CHAPTER 12

Hermione stared at Everett in complete disbelief. Did he just tell them to carry on as if he wasn't standing in Draco's kitchen perving on them?

"Get out!" Hermione screeched.

"Yes, get out before I remove you," Draco said in an ice cold tone of voice. "By force, in case that wasn't clear for someone as dense as you."

"I cannot leave, I am here to observe your relationship on behalf of the Ministry."

"So you've said," Draco said his eyes hardening. "However, as you can see we are in the middle of something private."

"This is in complete violation of Ministry policy."

"Impossible as I am acting on their behalf," Everett's smile was cold and simpering, it reminded her unpleasantly of Umbridge. "I am designated to following you for eight hours after work to ensure the legitimacy of this relationship."

"Then we will be filing a legitimate complaint with Kingsley Shacklebolt, you know the Minister for Magic," Hermione said tersely making sure to emphasize the word 'legitimate'.

"You are free to do so," Everett replied still placidly calm.

"And I have already filed a complaint with Blaise Zabini from the Legislative Department," Draco said with a cold smile. "And if you don't leave immediately, I will call him here to tell you precisely how many Ministry laws you are violating."

Hermione's hand twitched to hex that smug smile from his face. Draco seemed to be struggling with the same urge as he clenched and unclenched his fist.

"We will," Hermione said curtly turning her nose up.

"Excellent. Do let me know how that goes," Everett said with insufferable smugness.

"That does it," Draco snapped.

Draco withdrew his wand and for a brief moment, Hermione was convinced he was going to do something stupid. Except all, he did was cast a spell to send a message to Blaise.

A few moments later, Blaise Disapparated in her kitchen. He wore sweeping green robes, but his hair was ruffled and the top few buttons of his robes were undone.

"What the bloody hell Draco? This had best be important as I was in the middle of something."

Draco looked as if he was repressing a smile, Hermione noticed. She blushed when she realized what Zabini had in all likelihood been doing.

"Oh dear," Hermione mumbled, cheeks scalding.

"Who are you?" Zabini drawled, his eyes raked over Everett with cool indifference.

"I am here on behalf of the Ministry," Everett said, puffing out his chest.

"He Apparated into Hermione's home uninvited after flooing in most recently," Draco explained. "Again without invitation and he refuses to leave."

"Ah, yes, the Ministry problem you were telling me about," Zabini said buttoning his robes. "Unfortunately, unless his boss recalls him, he is entitled to stay until the formal complaint has been reviewed."

Hermione cursed. "That is entirely unacceptable! There has to be a better use of the Ministry's resources!"

"I agree," Zabini said with a look of disgust at Everett. "However, that is the law and there is nothing I can do about it. Other than rush the complaint."

"And I will speak with Kingsley Shacklebolt."

"Oooh scary," Everett mocked and fake shuddered.

Hermione's eyes narrowed and she imagined casting bombardo right where he was standing. But that was a dark thought and she shoved it aside, quickly. She did not approve of attacking Ministry employees, no matter how much they might deserve it.

"I should get going. I have company," Blaise smirked.

With a crack, he left. Hermione glowered at Everett and saw Draco was watching him with a murderous expression. It was a cold hard mask, the same one he used to wear when he bullied back at Hogwarts. One that had gradually disappeared during the war and she found, she didn't like seeing it on him now.

"Let's go before I do something rash," Draco said in a low voice to her.

"Bedroom?" she asked then blushed when she realized what she had said.

It was her idea to take things slow yet it seemed like whenever they were together, she forgot and it was up to Draco to put the brakes on.

"Good idea," Draco said, but his expression held none of the lust from minutes ago.

Draco took her hand and led her toward the bedroom. He slammed the door shut and immediately whipped out his wand. Hermione looked at his bookshelf while he cast numerous spells to keep Everett from eavesdropping on them.

The bookshelf was the only personal items he had in the bedroom. In fact, it was the only personal thing about his home in Northern Ireland. His Church house was different, there were the occasional personal items, but it was stark. This place however, nice it was, was painfully bare. His room especially no photographs, scattered clothing or any knick-knacks that indicated an actual human being lived here.

But the bookshelf - oh the bookshelf, Hermione thought with a sigh. Her eyes roamed the familiar titles hungrily. Hogwarts a History, A Magical Analysis of Wandlore, Tales of the Beetle Bard and other titles she had read over the years. Looking at them here in Draco's bedroom, it was like running into old friends in an unexpected place. Yet she supposed she shouldn't have been surprised.

