been calling you a slut, maybe he wasn't to far from the truth!” Harry then apparated before Hermione could say anything.

“You told him that we slept together?” asked Hermione in disbelief with tears in her eyes.

“I had to.”

“No, you didn't. You chose to tell him that. Percy I agreed to help you, but I never thought that it would tear Harry and I apart!” she exclaimed.

“I'm sorry. I thought that I was doing the right thing.”

“WELL YOU WEREN'T!” she yelled. “I don't think I will help you if it breaks Harry and I apart.”

“No, Hermione you can't. Without you I'll have to reveal mine and Melissa's marriage and If I do that, the Ministry will kick Melissa out of the magical community!”

Hermione knew that this was true. “Fine. I'll help you. Do you have anything else to spring on me?” she asked dry and sarcastically.

“Well, yeah. Dumbledore didn't suggest using you as my alibi. I thought of it myself,” he said.

“WHAT?”

“It's the right decision. We have a lot in common, people will believe that we're together. I'm a smart person, this solution is smart!” he remarked quickly.

Hermione was so angry that she was shaking. “No, Percy you're not a man at all, you're a worm!”

She was about to turn on her heel and walk away she stopped dead in her tracks and slipped into another seizure and relived her attack.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Ginny picked herself up off of the forest floor she looked at her watch and saw that there was only thirty minutes left until the ceremony.

She walked back to the Burrow, no longer a child, no longer a young naïve girl, but as a woman. She would make Draco Malfoy pay for ever using her.

How could she have ever been so, stupid? He'd been using her the whole time. She thought about all the time that they were together. It seemed a little illogical that he would spend a year with her just to sleep with and use her, but a new thought had occurred to Ginny. Draco could've been using her only to find out things about the Order.

Tears streamed down her face as the memories came back to her. He'd been using her the whole damn time! He'd pay for everything he'd done.

“Hey Malfoy,” she said to herself as she walked through the forest back to the Burrow. “You know that saying about redheads being fiery? Well you ain't seen nothing yet, because I put the itch in BITCH! And when I'm finished with you, you'll wish that you never ever toyed with this bitch's emotions!”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Luna paced back and forth across her room for the umpteenth time wondering what she was going to do. She could fake the pregnancy for at least another four months (The night that she'd first blackmailed Madame Pomfrey, Madame Pomfrey had given her enough pregnancy potions to last her the whole nine months.) The potion only lasted twenty-four hours, so she had to take one every night at midnight so that it would last her the rest of the next day.

Unfortunately, Luna hadn't taken her last night. She'd been to busy getting ready. She hadn't noticed, but her round belly was shrinking by the hour and it was only a few minutes before the ceremony.

But, Madame Pomfrey was the least of Luna's problems. She lived in constant fear that someone would discover her secret. A secret that she'd had long before she'd killed Ludo Bagman. Luna's secret went way back to when she was three years old.

Her parents had split up and she had went to live with her mother, Caroline, while her sister had gone to live with her father.

Caroline took her to a prophet who predicted that the young girl would have a future in the Dark Arts. Fearing the worst, Caroline her away in a school for the criminally insane. And that's where LANA had been for the last thirteen years.

That's right the girl who'd killed Bagman, the girl who'd blackmailed Pomfrey, the girl who'd forced Ron into marriage by faking a pregnancy, the girl who cursed Hermione, was LANA!

Caroline returned to her husband and daughter Luna and told them that Lana had died. She'd taken the secret of Lana's location to her grave.

In June Lana was released from the School, because she'd turned sixteen and was now of age. Lana then followed her sister Luna and became jealous of her life and decided to steal it!

She did. First, by dying her hair blonde, like Luna's. Then by kidnapping Luna and locking her away somewhere. Next, she read Luna's diary and began to impersonate her every move. So, when she arrived in Diagon Alley none of Luna's friends could tell that she was actually LANA! Over time, Lana had actually liked being Luna and eventually she fell in love with Ron.

Everyday Lana lived in fear that Luna would escape from her prison and expose her, or that someone would figure it out.

Lana's thoughts were interrupted when there came a knock on the door. “Come in,” Luna managed to say, but it came out as a pitched squeal.

Mrs. Weasley came into the room holding Luna's bouquet. “Here you go sweetheart,” she said handing her the bouquet. “It's time.”

“Really? I hadn't noticed,” she said trying to make light of the situation.

Mrs. Weasley laughed. “Well, for the sake of time, we're not going to walk all the way down those stairs, we're going to apparate outside.”

“Okay,” said Luna taking a deep breath.

