Beta'ed by: Audrey and Shelly Ann.
Chapter 10. Prefect's duty.
Harry was waiting for Hermione in the common room, he still didn't know exactly what to tell her, but he supposed a direct approach was the best. He only wanted to make sure that she was alright, he had already guessed that she didn't want to commit to a serious relationship with Ron, though it would have been nice to see both of them happy together, he wasn't about to convince Hermione to do something she didn't want to.
It was Saturday and Hermione always was one of the few early risers on weekends, so Harry was truly surprised when Ron came downstairs, and the girl had yet to make an appearance. Ron had wanted to wait for her with him, but Harry insisted that he had to talk with Hermione alone; Ron conceded after a while and left for the Great Hall with Seamus and Dean.
Harry was sure breakfast was about to end when Hermione finally appeared, she looked surprised to see him there.
"Oh. Hi Harry. Were you waiting for me?"
"Yes, I was about to try and shout to you." said Harry, approaching his friend and watching her attentively. She didn't seem ill, maybe a little tired, but the sad look that had been in her face the previous days had disappeared.
"Oh, I'm so sorry Harry. I was pretty tired last night and I overslept a little."
"It's ok Hermione, don't worry."
"Well, shall we go?"
"Mmm. Actually, I want to talk with you."
"Really?" Hermione arched an eyebrow in question, though she had an idea of what Harry wanted to talk about, she hoped it was not about the map that was presently forgotten in the secret room in the dungeons. They both took a seat in the armchairs.
"Um, yes. You know, lately you have seemed a little upset. Something happened?"
Hermione almost sighed in relief; she smiled to her friend and answered.
"Nothing to worry about Harry, really, I've just been doing a lot of thinking."
"Mmm. Something about Ron and his 'proposition'?"
Hermione blushed a little, but answered none the less, for some strange reason she felt more at ease talking to Harry about this than to Ginny.
"Well, actually I had decided that I didn't want to hear his proposition. You see, I like you both being my friends. I really don't want that to change. And I don't know how to tell that to Ron. Ginny kind of freaked out and is totally convinced that I'm confused and that I am deeply in love with her brother. I'm not eager to see how Ron will react if his sister's response is any indication."
"Yeah, I know what you mean. Listen, I can talk with Ron and try to ease him, maybe get him into the idea that you both are better of as friends, if you like."
"Oh Harry, that would be helpful, thank you."
"You're welcome 'Mione. Maybe we can still catch the end of breakfast."
"Sure, let's go."
They both stood, and Harry, without thinking twice, did a very Harry-like thing. He hugged Hermione tightly. And this time he felt it. She tensed. It was only a second, and then she relaxed and almost reluctantly returned the hug, but Harry noticed it wasn't as she used to give them, she almost felt insecure. Harry released her and eyed her warily.
"'Mione? What's the matter?"
She blushed and tried to put herself under control.
"What do you mean Harry?"
"You tensed; you never get tense when someone hugs you."
"Oh, it's nothing Harry; you surprised me that's all. Come on! Or we won't have breakfast today!"
Before Harry could open his mouth again, she turned on her heels and left the Gryffindor common room. Harry frowned and followed her. He was really missing something; he hoped it wouldn't turn out to be something really bad.
Hermione's mood seemed to improve over the next few days, and Harry's worries eased somewhat. Ron wasn't happy when Harry advised him to wait a little more to make an advance with Hermione, let her relax and finish school without other worries. Ginny wasn't happy either, she had expected kisses, hugs, and romance, but eventually Harry managed to get her agree that they mustn't pressure Hermione, she was well capable of handling her own life, and she would know when she wanted to get in a serious relationship.
Hermione was grateful that some of the stress coming from Ron's part had lessened considerably. Both boys returned to leave her to her studies when she wanted to be alone, the only thing they plainly refused was to let her go study with Malfoy alone. It was annoying. For the potions project Harry had to be there anyway, but she was sure that Ron would have stayed in her Arithmancy class if he could. The first time she and Malfoy tried to get started on their project had turned into a shouting match between the blonde Slytherin and the two Gryffindor boys, more exactly, Ron had done an enormous amount of the shouting while the other two engaged themselves mostly in a glaring match. Oddly enough that had resulted in Hermione and Draco starting the project over the blankets of their secret room. Next time they had to meet with the imposing presence of Harry and Ron together, Draco had made sure it was in the library, and he had dragged along Goyle, Zabini and Bulstrode with him, so the Gryffindors were outnumbered and he and Granger could actually get something done.
