In the morning, Ursa wakes up early and goes to the kitchens for breakfast. After she eats, she goes down to Hagrid's hut. She opens the door and Fang looks up before plopping his head back down. Ursa chuckles and Lyra hoot. "Good morning Lyra. Anything happen?" Lyra shakes her head. "Alright. When Draco gets here, I need you to stay with him and come to me when he tells you to." Ursa hears the first bell. "I should get to Clawhoof and Hothoof before everyone else gets here." She goes to the pen and helps get everything set up. "Alright. You all good?"

"You'll keep them back far enough?" Hothoof questions as she covers the baby with her wing

"Yep. I already told Grubbly-Plank your requests."

"And your brother?"

"Learned his lesson after Buckbeak. He won't come anywhere near you."

"Thank you Ursa."

"Just double checking. No one in the pen correct?"

"Yes."

"And Clawhoof should be back soon."

"Yes."

"Alright everyone gather around" Grubbly-Plank says after the second bell rings.

"Where's your sister Malfoy?" Crabbe asks.

"Around here somewhere." Draco replies.

"We will be reviewing hippogriffs today." Grubbly-Plank says and some people groan. "I don't what to hear any complaints. There is a special reason we are reviewing them." After the lecture, Grubbly-Plank talks to Draco. "Send Lyra  Mr Malfoy."

     "Go." Draco says to Lyra and she takes off from his shoulder.

     "Let's go see the hippogriffs." Grubbly-Plank says.

     "Thank you Lyra." Ursa says after Lyra lands on the fence and hoots. "They are on their way. Did you decide on a name?"

     "Stormhoof." Hothoof says. "Because it was storming when we-"

     "I don't need to know!" Ursa exclaims.

     "The first time I talked to him about my feelings."

     "Only stand on this side of the pen please." Grubbly-Plank says as she and the class approaches the pen. "Don't want to get too close."

     "But someone's in there." Lavender says.

     "Yes Miss Malfoy has been taking care of creatures in Hagrid's absence."

     "Why is there only one?" Pansy asks. Ursa walks over to the class, staying inside the pen.

     "You will see soon enough Miss Parkinson." Grubbly-Plank says. "Now does anyone know how hippogriffs breed?" No one raises their hand but Ursa can see Hermione is thinking. Just before Grubbly-Plank is about to have Ursa explain, Hermione raises her hand. "Miss Granger."

     "They make a nest and lay an egg." Hermione says. "A very fragile egg."

     "And how long, on average, does it take for an hippogriff egg to hatch."

     "24 hours."

     "Yes. Two days ago, one of our female hippogriffs laid an egg." Ursa goes back to Hothoof.

     "This is Stormhoof." Ursa says as Hothoof lifts her wing. The girls aww. "She hatched yesterday afternoon." Stormhoof stumbles over to Ursa and Ursa kneels down. She holds her hand out and Stormhoof bows. Ursa gently pets her face. "Normally you have to bow first but Stormhoof met me yesterday. The bowing seems to be a natural thing." Everyone hears a caw and everyone but Ursa looks up. "And here comes the father." Clawhoof looks like he is going to crash into Ursa on landing.

     "Ursa look out!" Draco yells. Ursa ignores Draco and Clawhoof lands, his claws inches from Ursa. Ursa doesn't flinch.

     "Hello Clawhoof." Ursa says. Ursa feels something wet hit her head. She looks up to see Clawhoof has a dead bird in his beak. "Hey! Do not hold that right above my head! I would prefer not to have bird blood in my hair all day."

     "Ursa do not talk to a hippogriff like that!" Draco says. Clawhoof lets out a puff of air at Ursa before laying the bird in front of Hothoof.

     "Oh I'm fine. Clawhoof is a friend." Ursa says as Clawhoof walks over to her. He shoves her over with his head before going back to Hothoof and Stormhoof and Ursa laughs.

     "Can we pet it?" Lavender asks.

     "I'm not sure." Grubbly-Plank replies. "Miss Malfoy?" Ursa sits up.

