On Tuesday morning, Hermione took her place, nervously, next to Ron in
Potions.
"Hermione! You wont believe what happened to me yesterday! I woke up on the Quidditch Field!" He whispered, looking around himself nervously for Snape.
"The Quidditch field? Why on earth would you be sleeping outside?" Hermione asked, flipping open her Potions Textbook.
"I can't remember. The only thing that comes to mind is I had this bloody awful dream that Remus thought you were dating Malfoy, or something strange like that. I can't remember the dream clearly. Ridiculous, eh? Anyway so I woke up on the Quidditch Field wearing nothing but my Gryffindor Robe!"
Hermione couldn't help but laugh at that last part. Draco had really done an excellent job with Ron's memory charm. She did however wonder what would happen when Lupin responded to Ron's letter that he had no recollection of writing.
"Well, Ron, its sounds like you had a good time on Sunday night. We were a tad worried yesterday when you didn't show up for classes."
"Well there is one other thing that's really strange." Ron hushed his voice and leaned in to whisper. Hermione felt her blood run cold. What if he did remember something?
"I can't be too sure, but I have the faintest memory that I had seen Millicent Bulstrode on Sunday." He gave her a face like he had just tasted something awful.
Hermione let out a sharp laugh. She would have to thank Draco later.
"So," she changed the subject. "Any news on the search for Ginny?"
"No." he said sadly. "Mum and dad think it might be the work of dark wizards. You-Know-Who had tried to take Ginny once before, they reckon he did it again."
"Oh my, that is dreadful. I'm sure we will find her." Hermione smiled and patted Ron on the hand, in what she hoped looked like a genuine, reassuring gesture.
"Settle down," said the familiar, cold voice, "wands away, quills out." Professor Snape stalked into the classroom, his robe billowing behind him.
Hermione looked at him and the events of the night before flooded into her mind. After nearly an hour of sitting quietly by the lake with her head resting on his shoulder, he had decided it was time to go back to the castle. Upon entering the Entrance Hall, and bidding good night to each other, Hermione felt a strong suspicion he had wanted to kiss her. It was something in his eyes, a warm glow he gave off. They went their separate ways before she could find out what his motives were. Now, sitting in Potions class, she scanned his eyes for the same glow, but found only darkness as he dictated the proper way to crush Dragon's Claw.
After Snape dismissed the class, Hermione quickly gathered her belongings and exited the classroom, without so much as a second glance at the man who had his head over a parchment, his face covered in curtains of black hair.
"Hey Hermione!" Ron called. "Wait up!"
Hermione stopped and rolled her eyes, turning around to see Ron catching up to her.
"Its been so long since we've really done anything, maybe we could spend some time together tonight?" Ron asked, a smile across his freckled face.
As Hermione was about to answer Draco marched past her. It was fast, but she saw him give her a tiny smile before he disappeared down the hallway with Crabbe and Goyle.
"Ehh, sure Ron. We could do something later," said Hermione, feeling distracted as she watched the blonde Slytherin track down the hall.
"Alright then." Ron beamed. "I'll be seeing you later." He left for Herbology and Hermione sighed. This was getting difficult.
"MISS GRANGER!" Snape's voice shot across the hall. She froze, she felt a memory of her previous years flood through her and she looked up. Snape was standing outside his classroom door, arms crossed.
"Yes Professor Snape?" she looked confused. Everyone in the halls had stopped to watch the spectacle - obviously glad they weren't on the receiving end of Snape's wrath.
"In my office, now!" he barked.
She followed him in, wondering what was going on, and why he had the sudden change of attitude towards her. After the door was shut and she was positive she couldn't be heard she spoke up. "I'm sorry did I miss something?"
"Making plans to spend time with Weasley?" he asked, suddenly sounding like a jealous boyfriend.
"Yes. He asked -" Hermione winced.
"- Do you have - any - idea just how dangerous that is?" Snape cut her off before she could finish.
"He doesn't remember anything - Draco used a ---." She stopped short.
"Draco?" The sudden look on Snape's face said it all. He was beginning to put two and two together in a way that only Snape could. "Draco Malfoy? What does he have anything to do with Ronald Weasley's memory?" Snape questioned, the words flowing silkily from his thin lips.
Hermione groaned. "Listen, Severus, you cannot tell anyone this."
"It will be up to me to decide whom I tell what."
"Draco let Ron go. On Monday afternoon."
"Why would Malfoy do such a thing? Doesn't he understand the risk involved?"
