Chapter 2 - "An alibi"
*No, I wouldn't... Oh, my... Oh, my... My whole life is ruined.*
It was impossible for 'Top Girl' to make any move, coz it'd made Professor Snape real. It'd made humiliation, disgrace and "you're expelled" real. And it was unacceptable for 'Hermiaaaaone' to bertray her friends by telling the truth. She's rather die. She'd rather lie.
"I was studying with Harry and Ron to help them before next exam", - Hermione took courage to answer, yet she was too scared to face Professor Snape.
"Of course, in the middle of the night near my cabinet - the best place you can think of to," - he paused only to continue in soft, velvet voice, which made her wish she was rather in Voldemort's imprisonment than in Snape's company, -"study with Potter and Weasley?"
*I'll just turn and repeat it to his face - thus saving me, Harry and Ron, nothing to be scared of.*
Dark, endless in their depth, eyes staring incredulously at her proved her that she couldn't be more wrong.
"I was studying...", - Hermione's voice trailed off as Snape stepped closer.
"Studying. I see." - His derisive tone was unbearable.
"She lies..." - confirmed Malfoy, who was already standing nearby and curiously observing downfall of his enemies. But both Snape's triumphant smile and Hermione's hateful agony disappeared as he continued - "She was studying with me."
"What?" - dubbed Snape Hermione's thoughts, - "What did you say?"
Malfoy signed as if it was hard to say out loud, - "Granger was helping me before exam."
Seeing Professor's obvious disbelief he added, nodding towards Harry and Ron - "These two..." - he stopped for a second, choosing right words, - "two friends of Granger were spying on us, I presume, fluttering if I'd do any harm to her", - he sniffed with contempt.
Hermione's mind was boiling up in vain attempt to sort things out.
*He's not going to cover us up. He hates us so much he'd sacrifice his life to see us dead, though maybe he likes himself to much to do that. But I'm missing the point. Why? Why did he said so? He didn't have to explain to Snape why he was here. He could just walk away and receive 50 points for Slytherin for being hit, and noone would ask what he was doing here. And What he was doing here? I'm missing the point again. I just can't get it.*
"I'll take your silence as confirmation of Mr. Malfoy statement", - Snape was still too stunned to go on intimidating Hermione, - "Though it still doesn't explain why Mr. Malfoy was lying near your feet", - fortunately he didn't' want to push that matter any further, for it'd incriminate Slytherins moral reputation, if there were any left. - "We'll discuss your wacky impulse to help other students tomorrow, Miss Granger."
*This is too weird to be truth.*
"And 40 points from both Gryffindors for improper behavior in the middle of the might," - and with last glance of abomination at Harry and Ron he slipped to the gloom of castle's halls.
*Now it has vague resemblance to reality*
Hermione was still gazing at the place where few seconds ago was standing One Who Would Expel Her For Sure, thinking about The Boy That Was A Total Mystery now.
"Why? Why did you said that?" - Hermione narrowed her eyes with a hint of dismay, - "You were not trying to help us, weren't you?"
"Never," - Draco darted to her, looking now right into her eyes with such hatred she'd never imagined person could have, - "never ever say I wanted to help you!", - then he paused for a moment, considering if he should give away that information, and hissed quietly, - "I needed an alibi."
He studied her face for several seconds, sucking in the mixed expression of fear, shock, doubt and amazement in her eyes, before whispering very gentle in Hermione's ear - "You tell it anyone...", - if he moved a bit closer his lips would be touching her lobe, - "anyone - and I'll kill you and your friends, and in that you can rely on me", - he gave her "the-best-looking-guy-in-the-school" smile and disappeared in the darkness of the Dungeon.
But Hermione couldn't see that - tears blurred her eyes.