“Actually I apparated up to my room first and came up here. So, are you ready for your big day?” asked Mrs. Weasley.

“Yeah, I'm ready,” Luna said. “As I'll ever be.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Draco apparated back to Malfoy Manor. He couldn't believe what he had said to Ginny. He had hurt her in the worst possible way. It hurt him just thinking about what he'd done.

“You won't get away with this, father,” thought Draco as he marched into his father's study. He would find out what his father was up to and then he would stop him.

There was definitely one thing for sure, Draco knew that his father had an accomplice close to Ginny, Harry, Ron, and Hermione. He had to have an insider.

He'd seen his father with his head in the fire speaking to someone over the floo-network. They were discussing, Harry's schedule and his day-to-day activities.

“You'll pay dad! Ginny Weasley was the only girl I've ever loved and now she hates me! Well, I'm going to make you feel as much pain as Ginny and I feel right now!”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Hermione awoke from her seizure. “THAT BITCH!” she screamed.

“Hermione, are you alright?” asked Percy.

“No! I know who attacked me and gave me colemras and I also know that their lying to one of my best friends!”

“Hermione, the ceremony just started. I'm sure Ron won't mind if you skip out and lie down for a while,” said Percy.

“No! It was Luna! Luna attacked me and gave me colemras!”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Luna(Lana) stood before Minister Fudge and she and Ron had just promised to stay with each other through sickness and health, for richer or for poorer, and to death would they part from each other.

“Is there anyone here, who objects to this union?” asked Fudge.

Luna(Lana) and Ron looked back at the crowd. No one objected.

“Well then, I pronounce you—”

But, Fudge never got the chance to finish his sentence because after he said `you' all hell broke loose.

“WAIT!” screamed Hermione as she ran to the chapel. The crowd looked back in shock at Hermione. “I OBJECT!”

“On what grounds?” asked Fudge as Hermione stood in the middle of the aisle.

“On the ground that Luna Lovegood attacked me and gave me Colemras!” screamed Hermione. The crowd gasped in their seats.

All of the air in Luna's(Lana's) lungs went out, as the words poured from Hermione's mouth. The crowd's heads were doing the swivel motion as they looked back and forth at Hermione and Fudge.

“She's lying!” yelled Luna(Lana).s

“No, I'm not! You attacked me in the corridor! You called me a mud-blood and then you stunned me!” yelled Hermione.

“Is that true, Luna?” asked Ron.

“No, I'd never want to hurt Hermione,” said Luna.

“That is a total lie! You tried to kill me! You're a murder and furthermore a lying bitch!” screamed Hermione.

“What proof do you have that she's a lying bitch?” asked George.

“George!” squealed Mrs. Weasley.

“Other than the fact that she's pressuring Ron into marriage?” asked Hermione.

The crowd gasped again. “What are you talking about, Hermione?” asked Mr. Weasley.

“I think Luna is faking her pregnancy!” yelled Hermione. The crowd gasped.

“I've heard enough! You can't speak to my daughter that way!” yelled Mr. Lovegood standing up.

“I am simply telling the truth!” said Hermione. “And I can prove it!” she yelled and began to run toward Luna(Lana).

The crowd watched in horror as Hermione ran over to Luna(Lana) and tore her dress of exposing her stomach and underwear. The crowd did a collective gasp.

Luna's(Lana's) stomach was still round, but it was very obvious that her stomach was significantly smaller. Instead of five months Luna(Lana) looked more like three months. Luna(Lana) started breathing irregularly.

“Luna, what's wrong with your stomach? Shouldn't it be… bigger?” asked Ron.

Thoughts raced through Luna's(Lana's) mind as she tried to think of an excuse. This was her worst fear coming true. “Think Lana! Think!”” she thought to herself and suddenly, words sputtered out of her mouth in a really fast manner.

“I've been starving myself, to keep my weight down!”

“You're lying!” yelled Hermione determined not to let Luna wring free.

“No, I was afraid that Ron wouldn't want me with all my pregnancy weight,” retorted Luna(Lana).

“Luna, you're the mother of my child. We share a bond that no one can break,” said Ron.

“Oh, Ron,” said Luna(Lana) as she wrapped her arms around him.

“And as for you Hermione, I never want to see you again! As of now, you are permanently banned from the Burrow! So, stay the hell away from me and my family!”

“But—” Hermione started.

“LEAVE!” said Luna(Lana.)

Hermione turned and walked back toward the Burrow.

“Hey, don't bother getting your stuff, we'll send it to you,” said Ron. Hermione looked back at him with tars in her eyes and apparated.

