I'm so terribly sorry that it has taken so long for me to get the newest chapter up. Personal and family problems haven't given me the time to sit down for a couple hours by myself and get the idea's out of my head. I will do my best to get the next chapter up within a few weeks.
"Mr. Malfoy, I need to borrow a few moments of your time after class," Snape said as Draco was heading back to his seat.
"Yes, sir," Draco respectfully replied. He returned to his seat next to Hermione. She was slicing the newt tail into perfectly even pieces. "You know, even I don't spend that much making them look that nice, and I have the second highest marks in our year."
"And they is precisely why you only have the second highest marks," Hermione said as she grinned up at him. She carefully picked up every tiny piece and gently dropped them into the cauldron. "Draco... Do you think that I could wait for you after class...? I really don't want to walk in the hallways by myself yet...." She continued to work as she spoke.
"If you would really like to, that's fine. I'm sure Snape wont have a problem if you wait in here while we talk in his office." He reached up and turned her face to his. "But you do know that the entire Slytherin house would walk you to our next if you asked. You might not even have to ask, I'm sure a couple will volunteer. You are under their protection."
"I know... I just don't feel safe without you around. I don't know what I would do if Dumbledore hadn't changed all my classes so that I have you in all of them. I lost Muggle Studies... But I don't exactly need it."
"When did you get your new schedule?"
"A house-elf brought it when you getting the hoof." She held it up for him to see. He pulled it out of her hand to inspect it. He glanced over it for a minute, then set it on top of her bookbag.
"So I get to have you 24/7 for the rest of year?"
"It seems so."
"Excellent." Hermione looked up and he smirked at her. She just smiled and continued with her work.
The bell rang just as Draco set the bottled potion on Snape's desk.
"Ms Granger, you may finish cleaning up while Mr Malfoy and I talk. You may also wait in my classroom until Mr Malfoy is ready to escort you to your next class. Feel free to look through my potions books," Snape said.
"Thank you sir," Hermione replied. Snape inclined his head and then turned towards his office. Draco followed. Snape took his seat behind his desk, while Draco took one of the chairs in front.
"I was going to ask to see you after class, or this evening. You beat me to it," Draco said.
"Well, we do have quite a bit to discuss. I'll walk you and Gran... the Lady, to your next class." Draco nodded. "Now, what exactly do you plan on doing with this new found situation. You are no longer the heir. It seems that your original plan is not going to work out the way you planned."
"No, it doesn't seem that it will. But I believe the discovery of Hermione's heritage, and Voldemort's choice to have her inherit his throne will actually make this much simpler."
"How so?"
"You and I both know that a female could never have a strong hold over the Death Eaters without a male by her side. Voldemort and my father are also well aware of that fact. Hermione is not. My father has yet to say anything to me, but if I am correct, then he and Voldemort are already planning my wedding to Hermione. I would be the most obvious choice for a powerful and wealthy husband," Draco explained.
"And you think she will agree to this?" Snape asked.
"In time, I believe she will. She's grown quite fond of me, and I am being to become rather fond of her."
"You, Draco Malfoy, are fond of someone? More in specific, a female."
"Surprisingly, yes. When we were at the manor, she broke down on me. I took her back to her rooms, and removed her dress to put her to bed... It was disgusting. She's covered in bruises. I coxed her into telling me what happened. Her father, the Muggle one, has been beating her since they discovered her magical abilities, since she received her Hogwarts letter... And.... before she left for Hogwarts this year, he raped her. He bloody fucking raped her..." Snape's eye's grew wide. "Since then, I have been.... protective."
There was a moment of silence.
"You're protective of her, just as you are protective of your mother," Snape observed.
"There is no way in hell that I will allow her to end up like my mother. No woman deserves that. My father might be a hypocrite when he says that women are to be treated with the utmost respect, but I am not."
"Well, her legal guardian is now Voldemort, so she will never be returning to her Muggle home. She won't have to worry about that anymore... As long as she marries a decent man."
"She will marry me. I am very sure of that. When the final battle comes, we will win, and Voldemort will die. My father shall follow him to the grave. You will have your place at our side. She may never believe in Voldemort's ideals, but she will eventually believe in mine."
"Do you really think so?"
"After months, maybe years, of Voldemort and the Death Eaters pushing their ideas on her, mine will be very easy to accept. I have all the cards, I just need to play them right."
Hermione looked up as the door to Snape's office opened, and the two men stepped out. She smiled at Draco. He walked over and picked both his bag, and hers.
"Ready to go to Charms?" Hermione nodded. Snape was the first to head to the Charms room, Hermione and Draco followed, keeping a bit of a distance.
"What were you two talking about?" Hermione asked.