     "No." Ursa replies. "Hothoof and Clawhoof do not want anyone touching her right now."

     "But you did." Lavender argues.

     "Because they know and trust me. Now, it will be a week before Stormhoof can fly and many months before she can fly long distances. She has to build up her wing strength." Stormhoof flaps her wings. "Well that is the first time she has done that unless she did it last night. This is how they start building their wing strength. For at least the first week, Hothoof will stay with Stormhoof while Clawhoof hunts. Sometime after a week, they will take her to teach her to hunt. She will not be hunting on her own for a few months."

     "Who chose her name?" Pansy asks.

     "I did." Ursa replies. Clawhoof huffs and Ursa whispers. "Shut up. They don't know I can understand you."

***

Ursa uses a Sloth Grip Roll to dodge a bludger flying at her. "Nice Malfoy!" Montague says.

"Watch it Crabbe!" Ursa yells.

"Sorry!" Crabbe replies.

  "I think we just found our new chaser." Montague says.

  After the try-outs finish, Ursa runs into the Slytherin common room. "I did it Draco!" Ursa exclaims. "I'm a Chaser!"

     "Good job!" Draco says.

     "I'm going to send a letter to Father."

***

"Oh no... Sirius." Hermione says as she reads the paper, Saturday morning.

     "What happened?" Harry asks as he tries to snatch the paper from Hermione only to tear it in half.

     "'The Ministry of Magic has received a tip-off from a reliable source, that Sirius Black is hiding in London!'"

     "Lucius Malfoy I bet." Harry accuses. "I noticed him looking at Sirius weird on the platform."

     "You didn't say-" Ron starts.

     "Did you tell hi-"

     "Don't you dare finish that sentence, Harry Potter." Ursa warns. "It is entirely possible my father knows about Snuffles. My parents think I was with Pansy and my brother and Pansy thinks I was at the Burrow."

     "Dumbledore did warn him about leaving the house." Hermione says.

     "Look at this." Harry says as he lays out his half of the paper.

TRESPASS AT MINISTRY

Sturgis Podmore, 38, of number two, Laburnum Gardens, Clapham, has appeared in front of the Wizengamot charged with trespass and attempted robbery at the Ministry of Magic on 31st August. Podmore was arrested by Ministry of Magic watch-wizard Eric Munch, who found him attempting to force his way through a top-security door at one o'clock in the morning. Podmore, who refused to speak in his own defense, was convicted on both charges and sentenced to six months in Azkaban.

"Sturgis Podmore?" Ron says "but he's an Ord-"

"Ron shh." Hermione hushes.

"Six months for trying to open a door?" Harry questions.

"Do you reckon he was doing something for the Order?" Ron whispers.

"Wait a minute. Wasn't he supposed to be part of the people who took us to King's Cross?"

"Yeah Moody was pissed he hadn't shown." Ursa says.

"It could be a frame job." Ron suggests. "Maybe they lured him."

"Right so I think we should start with the essay on Self-Fertalizing Shrub and if we're lucky we can get to McGonagall's Inatimatus Conjurus before lunch."

"I mean we could do it tonight." Ron suggests. "and we have tomorrow. Come on Harry."

     "And what are you two up to?" Ursa asks.

     "Quidditch." Harry replies.

     "Can I join you?"

     "Really?" Hermione questions.

     "Did I forget to tell you? I'm Slytherin's new Chaser."

     "If you're as good at flying as you are at magic, we have no chance at winning our match." Ron says.

     "'We?'"

     "Ron's the new Gryffindor Keeper."

     "In that case I'll go easy on you today, Weasley."

     "Oh you're so on Malfoy."

     "Let's go. I'll be back before lunch and we can do homework Hermione."

     "Do you think Hermione was serious about not letting us copy her notes?" Ron asks as they walk to the Quidditch Pitch.

     "Yes." Ursa and Harry both say.

     "And you're not copying mine either." Ursa says. "I already have my brother and Pansy stealing mine."