Draco was second only to her in grades at Hogwarts. It wasn't something she had ever given much thought to. She had known he was a talented wizard, but she had tried not to think about it because she found it irritating. Therefore, if she thought of it logically then it followed he was a reader. And the truth was, she had judged his intelligence based on his friends and she had assumed if he could keep the company of Crabbe and Goyle without going mental at their lack of communication skills then he couldn't be all that smart himself. It was probably, for a lot of the same reasons that Harry had a hard time admitting Draco was actually a talented Seeker.

She had been so engrossed in studying his bookcase and her own thoughts she didn't notice he had snuck up behind her until he had. His arms encircled her stomach and he put his head on her shoulder.

She sunk into his warm embrace, enjoying how tall and fit he was. She could feel his muscles tightening when he gave her a playful squeeze that made her smile.

"Should have known sooner or later I'd find you over here with the books."

Embarrassed by her bookish ways, she blushed and pressed her face into the crook of his neck. It was something everyone teased her about in school, maybe not outright but the nickname know-it-all had stung. It wasn't as if she did anything others couldn't do if only they applied themselves as she had frequently told Harry and Ron.

Not that they had ever listened.

"You have all the best books in your collection."

"I do?" he sounded surprised. "I just brought my favorites with me. I've a library back in England twice this size."

Oh, that was a sinfully good sentence. It was probably about the hottest thing he could have said. She pressed herself closer, nuzzling his neck. She could feel a raging fire begin to course through her and her core ached. She felt feverish and wanted nothing more than to press her lips to his and tear off his clothes.

"We like the same books," she murmured placing a soft kiss to his pulse line. She could feel it when his heart skipped a beat. "Have you actually read Hogwarts a History?"

"Of course, I have," he snorted derisively. "You must have as well?"

"It's one of my favorites," she turned around and wrapped her arms around his waist. "I don't know anyone else, who has read it."

Harry and Ron certainly hadn't ever bothered to read it themselves. Instead, they preferred to rely on her knowledge of the topic.

"Now you do," he winked at her.

The fever inside of her demanded she stop talking and kiss him, but her intellectual curiosity got the better of her.

"What was your favorite part?"

"You're adorable when you're bookish," he murmured. He tucked a lock of her hair behind her hair, his fingers lingered. "But I'd rather you put that giant brain of yours to other uses right now."

Hermione frowned. That wasn't sexy talk or book talk.

"How do you mean?"

"Getting rid of that Everett prat," he said sending a scowl toward the door.

Hermione wondered if he was still out there and heaved a frustrated sigh.

"That's tomorrow's problem."

Back at Hogwarts, she would have sent an owl to Kingsley immediately to schedule a meeting. However, since those days she had changed her ways. She was older and more tired. She felt like all she did was fight an uphill battle and things that once seemed urgent had lost their fire. She knew they were important, but she also knew it could wait until tomorrow. She was supposed to meet Kingsley for lunch in a few days anyway. And until then, they could ignore Everett.

"Perhaps tonight's, if I just confund him or something."

"Draco," Hermione cautioned moving away to look up at him. "Don't you dare! The Ministry will know what you did! You'll go to Azkaban."

"It's really not so terrible without the Dementors."

"Draco, no!" she said firmly feeling herself become hysterical.

She couldn't stand the idea of him in Azkaban. Didn't he see she cared? Didn't he care about her at all? Was he willing to leave her alone and who knew what that meant for her with this new law? Although logically, she knew it would mean nothing good.

"Relax, sweetheart," he pulled her back to him and kissed her forehead. "I won't. I don't want to rot away in Azkaban and leave you all alone."

Had he read her mind? No, she would have known if he had attempted Legilimency on her. Still, she searched his grey eyes looking for any sign that he had read her mind. He smoothed the worried crease in her forehead.

"Relax, I'm not going anywhere. I promise," he repeated.

"I'll hold you to that," she said and meant it.

Draco kissed her. It was slower and softer than it had been in the kitchen. His kiss turned her insides to mush.

She wrapped her fingers into his hair. Enjoying how the soft silky tresses. He started walking her back to the bed and her legs hit the bedframe. She sunk back onto it and Draco lay down on top of her.

He kissed his way down her neck. She arched her back to give him access and before her rational mind could catch up to her actions, she was pulling his robes off. Draco must have changed his mind about taking things slow because he started to undress her as well.