Ron and Harry soon realized that Malfoy was as addicted as Hermione to get good grades, both boys were horrified to see that, not even the perspective of being stuck with his three most hated Gryffindors, would stop Malfoy from spending hours in the library in said company, if that meant his grades will be outstanding. For Harry it was double torture because of the potions project, and he discovered, to his dismay, that the Ravenclaws were even worse than Malfoy and Hermione together. By the middle of the month, the Boy-Who-Lived was convinced that soon he'd have to ask Dumbledore for a bed in the library, seeing that he seemed to get out of it only for meals, classes and Quidditch practices; he was sure that the Ravenclaws had a secret passage from their tower to the library, and that they would be happy to spend the rest of their lives imbibed in books.
All in all, things seemed to have returned to almost normal. The Daily Prophet continued to report a variety of minor Death Eater's attacks, and the new Minister of Magic had decreed some kind of martial law. The majority of the first and second years from all the Houses were removed from school, but the rest had stayed, some parents, realizing that Hogwarts was a lot safer than their own homes, had even refused their children's petitions to go back to them.
The atmosphere in the castle was still tense, but the absence of the majority of the Slytherins had been somewhat comforting, to the point that many students were convinced that Hogwarts was now positively free of any Dark Lord's supporters; many others still suspected Malfoy and his friends to be the only rotten eggs left. Harry and Ron were among that last category, but much to their disappointment Malfoy so far hadn't done anything for which they could openly point their wands at him, their only "proof" to Malfoy's loyalties was the bandage of his left arm, that sometimes could barely be seen below his shirt, and that the two Gryffindors were sure concealed the Dark Mark, but no one seemed to think their suspicions were important, and that frustrated them to no end.
Draco and Hermione continued their nightly meetings without accidents, and the boy was highly satisfied about that. He had also managed to pay back Marshall for the attack to his person without leaving a single thing that could be traced back to him. So far, he and Granger had achieved a certain routine, which now included a lot of studying in the library, with the added bonus of making Potter's and Weasley's lives miserable without lifting a finger.
Malfoy was aware that his attitude towards the Gryffindor girl had changed in public, it had been subtle, more like civility towards each others, but it was a change nonetheless. Over the month he had received a good amount of suspicious and surprised glances from his housemates, who were the only ones that had registered his and Granger's barely noticeable change; Draco was sure that some of the Slytherins were only waiting for him to make a more friendly move towards the Gryffindors, so they could officially have free rein to start making their own alliances with them. He didn't worry too much about his housemates' surveillance, he was pretty sure that no one suspected the true nature of his recent civility to Granger, which didn't extend to the rest of the golden trio, they were under the impression that he was starting to prove the ground for his own alliances.
Little they know that his actual concerns had nothing to do with alliances, crazy Dark Lords or stupid wars, his only worry was to keep things with Granger the way they were at the moment, and making sure no one suspected them of having anything, not even akin to friendship, and thankfully the covert of Dumbledore's "Unity Project" had proven to be very helpful. It was more for her safety than anything else. He had been thinking things over and had concluded that he actually didn't care if all the school discovered they had been sleeping together, but he had finally acknowledged the fact that he didn't want Granger to get hurt. She still had hope that the Dark Lord would be defeated, and foolish as he saw it, he didn't want her to lose it yet, it was part of what she was, and if they suddenly went and told the world they had a liaison, all the junior death eaters that still were in the school would be after her, hoping to get to him.
It wouldn't matter to them the fact that it was only an affair, based almost entirely in convenience, and that there were no deep emotions involved; they would only want to make clear that anything Draco touched would be in danger, and since the Crabbe incident they realized that they couldn't do a thing to the Slytherins, they'd go for any other prey that seemed more available. Draco wasn't even sure of how many followers of the Dark Lord were still in the school, and those idiotic friends of the bushy haired girl, would never believe that someone not Slytherin could be a dark wizard in disguise until it was too late.
It frustrated Malfoy to no end the fact that Potter was so immersed in catching him doing something suspicious, that he didn't put enough attention to the rest of his fellow students. All of them could be in real danger, Hermione could get hurt in any moment and the stupid fool was focused in petty rivalry!
To make things better, Draco had realized that Granger had suddenly became Hermione in his mind. It was annoying. He had no business thinking about her in first name. It unnerved him that he had started to see her more and more like a real person, instead of the convenient lay she was supposed to be. He didn't want to acknowledge it, but deep inside him he knew he was starting to feel real affection for her. It wasn't right, he tried to deny these new feelings and bury them deep in his mind, but the entire world seemed to be conspiring against him.