"Just about the new situation. He wanted to make sure you were adjusting, and if any students had caused any trouble for you," Draco replied. "I told him that it hasn't been very long, but you seem to be doing very well with the whole thing, and that I have taken care of anyone who has caused any problems." He slipped his fingers through hers. "And that I will make sure that you continue to adjust well, and that no one bothers you." Hermione smiled at him.
"Thank you, for everything you have done, and everything you will do." They spent the rest of the walk to their classroom in silence.
Hermione and Draco were sitting on her bed going over their potions assignment when there was a tap at the window. Both looked up to find a large black eagle perched on the window ledge.
"That's Voldemort's eagle," Draco informed her. "Let me handle him. He doesn't know you yet." Draco rose from the bed and opened the window. He held out his arm and the eagle wrapped his talons around Draco's arm. After lifting him into the room, Draco gently stroked his head. "Hello Hades. What do you have for us, my friend?" The bird turned his head towards Hermione. "It's for her?" He brought the bird over to Hermione, and sat back down on the bed. "Go ahead and untie the letter from his leg." Hades stuck his leg out, and Hermione reached over and untied the letter.
"Can I pet him?" she asked.
"Give him a minute to adjust to your presence," Draco replied. "He's very moody, and he doesn't take well to people he doesn't know. Read the letter, give him a treat, then he'll probably allow you to touch him." Hermione nodded, and unrolled the parchment.
"Should I read it allowed?" she asked.
"If you would like to."
"I will," she said, then began to read. "Dearest Desdemona, I know it has only been a day, but I thought I would inquire as to how you are doing. Did your arrival at the school go well? How was the meet with the Headmaster? Were you resorted into Slytherin? I hope things went as they were planned. Has Draco been keeping an eye on you? I'm sure he has. I hope you know that you can trust him with anything you may need, or any questions you have, just as you can trust me. Hades will not return to me until he has a letter, but if you wish to wait a few days to reply, feel free to do so. Give Draco my regards. Sincerely, Your Father." Hermione rolled the letter back up and placed it inside a desk drawer.
"He wants me to write to him also, and tell him how things have been going from my point of view," Draco stated as he conjured a perch for Hades.
"Why do you say that?" Hermione asked as she dug around for owl treats. "He likes owl treats, doesn't he?"
"Yes, he does. Anytime Voldemort says, 'Give my regards,' that translates into, 'He needs to communicate with me.' I don't think he wants you to know that I'm supposed to be spying on me."
"Are you spying on me?" She looked up at Draco as she held out her hand to give Hades his treat.
"Only if you would like me too. I won't be watching your every move. Although I can't say that I will leave you alone with Potter and Weasley. Voldemort would have my head if I allowed that."
"Well, thank you for not trying to spend every waking moment suffocating me. I really appreciate that."
"I know I couldn't stand to be constantly watched like that. I don't see why I would want to do that to you. And I do have other things to do that babysit you 24/7." He smirked at her.
"I'm sure you do, Mr-I'm-So-Important," she returned his smirk. "Now, let's get back to this potions work."
Several hours later Hermione lay awake in her bed, alone for the first time that day. As much as she was hoping to lay down, relax, and sleep, sleep would not come. There were far to many things rushing through her head. She could barely sort her thoughts out, let alone calm them enough to sleep.
Dumbledore was much to calm about the entire situation. She was going to have to watch what she said to whom, and where it was said. Dumbledore was sure to have every living thing under his command watching her. It wouldn't come as a surprise to find out that he had recruited the house elves as little spies. She knew things were going to get worse before they got better. The teachers were already treating her differently, as though they were afraid the she was jump onto her desk and start screaming about how she wanted all the Mudbloods dead and that her father would kill them all. Snape was the only teacher that had started treating her kinder than he had before she was taken from the castle. She had Transfiguration with the Gryffindors tomorrow morning. Professor McGonagall had always been the teacher that she could turn to when she needed help. Now the role of the mentor had been given to Snape. She wondered if Snape was really spying for the Order. Draco seemed to trust him very much... She would have to bring the subject up to Draco, very carefully of course.
It was 5:00am before she finally fell asleep. Her alarm went off at 7:00am.
"You look like shit," Draco greeted her.
"Thank you for your encouraging words Mr Malfoy. Exactly what I need after my 2 hours of sleep," Hermione said with her icy glare.
"No need to get all hostile on me. Go in the bathroom, put your hair up, throw on a little makeup, and you'll as beautiful as ever." He kissed the top of her head as he pushed her towards the bathroom.
Draco shook his head and sunk into the nearest recliner as Hermione was fixing herself up in the bathroom. If her insomnia continued, she was going to become a mess, very quickly. Voldemort would not be pleased with this. She had to be happy, healthy, and alert for the upcoming "party." She also had to be prepared. Teaching a tired Hermione was going to be much more difficult than teaching a wakeful one.