Ron was about to turn and tell Luna to go get redressed, when a woman's screams filled the air. Several more screams followed and people began to run.

“Look!” said Fudge as he pointed to the sky. The remaining crowd looked up and were stunned to see the Dark Mark hovering in the sky above.

The skull's mouth began to move and haunting words poured out. “You defied the powers of darkness and now comes the time for you to pay, Weasleys! The Dark Arts will rise again and this time no one will be able to stop it! You shall pay! Starting now!”

Fire poured from the skull's eyes and mouth and hit the Burrow!

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” screamed Mrs. Weasley as she and her family watched the Burrow burn to the ground, as the skull cackled loudly.

Justin Finch-Fletchy slipped away from the grounds of the Burrow, with a smile on his face.

Author's Note: Sorry it took so long to update, but I was busy and I couldn't figure out a way to write a chapter that lived up to the last chapter. I thought that I'd get a lot of bad reviews to Chapter Eight, but you guys surprised me! It's been a thrill writing this and reading all of your reviews! There will be a few more chapters after this and lots more electrifying shocks. Thanks for all of the magnificent reviews and keep reading! Also, in chapter 2, I said that Pomfrey and Filch had been together for twenty years, but it's actually 35 years! So, without anything further, here's Chapter 9:

After the Storm

It had been three weeks since the wedding and Ginny was still feeling the effects of that horrible, horrible day. So much had happened in so little time and then that damn Daily Prophet had to put the story on their cover the next morning. Seeing the Burrow burning to the ground was more than she could bear. She had been through so much already and to top it all off, she had just learned that her best friend had attacked her soon to be sister-in-law at the wedding.

But the centerpiece to all of Ginny's pain was Draco. He'd hurt her more than anyone or anything else could. A part of her wanted to blame Draco for the house, but he wasn't powerful enough to summon the Dark Mark much less enchant it to talk and burn her house down.

She wished she was younger, so that she could just crawl into her mother's lap and cry all the pain away, but she couldn't. All the ugliness of the world couldn't be taken away, not by her mother or anyone else for that matter.

Another thing that was turning her stomach now, was the fact that Hermione, her best friend was married to Percy. Ginny loved Percy, but he just wasn't right for Hermione. The only person who ever would be right for Hermione was Harry. Sadly, Harry was not speaking to Hermione and neither was Ron.

Ginny didn't blame either of them. Harry had really loved her and she'd lied to him during their whole relationship. In Ron's case, Ron didn't love Luna, but she was carrying a child that he loved. The bottom line was that Luna was a pregnant woman and Hermione had treated her like trash, when she'd exposed her.

Ginny sighed as she thought about her horrible life. Something else was bothering Ginny though. She wouldn't admit to herself or anyone else, but it was really irking her. She hadn't had her period yet. She was late!

This bothered her a lot especially since, she knew that just four short weeks ago, she and Draco had been intimate. She couldn't bring herself to think about it. It was simply impossible!

But in the back of her mind a voice was whispering to her, `You're pregnant!'

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Harry walked calmly around the lake for the third time thinking about Hermione. He was in so much pain. How could she have done this to him? He'd thought that she'd loved him, but that was so hard to believe. He wanted to kill Percy and make the bastard pay and he'd even gone so far as to devise a plan.

Hermione had been an underage witch when they consummated their marriage so technically, Percy had committed statutory rape. But Harry couldn't go forth with the plan, he wasn't that type of person. He'd been through hell imagining their whole sick relationship. It just didn't seem likely that Hermione would be into someone like Percy.

Harry tried to figure out how he could've know someone for six years and not know them at all. He remembered Hermione's eyes back at the Burrow when she'd told him. They'd been full of hurt, pain, and guilt. Those eyes had haunted him for the last three weeks.

He then thought about the Burrow. He hadn't actually seen it go up in flames, because he'd gotten his stuff and left. (After he disapparated from Hermione and Percy, he apparated to Ron's room got his stuff and then reapparated.) The Weasleys on the other hand, had watched their house and all of their valuables burn to the ground.

After the fire, Moody had quickly tracked Harry down to the muggle hotel in London and told him what had happened. Harry suggested that the family move to the hotel that he was staying at. After all, whoever was after them, wouldn't suspect them to stay at a muggle hotel.

There had been some initial fears that Hermione, could've died in the fire, until Tonks had tracked her back down to her parent's house and told her the news.

Upon hearing the news, Percy took it upon himself to tell his family that he and Hermione were married. At that point Harry had wanted to smack that stupid little grin off of Percy's face. The wedding had been postponed until the culprit was found.

