The room was silent as all took in what just happened. Severus Snape was miraculously turned into a trusting person.
I tilted my head. My logic and reasoning skills had been halted.
"Professor", I started, "Is it possible to trick, break or hex a person's will?"
"You dumb-founded girl", Snape snapped. "You don't think Albus Dumbledore was clever enough to safeguard his will with all the magic and knowledge he had? He's been on Voldemort's and many other wizards and witches hit list for majority of his life."
The corners of McGonagall's mouth turned downward as her eyebrows furrowed.
"Although it is severely reluctant I'm going to have to agree with Severus."
A collective "What?!" came from the mouths of everyone in the room except for Snape. He stood a bit smugly with his chin in the air.
"Professor", Harry stammered. "He killed Dumbledore. Are you seriously defending him?"
"Seriously?", Ron added while waving at Snape as if it added support to Harry's answer just to point at him.
Both boys ended up jumping back a mile when they saw McGonagall's face grow red and sparks fly out of her wand. I must admit I backed away a bit myself.
"Potter and Weasley, it would be wise for you to hold your tongues before you spew out dragon dung."
Both Harry and Ron winced at the professor's sharp tone.
"I am by no means defending this man next to me."
Severus's chin fell as he looked at McGonagall with confusion.
"But what about the will", Snape asked. "Doesn't that show strong proof that I can be trusted?"
Swiftly on her heels McGonagall turned towards Snape and pointed the tip of her wand to the end of his large hooked nose.
"Severus Snape I will only trust you by your own merits as far as I can throw you from this spot with my bare hands without the aid of magic. Right now I am only giving you the benefit of the doubt because Albus Dumbledore was one of the brightest and most gifted wizards that has graced these halls and this magical world. I believe that even a man so sly and clever as you could not have tampered with such powerful magic."
I was amused as I stood and watched Snape slightly shrink from McGonagall. If I hadn't been as shocked by her sudden sharp and threatening demeanor I would have been laughing. Instead I just enjoyed the scene that continued to play out in front of me.
"At this moment I will give you the benefit of the doubt but unlike Dumbledore I do not easily trust."
Snape let out a silent sigh as his shoulders sagged a bit.
"Minerva, do you mind putting down the wand an inch or so away from my face then?"
Professor McGonagall's lips thinned.
"I actually do mind", she said as she reluctantly let down her wand.
"Professor", I addressed McGongall "Are you going to send him to hide at the Head Quarters?"
"Oh, that would be good", Harry chimed in. "Make him suffer being trapped and contained like Sirius was. Would serve him right for all the times he taunted him."
"No", McGonagall answered. "Right now that's too far from my sight. He's going to stay in this castle where I can keep my own eyes on him."
It was Snape's turn to be surprised.
"You're going to make me stay here? I've got to keep a look out for Voldemort. He's out there planning on killing the proper owner of the elder wand and that's Draco."
The Professor's expression turned into confusion.
"How is Draco the owner? Dumbledore was the last owner and you killed him. What does Malfoy have to do with the wand?"
"When I reached the top of the tower Dumbledore had already been disarmed."
McGonagall put a shaking hand over her mouth.
"Draco Malfoy, you stupid boy. If you were going to start something you should have finished it and stayed away. Now you've set Voldemort's eyes even more on this school than they've already been."
Draco's face grew angry.
"Stupid boy?", he roared. "What did you want me to do? Did you really want me to kill the headmaster? Did you really want me to be so deranged and sick enough to take a life so that later on your other precious students would be safe?"
"Safe? No one is safe now that Voldemort is on his way to kill you."
"Woman are you listening to yourself", Draco asked McGonagall. "Are you really listening to yourself? Voldemort is going to eventually come to this castle anyways to kill Potter. I'm just a little bump in the road. You should be happy that the so-called owner of the wand is on your side and isn't some lunatic who would be happy to just hand it over."
McGonagall's eyes widened.
"You do not address me in such a rude manner."
"I was raised to be rude to those who were rude to me no matter if they're an elder or not. You are my headmaster but I will not let you take your fear and anger out on me."
I quickly stepped to Draco's side.
"Professor, Draco's on our side and wants nothing more than to see Voldemort defeated. He's right that no matter what Voldemort would attempt to take on this school in order to get to Harry. He's done so many times already."
"Hermione's right", Harry spoke up. "Me being here isn't helping anyone either. Sometimes I think I should just run away but that's not going to stop Voldemort from his ultimate goal which is to kill all muggles and I guess have world domination."
"Do you really think he's going try and take on the whole world", Ginny asked.
Harry shrugged.
"I don't know but if he takes out all the muggles in the wizarding world don't you think he's going to take out all the others? I mean that would be kinda hypocritical if he just stopped here."
"True, but did Dumbledore really have the elder wand", Ginny asked McGonagall. "I thought that was a part of some child's tale as a warning to not let too much power get to your head."
"It is a real wand", the professor answered. "And Dumbledore did have it. He got it after he battled Grindelwald."
"Wow", Ron stated in awe. "No wonder Dumbledore was so awesome. But if Dumbledore had the ultimate wand how was someone like Malfoy able to so easily disarm him?"
I quickly grabbed Draco's right arm, as I knew he was still in defense mode.
"I've wondered along those lines myself", I admitted out loud. I turned towards Draco to ask silently for forgiveness. "But I think Dumbledore may have known a lot that we don't know about the situation."
