AN: I'm evil so I won't be starting where I left off in the last chapter.
As Hermione walked along the corridor back to Gryffindor Tower, she started thinking about Severus. She wanted more than anything to be with him. She had had a crush on him since fifth year. She admired his mind and his gracefulness with the potions he brewed.
'Have I got it bad or what?' She thought to herself but laughed out loud. Nobody probably thought about Severus, the way she does, except possibly the Slytherins. He made her feel so many things when he was around.
As she turned a corner, she ran right into something hard. She looked up to see what she had run into. She inwardly grimaced. It was Severus. She was preparing for the worst that never came.
He looked down at her and was just about to yell. "I'm sorry sir," Hermione apologized. She put her head down and stood there waiting. She had to keep her head down otherwise she might kiss him.
Deciding against screaming at her he grunted out a low growl and walked down the corridor, opposite her.
'Way to go, Hermione. Very brave!' She yelled at herself. After a few more minutes of walking, and cursing herself, she was standing in front of the Fat Lady and directly behind Harry and Ron.
Sabina and Mary were watching the Headmaster for his reaction. His eyes twinkled and that was all that was needed. So they proceeded.
"Well, first things first. The plan is going as well as to be expected," Mary said matching the Headmaster's twinkle. Sabina gave a slight scowl.
"Yeah. They're thinking more each other now. Which is good. We just have a few more things to discuss," Sabina said then cleared her throat. Mary nodded silently and looked around his office at the snoring pictures. She knew none of them were asleep. She also knew that the Headmaster always told them to pretend to sleep when discussing interesting situations. Such as this. She smiled to herself.
"I understand you've written to Severus requesting his presence," Sabina said remembering the piece of paper Severus was reading in Potions class. The Headmaster smiled at her. Smart little thing, wasn't she?
"Well we need you to bring up his need to have an apprentice and suggest it be Hermione Granger. That way things will progress a little more quickly," Mary told him. She had a strange feeling that's what his meeting with Severus would be about. Her feelings were correct when the Headmaster next spoke.
"I was actually going to bring that subject up anyways. Guess that muggle saying is true. Great minds think alike?" He laughed when Sabina rolled her eyes. Mary laughed at her too. Sabina just shook her head. A few more words were discussed and soon Mary and Sabina left his office.
As they descended the phoenix steps, they saw Severus walking towards them. They both smiled sweetly at him and he gave both if them a death glare. 'What idiotic girls,' he thought menacingly. He brushed past them, his robes billowing behind him. He was already late. He turned around quickly, deciding he could be a few more minutes late.
"Ten points each from Slytherin," he snarled and turned back around, walking away.
As soon as he was out of earshot, they both lost. Their laughs could be heard throughout the halls.
Hermione stared at their backs for what seemed like hours. Finally, she gained enough courage and walked past them. Hitting them as she passed. They glared at her as she said the password and entered the portrait. She ran up to her room and put her books on her desk. She gave Crookshanks a quick scratch and went back downstairs.
As soon as she exited, she was once again greeted with a glare. They both looked like the were holding back screams and insults, obviously not wanting the other Gryffindors to hear. 'Is that all they can do to me? Glare?' She mused to herself. She gave them both a sarcastic smile and left as they stared after her.
She made her way to the Great Hall silently. She was nearly at the entrance when a hand covered her mouth and she was yanked into a room. She tried to scream but it was muffled and didn't quite sound like one.
"Don't scream and I'll move my hand," the voice commanded softly. She knew that voice but it sounded oddly different. She slowly nodded and the hand disappeared from her mouth.
"Draco," she said. Her voice dripping with venom. He gave her a smile and held up his hands in defense.
"Don't worry. I'm not going to hurt you. I just wanted to talk," he told her.
Her mind screamed for her to run. But her legs wouldn't move. Why did Draco need to talk to her? Was this a trick? Curiosity got the best of her.
"Yes?" She asked in a monotonous voice.
"I come to you for a truce. And to tell you a few things," he said. A truce? Who was he kidding? And tell her what things? She looked at him skeptically.
"Ok, what things?"
"Potter and Weasley are planning to do things to you. I felt I should tell you. Contrary to what you may think, I'm not all that bad," he said and smiled a little. She snorted in response.
Thoughts were racing through her mind. What things were they planning to do? And why was he being nice? Why was he even telling her? She had to find out.
"Why are you being nice to me and telling me all this? You hate me and I hate you. And just earlier you were calling me a 'mudblood'!" She was extremely angry now.
He looked at her for a while. He looked as though he couldn't find the words to tell her.
"Well…" his words trailed off. How could he say this? He took a breath and began again. "Potter and Weasley came to me on the train ride over here. They thought I was still 'evil'. They told me how they despised you and how they wanted to make your life a living hell. They just wouldn't tell me why. So I told them I'd help. I was going to tell you. I wanted us to be friends this year. Ever since my dad wound up in Azkaban, I haven't had to be such an ass to make him happy. You remember earlier at Potions? I was going to tell you then but Potter and Weasley were following me. So I had to keep up pretenses. So that's why I'm here, telling you this now." He took another breath and sighed.
She looked at him. She was trying to tell if was lying. She couldn't see any trace of a lie.
"I don't know what to say," she said to him. She knew what Draco didn't know. She knew why. But she wasn't going to tell him. Not yet. Not until she knew he was trustworthy.
"Well, like I said. I thought you should know." With that, Draco walked out of the room. She stared after him for a few minutes before following him out.
As soon as she stepped out of the room, she ran into Mary and Sabina. They smiled at her.
"Make up with Draco, did you?" Mary asked and laughed. Sabina slapped her playfully. Hermione just looked at them shocked and scared. How did they know? Were they spying on her? Did they put Draco up to this?
AN: Well that's it for this chapter. 20 reviews and I'll post the fifth one real soon. Hope ya liked this chappie.
The characters mentioned in this chapter belong to the wonderful J.K. Rowling, except for Mary and Sabina. They are real people.