Here, Harry was now, three weeks later, walking around the lake and lost in thoughts. He was shaken out of his thoughts by the sound of Luna's voice.

“Hi, Harry,” she said pleasantly.

“Hi, Luna. What's up?” he asked not really caring.

“Oh nothing, I'm just out for a little walk and some fresh air. You?” she asked sweetly.

“The same,” lied Harry.

“Listen Harry, I need to talk to you about something,” said Luna (Lana).

“What?” asked Harry.

“Well, you've heard about my wedding fiasco,” she breathed deeply. “You haven't been quite as warm to me since you heard about what Hermione did to me. Why is that?”

“I don't Luna, it's just that-” began Harry before pausing.

“It's just what?” asked Luna (Lana), angry and annoyance appearing in her voice.

“Well, Hermione wouldn't lie on someone. It's just not her. It seems odd that she would make up a reason just to attack you,” said Harry being honest.

“Well, she lied to you, didn't she?” asked Lana being cruel.

Harry looked away. “That's different. She lied to me because she didn't want to hurt me. I don't see any reason for her to have attacked you.”

“Neither do I! But, the fact is, that she did!” said Lana fiercely. `And the bitch will pay for it! Because I'm going to take away the one thing that want most in this world! Harry'” thought Lana.

“I just don't see why she would do it, unless it was a side-effect of the cure,” said Harry.

“What exactly are you trying to say, harry?” asked Lana.

“I believe Hermione. In all of the years that I've known her, she's never attacked anyone without a reason!” said Harry.

In blind fury Lana whipped her sister's wand out of her robes, (she'd stolen Luna's wand when she'd stolen her identity) and began to mutter some sort of poem.

Harry didn't know what was going on. All of a sudden a bright light shot out of her wand and hit Harry in the chest. Unknown to Harry but she'd cast a broken hearts spell on him, which made a lover bitter to their ex. Except, Lana had multiplied the ingredients and at this point Harry wouldn't be able to stand the sight of Hermione.

Harry fell to the ground wreathing in pain. “What have you done to me?” he asked, as his heart started to beat faster and faster until it felt as if it had done miniature explosion. Harry passed out from all the pain and didn't hear Lana's answer.

“I've given you a broken heart,” she said nastily and walked off back to the castle leaving Harry laying there unconscious next to the lake.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Ginny sat in the hospital wing anxiously awaiting Madame Pomfrey who had just done a pregnancy test on her. She'd been gone for at least thirty minutes and Ginny was now worried.

She had decided to come to see if she was actually pregnant after feeling nausea and throwing up. She tried to think about what she'd do if she was pregnant.

Like how she would tell her parents. Or how she would explain it to Draco. She felt a pang in her chest. It hurt thinking of Draco. She didn't know what to do. She was only sixteen for Merlin's sake!

Just then, Madame Pomfrey stalked into the examination room.

Ginny was shaking in anticipation of the results. Madame Pomfrey walked over to her and looked her straight in the eyes. Ginny tried to read her face, but there was no expression.

“M-mm Madam Pomfrey,” she stuttered. “Am I pregnant?” asked Ginny feeling as if it were the biggest question she'd ever asked.

Madame Pomfrey inhaled deeply and said, “Yes, you are pregnant.”

Ginny burst into tears. Madame Pomfrey took a seat beside Ginny on the bed and took her into her arms. “It's okay, it's not the end of the world, sweetie,” she said. “It's quite the opposite. It's the beginning of a new life for you and your child and the father of course.”

At those words Ginny was once again forced thinking of Draco. Ginny wouldn't force her child to be raised by that egotistical maniac! He didn't deserve to be apart of their child's life. As far as she was now concerned, it was hers and hers along! “I don't want him apart of this child's life!” said Ginny through tears.

“So, you've decided to keep the baby?” asked Madame Pomfrey.

“Of course, I could never give something that's apart of me up and as for that muggle abortion-thingy, that's out of the line!” said Ginny.

“Well, as your healer, I suggest that you tell your parents. I can't tell them, because it would be violating healer-patient confidentiality. But, I want you to know that I will be here for you if you need a hand or just a shoulder to cry on,” said Madame Pomfrey. Ginny looked at the woman in a new light.

“Thank you, Madame Pomfrey,” she said.

“You're welcome. I have to go and check on some of the other patients,” she said before leaving.