"Yes he knew, he told me he knows what it's like to sacrifice someone you love and he said he didn't want me to feel the same guilt."
Snape thought for a second, staring at her and making her feel self conscious. "Genevieve." He said slowly.
"Yes."
"As honorable as Draco's intentions were, he above all people should know the risk of such a thing." Snape started pacing the room. "If The Dark Lord finds this out...he will have us kill Draco. All of us. You and I and Lucius included."
Hermione swallowed hard. Draco Malfoy may end up just like Ginny because of her.
"Please, just keep this to ourselves, I couldn't live with myself if Draco had to die because of.me," she looked down sadly.
"Hermione, I do not believe I would have any problems keeping a secret, seeing as I've been doing just that for over 15 years. If I were you I would warn Mr. Malfoy to start looking out for himself." He said icily.
"Right.okay." Hermione spoke slowly. She looked up at him and felt a soft smile on her face.
"What?" he asked, looking over his shoulders, wondering what she was so happy about.
"Professor, you know I can't take you seriously ever again, right?"
"I beg your pardon?" he looked confused.
"Last night, you admitted that whole thing about using fear as a tactic, so now I know that this ." She gestured towards him, "Is all just a front."
Snape gave a tiny fake laugh. "Do you think you have me all figured out, Miss Granger?"
"As a matter of fact, I do. I know all about you now." She said smugly, putting her hands on her hips. The Know-It-All was back.
Snape closed the gap between them so quickly it startled her. He stepped behind her and grabbed her arms roughly, in a pincer-like grip. "Miss Granger, there are things about me that if you dared to know, would send violent shivers down your spine." He whispered into her ear. "So don't think you've finished figuring out Severus Snape just yet." He let her go and she turned around to face him.
"You would be surprised at what I know, Severus." She smirked and left the room before he could say another word.
Hermione hurried off to class, seeing as she was already five minutes late. She rounded a corner and bumped into Draco.
He shook his head and smirked at her. "Bit clumsy, aren't you, Mudblood?"
"Maybe just a bit." She smiled. She stepped into an shadowy alcove on the wall with him. "What do you want, Draco?"
"To tell you that you were sloppy." He grinned.
"Sloppy? Sloppy - kisser?" she asked, thoroughly confused.
"No. You see, I intercepted this yesterday." He pulled the letter from Ron to Remus out of his robes. "Used the Scribere Charm, did you?"
"How did you ---? Let me see that!" she grabbed the parchment from him, reading over the letter she had written in Ron's handwriting. "So Lupin never got this letter?"
"Nope, and I must say it was a messy thing to do. Just complicates things further."
"I was trying to cover myself.." She said slowly.
"Yes but it just leaves a trail for someone to follow. You see now, Weasley doesn't remember anything and Lupin will just look like a fool." Draco sneered. "You know, for a Prefect and being such a smart girl, I thought you would have known better."
"Sorry I suppose I'm still learning how to be a sneaky little git." She sneered back.
Draco smiled genuinely at her. "Well then Mudblood, you had better get off to class before someone finds you down here in the Dungeons talking to me."
She wadded the parchment into her fist and flashed him a smile before proceeding to Arithmacy. "Thanks Draco, now I owe you two."
That evening she joined Ron for a game of Wizard's Chess in the Gryffindor Common room. Hermione had become quite good at the game, from observing Ron play nearly everyday, and figuring out the logic behind it.
"Bishop to C4." Ron instructed. "So, tell me, where do you get off to every night?" he asked.
"Knight to D6. Nowhere really. The castle gets depressing, so I like to get out for some fresh air."
Ron stared at her grinning. "When did you become such a rule breaker? Leaving the castle unescorted after curfew? I'm impressed."
"Yes well, sometimes you need to do what you have to..." She said quietly.
"Oh! Mum wanted to me to tell you, we're all invited to Grimmauld Place for the Easter Holiday. She really wants us all to go. She hasn't seen Harry since the start of the term, you know he didn't want to come with me for Christmas."
"Yes." Hermione said thoughtfully. "Joining you all at Grimmauld Place would be rather enjoyable, I imagine. We could see what the Order is up to!" she smiled, and felt her eyes twinkle at the double meaning of her own words.
"Oh yes, Fred and George will be there as well. We could spy on the Order just like we used to." Ron giggled.
"Excellent!" Hermione beamed. "What fun it will be! Queen to E5." She told her black piece to move. She smiled haughtily at Ron. "Check mate."
____ _____
Sorry for the lack of updating, it was a busy weekend. Chapter 16 will be up as soon possible.
