Transfiguration gets out early so Ursa goes to her dorm to take a nap. Ursa wakes up and looks at the clock. "Motherfu- I told Pansy to wake me." She gets up and changes with magic before grabbing a snack from her stash. She eats quickly and grabs her books before running out. She runs into the classroom only for Snape to glare at her.

"So nice of you to show up Miss Malfoy." Snape says. "You're late."

"Really? I am? I hadn't noticed." Ursa says sarcastically. "It's a good thing I decided to run to class today."

"Sit down."

"Also blame Pansy for my tardiness as she was supposed to wake me up."

"Sit. Down."

Ursa fakes bows. "Yes sir."

Snape sighs with annoyance and Ursa sits. "Now as I was saying before I was rudely interrupted." Ursa rolls her eyes.

Potions gets out early so Ursa and the Trio sit at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall. "How do you not get in trouble with Snape?" Ron asks "Normally he would've given detention for something like that."

"He likes me." Ursa replies.

"He doesn't like anyone." Harry says.

"Except me."

"Why does he like you?" Ron asks.

"Because I am good at potions." Ursa replies casually.

"So am I!" Hermione exclaims.

"But I'm better... and Slytherin. He also has no choice but to like me."

"What does that mean?" Ron asks.

"He's my godfather. And I'm pretty sure my mother told him to keep an eye on me."

"Snape is your godfather." Harry says surprised.

"Yep, you know that large crack in the Potions Lab wall? That he won't talk about but will never repair." The Trio nods. "I did that when I was four."

"What?" They all say.

"He would sometimes babysit me on weekends since he was the only one other than my mother's parents that my parents trusted me with. He left me alone for less than a minute to get something. I put something in the cauldron and it caused an explosion that blasted the cauldron into the wall. He doesn't tell the story because he feels bad I could have gotten hurt... and doesn't want people to know he has feelings."

Snape silently comes up behind Ursa and Hermione. Across the table, Harry and Ron start snickering. "Miss Malfoy. I believe I found something of yours in my classroom." Ursa and Hermione turn around to see Lyra sitting on Snape's shoulder. Hermione holds back her laughter while Ursa doesn't bother.

"Really Lyra? What were you doing in there?" Ursa asks. Lyra flies from Snape's shoulder to the table. "Wait is something wrong?" Lyra hoots once and Ursa sighs in relief. She sees a note tied to Lyra's leg. "Thank you Professor. And sorry." Ursa unties the note and reads it. "Urgent message from my parents. That's why she was down there. She knew I was supposed to be there."

"Don't let it happen again."

"No promises." Snape rolls his eyes and walks away. "Looks like my parents will be here for the second task too. Two days before it and at least one day after."

"So we should stay away from you?" Hermione asks.

"Unless you want me to call you names or insult you again. Which I really do not want to do. But it's not for a few weeks anyways." The bell rings for dinner. "Guess I need to go to my own table now."

***

"I'm trying to tell you about Snape and Moody." Harry whispers to Hermione and Ron in Charms class about the night before and Ursa overhears. Ursa continues to do her Banishing Charm perfectly and listens.

"Snape said Moody's searched his office as well?" Ron whispers.

"Think Moody's here to watch Snape and Karkaroff."

"I don't know if that's what Dumbledore asked him to do but he's doing it. Moody said Dumbledore only lets Snape stay cause he's giving him a second chance or something."

"Maybe Snape put your name in the Goblet of Fire."

"Ron, we though Snape was trying to kill Harry before but he was saving Harry remember." Hermione says. "I don't care what Moody says. Dumbledore's not stupid. He was right to trust Hagrid and Lupin, so why shouldn't he be right about Snape. Even if Snape is a bit..." Hermione trails off, looking at Ursa.

"Evil." Ron says without paying attention. "Come on Hermione, why would all these Dark Wizard hunters be searching his office?"

"Why has Mr Crouch been pretending to be ill. Bit funny that he can't show up to the ball but can search Snape's office in the middle of the night."

"You just don't like Crouch cause of Winky."

"You just want to think Snape is up to something."

"I just want to know what Snape did with his first chance." Harry says. "If this is his second."

During lunch, Ursa goes to the potions classroom. She sits at the front table while Snape is walking around the room, putting stuff away. "So Harry not so quietly mentioned Moody and Crouch were in your office."

"Crouch was in my office?" Snape asks. "I knew Moody searched it but not him. No one has seen Crouch."

"Apparently in the middle of the night."

"Last night?"

"Yeah."

"So that's who was in there. And how do you know all of this."

"Potter wants to know what your first chance was. He knows this job is your second chance."

"Do you know what my first chance was?"

"Of course I do. I know more about you than anyone."

