Chapter 25
For All The Love In The World

Snape looked at the destruction before him; his entire lab and private rooms were in a shambles – even the roses that he made a habit of blasting at the annual school Balls would have pity on the furniture in front of him. Elegant though most of it had been, now it was merely splinters.

But there was one set of furniture left untouched and blemish free - Hermione's rooms.

He had not the heart to set foot in there, let alone blast what was within those rooms to pieces.

Snape fell to his knees between her rooms and his, and at last, he let his tears fall. Oh, Hermione! Why did you do this to me? You gave me too much hope! He collapsed on the floor, weak from lack of food, and too distraught to notice the cold stone floor his body was now pressed against. He lay unguarded, uncaring, and wishing that he no longer knew the pain of love.

McGonagall sat in the Gryffindor study room, her head in her hands. She had been intent on avoiding Dumbledore after the despicable way he was treating both a staff member and her favourite student. She closed her eyes as she remembered the last things that had been said between them:

"Why do you not see that love is so much stronger than any evil on this earth, Albus?"

"My dear, it is you that cannot see. Hermione is the only love that can stop Draco Malfoy succumbing to the fate that evil has laid out for him."

"But what about…?"

"She is the only one, my dear; the only one who can rescue his soul."

"But what about…?"

"I grow tired of this, Minerva. Sometimes others take priority."

"And when shall Severus ever see himself in your eyes as a priority? Is he only a toy to you, Albus? A toy you used to win the war, and now that it is done, you are done with him, too?"

"Minerva..."

"Well, perhaps I am done with you!"

Tears fell down her cheeks at the lack of hurt on his face, the lack of emotion that he showed in his eyes as he spoke those words. Had he been a Slytherin, she may not have felt so bad, but he was a Gryffindor who couldn't hide such hurt from those he cared for… if only she could see some way out, but as she saw it, there was no way to change anything that had occurred since Hermione had been forced to leave.

Hermione woke to the sound of growling.

"Ferret?" she mumbled, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.

"Ah, glad to see you are awake... did I or did I not order you to dinner?" Draco drawled.

"Yes, I'm sorry, it's just..."

"You were tired and fell asleep without thinking?"

"I'm sorry, and after all your kindness, too."

"I will let this go, but consider it to be a warning. If you displease me again, Ferret, here will..."

Hermione launched herself at his feet. "It shall not happen again. I promise you."

"Hmm, maybe I will punish you, instead." Draco withdrew his wand and tapped it on his chin, causing sparks to fly. Turning his gaze back to Hermione, he smirked evilly. "You no long have the freedom to leave the Manor. If you try, you will get no further than the front door before you will be stopped."

"Thank you for your leniency." Hermione sighed.

"Yes, breakfast is in an hour. Don't be late, or you will deeply regret it!"

"I won't."

"I will see you then. Right now, I have a house-elf to punish."

Without thinking, Hermione called out, "For what?"

"Punishment for not waking you up for dinner, and therefore causing me to become angry at you."

"Punish me instead. Please! I will stay in my rooms! Anything, just please, do not harm a house-elf on my behalf."

"She will harm herself, anyway; she knows what standards I expect..."

"Please!"

"Fine, fair maiden. Your punishment will be to lose your rooms to your dear pet. You shall sleep in my bed."

Draco turned his back on her as he heard her sharp intake of breath, trying to hide his broad smile.

"Surely, that would be less of a punishment and more..."

"Do not underestimate me, Hermione. I promise you, Ferret will leave this room far more than you shall leave mine, and then it will be in my company." Draco chuckled and he left the room, slamming the door behind himself as he heard the loud growl ripped from Ferret's throat. Things were moving at a faster pace than he had thought possible.

Sirius listened hard, and when he was sure that Draco had left, he dived under the covers of the bed so that he could hide as he transformed back to his human form.

"Hermione! What are you doing? You have caused us to be locked within the Manor walls with no way to escape, and we have been separated with no way to alert those outside!"

"Oh, Sirius. Calm down."

"It was only a damn house-elf!"

"Sirius, you know how I feel about such things."

"But, Hermione, this is your safety we are talking about. You are to reside in his bed!" Sirius couldn't understand why she wasn't alarmed by the turn of events. "Don't you understand... we could fail this mission!"

"Sirius, don't you understand?" Hermione's voice was quiet, and held such sadness that Sirius bit his tongue to hear the answer. "Albus sent me here to capture Draco's heart and make sure I did not break it. Being in Draco's bed is not failing the mission… but securing its success!"

Sirius watched her closely; not a tear fell from Hermione's dead-looking eyes, nor was there even a hitch in her breath to still a sob. Albus, what have you done?