Chapter 13
"What is going on here?" Were his very words when looked from the panic-stricken Hermione to the nonchalant Draco.
"Um…" Hermione's voice shook. "Professor!"
"I know what's going on in here. Two teenagers locked up in an empty classroom…what were they doing?" He eyed them suspiciously before continuing, "sharing some private moments I presume?"
"What exactly are you suggesting?" Hermione asked away nervously. Shit! If he finds out…if anyone finds out…I am dead! She thought anxiously.
"We were discussing McGonagall's task for us, Professor," Draco lied languidly, ignoring Hermione's question and Snape's intimidating stare.
"Does this task include hiding in a classroom and locking the doors?" He was probably jesting, but he sounded damn serious.
"Privacy, nothing more…in fact, we were in the middle of writing a letter to Professor McGonagall, explaining to her the current issues and happenings around the school including the behavior of some students." As he said this, he took out a parchment from the pocket of his robe and raised it for Snape to behold.
It sounded like a threat to Hermione. A threat? Hermione furrowed her brows together, pondering at Draco's statement.
"What behavior? You are supposed to report to me any of these concerns--"
"I know my duties," Draco cut in.
"Your duty is to--"
"Our duty is to be aware and in turn make McGonagall aware." His emphasis on to make McGonagall aware confused Hermione, but when she looked at Snape, what she saw shocked her. The teacher was pale as a ghost.
"Professor?" She asked. All she got from him was a grunt.
"I understand," he said to Draco. "I am also aware that it is my solemn responsibility to report any misgivings regarding your welfare to your father."
"Then we have an understanding," Draco replied. They stood facing and sneering at each other. Hermione found the pair odd and the incident highly peculiar for the two who were reputed to share the same insights and attitudes stood there, opposing and trying to intimidate each other.
A full five minutes passed before Snape finally left with an arrogant nod. Draco stood neither triumphant nor unsuccessful. He sighed and turned to Hermione.
"What's going on? She asked, approaching Draco with an uneasy expression on her face.
"He knows," he said.
"Knows? Knows what?" She knew what he meant but couldn't seem to absorb it all. Draco just nodded absent-mindedly. "Oh my god!" She exclaimed, shaking her hands in the air, trying to calm her nerves. She walked out of the room and strode down the hallway to seek refuge in her room. Since she and Draco were getting rather intimate, she found out that she was actually spending a lot of time running around the corridors, avoiding him or getting away from.
She passed Snape on her way, and he just looked at her coldly. She ignored him and continued on. When she got to the corridor where the door to her room was found, a familiar voice called behind her. She turned around just in time for Draco to drag her to the Head Students' common room.
"We need to talk," he said when they were inside. "Listen to me; it's going to be all right."
"How do you know that?" Hermione asked; a trace of panic was evident in her voice. Draco just stood there, speechless and rather amused. "You don't even give a damn, do you?"
"It's only Snape. He's not going to do anything to you. He's not going to do anything!" He answered. "He's a teacher for goodness' sakes! What is he suppose to do? Tell McGonagall? And what is she going to do? Tell Dumbledore? And then what? It's none of their business! So stop worrying!" He couldn't believe he was actually comforting her.
He was absolutely right! Snape was a teacher and teachers don't spread private things like that; teachers do not gossip to their students…or do they?
"Granger, you shouldn't be worrying. It doesn't suit you," his tone was calmer when he said it. "Come on." He held out his arms to her and waited for her to take it. When she did, he wrapped his arms around her in a tight embrace, trying to push away his own worries.
