Has anyone ever listened to Swish and Flick? They have some wonderful Slytherin songs. Personally, I really enjoy Like a Death Eater. You guys should look them up, sometime!
Draco had been released from the hospital wing three days ago, but Hermione hadn't seen him since. He spent most of his time holed up in the Room of Requirement, and when he wasn't working on that, he was in Snape's office.
Hermione cleared her mind. Thoughts of Draco were the last thing she needed right now. It was the last thing she wanted Ron or Harry to find.
After Sirius had died, the Golden Trio had all been practicing Occlumency together. They couldn't do much on their own, but it was better than nothing. It had been awkward at first, trying to delve into Ron's thoughts while they had been fighting, but she also knew that no matter what they were going through, they were going to face much worse soon, and they couldn't risk being vulnerable.
Though she hadn't been practicing as long as Harry, she had already surpassed his skill. Not only could she push through his barricades, she could completely stop his attempts. Either way, it wouldn't do to have stray thoughts of Malfoy if he happened to slip through.
"Hermione, stop." Ron whined. "My head hurts." She rolled her eyes and withdrew from his mind.
"How about you, Harry?" Harry shrugged.
"Ron's right. We've been at this for hours. Can we stop now?" Hermione's eyes scanned over the boys. Their hair was stuck up in various places where their hands hand ran through, and their eyelids drooped from over exertion.
She nodded curtly, "Alright then. You boys are getting better though, even if you don't realize it." She tried to smile encouragingly, but had a feeling it wasn't working. "Good night."
It hadn't been a complete lie, they were progressing, just incredibly slowly. She knew her own skills would never increase unless she began practicing with an adept Occulems. Of course, the only one it the school just had to be Snape. She sighed as she retreated to her dorm room.
She had went to see Dumbledore, hoping he could arrange a time to teach her. Instead he sent for Snape and informed them that they would be having weekly lessons. Naturally she had been upset, but Snape had seem overly irritated by the thought. He had argued that Harry couldn't be bothered to learn it, why would he waste more time on her? Dumbledore just smiled wisely, saying he was already teaching Malfoy, why couldn't he include Hermione is those lessons.
Snape had been seething. He told her she was to spend her entire Saturday with him for lessons. It hadn't helped either when she had said she had apparition lessons Saturday mornings. His eye had even twitched as he stared down at her. Hermione shuddered at the memory, but she couldn't help but wonder why Malfoy was taking Occlumency lessons.
Does it have to do with who he is killing?
Is he trying to keep it from Dumbledore?
If he's had lessons with Snape, then Snape must know what Malfoy is planning.
It must be why he was spending so much time in Snape's office.
Maybe they are working together.
I always knew Snape was not to be trusted.
Hermione pulled off her robes, and changed into sleep pants. She needed to stop thinking about Draco all the time. The more she thought about him, the more likely Snape was to pull out memories of him from her mind. And as much as she didn't want Harry and Ron to realize how often she thought of Draco, Snape knowing could only be worse.
She rolled over in her bed, facing the ceiling. She had charmed the top of her four poster bed to show the constellations. Immediately she realized her ceiling was showing the far northern sky. She could easily spot Hercules, Ursa Major, and Ursa Minor. That could only mean Draco was up there too. It wasn't as bright, and therefore harder to spot, but Hermione knew it was there. She rolled to her side.
Why does everything come back to Malfoy now?
Draco used to be one of my favorite constellations, now I can't even look at it.
Even in her mind, Hermione's voice seemed grumpy.
Draco was beginning to tire of Occlumency lessons with Snape. The man already knew more about him than he was comfortable sharing. For what seemed like the millionth time this year, he prayed to Salazar that Snape was trustworthy. If not, then even his best kept secrets would be spilled to the Dark Lord.
He shuddered at the thought. His mother was right, of course. He would be labeled a blood traitor. The image of himself being tortured occupied his mind. Draco knew the Dark Lord would use him to set an example. He could see his limbs being torn from the rest of his body, when suddenly a memory popped up. It was his first day at Hogwarts, when they were waiting to be sorted. It wasn't when he was introducing himself to Potter and Weasel, but the first time he had seen Hermione.
She hadn't been especially beautiful then, with her bushy hair, buck teeth, and wide eyes, but Draco had found her endearing. Immediately, he had been drawn to her. He had had every intention on becoming her friend, until she had been placed in Gryffindor. Even then, at first, he hadn't been thrown off her entirely, until she became friends with Potter.
A second memory took over. It was the summer between first and second year. It was when he had found out that Granger wasn't of wizarding decent.
That memory was quickly replaced with one from his first quidditch practice, when he had called her a mudblood. He visibly flinched now, seeing her reaction a second time.
By now he had realized what was happening. Snape had entered his mind when he was distracted, and pulled out the one thing Draco had managed to keep hidden. He was trying quickly to clear his mind, but Snape's presence just kept pulling.
It was third year, and she turned up her nose as he taunted Potter about Dementors. She was sneering as he layed on the ground cowering from that horrendous hippogriff. She pointed her wand at him, then pulled her hand back before hitting him.
It was late nights at the manor when he tossed and turned, plagued by dreams of her.
Draco gritted his teeth and pushed at Snape's presence harder. Snape slid around him and began pulling again.
It was the Quidditch World Cup, and he was warning Harry and Ron to get Hermione to safety. Granger with Krum, then leaving the Yule Ball crying, the anger building in Draco as he watched, though he hadn't understood then why he had been so angry.
The memories were coming faster now, and Draco had had enough. He threw everything in him at the invader in his mind, successfully throwing him out. When his mind was his own again, Draco grabbed his things and quickly exited the room.
Severus had been surprised to say the least. He had noticed that the two had seemed to stop bickering, but he had assumed it was because Draco had been too busy with his mission. It had never occurred to him that the boy had feelings for the girl.
Perhaps, I have more in common with my godson than I had thought. Yes, Occlumency lessons with the both of them tomorrow are sure to be interesting. That is, if the boy decides to show up after that. I shouldn't have pushed so hard, but if I can get to those memories, so can the Dark Lord. Surely he realises I am only trying to help? But of course not. The boy stopped looking up to me after his auntie Bella returned. Severus sat down at his desk to grade Defense essays. Now he merely assumes I'm trying to steal his glory. He shook his head. And to think, I was beginning to grow fond of the boy. No, his false assumptions will be put to rest soon, I think. Again his mind wandered back to the boys memories. For the first time since he was in school, he had actually felt sympathy for a student. Draco's trek with the Dark Lord had just become much more dangerous.
It's amazing how the human mind works. No matter how hard you try to push away a thought, it can still creep up on you. The thought can pass through so quietly you barely notice it, or it can consume you entirely. And when it has passed, it's still in the back of your mind, just waiting to be pulled up front. Perhaps understanding the human mind would have helped young Draco and sweet Hermione, but it's too late now. Their story is the oldest of all romances, the forbidden love with consequences that trumped even that of Romeo and the ever foolish Juliet.