The trio and Ursa sit in the Gryffindor common room. Hermione reading the paper, Ron staring at the fire, and Ursa and Harry studying. "Ugh who let Malfoy in?" McLaggen complains.

     "Oh shut it McLaggen." Ursa replies. "Get over it."

     "Hey." Harry says. "Have you ever heard of the spell Sectumsempra?" Ursa freezes in her page turning.

     "No I haven't." Hermione says. "And if you had a shred of self-respect you'd hand that book in."

     "Not bloody likely." Ron says. "He's in the top of the class. He's even better than you, Hermione. Maybe even Ursa. Slughorn thinks he's a genius."

     "No one is better than me Ron." Ursa says. "I have a potions lab in my basement and spend my summers experimenting. And Severus lets me use his books."

     "I'd like to know who's that book was." Hermione says as she closes the newspaper. "Let's have a look shall we?"

     "No." Harry says as he closes the book and stands.

     "Why not?" Hermione says as she stands too.

     "The binding is fragile." Harry says as he walks around the couch, backing away from Hermione.

     "'The binding is fragile'?" Hermione questions as she follows.

     "Yeah." Harry says right before Ginny snatches the book from his hand.

     "Who's The Half-Blood Prince?" Ginny asks after opening the book.

     "Who?" Hermione questions.

     "That's what it says right here. 'This book is property of The Half-Blood Prince."

     "Give me that." Ursa says as she takes it from Ginny. She manages to keep it away from Harry until she finds the page with Sectumsempra on it. "'Sectumsempra, for enemies.' How did this Prince find that spell?"

     "So you've heard of it?" Harry asks. "Do you know what it does?"

     "Yes and the only thing I will ever tell you about it is that you should never use it. Never. I'm serious Harry. Don't use it. It is extremely dangerous."

     "What does it do?"

     "Hand that book in. If that spell is in it, then the whole book is dangerous. Turn it in or toss it in the fire."

     "Ursa what does it do?"

     "Stop asking. I won't tell you. Get rid of that book."

***

     The morning of their first Hogsmeade trip, Ursa sits with the trio at breakfast. Ron finishes his story about his rude awakening. "... and then there was a flash of light and I landed on the bed again." Hermione and Ursa look unamused for different reasons.

     "You mean Levicorpus?" Ursa asks.

     "You know that spell?" Harry asks. "How?"

     "Snape. It was popular when he was in school."

     "Was this spell another from that potion book of yours?" Hermione asks.

     "Always jump to the worst conclusion don't you?" Harry replies.

     "Was it?" Ursa asks.

     "Well yeah but so what?"

     "So you decided to try out an unknown, handwritten incantation to see what would happen?" Hermione asks.

     "Why does it matter if it is handwritten?"

     "I love trying out new spells but even I know better than to try them out around others." Ursa says.

     "Because it is probably not Ministry of Magic-approved." Hermione says and Ron and Harry roll their eyes. "And I am beginning to think this Prince characters was a little dodgy."

     "It was just a laugh." Ron groans

     "Who puts their time to make spells like that?"

     "Fred and George." Ron says while he shrugs. "it's their kind of thing. I could see Ursa doing it too."

     "Hey I take offence to that! I make helpful spells."

     "My dad." Harry says.

     "What?" Hermione and Ron say together.

     "My dad used this spell." Harry says. "I- Lupin told me." Ursa raises an eyebrow and Harry shakes his head discreetly.

     "What?" Hermione asks Ursa.

     "Nothing." Ursa replies. Draco walks up behind Ursa and taps her on the shoulder. Ursa looks back and sees its Draco. "What?"

     "I need your help with something." Draco says.

     "Alright." Ursa says before turning back to her friends. "I'll see you later." Ursa stands and follows Draco out of the Great Hall. "What's going on?"

     "I need your help."

***

     The trio walks into the Three Broomsticks and find a table. Ursa and Draco stand in a corner talking. "No, sit aside me." Harry says to Ron when he tries to sit next to Hermione. The waitress takes their order. Harry watches Ursa and Draco whisper harshly to each other, unable to tell what they are saying.

      "Are you sure this will work?" Ursa whispers to Draco as they walk towards the back door.

     "Yes." Draco replies.

     "Please just talk to Severus."

     "No, I don't need his help." Ursa sighs in annoyance as Draco walks out the back door. Harry waves at Ursa and she walks over to them.

     "What were you doing with him?" Harry asks.

     "Arguing about something trivial." Ursa says with a sigh. Ron sees Ginny and Dean in a booth.

     "Oh bloody hell." Ron says. "Slick git." Hermione turns to look.

     "Honestly Ronald, see they're only holding hands." Hermione says before Ginny and Dean kiss.

     "And snogging." Ursa says with a chuckle.

     "Id like to leave." Ron says as the waitress returns with four butterbeers instead of three.

     "Thanks." Ursa says.

     "What? You cant be serious." Hermione says.

     "That happens to be my sister." Ron replies.

     "So? What if she looked over and saw you snogging me? Would you expect her to get up and leave?" Harry waves to Slughorn.

     "Hey, my boy." Slughorn says, clearly a little drunk.

     "Hello sir, so wonderful to see you." Harry says and Ursa raises an eyebrow.

     "And you, and you."

     "So what brings you here?"

     "Oh the Three Broomsticks and I go way back further than I care to admit. I could remember when it was the One Broomstick. Listen, my boy, in the old days, I used to throw together the occasional supper party. Select a student or two. Would you be game?"

     "I consider it an honor sir."

     "You'd be welcome too, Granger... and Malfoy."

     "I'd be delighted sir." Hermione says.

     "Me too." Ursa replies.

     "Splendid!" Slughorn exclaims. "Look for my owl. Good to see you Wallenby." Ursa snorts.

     "What are you playing at?" Ron asks Harry.

     "Dumbledore's asked me to get to know him." Harry replies.

     "'Get to know him'?"

     "Dunno. It must be important. If it wasn't, Dumbledore wouldn't ask." Hermione takes a sip of her drink and gets a foam mustache.

     "Got a little bit..." Ron says and Hermione wipes her mouth. After they finish their butterbeers, they leave the Three Broomsticks and head back to the castle.

     "Harry." Ron whispers as they walk down the path, Hermione in front of the other three. "Did you hear what she was saying back in the pub there, on me and her snogging?"

     "As if." Ursa says with a snort

     "Shut up Ursa." Ron mutters. A scream draws their attention to the path in front of them.