Their kisses grew more heated and Hermione found herself trying to touch every part of him as she undressed him. Draco hands skimmed her entire body and heat coursed through her as she felt his hands undo her robes.

Before she quite knew what had happened, she was down to her underwear and so was Draco. His hand cupped her breast, massaging it and she moaned. His movements became firmer and surer, and noises kept escaping her lips. Noises that she didn't recognize as coming from her.

Draco began to kiss his way down her throat and then her chest. When he started to kiss his way down her stomach and lower, she came back to her senses.

"Draco," she murmured tugging on his hair. "Draco, we should stop."

"We should," he chuckled against her stomach and his breath fanned across her smooth skin. She shivered in response and sighed in frustration. "You are absolutely right."

"Draco," she hit his shoulder playfully. "If we're going to stop, you should probably move."

"Probably," he agreed and rolled off her.

She giggled at the look of exasperation on his face. She was sure it was mirrored on her own face. She felt a sudden sense of loss and frustration because she wanted nothing more than to continue what they had been doing. But they had only been going out properly for a couple of weeks and in that time they had grown closer. If they took things further now, it could ruin everything.

Hermione got under the covers and it wasn't long before Draco followed her under. He pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her head. His hand smoothed out her curls and she wrapped her arms around him. She put her head on his bare shoulder and a thrill went through her. She could feel his warm skin against her and she ran her fingers playfully along his chest.

Draco caught the hand that was playing against his skin. He kissed each fingertip and a sigh escaped her, making her blush in embarrassment. He turned her hand over and kissed the inside of her palm and the back of her hand. Then he laced their fingers together and they came to rest on his chest, just above his heart.

"When do you go on your girl trip?"

"In a week," she grinned.

Just the thought of relaxing with her friends and being away from all of the drama. As well as the people sending them hate post, it was like a dream. She could just picture all of her stress vanishing on a beach with a good book and at the spa.

Oh, just the thought of a magical spa was enough to make her toes curls. She had been once in the past with Ginny and it had put Muggle spas to shame. And right now, it sounded perfect. Exception maybe snuggling with Draco. That felt amazing too even if it was starting to frustrate her.

"Want to go on holiday with me sometime this summer?"

The question caught her off guard, she hadn't been prepared for that. She had been prepared for questions about her trip and when she was coming back. Not this, it felt somehow like a bigger step than getting engaged had done. Yet she knew logically that was insane. Most couples went on a holiday together before they got engaged. Must be a sign of the times.

"That could be nice," she frowned. "But I'm not certain I have anymore, holidays left at work. I took some to go to your Quidditch match, then some for this trip and I have to take a week for the wedding in advance to help with all of the planning. Pity we smashed all of the Time Turners when we were at the Department of Mysteries," she sighed.

Draco snorted. "Of course your solution when you have too much to do is a Time Turner rather than to hire extra help."

"Excuse me if I don't have a family fortune and a Quidditch fortune to let me hire someone for every little inconvenience."

"Ouch," he chuckled. "However, I doubt you will have to take a week off for the wedding. I'm certain mother has hired the best wedding planners."

"She has hired an army of people, but I want to have a say in what happens."

"If that's what you want," he kissed the top of her head.

"You on the other hand seem completely unconcerned with the spectacle your mother is trying to arrange. I am attempting to keep things small, you could help with that," she said with a pointed look.

"I've told my mother we want a small wedding."

She rolled her eyes. "Too bad, you're going cake tasting with me and your mother."

"I am?" Draco sounded alarmed.

"Yes, we need a peacekeeper."

"Very well," he sighed as if it was some great effort, which made her roll her eyes again.

"You are such a baby," she told him and poked his side. "It's cake tasting there is literally going to be cake. How bad can it be?"

"True," he chuckled.

"And you have to come dress shopping with us. For the same reasons."

Draco swore. "I think that will be even worse than cake tasting. However, I will go to ensure that my mother and you do not hex each other into tiny pieces."

Hermione sighed. "But perhaps we can go on away on the weekend this summer." Then something occurred to her and she sat up straight to look at him. "Wait - this holiday, is it about bringing my parents back?"

"Perhaps," Draco said with a grimace.

"Not again, I'm not certain it's a good idea. I sent them packing years ago and I never came back for them. I doubt they will be able to forgive me."

Draco rolled his eyes. "We've been over this. They are your parents."