Ginny sat there on that bed thinking about what she was going to do. Madame Pomfrey was right, this was the beginning of a new life for her. She owed to herself and her baby to make a clean slate and the first thing she knew she had to do, was get rid of Draco Malfoy.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Unknown to Ginny, Lucius had overheard the whole conversation. He knew that she was pregnant with Draco's child.

He shuddered to think what the other pureblood families would think once they discovered that Draco had fathered Virginia Weasley's child.

He felt sick as he thought of what his father would say. As a reflex Lucius flinched as he thought of how his father had physically abused him every time he had done something wrong. Or the first time that Alistar had found out that Lucius had been pining after a certain mud-blood named Lily Evans. He'd smacked him around for hours.

Lucius knew that no one could ever know that Draco was the father of Ginny's baby. He wasn't going to kill the child, only because the child was half Malfoy, but he knew he had to get rid of it somehow. As for Ginny, as long as she carried that secret she was safe, the minute she opened her mouth she was dead.

Lucius laughed to himself and thought, “The girl's a walking explosion, just waiting to happen! And she has no idea.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Madame Pomfrey peered out of the window from her room above the Hog's Head Inn. It was midnight and she was waiting for someone special.

She'd slipped Argus a note while he'd been mopping the hospital wing. Ginny'd had an enormous effect on her. When Ginny had told her that she was going to keep her baby's father out of the loop, Poppy had flashback to when she'd been pregnant and had kept Argus out of the loop.

She'd kept the burden of lying about their son, for years and now it was time for her to say something. In one moment all of those memories had flooded back into her head at full-force. She thought of the many times that Argus had wanted a child and she'd lied and told him that she was barren.

The door in the room opened and Argus Filch appeared soaked and wet holding two mugs of butterbeer.

“Hi, there beautiful!” he said with a big toothy grin on his face.

“Hello, Argus,” responded Poppy in a less than enthusiastic tone.

“What's the matter sweetheart?” asked Argus taking a seat on the bed beside her noticing her tone of voice and the expression on her face.

“Argus, today I did a pregnancy test on a student at Hogwarts.”

“So? You do pregnancy test all of the time,” said Argus.

“This one hit very close to home, because the mother decided not to let the father know about the child,” she said hoping that he would take the hint.

“I'm sorry, love, but I'm drawing a blank on this one,” said Argus.

“Well, you're certainly not making this any easier for me,” she said as her voice began to crack. “Argus, years ago I became pregnant with your child!”

“WHAT?” Argus exclaimed jumping up in alarm. “But, you're barren!”

Poppy shook her head no as tears rolled down her face. “I've been lying all these years. I'm not barren! I just didn't want children! I'm so sorry!”

“You've been lying to me all these years?” asked Argus.

“I'm so sorry! I never wanted hurt you!”

Argus took a deep breath and calmed down. “When were you pregnant?”

“It was all those years ago when I went away from Hogwarts,” she said.

“So, that's why you left. You didn't tell me anything at all and now, all of these years later I finally find out. How could you? You've known all these years how much I've wanted a child!” he screamed. “So, where is it?”

“It was a boy,” said Poppy putting an emphasis on the `it.'

“I have a son running around out there in the world?” asked Argus.

“No, he died shortly after I gave birth.”

“Can I see the body?” asked Argus.

“Yes, I owe you that much,” said Poppy looking away from Argus out of guilt.

“No Poppy, you owe me much more than that, but you can start making amends by doing that.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

It was a starry Saturday night as Draco skulked around Malfoy Manor. He had to find out who was helping his father. So far he'd been searching for an hour and he hadn't found anything.

Finally, he entered his father's office. Which was more like a mini library because on all four walls were bookshelves. He walked over to his father's desk and began looking through drawers. He did that for about thirty minutes and found nothing. He stepped back from behind the desk and bumped into the bookshelf.

A single thick red book fell onto the floor. Draco picked it up and out of curiosity began to skim through it. Halfway through the book, the pages became blank.

Draco touched the book with his wand and said `appear.' Suddenly, the empty pages filled with millions of words. Draco then read detailed plans of Lucius Malfoy's avenge of the Dark Lord's death.

He then came to a page that he skimmed briefly, but couldn't help but noticing the name Lovegood on the page several times.

So Draco reread the page slowly and was shocked to find just the thing he was looking for. He slammed the book shut and shoved it back on the shelf. He then stood there in that dark room in disbelief. Thinking the same words over and over:

Luna Lovegood is helping my father avenge the Dark Lord's death.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Meanwhile, Lana was sneaking into the forest to meet Lucius. She finally arrived at the clearing and saw Lucius.

“You're late, Lana,” he said in a voice that chilled her to her very soul.

