2Chapter 20 Snape's Secret

Authors note: So, I think there will be two more chapters until the Hermione tortured scene. Still don't know how I'm going to do that but I have faith in Newt Scamander to help me. Anyways Enjoy!

Oooo

The next morning both Hermione and Draco woke up rather early with confused expressions on their sleep deprived faces.

"Hermione…?"

"Draco…?"

Both called out to the other within the confusion. Even though they were miles and miles apart. Frowns formed on their faces as Hermione started to rummage around the tent and Draco went back to bed.

Hermione still couldn't believe Ron was gone. She looked in the direction of his bed but it looked just like before he left. Harry was still sleeping, with his hair sticking up in random places. Her laughing got a little out of control, causing Harry to wake up.

"Hermione…?" He looked in the direction of Ron's empty bed expecting to see his best friend. "Still no Ron?"

"No. But then again he wouldn't really be able to find us due to the enhancements we put up. And it's not like we can't have them."

"I'm really sorry Hermione."

She let out a small sigh while trying to find something to eat. "Let's just hope he does come back or at least tried to."

Oooo

Only two hours later Draco awoke to an annoying tapping at his door.

"What!" He was shoving a pillow into his face as the door quietly creaked open then closed once more. With the silence that filled he had to quirk an eyebrow and slowly remove the pillow.

"Severus?" His old Defense Against the Dark Arts and Potions professor but current Headmaster of Hogwarts stood before him.

"Get dressed."

"No hello?"

"We have business to attend to and I wouldn't make it a habit of sleeping in."

"Ah that's the greeting I was expecting." Draco smirked as Severus's face flashed with mock outrage, then quickly changed back to the cold emotionless exterior he knew all too well. Taking his time Draco changed into a shirt and jeans, covering it in a black cloak. "Where are we going?"

"Hogwarts."

Right when Draco grabbed his wand he felt Snape's cold fingers grip his opposite arm. In a matter of seconds, they were spinning when darkness coated their vision and their feet safely landed on the floor of Hogwarts. Draco was immediately hunched over gasping for air. "Thanks for the warning."

Snape just flashed him a smirk before taking the seat behind his desk. Draco noticed the painting of Dumbledore was wide awake and staring at him with an amused twinkle in his eyes.

"Sit." He did as told. Trying not to look directly at Dumbledore but finding it hard to focus on Snape as well. Neither were things he currently wanted to be looking at.

"What are we doing?"

"Draco who do you want to marry?"

"Wh … what?"

"Did you want to be a Death Eater?"

"Well … um?"

"Why did you use the Room of Requirements?"

"It was … um available."

"Why did it take you so long to fix the cabinet? Did you not want to?"

"I don't know what you are talking about."

"Why couldn't you kill Dumbledore?"

Draco was starting to sweat as his eyes flashed to the painting. "That's different."

"Different. You still failed the Dark Lord. And look where that got you. Tortured." Snape had an evil smirk gracing his small lips. Draco could feel his blood boiling. He knew Snape was getting to him.

"Why am I really here?"

"Draco, you know what I find the saddest. That you couldn't even fix the Vanishing Cabinet yourself. You had to ask a filthy mudblood, who might I add did better than you in all your classes, for help."

"Shut up." Draco was gripping his chair as those two simple words came out as a growl. A sneer formed on his thin lips.

"Did you think of the filth when you were crying in the bathroom? About how much of a failure and coward you are. How you are nothing and will never amount to anything. Ever."

Draco's eyes locked with Snape's cold ones. His whole body was shaking with anger. Severus just looked amused.

"Oh, don't tell me you've come to care for the mudblood."

Draco couldn't contain his anger anymore. He flew from his chair, eyes black, with his wand sticking into Snape's neck. "Don't call her that."

Snape flashed Dumbledore aggravated look. He let out a long sigh, not even afraid of Draco as his features softened by only a fraction. "Draco sit down. We need to talk."

Draco reluctantly removed his wand from the pale professor's throat as he slumped back into the hard-wooden chair.

"I had to know if it was true. I didn't believe Dumbledore when he told me."

"That what was true?"

"That you are a Veela and Hermione Granger is your mate. She is, isn't she?"

"Yes."

"I need to show you something."

The two removed themselves from the chairs and walked over to the pensieve. Snape placed the tip of his wand to the side of his head and silently muttered a spell. Slowly he pulled his wand away and a grey mist like string followed. Placing it into the mysterious liquid before them. Draco watched as the memory started to form before their eyes. Suddenly they were both pulled in.

Oooo

After waiting a few more hours, Hermione and Harry decided to move places. They were now set up on a mountain covered in small rocks. They set up the enchantments before going their separate ways. Harry went inside the tent and Hermione stayed outside reading her addition of The Tales of Beedle the Bard. She was flipping through the book when a strange symbol was drawn above the title of a chapter containing three brothers who beat death.

"Harry!" Harry quickly came running out of the tent with his wand.

"What!"

"Come look at this!" Harry sat down beside Hermione on a group of rocks as she pointed to the strange triangle with a circle and line going through it. "Look. That was not printed into the book. Which means someone had to draw it in. But why would someone draw that in a children's book?"

"I saw Luna's dad wearing it at the wedding."

"Really?"