"And I'm not certain."

"Very well. A weekend getaway could be fun. We could go to Italy?"

"I've always wanted to go to Italy. I don't travel much with work."

"That's because you're always working late, Hermione."

He raised her hand to his lips and gave the back of it a chaste kiss. She snuggled closer.

XXX

Tuesday of that week and Hermione met Kingsley Shacklebolt for lunch at the Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley. Tom the barkeep served them a piping hot lunch of minced pie and butterbeer on the house.

"A little congratulations on your upcoming wedding, Hermione," Tom said with a toothy smile.

"Thank you, Tom. That's very kind of you."

"Yes, thank you," Kingsley said in his deep voice. When Tom left, he turned to Hermione with a grave expression. "Now what I can help you with Hermione?"

Hermione explained about the investigation. No detail was spared including the problems they were having with Everett as well as Ron. The only thing she kept to herself was the discovery that Lucius Malfoy had been the one to tamper with their results from the Matchmaking spell.

"Oh dear, that is quite the situation and a most peculiar one," Kingsley said after a long pause. "I will make some inquiries and demand that the Ministry employees tailing you respect your privacy. The Ministry does have a right to check in and make house calls, but not without your explicit invitation."

"I knew it," Hermione hissed from between clenched teeth. "I knew there was something bizarre going on. And they are breaking the rules."

"They are and I would like to know why. I'll have a word with the head of this investigation and perhaps make use of some Veritaserum."

"Thank you."

"It's the least I can do for an old friend, Hermione. After all, we fought Voldemort together."

Hermione grinned. "Thank you again and if you'll excuse me, I have one more thing to take care of before I go back to work."

"Of course."

Hermione Disapparated with a crack and reappeared in the lobby of the Daily Prophet. She marched over to the receptionist and asked if Rita Skeeter was in. The receptionist was chewing magic bubble gum and was blowing blew bubbles that floated around in the air around her their own. Her expression was bored and she barely glanced at Hermione.

"Second floor, desk at the window."

Hermione marched up to the second floor and almost immediately spotted Skeeter's blonde curls. Today, she was wearing a green outfit in the same acidic green as her quill.

When Hermione reached her desk, Skeeter's smile widened like a toad.

"Well well well, if it isn't the lovely Ms Granger. What did I do to deserve this unexpected pleasure?"

Hermione snorted. "Save the polite chitchat. You and I both know why I'm here."

"We do?" Skeeter feigned surprise and her eyebrows raised up into her hairline.

"Yes, you have a Ministry ordered retraction to run and you are going to write it, right now in front of me."
"Am I?"
"You remember those months you spent in a jar as a beetle?" Hermione asked. She leaned on Skeeter's desk and whispered. She didn't want anyone else to overhear this particular conversation.

Skeeter paled and her acidic smile fell.

"You wouldn't dare pull that stunt twice."

"Wouldn't I?" Hermione breathed. "Because I'm not the one with everything to lose. Last time I checked becoming an unregistered Animagus means time in Azkaban. But perhaps you would like that? You could write an expose on life inside of the Wizarding prison. I bet your readers would like that, I know I would. How would you like to write it?"

All of the color had drained from Skeeter's face once again.

"Fine," she said through clenched teeth. "You're a vile little creature. Always have been, but I'll run your bloody retraction."

"Go on then, write it. I'll wait."

Hermione put on her stoniest expression, crossed her arms and impatiently tapped her foot.

With a long suffering sigh, Skeeter extracted her Quick-Quill and began to write. Once it was done, she allowed Hermione to read it through, who smiled and nodded.

"Much better. Doesn't the truth feel better?"

"I would feel much better if you would do an article for Witch Weekly. Perhaps tell the readers, how you came to be enamored with Mr Malfoy? Hm, how does that sound? How about it? School rivals turned lovers?"

Hermione looked at her in disgust. "I have better things to do with my time than help you write rubbish."

With that, Hermione turned on her heel and left.

Feeling almost shaky with relief, Hermione returned to work. After all of that, she felt a strange sense of satisfaction. It felt exhilarating to have actually accomplished something in her day. It was a feeling she had forgotten. It had been too long since the last time she accomplished anything.

Unhappily, she realized being married to Ron had slowed her down. Her ambition had dwindled until it had all, but disappeared. It wasn't entirely Ron's fault. It was also her own for not pursuing things with the same passion and perseverance as she had done at Hogwarts. Same as it was her fault for allowing herself to get trapped at home, sulking and missing Ron when clearly, she should have left him a long time ago.