     "She's just over worried about the exams." Harry says.

     "Not really. They are very important."

     "Not you too." Ron groans.

     "Come on." They go into the changing rooms and change into practice uniforms. They grab a Quaffle before going out onto the pitch. Harry and Ursa take turns trying to score goals on Ron. After an hour Ursa goes back inside and works on homework with Hermione.

     "At least you are taking school work seriously." Hermione says as Ursa sits at the Gryffindor table. After lunch, Draco drags Ursa out to the Quidditch stands.

     "What are we doing out here?" Ursa asks. "It's Gryffindor's practice time."

     "Exactly." Draco says. "We're going to cheer them on. Especially Weasley."

     "I was doing homework and you dragged me out here for this?"

     "You don't have to do anything. Just watch the practice so we can get an idea of what we're up against. Take notes."

     "I will be taking notes, on my homework, with Hermione."

     "Why do you hang out with that Mudblood?"

     "Don't make me push you off these stands." Ursa warns. "And you know exactly why I hang out with her. I'm going back to homework." Ursa storms down the stairs and back into the castle. Hermione looks up as Ursa slams her bag on the table.

     "Draco?" Hermione questions.

     "Called you a you-know-what again and dragged me out to the Quidditch Pitch to 'cheer on' the Gryffindor practice."

     "Well at least your back and we can finish your Inatimatus Conjurus essay."

     That evening Ursa goes to Snape's office. "Did you hear about Sturgis?" Snape nods. "Dark Lord?"

     "Odds are high."

***

     Ursa furrows her brow as a few owls bring a long, thin package to her. "What the?"

     "Well open it!" Draco exclaims.

     "Is there a note?"

     "Who cares about a bloody note?"

     "I do."

     "Here." Goyle says as he holds out the note that was on the end.

     "'Congratulations on making the team Cub.'" Ursa reads aloud. "'Hope you enjoy this. -Mother and Father.'"

     "Will you open it now!" Draco exclaims.

     "You're more excited than I am." Ursa says before she tears the brown paper off of the box.

     "Whoa." Draco says. "Did they really get you a Firebolt II?"

     "Firebolt II?" Pansy says. "Those haven't been released yet. They're not supposed to be released until next year!"

     Ursa smiles. "Of course they manage to get me an early model."

     "Come on!" Draco says. "Let's go test it!"

     "After breakfast Draco." Ursa says. "Geez you're more excited about it than I am." Ursa digs a roll of parchment, a quill, and ink out of her bag.

     "What are you doing?" Draco asks.

     "Writing a thank you." Ursa says and Draco rolls his eyes. "What?"

     "That can't wait?"

     "It's called being grateful." Ursa signs the letter and whistles loudly. Lyra flies in a moment later. She lands on Ursa's shoulder and Ursa gives Lyra the letter. "Take this to my parents Lyra." By the end of breakfast, everyone knows that Ursa got a Firebolt II. By the time Ursa and Draco get to the Quidditch pitch, half the school is there. "Geez hope I don't fall."

     "Especially cause you'll transform if you do." Draco replies.

     Ursa spends the morning testing out the broom. She spends time practicing Quidditch moves until someone suggests a mock game. At the end of the mock match, Ursa's team wins even though the other team catches the snitch. Lee Jordan announces the mock match and lets loose the compliments McGonagall keeps him from saying.

     "I hope they send me one." Draco says after. "It's so cool."

     "They probably won't." Ursa replies. "It was probably hard enough to get one. Besides, I got on the team with talent."

     "Yes you did." Madam Hooch says. "Malfoy right?"

     "Yes ma'am."

     "Looks like Slytherin may have a chance at winning a match this year. Good technique."

     "Thank you."

     "May I take a look at your broom? I heard it was a Firebolt II."

     "Of course." Ursa says before handing it to her.

     "Very fine craftsmanship. The hazel twigs will help your turning precision." Madam Hooch gives Ursa the broom back. "Take very good care of that broom. I'm excited to see it in action."