“I had to wait until my roommates were asleep,” she said.

“Next time cast an invisibility charm on yourself. You kept me waiting, which is something I don't take kindly,” said Lucius.

“I'm sorry, sir,” said Lana.

“Yes, of course. Now, why have you called me here?” asked Lucius.

“Well as you know, that bitch Madame Pomfrey double crossed me,” said Lana.

“Yes, I am aware of that,” said Lucius quite bored.

“Well, because of her, in four months everyone is going to expect a baby to pop out of me and when I don't they'll figure out that I'm not pregnant!”

“I fail to see what I have to do with this,” said Lucius.

“You have to help me!” squealed Lana.

“No, I don't. I never told you to lie to Weasley. I would have actually preferred if you'd have let him go,” said Lucius.

“Well, I couldn't! I love, Ron! I need a baby and I need one quickly!”

At that moment, a thought popped into Lucius's mind. `Wait a minute! Ginny Weasley is pregnant! If I give Lana her baby, then no one would ever know that Ginny's baby is a Malfoy!'

“Fine, if you won't help me then I'll do it myself!” said Lana as she turned to walk away.

“Wait!” said Lucius. “Coincidentally, there actually is another girl pregnant at Hogwarts!”

Lana stopped dead in her tracks and turned around to face Lucius. “Really?”

“Yes, except she's due in September.”

“Well, then she's no help to me at all then is she?” asked Lana.

“Not to worry. There are potions that can speed up pregnancies.”

“Really?”

“Yes, there are,” said Lucius delighted that he could get rid of his dirty bastard grandchild.

“So, who's the mother?” asked Lana.

“Ginny Weasley.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

At that present moment Ginny was sitting in her new dorm (they'd moved her and her roommates after Antoinette's murder) talking to Hermione.

“So, how are you feeling?” asked Ginny.

“I don't know. How would you feel if you were the social outcast of the whole school?” asked Hermione.

“Hermione, sooner or later people will start back talking to you,” said Ginny.

“Yeah right, as soon as soon as a muggle becomes the Prime Minister of Magic!” remarked Hermione hopelessly, as she got up off the bed folded her arms across her chest and walked over to the window.

“Hermione, that's not true. People will talk to you sooner or later,” said Ginny reassuringly, as she followed her friend to the window.

“Yeah right! No one wants to talk to me!”

“I'm talking to you,” said Ginny.

“Yeah, why is that? I ruined your brother's wedding.”

“Well, to be honest, I'm starting to not like Luna. She hasn't been exactly honest with Ron. I'm right behind you on that one, but with Harry,” began Ginny.

“You think I was wrong for doing what I did for Harry,” finished Hermione.

“Well Hermione, you did let him fall in love with you and conveniently forgot to tell him the truth!” said Ginny telling her friend the honest truth, without trying to brutal.

Hermione did a short dry laugh. “The truth? That would save Harry, but it wouldn't save Percy,” Hermione said quietly to herself, but Ginny heard her.

“What is that supposed to mean?' asked Ginny.

“Nothing, nothing,” repeated Hermione nervously, as she turned away from the window and her friend.

“I think there is. I think that you're hiding something that can save you and Harry all of this pain,” said Ginny.

“There isn't and if there was, I wouldn't tell you.”

“Well, I'm the only damn friend you have left, Hermione. And if you can't trust me, then who can you trust?”

“Fine,” said Hermione as she took a seat on the bed. She then told Ginny the whole story.

“So, Percy is behind all of this?” asked Ginny when Hermione was finally done.

“Yeah. So what do you think I should do?” asked Hermione. “Because either way someone loses. If I go to Harry then Percy goes to Azkaban.”

“Well, you are my brother's only chance, but I still think that you should tell Harry.”

“What?” asked Hermione in shock.

“Listen, I'm not saying that you should abandon Percy, but I'm sure if you tell Harry what's going on, he'll understand,” said Ginny.

“But, Percy said that the few people who know, the better everything will be,” said Hermione.

“Well, excuse my French, but Percy isn't in any fucking position to give orders at this point! Now, go out there and get your man and jump his bones!” said Ginny.

Hermione grinned widely. She then ran over to Ginny and hugged her tightly. “Oh, thanks!”

She then headed towards the door, but stopped just before opening it. She turned around and faced Ginny. “You should really take your own advice and go get you a man! I haven't seen you with one in a while!” She then opened the door and left.

Ginny sat there thinking, `Yeah, I already had a man and he used me and then knocked me up! Now, it's time that I made him pay!”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Luna (Lana) closed her Herbology book and begin to gather her books and out them in her bag. She had several books spread across her table, one of which was her diary.