Feeling more like her old self than she had done in years, she tackled her research on Britain's werewolf population and their current levels of unemployment. Mr Diggory be damned, she was willing to forcibly put this in front of Wizengamot if she had to.

XXX

Hermione was tapping her foot anxiously as she waited for the others to catch up with them. She wanted nothing more than to get this over with. Draco put his hand on top of her knee and gave it a squeeze.

Pansy and Ginny had hardly noticed. They were drinking champagne and looking over all of the merchandise in her shop. They were squealing and pointing out dresses they thought they would like.

"I can't do this. Your mother – I can't deal with her today," Hermione said feeling frazzled and chewing on her nails since Draco had stopped her from bouncing her leg.

Now, he took her hands in his and put them down on her lap. His big warm hands were comforting. The rough callouses from Quidditch were soothing too.

"It'll be fine, Granger. My father isn't coming and she rather likes you."

"In spite of my Muggleborn heritage," she said with a pointed look.

"That counts for less and less with her. In time, I'm sure -" he sighed. "I know how that sounds and I shouldn't have to ask you to try to forgive her however, I am."

Hermione smiled at him. "I understand. She's your mother."

"Speaking of mothers," Ginny said making it clear both she and Pansy had been eavesdropping. "Mine is on her way."

"Mrs Weasley is coming?"

"Of course, she is," Ginny said matter-of-factly. "She wouldn't miss this for the world. Even if she does understand, why you didn't ask her yourself."

At that moment, Mrs Weasley walked into the shop. She was wearing a lovely set of dress robes in magenta with a witch hat. Hermione was so touched, she had dressed up in the outfit George had bought her. All to come help Hermione find a wedding dress, and she wasn't even marrying her son.

"Mrs Weasley, I didn't think you would want to come."

"Of course I do! I helped you choose your dress last time and I won't miss this time either."

Hermione was so moved she had to give Mrs Weasley a hug.

"Thank you so much."

"Of course, dear. Anything for my kids," Molly patted her awkwardly on the shoulder. "Now I know you're not my child by blood or even marriage anymore, but I still think of you as a daughter."

Hermione was blinking back tears. "Oh, Mrs Weasley, that means more to me than you could ever know."

Mrs Weasley gave her one more of her warm maternal smiles before turning to face Draco.

"So Draco Malfoy, I hear you are engaged to one of my daughters."

"I am," Draco said and it might have been Hermione's imagination, but he looked even paler than usual. "It's nice to see you again."

"I certainly, hope it is," Mrs Weasley's voice was measured.

Hermione suppressed a smile. It was sort of funny to watch Draco squirm. In fact, one of Hermione's favorite things was watching Mrs Weasley terrify grown men.

The bell to the shop chimed again and Narcissa Malfoy swept into the shop. She was wearing her usual imperious expression and looked as regal as any queen.

"Good morning. Pansy lovely to see you as always."

"Mrs Malfoy," Pansy nodded. "Always nice to see my best customer."

Narcissa's smile was cool and she turned to gaze at Mrs Weasley. "Mrs Weasley," her lips pursed into a thin line. "Isn't this a little outside of your price range?"

Mrs Weasley flushed as red as her robes. She turned her chin up. "At least, my husband and I can hold our heads up high knowing we did the right thing during the war."

"At least my son isn't repeating slander to the press," Narcissa said coldly yet there was a pink tinge to her cheeks. "Spreading vicious lies about my son and his ex-wife. It's petty and pathetic."

In an instant, Mrs Weasley had her wand out and aimed at Narcissa.

"I won't pretend to agree with or even approve of everything my son has done, but if you breathe one more bad word about him, I'll reunite you with your sister."

Hermione groaned. This was another reason, she hadn't invited Mrs Weasley herself. During the battle of Hogwarts, Mrs Weasley had killed Bellatrix Lestrange. Narcissa might be saner than her yet that did not mean, she had not loved her sister.

"Alright that's quite enough of that!" Pansy said in ice cold tones. "This is my shop and I have a strict no-violence policy. You can try to hex each other as much as you please, but I can assure you it won't make a difference as there are anti-violence charms all upon the building."

Hermione was impressed and shot Pansy a quick smile of approval.

