Chapter 12 - Severus Snape
The cleaning spree had ceased as it was nearing September 1st, the day they were all due back at Hogwarts. Draco was nervous, to say the least. Surely all the Slytherin's knew, or will know very quickly, that he had run off. He could practically hear them already. Sirius and Lupin had assured him that he would be safe at Hogwarts, but he still had his doubts.
On a better note, Draco and the others have been getting alone for the most part. He's even found himself spending lots of his time joking with Hermione and Ginny. He had become especially close to Hermione, who had soon brought Ginny in and the two found that they get along splendidly.
Now Draco was talking to Ginny before dinner was to start.
"Mum said there'd be extra guests at dinner tonight, I hope Tonks is one of them, she's so funny!" Ginny was telling him.
"I hope so too, I haven't had a proper conversation with her yet. From the sounds of it I'm going to like this cousin of mine," Draco told her.
"Wait, you two are cousins?" Ginny said surprised.
"Yes, Andromeda Tonks is my mother's sister," Draco explained. He felt a pang in his chest at the mention of his mother, he missed her dearly.
"Wow," Ginny said. She sure was quite the excitable witch.
"Wow what?" Hermione asked as she came in, flashing them a wondrous smile.
"Tonks is Draco's cousin, their Mum's are sisters," Ginny explained.
"That is something, she is quite the character," Hermione said before Ginny changed the subject and began rambling off. This only lasted until Harry came into the room when she went as quiet as a mouse. Hermione and Draco shared a knowing look, Ginny had such a crush on him.
"Hey," Harry gave them an awkward smile, while they had shared some good conversations since their 'truce' it still seemed strained.
"Hello Harry, who do you think is going to show up tonight?" Hermione asked.
"I dunno," Harry shrugged.
"I hope it isn't Mundungus," Draco added.
"Why not?" Hermione asked.
"I'm not sure, I just have a bad feeling about him," Draco said.
"I'm nervous about Moody, 'constant vigilance Potter'" Harry said doing his best Alastair Moody impression making all of them laugh.
There was a loud pop from the kitchen, someone must've apparated. They all rushed in to see who it was, only to find Severus Snape standing next to a less than please Sirius Black.
"Severus?" Draco said confused. What was he doing here? He was a Death Eater.
Snape looked at him with less hostility than anyone else in the room had ever seen on him, "good to see you're still in one piece, I thought a house full of Gryffindor's might've driven you mad."
Draco smiled, "that's still a possibility, though I think they're starting to grow on me."
"I thought I taught you better than that," Snape said amused.
"Oh it's good to see you, Severus," Draco said walking over and hugging him. Snape made a disgusted face though he stayed quiet and patted the boy's back. The blond quickly let go of him as he knew how much Snape detested things like that.
"I'm sorry, am I missing something here?" Harry asked.
"A brain, no doubt," Snape drawled. Draco had to cough to suppress a laugh, always with the sarcastic comments.
"Sev-I mean Professor Snape, is my Godfather and, I'll remind you, my Head of House," Draco said not able to keep a smile off his face. It was so good to see a familiar face.
"Godfather?" Sirius practically sneered.
"I would've assumed you'd be familiar with the concept," Snape sneered back.
Draco was getting uncomfortable. He was really close to Snape throughout his life and was very happy to see him now, but he'd become very close to Sirius in his time at Grimmaulds Place and obviously they don't get along well.
"I didn't expect you to be, why someone would want you to take care of their child I'll never know, Snivilus," Sirius fired back.
"I happen to be rather acquainted to Draco's parents and they find me quite qualified," Snape explained.
"On their standards? That's not saying much," Sirius spat.
Now it was getting heated, and Draco hadn't the slightest idea of what to do. Snape and Narcissa were extremely close while he and Lucius had drifted apart over the years. So for Sirius to insult them (more so Narcissa) was starting to get under his skin. Sirius was very angry about how Draco had been raised and was not going to back down.
"Would you two stop it?" Hermione finally spoke up, "if you both care about Draco so much then stop hurting him with your pointless arguing!"