It had started with professor Snape, the man had initially been furious over Draco's near death experience, Crabbe had been given permanent detention with his Head of House, and Malfoy suspected that his godfather had something to do with the fact that he could take his revenge from Marshall, who was a Ravenclaw, without further consequences; but Snape had been watching his godson more closely since then, and it was starting to get on Malfoy's nerves.
It had been a surprise when the Potions Master made Malfoy and Granger stay behind after one class, to name them responsible of the potions project advances, and after that the man decided that the class should work mixed, so he put all of them in pairs, making sure that each one had a partner of a different House, somehow Malfoy had ended paired with Granger, much to Blaise's amusement and Potter's wrath. Draco was starting to suspect that his godfather knew something, but he dismissed the thought, if Snape really knew about his affair with Granger, Malfoy was sure that the man would be doing anything within his reach to get them apart from each other, not making them spend more time together.
Also, they had the prefect's meetings, which had been increased due to the recent new security means, and the constant surveillance they had to do over the rest of their schoolmates.
And finally, Weasley seemed determined to get more annoying each day. He just couldn't stop teasing Malfoy about the Dark Mark, it was starting to have the, obviously unwanted, effect of Hermione sitting beside Draco every time they worked in the library, saying that they should make an effort and put an example to the rest of the School, so the other students saw that House Unity could be possible, it was starting to drive Weasley mad.
All things considered, the end of the month caught Draco doing serious thinking about the mess his casual affair was in, but he still didn't want it to end, Hermione was turning out to be the sexiest and most intelligent girl he had ever laid eyes on; he didn't want to give her up, especially when the next available option for her was a Weasley, she deserved better. Malfoy was starting to think that they could have both done pretty well together; it really was a pity that their time was running out fast. Damn the Dark Lord and his useless war.
Draco was thinking about the utter unfairness of the world, while he waited outside of the prefect's meeting room for the rest of the House's prefects to arrive. It was Saturday, and the new security rules specified that Saturday afternoons the prefects should have a meeting with the Heads of House, to give them their reports. Personally Malfoy thought it was useless, but Snape had agreed to it, and as the Slytherin Head boy he had the obligation to support his Head of House and keep his opinions to himself.
So, now there he was, waiting with the rest of the Slytherin prefects for the door of the meeting room to be opened, which would happen when the four Heads of House arrived. So far only Snape and McGonagall were present, neither seemed particularly happy this afternoon, in fact, Draco noticed that McGonagall's lips were pressed so tightly they were practically invisible. He supposed she was annoyed because her precious Gryffindors hadn't arrived yet. Professor Snape was watching the lot of them contemptuously, and avoiding eye contact with the Gryffindor witch. Draco was starting to wonder if something had transpired between them when the Ravenclaws arrived, followed by the Hufflepufs. Professor Flitwick arrived too, and moments later the Gryffindors.
Draco automatically searched for the bushy haired girl, and had to stop himself from going to her. The weasel was at her side as always, not happy at all for having to waste a perfect Saturday afternoon in a meeting, but then, no one really looked forward to these meetings. Granger was rolling her eyes at his behaviour; the girl had always wished that her friend would act a little more mature, at least in front of the school faculty. Draco had said to her earlier in the month that it was clearly impossible for the weasel to be mature. Malfoy smiled to himself, remembering how she had been affronted at his comment, when he noticed the way professor McGonagall was watching him, almost as though she had caught him doing something inappropriate, he straightened himself and looked at her coldly. She huffed and then turned to the two seventh year Gryffindors, and she looked worried. Malfoy arched an eyebrow, suddenly intrigued by this. He turned towards Weasley and Granger, trying to see what had worried their Head of House, when professor Sprout finally arrived and all of them had to enter the meeting room.
The reunion was utterly boring, Malfoy spent it thinking about homework and Quidditch manoeuvres, occasionally sending suggestive glances to Granger, which the girl ignored. It wasn't until the end of the meeting that Malfoy was startled to attention, as he heard his name in McGonagall's voice.
"We have a final announcement. Mr. Malfoy, Miss Granger, this will concern you both."
Malfoy narrowed his eyes at Gryffindor's Head of House, she had that odd look of worry in her eyes again; this couldn't be good.
"Professor Dumbledore has been pleased to see that our efforts towards House Unity are starting to show results". Many of the prefects smiled at the announcement, those results were mostly homework groups and some new inter-house couples. "And he wishes to give it stronger push."