"Don't remind me. You know more than I want you to know. So I was right, Potter was sneaking around last night. And that was James's stupid map Moody had."

"Yes, I've heard of this map. That must be how he knew Crouch was in your office."

"You know, you would make a good spy." Ursa chuckles.

"It's not hard to eavesdrop when you are working on a charm you already know."

***

That weekend Ursa joins the Trio at the Three Broomsticks. Ludo Bagman takes Harry down the bar for a few minutes. "What did he want?" Ron asks when Harry returns.

"He wanted to help me with the egg." Harry replies.

"He shouldn't be doing that." Hermione says. "He's one of the judges. What were those goblins here for? They didn't look friendly."

"Looking for Crouch according to Bagman." Harry says. "He's still ill. Hasn't been to work."

"Funny goblins looking for Mr Crouch." Hermione says. "They'd normally deal with the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures."

"Crouch can speak a lot of different languages. Maybe they need an interpreter." Harry suggests.

"Most goblins can speak English Harry." Ursa says.

"Worrying about the poor little goblins now Hermione." Ron teases. "Thinking of making S.P.U.G. Or something? Society for the Protection of Ugly Goblins."

"Ha ha ha" Hermione says sarcastically.

"Goblins don't need protection." Ursa says. "Have you not been listening to Professor Binns? About the Goblin Rebellion? I know I have it with Ravenclaws but he teaches the same thing to each class."

"No." Harry and Ron say.

"Goblins don't need help dealing with wizards." Hermione says. "They're clever. They stand up for themselves."

"Uh-oh." Ron says as he stares at the door. The Trio and Ursa glare at Rita as she walks through the crowded pub, talking to her photographer.

"Trying to ruin someone else's life?" Harry says loudly and Ursa snorts.

"Harry!" Rita says. "Oh and Ursa. Why don't you come join-"

"We wouldn't come near you with a ten foot broomstick." Ursa says. "Why'd you do that to Hagrid?"

"Our readers have the right to know the truth. I was just doing my-"

"Who cares if he's half-giant?" Harry shouts.

"There's nothing wrong with him." Ursa shouts.

Rita gets out her pad and her Quick-Quotes Quill. "How about you two give me an interview hm? About the Hagrid you know? The man behind the muscles. Your unlikely friendship and the reason for it Ursa."

"You horrible woman." Hermione says as she stands angrily. "You don't care do you? Anything for a story?"

"For example, I saw you near us when my parents introduced me to the Minister at Draco's party." Ursa says. "You knew exactly who I was. Yet you wrote about 'The Mystery Girl of Malfoy Manor.'"

"Anyone will do. Even Ludo Bagman—"

"Sit down you silly little girl. And don't talk about things you don't understand." Rita says coldly to Hermione. "I know things about Ludo Bagman that would make your hair curl— not that it needs it."

Ursa pulls her card stack out of her pocket. "Do you want to say that again Skeeter? Insult her again." Ursa holds up the stack.

"I wonder what your parents would think if they found out you were hanging around a Mudblood." Rita spits.

"'December 20th 1969. Bellatrix Black and Rita Skeeter, caught after using an illegal curse on Mulciber. Detention for three weeks.'" Ursa puts the top card at the bottom. "'June 27th 1969. Bellatrix Black and Rita Skeeter, caught setting fireworks off in the Great Hall. Caused significant damage to the Great Hall. Not allowed at Graduation Ceremony.' Shall I continue revealing your friendship with Bellatrix Lestrange?"

"She wasn't the same person then." Rita argues.

Ursa laughs. "Yes she was. She was already planning on joining You-Know-Who after graduation in her 7th year and as her best friend, you probably knew that."

"You are going to regret this little girl."

"The last person who called me 'little' ended up cursed. I told you. Publish anything bad about me or my family and these little punishments cards go public."

"You've always been a horrible person." Hermione says. "Hanging with even worse people."

Ursa walks over to Rita and puts her hands on the table. "I told you." Ursa hisses. "Do not mess with a Malfoy, especially one that is a Black and is like her aunt. If my parents find out I was with Hermione, the cards go public." Ursa storms out.

"God she's terrifying." Ron says.

Ursa climbs to the top of the tower in Hogsmeade and falls and transforms. She flies to Hagrid's hut seeing the Trio on their way, Hermione pissed. Ursa flies in through the fireplace and lands perfectly.

"Well done Miss Malfoy." Dumbledore says as she transforms back.

"Thank you." Ursa says as she plops down irritated. A cup of tea appears in front of her.

"You alright?"

"Rita in Hogsmeade angering me." Ursa explains what happened.

