A/N: Sorry for the delay in writing this. I've been, well, busy. And a lot of shite has been going on. Domestics, domestics, domestics. Never fear, I may be able to use them in later chapters. Afterall, if you know what you write, chances are it'll be a lot better than if you're writing about something you haven't experienced. :glares at her family: Bring it on.

Thankyou for all the reviews. It makes me smile.

I'll try to make this one longer, yeah?

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Sacrifices

Part Thirteen - The Calling

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1

When Severus Snape woke the next morning, his head seemed clearer, but a solution to the problem still hadn't shown itself. But whether he was right or wrong, he couldn't simply ignore the situation. All he could really do was report to Dumbledore and see if he had any ideas. At least then the situation would be out of his hands. He could resume his life guilt-free, knowing he did his duty to Malfoy, while preserving his own interests as well. With that thought in mind he proceeded to Dumbledore's chambers. Once inside, he explained the entire events of the past few days, leaving nothing out that he could think of. When he had finished, Dumbledore was silent but thoughtful. The silence seemed to continue for longer than Snape was comfortable with. Surely Dumbledore had a solution. But then why was he taking such a long time thinking it over? At least Dumbledore looked Snape in the eye, and unfolded his hands.

"I see your predicament, Severus. It is unfortunate indeed." Here Dumbledore paused for a moment before continuing. "On one hand, we have a responsibility as the staff of this School to ensure the well-being of every student on an individual basis, and yet we must ensure the safety of the student body as a whole as well. Which is why this situation is quite complicated indeed. Voldemort and his followers pose a great threat to many students at this school. Yet that threat is greatly minimised by the fact that we have a spy within our list of allies, who is a constant source of information, despite great risk to himself. Information that helps with the security of this school, as well as the wizarding community as a whole. If that source of information were comprimised, the danger would greatly increase" Dumbledore gazed at Snape with a fondness that made Snape drop his eyes, with shame. He certainly didn't deserve the favour of the great Professor Dumbledore. Not after his past. He looked up again as Dumbledore continued. "Yet, we cannot just do nothing if we suspect that an individual is being placed in a potentially dangerous situation." Dumbledore sighed, and with his next statement suprised Snape. "What do you think we should do about this, Severus?"

Severus didn't know what to say. He was momentarily felt off-kilter. He'd come here for Dumbledore's wisdom, thinking that all he'd have to do was tell all, and the problem would be offloaded. No longer his. That Dumbledore would simply think about something that he himself had missed, fix it all while Snape went back to his life, and then the world would just go back to normal, as if nothing had happened. But Dumbledore was still referring to the problem as their's. He was still implicated. Of course he understood it was the way it should be. He was involved. It was his student, and he had been the one to involve himself. It only made perfect sense that he should still be implicated. But he didn't expect that Dumbledore would expect him to suggest a resolution. He didn't have one.

"Severus?" Dumbledore asked again, though gently.

"Perhaps we should just wait for the moment. We could monitor his behavior, see if there's any further evidence before we just jump in and make too many assumptions. I may be wrong, afterall. And in any case, he's safe while he's here at Hogwarts. He won't be going home for the holidays in months." Snape had to admit he felt rather disenchanted with himself as he let the words fall from his mouth. They sounded callous, shallow. There was a child at their school that they suspected was being abused at home, and he was suggesting to wait. It seemed rather cowardly. But what else could he do?

"Do you really think that's a wise idea, Severus? Perhaps you could talk to the boy, try to get him to tell you himself. He's rather fond of you, Severus"

Snape tried to stifle a laugh. A student, fond of him. What a preposterous idea. Draco Malfoy only liked him because his father had no doubt been filling his son's head with ideas. Ideas like Snape being a deatheater. A spy working for Voldemort. The only real teacher in the school. The only one worthy of leading the mighty Slytherins. Snape wondered if perhaps Lucius had told him of his many conquests as a deatheater. The thought that this was why Draco Malfoy held a fondness for him made Snape almost physically sick.

"He holds me in high regard only because he thinks I am loyal to Voldemort"

Dumbledore smiled, though almost sadly, and looked Severus in the eye.