Malfoy winced, he didn't like the way that sounded; he definitely didn't like the apologetic look McGonagall threw to Hermione.
"So, we are establishing new extracurricular activities, and one of the Head Boys along with one of the Head Girls will be responsible of the organization and implementation of them. That would be Mr. Malfoy and Miss Granger; obviously the task would mean that both of you have to take part in said activities, together."
Malfoy could hear the silence around him and he mentally started to count. One… two…
"WHAT!"
Weasley's yell of incredulity made McGonagall narrow her eyes; all the Gryffindors were visibly distressed.
"Professor, you can't be serious!"
"Ron!" Granger tried to placate her friend to no avail; Weasley's temper was already up.
"Why him! You can't make Hermione try to get along with that…!"
"Mr. Weasley, that's enough!" McGonagall interrupted the red head's rant with an angry shout, Ron's face was all red, Malfoy smirked at him maliciously and Granger threw him a warning glare. McGonagall tried to continue.
"Mr. Malfoy and Miss Granger are the top students of the Seventh year, their grades are exceptional, also we hope that seeing them both working as a team would encourage others to do the same, not only in homework or study groups."
"But professor…!"
"Mr. Weasley, I really believe that there should be no problems with the Headmaster's decision." said McGonagall through gritted teeth, clearly warning Ron to shut up. The boy seemed oblivious to it, much to Granger's clear embarrassment.
"I have a problem with it professor! To let Hermione spend time with him would be endangering her!"
"Ron stop!" Hermione was truly worried now; Malfoy could see McGonagall fighting to not agree with her student. All the other prefects were trying very hard to disappear. The Slytherins were starting to put their guards up.
"And why do you think the girl would be in any danger around my student Mr. Weasley?" Said Snape dangerously, McGonagall was trying to stupefy Ron with her glare, but the boy ignored the warning signals.
"Come on! You know why! He's a…! Mmmmph!"
Hermione practically jumped over her friend and silenced him forcefully with a hand over his mouth, she looked at the Slytherins apologetically and then to professor Snape.
"I'm so sorry professor; he's not himself right now. He and Harry had been trying some suspicious candies from his brother's shop. I think they are a little toxic."
"Yeah, as if the stupid boy needed poison to make his brain go any slower." muttered Millicent at Malfoy's side, the Slytherins that heard her smirked in appreciation.
Draco scowled at the red headed boy, and then looked worriedly at Granger, she was blushing with embarrassment but accepted the task professor McGonagall was giving them, much to Weasley's anger. Malfoy could see the Gryffindor was going to have another rant, when his Head of House stopped him; she deducted ten points from Gryffindor and sent him to his common room. Weasley left fuming, and with that the meeting finished, everybody went out, gossiping about the scene they had just witnessed, Malfoy and Granger stayed behind to accompany their Heads of House to the Headmaster's office; Dumbledore would tell them personally what their new duties were and the new activities they'll have to organize.
Hermione and Draco entered Dumbledore's office followed by professors Snape and McGonagall. The Headmaster gestured for them to take a seat and offered them tea and lemon drops, which they politely declined; Dumbledore smiled and started to get to the point.
"I think that your Heads of House have already told you what this is about."
"Yes sir." Hermione answered, Draco was looking thoughtfully at the Headmaster.
"Excuse me sir, I have to ask you a question. Why us?" Malfoy would never admit it, but he agreed with Weasley in that making him and Hermione work together was dangerous for her; they were bound to start being friendly and attract unwanted attention from some suspicious students and, although they'll be spending an awful lot of time together, they would also be closely watched, and Malfoy didn't like to be watched for. Dumbledore smiled knowingly at him and explained.
"Mr. Malfoy, I'm aware that this seems strange, but you know very well that Gryffindor and Slytherin are the two Houses that hold the strongest rivalry against each other, thus they are the ones that we need to join publicly if we want the House Unity project to work fully."
"Yes, but why us? Why not Weasley and Bulstrode?" Even Snape rolled his eyes at that, and Draco pouted. "Ok, that was not very intelligent, but someone of the other years?"
"Mr. Malfoy" This time it was Snape the one who talked. "We both know pretty well how Slytherin House works, and you know they won't follow any lead apart from yours now."
Draco huffed, and looked at Hermione. She was doing her best to not seem happy with the turn of things and was barely succeeding, but Draco could still see her eyes gleam with mirth. He sighed in resignation and listened to Dumbledore's words.