When she finishes, there is pounding on the front door. "Hagrid!" Hermione shouts. "Hagrid that's enough! No one cares that your mother was a giantess! You can't let that foul Skeeter woman do this to you! Get out here you're just being-"

Hermione is interrupted by Dumbledore opening the door. "Good afternoon." Dumbledore says.

"Oh— we— um we wanted to see Hagrid." Hermione says stumbling over her words.

"Yes I figured as much. Why don't you come in? Miss Malfoy is already here."

"Of course she is." Harry says with an eye roll. They come inside and sit. "Hi Hagrid."

"'Lo" Hagrid says, his eyes blotchy and red.

"More tea I think." Dumbledore says. A tray of tea with cakes appears in the middle of the table. Ursa takes a cake as everyone sits. "Did you happen to hear what Miss Granger was shouting?" Hermione goes pink and Ursa snorts, causing Harry to glare at her. "It seems these four still want to know you, judging by way three of them were attempting to break down your door, and how Miss Malfoy keeps breaking in." Ursa goes pink now.

"Of course we want you!" Harry says. "You don't think that Skeeter cow — sorry Professor."

"I have temporarily gone deaf and haven't had any idea what you said Harry." Dumbledore says. "And Miss Malfoy here has said worse about Miss Skeeter this week."

"A lot worse." Ursa says.

"Right." Harry says. "I just meant, how could you think we'd care about what that — woman-"

"Bitch." Ursa says at the same time Harry says "woman."

"Wrote about you?" Harry finishes.

"More living proof of what I've been saying Hagrid." Dumbledore says. "I have shown you the letters from countless parents who remember you from their time and would not be... happy if I fired you."

"Not all of 'em." Hagrid says quietly. "Not all of 'em want me ter stay."

"If you are holding out for universal popularity you will be in this cabin a long time."

"Hagrid. I've seen the letters, almost every single one that don't want you here are friends of my parents. You know this. Don't let my stupid prejudice family and their friends get to you."

"Not a week has passed since I became headmaster that I haven't had at least one owl complaining about the way I run the school."

Ursa pinches the bridge of her nose. "Why do I feel like most of them have been from my parents or at least my father in the last four years?"

"They usually were for the first two years." Dumbledore says. Ursa nods. "What should I do? Barricade myself in my office and refuse to talk to anyone?"

"But you're not half-giant." Hagrid retorts.

"Look at my family!" Harry exclaims furiously. "Look at the Dursleys."

"Look at mine! Full of criminals. I have an aunt in Azkaban, a cousin that escaped, one that was a Death Eater and died, my father was under the Imperius Curse."

"I told you Sirius is innocent." Harry says.

"Until you explain how to me, I'm not going to believe you." Ursa replies.

"They have an excellent point." Dumbledore says. "My brother was persecuted for using inappropriate charms on a goat and he didn't hide. Just went about his usual with his head held high. Of course I'm not sure he can read so it may have not been bravery..."

"Come back Hagrid." Hermione says. "We really miss you."

"And Grubbly-Plank's classes are boring." Ursa says.

"I refuse to accept your resignation Hagrid." Dumbledore says. "I expect you to be back to work on Monday. You will join me for breakfast in the Great Hall no excuses. Good afternoon all. See you this evening Miss Malfoy." Ursa nods once and Dumbledore leaves.

"Good man Dumbledore." Hagrid sobs. "Trusts people he does. Believes in second chances. Knows people can turn out okay even if their families weren't all... well that respectable. But some don't understand that. There's some that will always hold it against you. Like yeh said people do Ursa. Judge yeh based off yehr brother and family's beliefs. What's worse is yehr used ter it." Hermione and Ron both look at Harry and he hangs his head in shame. "Yehr a good person, been breaking in to check on meh everyday this week."

"I'm sorry, Ursa." Harry mumbles.

Ursa smiles as she hears him. "What was that?" She asks.

"I'm sorry. Okay?" Harry says. "I judged you based on your family and brother."

Hermione and Ron both smile. "Now you're seeing what we do." Hermione says.

"Never thought I would hear someone say 'breaking in' and 'good person' in the same sentence." Ursa says.

"How did you manage to break in?" Ron asks.

"I have my ways."

"And what would those be?"

"I'm not polite. While you knocked on the door, I used magic to unlock it, and then walked in."

They all talk for a while until the Trio leaves. "They don't know do they?" Hagrid asks. "Bout the phoenix thing."

"No. Only five people outside of me know. My parents don't even know." Ursa replies.

"Who all knows?"

"You, my brother, Dumbledore, Severus, and McGonagall. I don't really want a lot of people knowing until I am sure what it is. I'm not a maladictus but it seems to be connected to my bloodline."

"Any idea which one?"

"Black more than likely. It's the purest. And the diary Dumbledore gave me was from a Black."