As Luna (Lana) put her books away, she had no idea that she had been followed into the library or that at that very moment she was being watched intently.

The bell sounded, telling the student of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry that lunch was over and that it was time to go to class.

Luna (Lana) hurried to put her things away and in her efforts, she left a book on her table. Without realizing that she'd left the book, Luna (Lana) walked nonchalantly out of the library without looking back.

Once that he was sure that she was gone, Draco Malfoy skulked over to the table that Luna (Lana) had been sitting at and picked up the book. He'd been following her, every since he'd found out that she was helping his father. So far he hadn't found any information that could support that she was working for Lucius.

Draco read the cover of the book and realized that he'd finally found all the answers that he needed, because the book was titled:

Luna Lovegood's Diary!

Property of Luna!

Draco had hit the jackpot!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Hermione had searched for an hour and she still hadn't found Harry. She had just left Hargrid's when she spotted him sitting under the branches of the big tree by the lake.

She hurried over to him. “Harry! I've been looking for you all over the place!” she said stopping to catch her breath.

“I know, I've been avoiding you. I was hoping you'd called off your damn search by now,” he said coolly without looking up from his book.

“Harry listen, I'm sorry, I don't know what else to say!” said Hermione.

“Wow, she's sorry!” Harry said mocking her. “Yeah, that's supposed to fix everything she's done,” he said coolly without looking up. “WELL IT DOESN'T!” he said angrily.

“Listen, Harry you don't have the whole story!” said Hermione.

“Oh, so there's more to what you and the jolly red giant, told me? If it's anything like your last piece of information, then I can't wait to hear it!” he said sarcastically.

“Harry! Don't act like this! Please, just give me a chance!” screamed Hermione.

“GIVE YOU A CHANCE? You have the gall to ask me that after what you did? Last time I gave you a chance, I laid my heart out on the line and you stomped all over it!”

“Harry, I lied! Just let me explain!” she pleaded.

Harry remained quietly, only because he was interested in what else Hermione had lied about.

“Thank you for giving me a chance.”

Harry nodded, feeling that if he said anything all the hurt and pain would burst out of him and he'd possibly hurt Hermione.

“Harry, I lied about being married to Percy! He needed an alibi and we both thought that it would be best if his alibi was to have been marrying me, when Ludo was murdered!” she said feeling as if a huge weight had been lifted off her.

“So you lied to me in order to save Percy?” asked Harry. Luna's (Lana's) charm was kicking in. “You stupid bitch! How could you pick pencil-neck Percy over me? So what, you're supposed to tell me this and I'm supposed to run back into your arms? Fuck that! I told you back at the Burrow before it burned down; don't speak to me ever again! I hate you! You're lower than dirt to me! I hope you burn in hell for all of the lies that you've told!”

“Harry, please down say things like that,” pleaded Hermione as tears streamed down her face.

“Oh, am I supposed to feel bad, because I hurt your feelings?” asked Harry as he gathered his things from off the ground and shoved them in the bag. “Well, I don't!” he said as he finished and stood up.

“I'm sorry!”

“Well, I don't give a fuck!” he said. He then walked over to her until there was as little as an inch between their faces. “I can't stand you!” he whispered coldly. He then walked back up to the castle as fast as he could and somewhere, Lana Lovegood was smiling because she had succeeded in taking away what was most important to Hermione, Harry.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Lana was now walking into the library. She'd just come from seeing Lucius and he'd given her something that would solve her problems. He'd given her a `Tanisha Potion'. The `Tanisha Potion' speeded up pregnancies, but it had to be just the right dose given at just the right time for it to work. She'd mixed the potion with some pumpkin juice.

She stood at the entrance looking around until she saw the girl that she was looking for, Ginny Weasley.

She then stalked over to Ginny's table and took a seat across from her.

“Good afternoon, Gin',” said Luna (Lana) in a friendly tone.

“Hello Luna,” said Ginny.

“Well, I noticed that my sister-in-law-to-be wasn't at lunch and I decided to bring her something to eat and drink,” said Luna (Lana) trying to be as friendly as possible.

“Well, Luna that's really okay. I'm not that hungry, really. Thanks, but I really need to study.”

“Well, I'll just leave the food here, just in case.”

“No, I'm really not hungry,” said Ginny wishing that Luna would leave. “And besides food isn't allowed in here

“So? You need to eat! I didn't want to say anything, but a few months ago, you really did lose a lot of weight, when had you stopped eating!”