"Good. Now, we have considered a wide variety of different activities, and I want to hear your opinion on them."
They went over numerous activities, both muggle and wizarding alike. McGonagall got a floo call from the hospital wing and had to left after a few minutes, Snape stayed and gave his opinion about some things, and how this development would affect the students' grades.
Finally they agreed about doing a Quidditch group for those that didn't belong to the official House teams; a dance group, a gardening group and to reopen the DA as a dueling club. Dumbledore said he already have talked with Harry Potter to guide the group again, so Draco's job was to make the Slytherins join in it. For the gardening group they were going to get Neville's help; Granger would lead the dance classes and Malfoy the Quidditch.
Hermione tried to get out of the Quidditch group, saying that she was completely hopeless at it, and Malfoy complained at having to be in gardening, but Dumbledore insisted in that he wanted both of them to be active participants of all the groups, even if they weren't guiding them, and the two youngsters had to comply.
"One last thing, we are going to dissolve the House boundaries a little. From now on, starting tomorrow, there will be only one table in the Great Hall in the weekends; it would be nice if you two sit together at it."
It was not a suggestion; Hermione opened her mouth and closed it, not sure if she wanted to object. Malfoy narrowed his eyes; this situation was highly suspicious already. Why them? Draco didn't believe that Dumbledore only wanted to have the Houses united. And how in hell would he manage to keep his hands off Granger, if they were being practically thrown together all the time?
Snape coughed meaningfully to the Headmaster, and the old man's face brightened in a way that nearly gave Draco the scare of his life.
"Oh, yes! We are going to have a ball at the end of the School term, much like a prom for the seventh years, I would like for you two to open the dancing."
Draco could feel his mouth hanging open in astonishment. This wasn't prefect's duty; this man was up to something else! Malfoy turned to see the impassive mask of indifference his uncle had in place, and for a clear moment had the horrid certainty that both professors were together in this.
Hermione was blushing furiously, completely speechless, her first thought was that the Headmaster knew what was happening between her and Draco, but she dismissed it readily; if that were true then they both should have been in deep trouble. It was against the rules to have sex inside the school compound, but then why was the Headmaster trying his best to couple them? Draco felt compelled to say something.
"You can't be serious. I can't go on a date with her!"
"Why not Mr. Malfoy?"
"Because she… I…!" Draco was at a loss of words, for a moment he thought about calling her a mudblood, but that would be getting into more trouble with the Headmaster. Hermione came to his rescue, seeing that he was still shocked.
"Malfoy and I don't get along too well Headmaster. It would be a miracle if we manage to work together in the group organizations without killing each other."
"My thoughts exactly." Said Draco, awfully relieved, Dumbledore however wasn't about to give up.
"It doesn't have to be a date; you only have to open the dance, as a symbol of peace and unity."
Nothing they said could have changed the Headmaster's mind, so they resigned themselves to their doom and Dumbledore dismissed them happily.
As soon as they were outside the door and the revolving stairs started to carry them down, Hermione sighed in exasperation.
"Well, at least he's not making us live together. Almost."
"Mmph" Malfoy had narrowed his eyes, clearly not liking the situation at all.
"What do you think Draco?"
"I have the impression that we are being set up, but I can't phantom why."
"I don't think professor Dumbledore has reason to do it."
"Please Hermione! The man is a manipulative bastard!"
"Draco! Don't call him that!"
"But he is! I don't know why he's doing it, but I know he's hopping to stick us together, and he must have a reason to do it."
"You think like a Slytherin, but not all people has to have a hidden motive to do something"
"I'm totally convinced of the contrary." They noticed that they were almost down; they could see the secret door already opening to let them out.
"We should talk about this later."
"Tonight?" asked Hermione hopefully.
"Yes. Meanwhile, I'd let you break the news."
"Break the news? To whom?"
They were getting out to the corridor, and Malfoy gestured in front of them at two worried looking Gryffindors.
"Them."
"Hermione!"
Harry and Ron immediately surrounded their friend, pulling her apart from Malfoy. Ron was still pretty pissed off and he started ranting.
"Tell me you made him see reason Hermione! Tell me Dumbledore isn't making you work with the ferret!"
"Ron! Would you calm down? Please?" Granger was a little embarrassed, she didn't want to tell them everything, especially the part of the dance, she believed Ron was capable of getting into the Headmaster's office and yell at the professor. Harry was glaring at Malfoy, but he turned to look at his friend and asked her,
"Hermione, then it's true what Ron told me? Dumbledore wants you both to work together at some crazy thing?"
