"Well well." Lucius began as he delicately dangled a glass of mead from his fingers.
Draco sat in the parlor, toying with the wand in is fingers as his father stood across from him, his eyes perusing the row of books lining the shelf. It seemed as though he were searching through their ranks for one that was suitable, yet the loitering in the man's movements suggested he was using this charade as a mere stepping stone for some ulterior motive.
"How fascinating." Lucius's eyes darted to his son's as though hoping to illicit a response from his words alone.
"I never would have guessed." The older wizard continued, as though attempting to provoke an answer from the only other person in the room.
"What?" Draco sneered at his father, growing irritated by his little game as he resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
Damn he hated how oblique the man could be at times. The worst part is that his father probably thinks he's being tactful.
"As it so happens, I have stumbled across a rather interesting piece of literature."
Draco expelled the air from his lungs in an excessively loud fashion, not bothering to hide the fact that he doubted his father was about to discuss something that was actually of interest.
"Is that right?" Draco sighed, almost lazily as he fixated once more upon the wand in his hands.
"It seems Severus Snape has a secret admirer."
Draco raised an eyebrow at his father's words. Who the hell would find the greasy git attractive?
"What do you mean?" The younger blonde screwed up his face, his curiosity winning over his revulsion.
"As it so happens, I have stumbled across a rather insightful notebook."
Draco raised his eyebrow at his father's words.
"Notebook?"
"Yes. It has contains a rather interesting story."
Draco gasped, could this be it?
The one he had tried so hard to get his hands on?
"You mean you have the notebook?"
"God's no Draco." Lucius screwed up his face as though he had just witnessed something truly revolting before placing his glass down on the bookshelf.
The younger wizard gazed up at his father, confusion culminating before giving way to seething rage.
How had his father not at least held onto it long enough for him to see it.
"Why on Earth would I want to keep that tripe?" Lucius added, after witnessing the strange emotions fusing within his son's eyes.
"No, no. I found a far more entertaining solution."
"What?" Draco practically spat as he sat upright in his seat.
"Why I gave the notebook to Severus of course." Lucius stated, as though disappointed that his son hadn't come to the conclusion himself.
"I'm sure he will find it an amusing read."
"But what was it about?"
"Weren't you listening? It was a romance story about Severus." Lucius shook his head, quickly growing tired of having to repeat himself.
Draco screwed up his face.
Eww.
Does that mean the Mudblood has her eyes set upon Snape?
"Thank you father, you have put me off my lunch." Draco spat, whisking his wand back into his pocket.
Lucius huffed, seemingly pleased with the result, though he was far from finished.
"She's got her sights set a bit high, doesn't she?" Draco grimaced as his thoughts drifted back to the mudblood.
The young wizard felt the nausea rise from the pit of his stomach.
"Whatever do you mean Draco?"
"Granger. She wants Snape?"
"Oh heaven's no."
Now Draco felt as though he were missing something.
"What do you mean 'no'?"
"The notebook doesn't belong to the mudblood, it belongs to Potter."
Draco's eyes widened.
This was more hideous than he ever could have imagined.
"Are you sure it belonged to Saint Potter?" Draco spat, despite the confusion in his eyes as his memories returned to Hermione. She was the one writing in it during Potions.
"Of course Draco, he said so himself."
"What?"
...
Ron sat in the lounge room at the burrow, his feet outstretched in front of the fireplace. It was all he could do to try and relax, outside of consuming copious amounts of butter beer.
Why would Hermione write something like that?
About Harry and Snape of all people?
It was just as well Harry hadn't read it.
Yes that was certainly for the best.
But how would he talk to Hermione normally ever again?
Not with this somewhat graphic insight into her mind lingering between them.
But he still needed to know why.
His eyes darted to the clock, Fred and George were up to no good again he sees.
Maybe he should go find something to take his mind off of all this.
Or...
Hermione had help writing that story, didn't she?
Help form Luna.
Maybe he should ask Luna?
She lived just over the hill of course. Maybe she could explain it to him.
"Ronald Weasley!"
Ron rolled his eyes as he sighed, glad his mother was not in the vicinity to witness his poor manners.
"What mum?" The young redhead sighed.
"Don't 'what mum' me in that tone. Now, why didn't you invite Harry Potter to stay with us this break?" Molly trudged into the lounge, her hands on her hips.
"We sort of had a bit of a spat." Ron began, really not wanted to into details about it, or the notebook.
Especially not with his mother of all people.
"Well, you best march right over there and apologize at once Ronald Weasley."
"But Mum!"
"No buts, now get moving."
Ron groaned internally as he rolled his eyes, why did his mum always assume he was the one in the wrong?
So much for going to see Luna.
Great.
Now he had to go and visit the Dursleys.
"How am I supposed to get there?"
"Well maybe if you hadn't stolen your father's enchanted car, you would have been able to use that. Have a think about that while you figure out another way there."
Ron groaned, it's not as though he didn't feel bad about what happened with the car. Why did his mum always have to bring it up every opportunity she could? Even all this time later?
Ron shook the thoughts from his head as he strode over to the fireplace, perhaps he should start at the train station. He collected a hand full of powder before disappearing from the house in a blaze of green flames.
...
Snape gripped the notebook in his fingers as though he had zero intention of letting it go from his sight EVER again.
He wished he could just destroy it, but he knew all too well of the consequences if he did do that.
Especially now that his feelings for Mr Potter were becoming undeniable.
Everyday seemed to be a more difficult struggle than the last. Thank the gods he had this short break away from school to try and sort himself out.
Snape shook the thought from his head, well, at least he tried to do so.
However, he did wonder...
Was Potter having the same feelings about him?
Yes, this was certainly a position he hadn't expected to find himself in.
Then again, if he were being honest with himself, these feelings weren't all too unpleasant either...
What if he were to simply use an erasing spell?
Would that undo the damage without costing him his ability to love ever again?
Perhaps he ought to pay the creator of such a notebook a visit.
