AN: All I have to say is I'm sorry. If you all hate me, that's fine. I haven't had the drive to write anything and everything that I've written has come out just plain wrong. I know it's been over a year, and I know that's unacceptable but I'm trying my hardest so…. Without further blathering by the author, here's chapter 8.

Dumbledore sat stewing in his office. He hadn't been able to see into the Granger girl's mind and it had him feeling off. The only Occlumens he knew to be capable of keeping him out were Severus Snape and Tom Riddle (back in the days when he had gone by that name). The most disconcerting part about her ability to block him out was that she had been in a coma, most likely not aware of his intrusion, and judging by Poppy's observations, on the brink of death. She shouldn't have been able to keep him from seeing what was going on…knowing that she could keep him out had him quite frightened. A brain like hers, working for the wrong side, with no one to keep her in check… this was a dangerous thing.

"Fawkes, go find Severus. I think its time he and I had a chat."

The old Phoenix was tired of being a part of his master's games however, he knew that until he found someone whose magic was powerful enough to sustain him and whom he could trust more than the old man he currently served, he couldn't leave. So wishing he could do anything else, he took off to find the potions master.

Fawkes was not surprised in the least when he found his target sitting in silent contemplation in the hospital wing. He perched at the top of the bed where Hermione lay waiting until he caught the eye of the sour looking man. Snape's thoughts were interrupted by the slamming of the infirmary door and the loud click of running on the old stone floors. Hermione tried her best to sit up in the hopes of seeing the commotion but didn't quite have the strength to sit up on her own. Snape stood and rushed to the end of her bed, looking around the divider to see what the ruckus was about. Draco, who was paying very little attention to his surroundings nearly ran head-on into his godfather, saved only from the man's wrath by a glance up and nearly falling on his face to stop in time.

"Please do refrain from breaking anything Mr. Malfoy. Although we are in the perfect place to fix your maladies, Madam Pomfrey has plenty of other, more important matters to tend to." Snape bit out, lacking his usual acidity.

"Since you are here to keep Ms. Zabini company, I will take my leave." As he swept away in a billow of black robes Fawkes took off to return to his master's office. There was no doubt in his mind that the spy had taken note of his presence.

If there was one thing Severus Snape hated the most in all the world, it was Albus Dumbledore's meddling. He could barely tolerate the man, but the finagling the old coot did to make things go the way he wanted them made him even more unbearable. He almost wished Draco hadn't come to the hospital wing because it would have given him an excuse not to follow the unspoken command to meet the headmaster in his office. Days like today made him question his sanity in having ever allowed the man in question to have so much power in his life. He steeled himself and strengthened his mental walls, knowing the interrogation he was about to face would be neither easy nor short lived.

When he arrived at the gargoyle guarding the headmaster's office he didn't give the password. He stood, glaring, until the staircase was revealed to him and he slowly made his way up the stairs. Just because he had to be here, did not mean he had to make it easy.

"Severus, Dear boy please have a seat!" The man was grinning like he had for sure gone raving mad. Although most days he wasn't far off anyways.

"Albus, I'm not sure why you've brought me up her, if you had bothered to look in my head you'd have seen everything there was to see." Dumbledore's grin faded before widening.

" Dear boy, I don't know why you try to show me fake memories anymore, you know I can see right through them." He hoped his tone would hide his bluff, while he doubted what he had been shown was the full truth, he had no proof from what he'd seen.

"Well Albus, it seems you are going a bit mad. Everything you saw was true. I know full well you track me. I was here, at Hogwarts, all night. I haven't the slightest noti-" he was cut off abruptly.

"Don't pull that nonsense with me Severus, I've always been able to see through your lies. What is all this rubbish with the Granger-"

"Zabini."

"Yes, yes, Zabini girl anyways. The whole of Slytherin house treats her as royalty, especially those whose parents are death eaters. The Malfoy boy keeps her within arms reach at all times. And I can't get into her head anymore!" When he realized he had let the last part slip, he sat down. "Tea, Severus?" Severus knew if he drank the tea, most of his memory of this conversation would disappear so he shook his head. He erected a full shield and sat down, following Dumbledore's lead.

