a/n: a hundred apologies 2 every1!!!! we're very sorry that this chapter is soooo late. your support means very much to me, and also to Bek as well. once again, we thank you for your kind encouraging reviews, and your interest in our story. there will be more coming...but in the mean time, enjoy.
Ten minutes later, they entered a large abandoned house. It's tall, dark windows were boarded up in places, and cracked in others.
"I don't know about this, Professor." Hermione whispered, her voice trembling with fear from what had happened that day. "It looks like it could collapse any minute."
"Ah, young Granger, that is where you are wrong . . . for once in your life." he added, looking significantly at her.
Hermione blushed with pride from this unexpected praise from her usually cruel potions master. Draco smiled at her, realising how much this meant to her. Ron tried hard not to vomit.
"Well my young friends, you will be residing here for now until Mr Lucius Malfoy and Lord Voldemort find other events that require their attention. I assure you they will be more interesting then chasing a group of teenagers around the muggle world."
They all nodded and Snape turned to leave.
"Wait!" Hermione yelled out. "Aren't you staying?"
Snape's gaze fastened on Hermione. "No I cannot. Dumbledore has urgent business for me to complete. You are amply protected here by more than just the security of the house.
Harry then realised that the hair on the back of his neck was prickling. It was then that he realised that the house was protected by all manner of spells and enchantments. The others seemed to realise this too, and they all exchanged glances.
"I will admit that the magic used to protect you here is not all white magic. Some of it is in fact dark arts known to none save the few who knew the Dark Lord." Snape shuddered slightly, then regained his composure. "The Dark Lord himself cannot remove the curses, enchantments and spells that are protecting the four of you, so you need not fear for your safety. Now farewell. I must leave."
He was seen off with a chorus of thankyous and goodbyes, and he smiled at the warm feeling that filled him. After he had left, Hermione slumped down next to Ron on the couch. Draco left to sleep in one of the many bedrooms upstairs and Harry went into the large room to their left, which turned out to be a pool hall. Ron turned to Hermione.
"So what do you see in him anyway?"
Hermione looked at him in surprise. "I don't know. He's just so kind."
When Ron snorted in disbelief she continued. "Oh Ron you just don't see it. Underneath that cold, nasty exterior he's really charming, and insecure. Oh, Ron! No one in his life has ever loved him until me. He's just so gentle and kind."
Ron's gaze unnerved her and she looked away. Suddenly she jumped in surprise as Ron whispered right into her ear. "I can be gentle and kind as well."
Without warning his lips fastened on hers and she pulled away with mixed feelings. On one hand she was horrified and her love for Draco made her angry. On the other hand she felt confused. What she had felt when he kissed her put her feelings for Ron in a new light.
Instead of confronting those feelings now, she stood and walked into the pool hall and picked up a cue. She looked out at Ron as he leaned back and closed his eyes. She felt a warm feeling rise up in her and she smiled. If Draco could hear what she was thinking at the moment, he wouldn't be very pleased at all.
Ten minutes later, they entered a large abandoned house. It's tall, dark windows were boarded up in places, and cracked in others.
"I don't know about this, Professor." Hermione whispered, her voice trembling with fear from what had happened that day. "It looks like it could collapse any minute."
"Ah, young Granger, that is where you are wrong . . . for once in your life." he added, looking significantly at her.
Hermione blushed with pride from this unexpected praise from her usually cruel potions master. Draco smiled at her, realising how much this meant to her. Ron tried hard not to vomit.
"Well my young friends, you will be residing here for now until Mr Lucius Malfoy and Lord Voldemort find other events that require their attention. I assure you they will be more interesting then chasing a group of teenagers around the muggle world."
They all nodded and Snape turned to leave.
"Wait!" Hermione yelled out. "Aren't you staying?"
Snape's gaze fastened on Hermione. "No I cannot. Dumbledore has urgent business for me to complete. You are amply protected here by more than just the security of the house.
Harry then realised that the hair on the back of his neck was prickling. It was then that he realised that the house was protected by all manner of spells and enchantments. The others seemed to realise this too, and they all exchanged glances.
"I will admit that the magic used to protect you here is not all white magic. Some of it is in fact dark arts known to none save the few who knew the Dark Lord." Snape shuddered slightly, then regained his composure. "The Dark Lord himself cannot remove the curses, enchantments and spells that are protecting the four of you, so you need not fear for your safety. Now farewell. I must leave."
He was seen off with a chorus of thankyous and goodbyes, and he smiled at the warm feeling that filled him. After he had left, Hermione slumped down next to Ron on the couch. Draco left to sleep in one of the many bedrooms upstairs and Harry went into the large room to their left, which turned out to be a pool hall. Ron turned to Hermione.
"So what do you see in him anyway?"
Hermione looked at him in surprise. "I don't know. He's just so kind."
When Ron snorted in disbelief she continued. "Oh Ron you just don't see it. Underneath that cold, nasty exterior he's really charming, and insecure. Oh, Ron! No one in his life has ever loved him until me. He's just so gentle and kind."
Ron's gaze unnerved her and she looked away. Suddenly she jumped in surprise as Ron whispered right into her ear. "I can be gentle and kind as well."
Without warning his lips fastened on hers and she pulled away with mixed feelings. On one hand she was horrified and her love for Draco made her angry. On the other hand she felt confused. What she had felt when he kissed her put her feelings for Ron in a new light.
Instead of confronting those feelings now, she stood and walked into the pool hall and picked up a cue. She looked out at Ron as he leaned back and closed his eyes. She felt a warm feeling rise up in her and she smiled. If Draco could hear what she was thinking at the moment, he wouldn't be very pleased at all.