"I do not think he is like his father, Severus. Yet if you think that waiting is the wise thing to do right now, I will trust your judgement. But watch him carefully, Severus"

Severus nodded, and bowed, before turning for departure. He made his way to the door.

"And Severus?" Severus turned back.

"Do be careful. When you deal with Lucius Malfoy, you're playing with fire"

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2

Though Draco Malfoy was feeling rather nervous about beginning his lessons again, he had learnt his lesson. He was going to class, no matter how much anxious he felt. He wasn't going to put himself in such an awkward (and dangerous) situation again if he could help it. The first lesson of the day was transfiguration. Not in the least an enjoyable subject, with that bloody Gryffindor hovering over his shoulder all the time, expecting him to do something terrible. Normlly he would have gone out of his way to provoke her, but today, after all the drama of the last few days, he was content just to sit back and remain indistinguishable from the rest of the students. He was mildly pleased when Crabbe and Goyle grinned like hyenas when he returned (though he guessed they'd have to be rather moronic hyenas). He was annoyed when Pansy Parkinson tried to wrap her arms around his neck like a possessive gorilla of some sort, but his mood lifted when he saw that some of the other slytherin boys were looking at him with envy. And his mood just about flew 20-feet into the air when he discovered that everybody, even the brilliant trio, had forgotten all about the bunny-ears incident. It seemed that a lot had happened in the last few days, not just for him, but for Neville Longbottom as well. Rather than transfiguring an apple into a puppy, he managed to transfigure himself into a miniature dragon... and accidently breathed fire onto his own feet. Lets face it, bunny ears were a rather mild embaressment compared to that.

He wasn't really looking forward to Professor Snape's class. That was a change, because normally it was by far his favourite lesson of the day, and he usually spent all is lessons counting down till the time came for potions. But now he still felt rather humiliated at his behaviour of the past few days. He'd doubted whether he'd ever regretted anything as much as he regretted having that little crying fit in front of Professor Snape of all teachers. At least if it had been anyone else, even Dumbledore, there would be no love lost. He would have hated being seen in that weak state in front of anyone, of course, but why did it have to be the only person whom Draco actually respected? Not for the first time, he was struck by the unfairness of the situation. But then again, maybe his father was right. Maybe the world wasn't fair, there was no justice. Maybe there was no right or wrong. Maybe there were just people who were brave anough to take what they wanted out of life, and those who were too scared to, while hiding behind words like justice, honour, good...

Either way, he was still pissed off at his situation.

Yet when he went into potions, he found that things really did seem like normal. Snape gave him a set of notes outlining what he'd missed, and offered to let him use the lab for an extra half-hour after class to get the experiments he'd missed done. He managed to finish the lesson early, however, and so finished all his work by the time the lesson was over, which Snape made a point of telling Longbottom, who still hadn't finished even one. Neville looked as if he were about to cry, and Draco would have laughed, except he was still trying to blend in and make sure everything returned to normal before resuming his scathing attacks. Afterall, although he hadn't mentioned anything yet, Draco was sure that Ron Weasley would conveniently remember his own potion disaster if required.

His day went from good to great when it was announced that Quidditch practice would start the next afternoon, and the first match of the season would start the next week. Against Gryffindor. Draco was glad. He needed to release a little steam, and what better way than to take on Potter on the Quidditch field?

Yes, life was definately getting a whole lot better for Draco Malfoy.

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3

Severus Snape was writing notes for the next day's lessons. He gasped and clasped his arm, which was burning in an all-too-familiar fashion. It filled him with dread, and little of it had to do with the physical pain. It seemed it was time once again. Voldemort was calling.

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A/N: Hmmm. Poor Draco doesn't realise things aren't going to stay normal. Not with Voldemort around. I don't know what Voldemort's gonna say. Or what's going to happen next. It'll be a suprise for both of us.

Just so people know, I don't want anyone worrying that I'm gonna suddenly abandon this story. I have full intentions of taking it right to the end. Even if it does take me a while.

Please review. I can't get enough. I haven't got a pro account, and can't check the hits, so the only way I know that people are still reading is if people review. And a feel like an arse when I feel like I'm writing to no one. I did try to make this chapter longer, but I'm just not a long-chapter-writer-person.