I turned as Snape snorted.
"For once in your life, Granger, it pays for you to be a know-it-all", he stated. "Dumbledore knew what Draco was planning all along. He wanted to try and give Draco a chance to do the right thing and to work for the Order. Draco didn't have a chance to decide because that's when the others and I caught up with him."
"But why did you kill Dumbledore", I asked. "Why didn't you just let him live to defeat the others?"
Snape sighed as a look of guilt and bitterness displayed on his face.
"Dumbledore, as Harry and I assume the rest of the Golden Trio know, had started the search for Voldemort's horcruxes. He came open one, the stone in Slytherin's ring, and ultimately he destroyed it but before he foolishly tried it on. He thought he could use the power but it was cursed. He was able to reach me in time for me to help him but all I could do was slow it down."
I suddenly felt like a brick had dropped into my stomach as comprehension settled in.
"Dumbledore's hand? It was from a curse and not just an accident?"
"Right", Snape answered. "He was slowly dying through out the year. The potion I was giving him and possibly his will were the only things keeping him going."
"Blimey", Ron stated sadly.
Snape continued.
"Dumbledore was on his last leg when Draco confronted him. He was dying but didn't want to end up in the wrong hands and importantly didn't want the wand to end up in the wrong hands. That's why he had me take his life."
"Why didn't he tell me any of this", Professor McGonagall asked. Her face was pale and her frame was shaking. Snape quickly went to her aid by grabbing her hand and leading her over to the couch.
"Dumbledore didn't want the world to know he was sick. He needed to keep up a strong appearance to protect the school. The less who knew about it the better it was for safety. The horcruxes were the same. Dumbledore didn't want Voldemort to know that he knew about them. He wanted them destroyed in secret."
"A few have already been destroyed Professor", Harry added. "There's only four more we need to find. Ron and I destroyed the last one which was a locket and Tom Riddle's diary was destroyed our second year."
"Voldemort created seven horcruxes", McGonagall asked in disgust. "No wonder he didn't die when his killing curse back-fired off of Potter." The professor shook her head to clear it. "This is a lot to take in."
"This is a lot", Snape agreed. "Dumbledore gave up a lot in order to defeat Voldemort and there's more that needs to be done. That's why I need to be out there finding out more of what's going on and not trapped here."
McGonagall held her hand up to silence Snape then let out a low sigh as she hung her head a bit. After a brief moment she collected herself and with a stern look addressed Snape again. "Severus, you want to protect the boy then your best stance is going to be at this school. What if Voldemort already has someone planted on the inside?"
I turned to look at Draco who paled a bit.
"You really think someone's already been planted", he asked a bit shaken.
McGonagall stood up and walked towards Draco.
"Son, it wasn't just last year that you were Voldemort's inside man inside of this school. He was successful at bringing in his men and there were causalities to people and the school."
Draco's face and shoulders fell as the weight of the professor's words hit him.
McGonagall continued.
"Do you think I wouldn't suspect him to use a student or even a teacher again? Too many trusted people have fooled this school and I am not going to let it fall so easily to greedy hands. I was put in charge and while I live I will protect this school and it's students with all that I have."
"With this said", McGonagall turned towards Snape. "You will be staying inside of this area while you are in this castle. More specifically you will be bunking with Mr. Malfoy since you are keen on protecting him."
Draco's eyes grew wide.
"He's staying in my room", he asked, startled.
"If you have any problem with this Malfoy then you must not have value for your life", McGonagall snapped.
Draco straightened up.
"I mean I don't mind Professor".
"That's what I thought."
Ron and Harry stepped up.
"Can we say something?"
McGonagall's nostrils flared.
"What is it that you want to add?"
"What about Hermione", Harry started.
"Yeah", Ron added.
Harry continued. "Will she be safe with Snape in here? You're going to be watching Snape and Snape's watching Draco. Who's watching Hermione? She's in harm's way as long as she's with Draco."
Ginny piped in, "She can always stay in my dorm. I don't mind sharing a bed."
Draco turned to me and I could see reluctance in his eyes. He didn't want me to leave and I couldn't leave him alone.
"It's okay, Professor", I spoke up. "I'm okay here."
"Hermione", Ron started but I shook my head.
"Ron, you, Harry and Ginny know that I'm not the type to run away when my friends are in danger. Draco's my friend and I'm not going to leave him here alone because Voldemort's looking for him. If that were the case I would have left Harry's side our first year here."
I looked towards Harry who nodded in understanding. Ron tried to argue more but Harry grabbed his arm to signal him to stop. Ginny looked at me with worry but I just gave her a reassuring smile.
"I'm okay, professor, to stay here."
McGonagall placed her hand on my shoulder.
"Okay Granger but if Draco or Snape gives you any trouble let me know. I need you to be my extra pair of eyes and ears."
I nodded.
McGonagall grabbed the wands that Snape had been holding and handed each of us ours.
"I know a lot has taken place and all of you may want to discuss it but right now I need to talk to Severus alone. Harry, Ron and Ginny. I need you three to head back to your dorms. Hermione and Draco, if you don't mind maybe you two could go and put some order to the room you helped to destroy.
I watched my friends reluctantly walk away as Draco and I left for his room. As we entered McGonagall closed the door behind us.