"Hermione! You wont believe what happened to me yesterday! I woke up on the Quidditch Field!" He whispered, looking around himself nervously for Snape.
"The Quidditch field? Why on earth would you be sleeping outside?" Hermione asked, flipping open her Potions Textbook.
"I can't remember. The only thing that comes to mind is I had this bloody awful dream that Remus thought you were dating Malfoy, or something strange like that. I can't remember the dream clearly. Ridiculous, eh? Anyway so I woke up on the Quidditch Field wearing nothing but my Gryffindor Robe!"
Hermione couldn't help but laugh at that last part. Draco had really done an excellent job with Ron's memory charm. She did however wonder what would happen when Lupin responded to Ron's letter that he had no recollection of writing.
"Well, Ron, its sounds like you had a good time on Sunday night. We were a tad worried yesterday when you didn't show up for classes."
"Well there is one other thing that's really strange." Ron hushed his voice and leaned in to whisper. Hermione felt her blood run cold. What if he did remember something?
"I can't be too sure, but I have the faintest memory that I had seen Millicent Bulstrode on Sunday." He gave her a face like he had just tasted something awful.
Hermione let out a sharp laugh. She would have to thank Draco later.
"So," she changed the subject. "Any news on the search for Ginny?"
"No." he said sadly. "Mum and dad think it might be the work of dark wizards. You-Know-Who had tried to take Ginny once before, they reckon he did it again."
"Oh my, that is dreadful. I'm sure we will find her." Hermione smiled and patted Ron on the hand, in what she hoped looked like a genuine, reassuring gesture.
"Settle down," said the familiar, cold voice, "wands away, quills out." Professor Snape stalked into the classroom, his robe billowing behind him.
Hermione looked at him and the events of the night before flooded into her mind. After nearly an hour of sitting quietly by the lake with her head resting on his shoulder, he had decided it was time to go back to the castle. Upon entering the Entrance Hall, and bidding good night to each other, Hermione felt a strong suspicion he had wanted to kiss her. It was something in his eyes, a warm glow he gave off. They went their separate ways before she could find out what his motives were. Now, sitting in Potions class, she scanned his eyes for the same glow, but found only darkness as he dictated the proper way to crush Dragon's Claw.
After Snape dismissed the class, Hermione quickly gathered her belongings and exited the classroom, without so much as a second glance at the man who had his head over a parchment, his face covered in curtains of black hair.
"Hey Hermione!" Ron called. "Wait up!"
Hermione stopped and rolled her eyes, turning around to see Ron catching up to her.
"Its been so long since we've really done anything, maybe we could spend some time together tonight?" Ron asked, a smile across his freckled face.
As Hermione was about to answer Draco marched past her. It was fast, but she saw him give her a tiny smile before he disappeared down the hallway with Crabbe and Goyle.
"Ehh, sure Ron. We could do something later," said Hermione, feeling distracted as she watched the blonde Slytherin track down the hall.
"Alright then." Ron beamed. "I'll be seeing you later." He left for Herbology and Hermione sighed. This was getting difficult.
"MISS GRANGER!" Snape's voice shot across the hall. She froze, she felt a memory of her previous years flood through her and she looked up. Snape was standing outside his classroom door, arms crossed.
"Yes Professor Snape?" she looked confused. Everyone in the halls had stopped to watch the spectacle - obviously glad they weren't on the receiving end of Snape's wrath.
"In my office, now!" he barked.
She followed him in, wondering what was going on, and why he had the sudden change of attitude towards her. After the door was shut and she was positive she couldn't be heard she spoke up. "I'm sorry did I miss something?"
"Making plans to spend time with Weasley?" he asked, suddenly sounding like a jealous boyfriend.
"Yes. He asked -" Hermione winced.
"- Do you have - any - idea just how dangerous that is?" Snape cut her off before she could finish.
"He doesn't remember anything - Draco used a ---." She stopped short.
"Draco?" The sudden look on Snape's face said it all. He was beginning to put two and two together in a way that only Snape could. "Draco Malfoy? What does he have anything to do with Ronald Weasley's memory?" Snape questioned, the words flowing silkily from his thin lips.
Hermione groaned. "Listen, Severus, you cannot tell anyone this."
"It will be up to me to decide whom I tell what."
"Draco let Ron go. On Monday afternoon."
"Why would Malfoy do such a thing? Doesn't he understand the risk involved?"
"Yes he knew, he told me he knows what it's like to sacrifice someone you love and he said he didn't want me to feel the same guilt."
