Chapter 7 – Fear
Author: Rikka
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters; I'm just playing with them for a short while. I'll give them back, with a knowing smile on their faces, once I've finished with them.
A/N: Thanks so very much for all the great reviews so far. (hint, hint: I love reviews!:)This semester is especially tough, but right now I'm playing hookie (actually, I have the flu and was told to stay home and not infect anyone else) so I'm getting caught up on some writing. Err, this chapter is a little departure from the rest of the story, but rest assured this will all get cleared up soon enough. (Everybody all together now: "Bad Draco!") As always, it is my 1st attempt at fanfic. Please let me know what you think!
"Severus," Albus Dumbledore's face appeared in Severus' fireplace with a *pop*.
"Yes, Albus?" he replied, scowling. He knew that Albus was only ever amused by his holy scowls as opposed to intimidated as many of the students, but he scowled nonetheless.
"Come to my office immediately," Albus said, and while there was the familiar twinkle in his eyes, Severus could feel the weight behind the words. What has happened now? He wondered, not permitting himself to think that someone could have told the Headmaster about his indiscretions of the previous night. With a flap of cape, he marched to Dumbledore's office, not even stopping to take points off of students who could never quite get out of his way fast enough.
*****
Hermione walked slowly to breakfast, her footsteps heavy with trepidation. She paused outside the doors to the great hall for a moment, and then walked in, her eyes scanning the crowd for any sign of recognition, any facial expression that would perhaps give away the identity of the person who moved her robes.
Across the hall, Draco was trying very, very hard not to laugh out loud when he saw the bushy-haired girl walk in, her lips a tight line across a colorless face (is that fear, Granger?), tired circles under her eyes. Guess she had a busy night, he thought, and then allowed his mind to wander to the subject of her and her...paramour...for a few moments. He caught himself just before she looked in his direction, quickly turning to tell his two dunderheaded bodyguards that he had forgotten something in his room and would see them in class.
Hermione noticed that Draco left the room like a bat out of hell soon after she entered. Guess it wasn't him, after all. If it were, I'm sure he would have at least attempted a slight gloat before taking off. The only thing she could do was wait. And the only that irritated Hermione more than not knowing something was waiting to find out. She fussed with her food, occasionally looking up at the head table to see if Severus had come in; he hadn't, and she felt a pang of regret and guilt as she pushed her plate away from her and stood to leave.
"Hey 'Mione! Where were you last night?" she heard Ron ask.
Hermione's heart jumped into her throat for a second, before Harry added, "Yeah, we wanted to ask your help with something but you were no where to be found. Not even in the library!"
"I was working on my project in the dungeons and I, uh, sort of fell asleep." She answered, avoiding looking at Harry in his eyes. He is too perceptive for his own good sometimes! Ron started laughing, and something along the lines of "Hermione...dungeons...shackles...sleeping..." came out, but it was too garbled for her to make sense of. Maybe that's for the best. Shackles? Hmm…no! stop that! How can you even think that way after how cold he was this morning? She battled internally with herself, but he was so warm last night...
Her struggle must have been apparent on her face, because Harry waved a hand in front of it. "Are you in there, Hermione? You seem...tired." Harry said, searching her face.
And how! Sore too, come to think of it, she thought, blushing, but instead answered, "I am a bit tired. Was having a problem getting some of my theories to work last night and-"
"You? You had problems getting something to work?" Ron interrupted, but before the grin on his face could get any larger Hermione shot him a deadly glare. Cor, she reminds me of Snape when she does that, he thought, and quickly wiped any signs of amusement off his face. "Well, it's just, you know, you normally get things right on the first try..." Ron backpedaled.
"Well, except for that whole polyjuice episode..." Harry added, quickly shielding his chest from the playful punch Hermione threw in his direction. "Hey now, there's no reason to get violent now," he said, pinning her arms at her side and pulling her in for a hug.
"Let go of me, Harry!" she said, half-struggling against her much larger friend's frame. Why do the boys get so big, argh!
Severus walked into the dining room just in time to see Hermione pulled into Potter's embrace. He bristled at the implied intimacy between the two, and cringed at the slight pang of jealousy he felt towards they boy until he noticed that Hermione seemed to be struggling. Walking quickly towards them as the Weasley boy joined in by starting to tickle her, he growled under his breath.
"Release her at once, Mr. Potter," he said in his most intimidating voice. "You and Mr. Weasley can come to detention tonight promptly at 7pm." He added, and with a brief look at Hermione, stormed out of the room, forgetting his growling stomach.
Are they all territorial wankers? Good Gods, she thought, straightening her hair and starting to walk away. "Don't worry boys," she called over her shoulder, "I'm sure he won't be too hard on you tonight," and with that, she walked out of the dining room. Harry and Ron just stared at each other for a second, before sitting down to start a food-filled conversation about Quiddich.
*****
The note hadn't been in her bag before potions. Which meant that someone must have slipped it in there at some point during potions.
Hermione-
I know what you did last night.
3rd corridor on the right past the potions room.
Midnight.
Tell anyone and your secret will be all over school faster than you can say "Quiddich."
Sincerely,
Your Blackmailer
Damn, damn, damn! Hermione was fed up with cryptic messages after being friends with Harry and Ron for six years, she was fed up with complicated plans and sneaking around the grounds at night, and she was most definitely already sick of whoever this idiot was who fancied themselves a blackmailer. And I don't even know their terms yet. Well, it's not as though I'm going to like whatever they have in store for me.
The rest of the day went a little faster than Hermione would have preferred, and almost before she had time to rethink whether or not she should tell Severus or not, it was time for her to go meet with her "blackmailer."
She was at the potions door, and she kept walking; one corridor, two, three...she walked down it, curving around and down (funny, I never noticed this before tonight) until it opened up into a great room with high ceilings. In the center of the room was a small table set for two, complete with candles and wine.
"Glad you could make it," a voice said from the far corner of the room.
"Who's there?" she said, walking towards the voice. "And what do you want!"
Stepping out of the shadows, Draco smiled. "Why, I want you, of course!"