“You know about that?” asked Ginny bewildered that more people than Harry had realized that she'd been on the verge of being bulimic.

“Yeah, I do. I was worried about you, but I was a little busy with my own problems,” answered Luna (Lana). While in actuality, Lana had looked through Madame Pomfrey's files.

“Well, thanks for your concern, but I'm fine.”

“Okay, but I'm going to leave the food here in this bag just in case. Oh, and the pumpkin juice is delicious!” Luna (Lana) said before she grabbed her things and left.

The food and juice sat on the table in a duffel bag before Ginny's instincts got the best of her. She knew that she needed to eat, if she wanted her child to be healthy. Therefore, she grabbed the bag and began to eat. When she finished, she drank the pumpkin juice right down to the last drop, not even realizing that with every sip she took, was one-step closer to Lana taking her child.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Draco read the last page of the diary with writing on it and then closed it. He had never been more shocked in his whole entire life.

He had read the diary from cover to the last page with writing. It has started when Luna was fourteen. But towards the middle of the diary, he noticed a change in penmanship and personality. Then a few entries later Lana had revealed herself and what she'd done. After that Draco had read Lana's thoughts, hopes, and dreams.

Draco now knew that Luna was actually Lana, who was faking her pregnancy to trap Ron into marriage, who was assisting his father, and who had help Lucius attack Hermione. Draco now knew more than ever, that he had to disobey his father. He knew that Lana was the key to destroying Lucius.

He got up and decided to owl Ginny. She was the only person who would believe him. Sadly he had no idea that Ginny was also on her way to the Owlery to send him a letter. But Ginny wasn't planning on sending him a nice cutesy letter, she was planning on sending him a letter to meet her somewhere. And when Draco arrived, she would destroy him.

“You're going down, Lana Lovegood!” said Draco as he walked to the Owlery. Sadly he couldn't have known that he was the one who would be going down very, very, very, soon.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Ginny had just tied the letter to Pigwidgeon's leg when Draco walked into the owlery.

“Ginny!” he said shocked to see her.

Ginny turned suddenly to see the man that she despised most in the world. “DRACO!” she hissed through clutched teeth. She turned and untied the letter from Pig's leg. “Look's like I won't need to send you this,” she said crumbling up the letter.

“Look's like we still have that unspoken connection, huh?” asked Draco.

“What connection? What we? As far as I'm concerned `we' never existed,” she said coldly, putting an emphasis on the we.

“Listen, Gin' I'm sorry about the things I said, but there's something more important than us right now! There—” he started but was cut off by Ginny.

“More important, than you breaking my heart?” asked Ginny. “And, now you try to pretend that you didn't use me? You lowdown, son-of-a-bitch!” she screamed. Draco ran over to her and tried to calm her down, but she pushed him away. “DON'T TOUCH ME!”

“Ginny! Please, it has to do with murderer here at Hogwarts and Luna,” said Draco.

“Stop it! How can you stand there and lie? You're sick! That's why I'll never let you near `MY' child!” she said.

Draco stopped talking as Ginny's words sank in. “Child?” he asked. “You're pregnant?”

“Yes, I am. Remember Christmas night? But that's right, you wouldn't because you've had girls lined up outside your dormitory so, you wouldn't be able to remember one disgusting night with the horrible, Ginny Weasel!” she said.

“Ginny, you're pregnant? That's wonderful news!”

“Yes, for me it is. Because, as I said I won't let you touch my child!” she said.

“Ginny, there's more important things, going on! Like the fact that, Luna Lovegood's in trouble!” he yelled.

“STOP IT! You don't deserve to live! You're an evil, sick, twisted, lying s-o-b! I should kill you, but I'm only going to spare your life as a favor to my unborn child,” said Ginny as she raised her wand to Draco's chest.

“Ginny, what are you talking about?”

“You said that, you only wanted me to use me! You punished me and made me feel like some kind of slut! Now, it's your time to pay! You said that every second you spent with me was hell on Earth, well, I'd hate for you'd have to relive those seconds!” said Ginny nastily.

Draco wondered what she was going to do to him. He then felt sorry, that he'd left his wand back in his dorm. “What are you going to do, to me?” asked Draco. Unfortunately, Draco didn't realize that he had all the proof he needed to stop Ginny in his robes, Luna and Lana's diary.

“Take away those awful memories,” she said as tears strolled down her face.

Draco wanted to ask what Ginny had meant, but he never got the chance to, because Ginny had began to chant something and his head began to spend.

It was then that Draco, realized what Ginny was doing. She was taking away every memory that he had ever had of their entire, relationship.