"Albus, I've told you all I know, you and I both know that the Dark Lord does not hold me in the regard he did before the second war. I'm not in as deep as I was before. He still doesn't trust me, I'm doing the best that I can but, I'm only one man. And merlin knows I'm not in the position I was to gather information like I was last time." The old headmaster seemed to ponder this idea. He sat for a moment before waving Severus off, not even bothering to formally dismiss him.

HGDM HGDM HGDM

When Hermione had made to sit up, the monitor spells Poppy had set up alerted her to the girl's increased heart rate. She had seen the encounter between Mr. Malfoy and Professor Snape and assumed the increase was due to excitement but she came around to be sure. Seeing that the girl was alert and would probably be able to consider her options, she pulled up a chair to have a talk.

"Dear, we're going to talk about what happened and how I can help you. Would you like Mr. Malfoy to leave?" Hermione grabbed Draco's hand and shook her head vigorously.

"No. No, let him stay. I'd like him here actually." The matron smiled sternly.

" Do you remember what happened last night dear?"

"Not precisely." While she did, telling Madam Pomfrey didn't seem like it was on the list of things she should do.

"Okay. Well, you came in with a pretty nasty curse, darn near almost killed you from the suck on your magic. For a while I was sure we'd lose you. I would have sent you to St. Mungos but you weren't in any state to be moved. Which is part of why I'm so shocked you're up today. Speaking of which, how are you feeling today?"

"Pretty weak. My brain is running a little on the slow side. But, overall better than last night before I passed out. Speaking of which, my arm doesn't hurt at all anymore." She looked, half expecting to see her dark mark but, not surprised to see the faint shimmer of a glamour. She could tell the mediwitch could see it too but was thankful that she made not move to undo it.

"Well, I'm glad to hear that you are feeling okay. I know this may be counter to your desires but, I would like to keep you here until Monday before classes." Hermione started to argue but knew that nothing would change the old mediwitch's mind since she had made it up. Poppy got up and returned to her office leaving the two Slytherins alone in their thoughts.

HGDM HGDM HGDM

By Saturday afternoon, Hermione was chomping at the bit. Madam Pomfrey, in her well-meaning goodness, refused to let her out of her bed. This would have been fine, if she had been allowed to do some of her work but the mediwitch wouldn't allow that either, "You need your rest," she'd argue every time Hermione tried to ask. Hermione had tried to beg and she'd tried to argue and she'd tried to use logic but none of it had any effect on the matron. If the girl hadn't appreciated the work that the witch did, she would've hexed the older woman from pure frustration. The only thing that made her forced 'vacation' in the hospital wing slightly better was that it gave her an excuse not to return to the cold, darkness of her home.

When Draco came to see her Saturday night, he looked haunted. His already pale skin was almost grey and the light in his eyes that Hermione was so used to seeing had dimmed. He staggered to the chair next to her bed drawing his wand to cast some privacy charms.

"He's got us killing people, love. Kids…they didn't even understand what was happening. I knew stuff like this was coming but….what in the name of Merlin does this achieve? Why would-"

"It's a muggle tactic, terror, it's the most effective way to get the attention of wizarding Britain. Kill enough people in the same way, without discrimination, you show that you're not playing by the rules of war and you'll take everyone else down with you if you don't win." She paused. "Dray, I'm sorry you had to be part of that. I know I can't imagine how you're feeling but, I can start to guess at where your emotions are coming from. Just because you do something awful to keep your family safe, doesn't mean you're an afwul person. "

"But, children…he had us torturing fucking children." He looked to be on the verge of tears.

"He. That's the key, you weren't doing it for shits and giggles. You didn't want to do it, you did what you were told because you know what happens if you don't." She scooted to the far side of her bed and patted the space beside her. Draco pulled himself out of his chair and slid into bed next to her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and she grabbed his hands, interlacing their fingers and hoping to drag him into lala land with her.

An: Please keep in mind, I am not Beta read. If you see something, please feel free to gently enlighten me.