"Hermione I think we should go to Godric Hallows. I know you think it's a waste of time but its where my parents and Godric Gryffindor lived. The sword could be there. Maybe Dumbledore left it there knowing I would go back."

"Okay."

"If you just … wait what?"

"I said okay." Hermione started to chuckle at Harrys face. He quickly recovered and engulfed her in a tight hug. She knew this meant a lot to him. He has wanted to see his old house and where his parents died since they went on the run.

Oooo

"You were in love with Lily Evans? Potters mom?"

"I'm still in love."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Draco I fight for the Order. When I was younger just like you I was taught a certain way. To look down on others and rise to the top. I became a Death Eater and lost Lily for it. I could never get her back but I hope she knows I'm on the right side. I just wanted you to know you have a choice. You always have a choice."

"A choice. You mean join the Order?"

"Precisely. You don't have to answer me now. But if you ever want to be happy with her, this may be you only option. She is a woman of strong morals. It's funny how similar she is to Lily and all."

Draco gave a quick nod before using the floo network to return home at Malfoy Manor. If he even could call it home. But right as his feet touched the ground he broke into a sprint. She needed to know. This was Draco's chance to save his mother and be with the love of his life.

"Mother! Mother!" He ran through the entire house before looking outside. He finally found his mother in the garden, watering her many roses. "Mother!"

She looked over to see her son frantically running over. She dropped her waiting pot and ran to him. "Honey what's wrong?" Her hands were on his face checking for any injuries. When she found none, she let the confusion show on her face. "What happened?"

"My mate … is Hermione Granger." Narcissa looked up into her sons worried grey eyes before throwing her arms around him.

"Oh, honey that's great!"

"No, it's not." Narcissa stepped back and eyed her son carefully. "She's Potter's best friend. Fighting for the other side. If Voldemort ever found out he would kill her without a second thought. Possibly make me do it."

"But you two mated."

"I obliviated her."

"You what!" His mother stepped back in shook. "I taught you better than that!"

"Mother I had to! She couldn't get hurt because of me. It's better that she doesn't even know. It allows her to feel nothing towards me. She will be safe."

"But you love her."

"I wouldn't be able to live with myself if she got hurt. Please don't tell father."

Narcissa reached up and placed a kiss on her son's cheek. "I know it will all work out."

Draco pulled his mother into a hug. Whispering into her hair. "I'll fix this. Just trust me. We will finally be safe."

Oooo

Later that night however Narcissa wrote two letters in hope that everything would work out for Draco.

Dear Severus,

I know what you did today. You changed him. I want to thank you. But please do whatever it takes to make Draco pick the correct side. I constantly see him in pain and I know she can make him happy. He will listen to you. And don't act like I didn't know where your loyalties lay. I saw the way you looked at Lily during school. Please help him like the spirit of Lily guided you.

Cissa

She cast a few enchantments on the letter before picking a random owl to deliver the letter with. Next, she moved on to writing to the mate.

Dear Hermione,

This letter is enchanted for your eyes and touch only. In hopes that our best owl, Lyra, found you. From what I have heard you are known as the brightest witch of your age. So, I can only assume you know about the predicament between yourself and my son. I know it may be a surprise but feel free to ask me any questions. I can get the answer out of him. And just in case you are still uncertain about him I want you to know he does love you. Not just his Veela. He is fighting to protect you and I honestly hope you don't throw him aside and pick another. He is fighting for you and he is fighting against himself. For creatures of passion it is not very easy to be away from their mate for long. Soon he will be feeling the effects and it's like his body will shut down. If there is any chance you want to contact him it would be between you me and this owl. Lyra will stay until you either send him away or respond with a letter. Draco is fighting for the cause. For you.

Narcissa Malfoy

Oooo

The sun was just starting to set when Hermione decided to go back inside. She put her book away, changed, and told Harry they could go to Godric Hallows in a few days before she settled into bed.

Suddenly her surrounding changed. She looked around at the vast room and saw various objects pilled to the ceiling. She concluded that she was in the Room of Requirements, but why. She turned in the other direction and found a cabinet, sofa, fireplace, multiple bookcases, and a green bed. She was walking towards the cabinet when something within the bed started to move.

The movements scared her, causing her to jump and reach for her wand. Slowly she approached the bed and was shocked but also comforted when she found Draco Malfoy, shirtless, sound asleep between the green fabrics.

She put her wand away and quickly climbed onto the bed. With her cold fingers, she started tracing the outline of his toned stomach. "You have a really nice body but sometimes you can be a real jerk."

Draco's eyes flashed open and met the big brown ones digging into his. Her fingers continued to trace his stomach absentmindedly.

"I could say the same about you." Quickly Draco flipped on top of Hermione. Pinning her to the bed and letting his hands slowly pull up the ridge of her shirt. Exposing her smooth flat stomach. Instead of tracing it he started to tickle her.

"Hey! No stop! I can't breathe!" Her laugh was like music to his ears and Draco couldn't help but join in.

Through the struggle, she looped her arms around his neck and pulled his lips towards hers. The moment their lips touched a warmth spread through their bodies. Draco's hands were wandering as his tongue demanded entrance.

She however pulled away. "No fair!" Draco's lips were about to connect with hers when her black eyes flashed open and she was greeted with the darkness of the all to familiar tent. None of that was real.