"Hermi-" Draco began. He was going to tell her he didn't need to defend him like that, that he was fine and she shouldn't get between the men even if they were acting like children.
"No, Draco. It's plain on your face how this is affecting you," Hermione told him.
"Why you insufferable-" Snape began.
"Severus," Draco warned to which Snape stopped and looked between them.
"It's nice and all but I'd rather you stay out of this Hermione," Sirius added.
"It's bad enough she had to say something, with how the both of you are acting," Draco said angrily. Sirius looked ashamed while Snape hardened his features.
The Professor cleared his throat, "I'd like a moment alone with my Godson," he said.
"I don't think that's such a-" Sirius began.
"It's ok, Sirius," Draco told him. Sirius looked defeated and walked out of the room, Hermione gave Draco a small smile before leaving the room with Harry and Ginny.
"Those Gryffindor's are rubbing off on you," Snape said looking to where Hermione had just been, "especially, it appears, the know-it-all."
Draco felt heat rise in his cheeks when he understood what Snape was implying. "She was the first to give me a chance, I've found she's actually much more enjoyable to be around than I'd previously thought. That's all," Draco defended.
"Hmm," Snape acknowledged.
"Severus, why are you here? I'm happy to see you but I don't understand," Draco said looking to the arm where the Dark Mark should be.
"Yes, I am a member of the Order of the Phoenix and a spy in the Dark Lord's ranks, my loyalty is to Dumbledore," Snape explained.
"Since when?" Draco asked.
"Since he threatened someone I loved," Snape confided.
"Was it..her?" Draco asked, remembering the time he had found a picture of a red haired girl among Snape's belongings. Snape had been rather upset after finding it in Draco's possession and they hadn't spoken of it since.
Snape looked in Draco's eyes and the blond could see the pain he harbored, "yes."
Hermione waited impatiently for Draco and Professor Snape to be done with their talk. She was worried for Draco, she had never known Snape for being the caring fatherly type.
"He'll be alright, 'Mione. He knows Snape better than all of us put together," Ginny offered.
"I suppose," Hermione agreed.
"Why anyone would take a liking to Snape I'll never understand," Harry said.
"I don't think Sirius is taking it well either," Ginny said.
"Maybe you should go talk to him, Harry," Hermione suggested.
"Why me?" Harry asked.
"Because you're his Godson," Hermione said.
As Harry walked off to find Sirius, that left just the two girls. There was a long pause between them.
"You like him, don't you?" Ginny asked.
"What? I could never fancy Harry, he's practically my brother!" Hermione said.
"Not Harry, Draco," Ginny clarified.
"Draco? No way! I don't like him in that sense, Ginny. I just, he's so lost right now and I want to help him. He can do so much good, I know he can if he only knew that himself," Hermione confided.
Ginny nodded solemnly looking to where Harry had disappeared moments ago, "I know the feeling."
"Oh Gin.." Hermione said sadly. She knew her friend has had a helpless crush on Harry for, well, as long as she's known the girl but it broke her heart to see her so sad.
"You promise you'll tell me if you do? I won't judge, I promise! You can come and talk to me about anything," Ginny told her.
"I promise, if I ever find myself lusting after Draco Malfoy you'll be the first to know," Hermione assured her and they both laughed.
Now that she thought about it, Hermione realized she had been thinking about Ron less and less in a romantic way. Perhaps her silly crush was finally being put to rest, but it seemed impossible for another one to arise especially with Draco!
What she didn't know, was that Ron did have romantic feelings for Hermione and they were not going to go away anytime soon.
Pretty soon after their laughter died down, Draco had come in and told them that Snape was going to give his report to the Order and be on his way. He gave Hermione a smile to let her know that he was fine and expected Snape not to stay for dinner.
Tonks and Moody had come for dinner a while later. Draco had taken a liking to his cousin and found her antics and clumsiness hilarious. Tonks was excited to finally meet a "sane" family member from her Mum's side other than Sirius. And, well, as soon and the four saw Moody come in, they all went into a fit of laughter.