"How very specific of you Potter" snarled Malfoy, Ron wanted to strangle him.
"Shut up ferret!"
"Ron, don't make a scene here! We're outside of the Headmaster's office! And it's not some crazy thing Harry; it's the organization of some extracurricular activities, to encourage inter house friendships."
"But why does it have to be you and him?"
"I asked that same question Potter; the answer was not very encouraging."
Harry ignored Malfoy and kept watching Hermione, the girl sighed and answered what she suspected was an excuse from Dumbledore's part.
"Because we are the top Seventh year students and…"
"But Hermione he's Malfoy and he's a Slytherin!" Ron interrupted her, clearly frustrated.
"How very observant of you Weasley." Malfoy said in sarcasm, Ron glared daggers at him, and Hermione started to feel frustrated herself.
"Please, could we at least try to be civil? If you let me finish Ron, I was about to say that, what we are, it's precisely the reason why professor Dumbledore wants the two of us to be together in this."
"What?" said Harry, a little confused. "Because he's Malfoy and a Slytherin and you are…?"
"Hermione Granger and a Gryffindor, yes Harry." Said Hermione looking at him calmly. The look in Harry's eyes changed as he pondered the implications of this. Ron looked them both with a frown on his face.
"What? I don't get it. What does it have to do with this mess?"
Hermione looked at him with tired eyes, and Malfoy sighed in exasperation.
"Merlin! Why did I think there were other options apart from me?"
Ron was about to make a rude comment, but Harry talked first.
"You don't seem to have made much effort to get yourself out of this Malfoy. Why are you agreeing with it?"
"Look Potter, I did voice my objections, especially to the gardening thing and… some other activities, but it's not as if the old coot really gave me a choice in the matter. In fact he was very… insistent, in some odd kind of way about it." Malfoy carefully avoided mentioning the new table arrangements or the dance; he wasn't in the mood for more of Weasley's anger. The red haired boy made a disgusted face.
"Gardening? What the hell are you talking about?"
"You are going to do gardening Malfoy?" said Harry, disbelievingly.
"Don't laugh too soon Potter. You are going to see me at that DA club of yours also."
"What!" Ron was sounding closer to desperation; Hermione grabbed his arm to stop him from putting his hands on Malfoy.
"I'll let Granger explain it to you weasel. I'm not in the mood to threat with dumb heads like you. Excuse me."
Malfoy turned away from them and started to retreat. Harry glared at his back, silently fuming and cursing himself for not having suspected that Dumbledore wanted to make the Slytherins join the DA. Ron was in near shock.
"Will somebody explain to me what is happening!"
"Come on Ron, I'll explain it to you in our way to the common room."
And the three friends walked together to Gryffindor tower, to do some homework while they waited for dinner time.
As soon as Hermione and Draco left the office, Dumbledore sighed and looked at the Potion's Master; he was pleased at the meeting's results, even if the two youngsters were in total denial of what they felt for each other, which had been clear like water to the Headmaster's accurate eyes.
"Well Severus, it seems you were right, this could be a huge advantage to us, if we handle it carefully."
"Yes, if Mr. Malfoy indeed changes his alliances, and we manage to get rid of Malfoy senior."
"I don't think young Mr. Malfoy would be a problem, they really do look well together." said Dumbledore, his eyes sparkling joyfully.
"Mmph. It's still a delicate matter, I know they're having an affair, I've seen them. But the boy is known to have meaningless affairs too often. This could simply be a pastime."
"Oh, no Severus, I really doubt it. It's serious. However, they don't seem to know it yet. I think a little push would be very useful for them. And don't forget we need him."
"There are many powerful wizards that would aid Potter in his task."
"Yes, but none of them is a Malfoy. And you know how important names are in our society, mostly in politics. However foolish it is, that is the way of things now. If Voldemort looses Malfoy's support he will automatically loose any chance he has to turn the pureblooded wizards that are still neutral, to his side, and many of the half-bloods. He might even loose some of his followers. Malfoy is a powerful name Severus, and we need as many supporters as we can achieve; we must have him with us."
"Then, perhaps we have to make things go faster?" Said Snape, arching an eyebrow, Dumbledore smiled to him.
"No, it won't be necessary. I'm confident that, with what we've already done, they will work it out by themselves. We must focus on other pressing matters, and on Malfoy senior."
"If you say so." Severus seemed unconcerned, but Dumbledore knew that he will be watching over his godson; the Headmaster smiled again.
"Of course Severus, don't worry yourself. Tea?"