Snape thought for a second, staring at her and making her feel self conscious. "Genevieve." He said slowly.
"Yes."
"As honorable as Draco's intentions were, he above all people should know the risk of such a thing." Snape started pacing the room. "If The Dark Lord finds this out...he will have us kill Draco. All of us. You and I and Lucius included."
Hermione swallowed hard. Draco Malfoy may end up just like Ginny because of her.
"Please, just keep this to ourselves, I couldn't live with myself if Draco had to die because of.me," she looked down sadly.
"Hermione, I do not believe I would have any problems keeping a secret, seeing as I've been doing just that for over 15 years. If I were you I would warn Mr. Malfoy to start looking out for himself." He said icily.
"Right.okay." Hermione spoke slowly. She looked up at him and felt a soft smile on her face.
"What?" he asked, looking over his shoulders, wondering what she was so happy about.
"Professor, you know I can't take you seriously ever again, right?"
"I beg your pardon?" he looked confused.
"Last night, you admitted that whole thing about using fear as a tactic, so now I know that this ." She gestured towards him, "Is all just a front."
Snape gave a tiny fake laugh. "Do you think you have me all figured out, Miss Granger?"
"As a matter of fact, I do. I know all about you now." She said smugly, putting her hands on her hips. The Know-It-All was back.
Snape closed the gap between them so quickly it startled her. He stepped behind her and grabbed her arms roughly, in a pincer-like grip. "Miss Granger, there are things about me that if you dared to know, would send violent shivers down your spine." He whispered into her ear. "So don't think you've finished figuring out Severus Snape just yet." He let her go and she turned around to face him.
"You would be surprised at what I know, Severus." She smirked and left the room before he could say another word.
Hermione hurried off to class, seeing as she was already five minutes late. She rounded a corner and bumped into Draco.
He shook his head and smirked at her. "Bit clumsy, aren't you, Mudblood?"
"Maybe just a bit." She smiled. She stepped into an shadowy alcove on the wall with him. "What do you want, Draco?"
"To tell you that you were sloppy." He grinned.
"Sloppy? Sloppy - kisser?" she asked, thoroughly confused.
"No. You see, I intercepted this yesterday." He pulled the letter from Ron to Remus out of his robes. "Used the Scribere Charm, did you?"
"How did you ---? Let me see that!" she grabbed the parchment from him, reading over the letter she had written in Ron's handwriting. "So Lupin never got this letter?"
"Nope, and I must say it was a messy thing to do. Just complicates things further."
"I was trying to cover myself.." She said slowly.
"Yes but it just leaves a trail for someone to follow. You see now, Weasley doesn't remember anything and Lupin will just look like a fool." Draco sneered. "You know, for a Prefect and being such a smart girl, I thought you would have known better."
"Sorry I suppose I'm still learning how to be a sneaky little git." She sneered back.
Draco smiled genuinely at her. "Well then Mudblood, you had better get off to class before someone finds you down here in the Dungeons talking to me."
She wadded the parchment into her fist and flashed him a smile before proceeding to Arithmacy. "Thanks Draco, now I owe you two."
That evening she joined Ron for a game of Wizard's Chess in the Gryffindor Common room. Hermione had become quite good at the game, from observing Ron play nearly everyday, and figuring out the logic behind it.
"Bishop to C4." Ron instructed. "So, tell me, where do you get off to every night?" he asked.
"Knight to D6. Nowhere really. The castle gets depressing, so I like to get out for some fresh air."
Ron stared at her grinning. "When did you become such a rule breaker? Leaving the castle unescorted after curfew? I'm impressed."
"Yes well, sometimes you need to do what you have to..." She said quietly.
"Oh! Mum wanted to me to tell you, we're all invited to Grimmauld Place for the Easter Holiday. She really wants us all to go. She hasn't seen Harry since the start of the term, you know he didn't want to come with me for Christmas."
"Yes." Hermione said thoughtfully. "Joining you all at Grimmauld Place would be rather enjoyable, I imagine. We could see what the Order is up to!" she smiled, and felt her eyes twinkle at the double meaning of her own words.
"Oh yes, Fred and George will be there as well. We could spy on the Order just like we used to." Ron giggled.
"Excellent!" Hermione beamed. "What fun it will be! Queen to E5." She told her black piece to move. She smiled haughtily at Ron. "Check mate."
____ _____
Sorry for the lack of updating, it was a busy weekend. Chapter 16 will be up as soon possible.