"Mrs Weasley, Mrs Malfoy," Hermione said stepping between them calmly. Draco was right next to her and went to stand by his mother. "If you cannot be civil than I am afraid you are both going to have to leave. I understand there is a lot of bad blood between you."

"However," Draco said smoothly taking over when she felt liable to explode. He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "We need to make one thing clear, if Hermione and I can get past the war then so can the two of you."

"How romantic," Ginny rolled her eyes. "Pansy catch me, I think I'm going to swoon."

"And if you don't, you will have to leave as Hermione said. Yes, that includes you mother," Draco said when his mother opened her mouth to protest.

Narcissa's mouth snapped shut.

The bell chimed over the door and Hermione had never before been happier to see Andrew than she was in this moment.

"Hello, hello! The party is here!" Andrew announced. He stuck his head out the door again and dragged Heath into the shop. "Don't be shy, darling."

"I'm not shy, I'm disinterested in wedding dress shopping," Heath complained.
Hermione giggled into her hand.

XXX

Hermione was excited as she Andrew, Heath and Ginny had their bags packed. They were waiting for the Floo network to open up to the location in the tropics. Their luggage was magically expanded and she had more outfits in there then she ever thought she could wear, but Ginny had insisted she take with her.

Ginny was bouncing from foot to foot, wearing a big grin. Andrew was bouncing right next to her looking like a little kid. Heath was like Hermione checking his watch every two seconds and looking a lot more serious.

"This is going to be so great!" Ginny squealed and tugged on Andrew's arm. "A whole two weeks away from kids and crying and everyday life!"

"No office work," Andrew said happily twirling Ginny around.

Hermione sighed and thought with longing on the house elf report she should be working on as well as the werewolf employment initiative she wanted to finish.

"No, you don't!" Andrew said seeing the look on her face. "This is going to be great and we will enjoy ourselves, have cocktails, flirt with hot men."

"I am right here," Heath drawled.

"Sounds perfect," Ginny said with a broad grin.

The fire flared up and the group exchanged smiles. That meant the Floo network was open.

Andrew went first. He took a fist full of Floo powder from the bag by the chimney. He tossed it in, the flames flared up in green. He stepped into the fireplace and cried out; "Bermuda!"

Heath and Ginny followed. Hermione was the last one to step into the fireplace. She got a mouth full of smoke and ash, but still managed to cry out; "Bermuda!"

Fireplaces flashed in front of her eyes and when she saw Andrew and Ginny's red hair, she hurried out of the fireplace before she could travel a grid too far. She hadn't done that before, but Harry's trip down Knockturn Alley in their second year at Hogwarts had scared her sufficiently.

"Welcome to Bermuda!" Andrew beamed and cheered. "Unfortunately, we aren't staying."

"What are you talking about?" Hermione groaned.

"Your fiancé had a better idea and we all agreed with him," Andrew said giving her a serious look.

"Draco? What's Draco got to do with anything?"

No sooner had she said his name than both Harry and Draco came running over. Hermione looked around and saw she was in a hotel lobby in Bermuda, just as planned. What she hadn't planned was to see Harry or Draco here. This was supposed to be a girl's trip, well sort of. Andrew and Heath weren't girls after all.

"Mione," Harry grinned. "We're going to Australia to find your parents."

"What? I haven't decided anything!"

"Sure you have," Draco rolled his eyes. "You're just scared, Granger, which is why we are all coming with you."

"To help you explain the situation to your parents," Ginny told her with a reassuring smile. Then she drew out her wand and aimed it at her. "And if you even think about backing out or going home, I'll hex you."

"Hex me?" Hermione gaped at her. "You wouldn't."

"Sure I would," Ginny's smile was evil. "Bat Bogey hexes are my specialty after all. So suck it up, 'Mione, we're going to bring your parents back."

Sorry about the wait and the cliffhanger. But I'm back now and updates should be fairly regular. Let me let me know what you thought of the chapter as always reviews give me life. And a big thank you for the patience while I sorted out things at work. I swear, I hate managing a store.

Izzy

Guest: Don't worry, Everett is going to get his butt kicked! Thanks for reading and reviewing!

Guest: Yes, Everett is a pervert! Haha, I love the theory that Everett is Ron, but I can't say what is going on with him. I'll just say this: his motivation is 100% personal.

Sara: Thank you for another kind review and for sticking with this fic! Hermione is going to get down to business once she gets home from Australia.

Guest: Lol, someone will vanquish Everett, don't worry about that! Thanks for reviewing!