Draco looked up as the bathroom door opened. Hermione stepped out with her hair in a messy bun, and a hint of makeup on her face. She looked much better than when she had entered the bathroom. She still didn't look like her usual self, but it was an improvement. Draco stood up and met her at the door exiting their dorm.
"Do I look any better?" she asked.
"You look like a tired Hermione, but still a beautiful one," he replied, smiling down at her.
"Thank you," she said, then stood on her tip-toes to place a gentle kiss on his cheek. Draco ran his hand down her back, and wrapped it around her waist, after he had picked up their bookbags.
"Ready for a new day?" he inquired.
"Not really, but I'll give it a try anyways."
A/N: I hope you all enjoyed the new chapter. It's 4am, and I'm much too tired to go through and re-read it, so please forgive any/all of my grammatical errors. I'll probably begin working on the new chapter tomorrow, or rather, later today, so expect it up within a couple weeks. And remember to REVIEW! : )
"Mr. Malfoy, I need to borrow a few moments of your time after class," Snape said as Draco was heading back to his seat.
"Yes, sir," Draco respectfully replied. He returned to his seat next to Hermione. She was slicing the newt tail into perfectly even pieces. "You know, even I don't spend that much making them look that nice, and I have the second highest marks in our year."
"And they is precisely why you only have the second highest marks," Hermione said as she grinned up at him. She carefully picked up every tiny piece and gently dropped them into the cauldron. "Draco... Do you think that I could wait for you after class...? I really don't want to walk in the hallways by myself yet...." She continued to work as she spoke.
"If you would really like to, that's fine. I'm sure Snape wont have a problem if you wait in here while we talk in his office." He reached up and turned her face to his. "But you do know that the entire Slytherin house would walk you to our next if you asked. You might not even have to ask, I'm sure a couple will volunteer. You are under their protection."
"I know... I just don't feel safe without you around. I don't know what I would do if Dumbledore hadn't changed all my classes so that I have you in all of them. I lost Muggle Studies... But I don't exactly need it."
"When did you get your new schedule?"
"A house-elf brought it when you getting the hoof." She held it up for him to see. He pulled it out of her hand to inspect it. He glanced over it for a minute, then set it on top of her bookbag.
"So I get to have you 24/7 for the rest of year?"
"It seems so."
"Excellent." Hermione looked up and he smirked at her. She just smiled and continued with her work.
The bell rang just as Draco set the bottled potion on Snape's desk.
"Ms Granger, you may finish cleaning up while Mr Malfoy and I talk. You may also wait in my classroom until Mr Malfoy is ready to escort you to your next class. Feel free to look through my potions books," Snape said.
"Thank you sir," Hermione replied. Snape inclined his head and then turned towards his office. Draco followed. Snape took his seat behind his desk, while Draco took one of the chairs in front.
"I was going to ask to see you after class, or this evening. You beat me to it," Draco said.
"Well, we do have quite a bit to discuss. I'll walk you and Gran... the Lady, to your next class." Draco nodded. "Now, what exactly do you plan on doing with this new found situation. You are no longer the heir. It seems that your original plan is not going to work out the way you planned."
"No, it doesn't seem that it will. But I believe the discovery of Hermione's heritage, and Voldemort's choice to have her inherit his throne will actually make this much simpler."
"How so?"
"You and I both know that a female could never have a strong hold over the Death Eaters without a male by her side. Voldemort and my father are also well aware of that fact. Hermione is not. My father has yet to say anything to me, but if I am correct, then he and Voldemort are already planning my wedding to Hermione. I would be the most obvious choice for a powerful and wealthy husband," Draco explained.
"And you think she will agree to this?" Snape asked.
"In time, I believe she will. She's grown quite fond of me, and I am being to become rather fond of her."
"You, Draco Malfoy, are fond of someone? More in specific, a female."
"Surprisingly, yes. When we were at the manor, she broke down on me. I took her back to her rooms, and removed her dress to put her to bed... It was disgusting. She's covered in bruises. I coxed her into telling me what happened. Her father, the Muggle one, has been beating her since they discovered her magical abilities, since she received her Hogwarts letter... And.... before she left for Hogwarts this year, he raped her. He bloody fucking raped her..." Snape's eye's grew wide. "Since then, I have been.... protective."
There was a moment of silence.
"You're protective of her, just as you are protective of your mother," Snape observed.
"There is no way in hell that I will allow her to end up like my mother. No woman deserves that. My father might be a hypocrite when he says that women are to be treated with the utmost respect, but I am not."
"Well, her legal guardian is now Voldemort, so she will never be returning to her Muggle home. She won't have to worry about that anymore... As long as she marries a decent man."
"She will marry me. I am very sure of that. When the final battle comes, we will win, and Voldemort will die. My father shall follow him to the grave. You will have your place at our side. She may never believe in Voldemort's ideals, but she will eventually believe in mine."
"Do you really think so?"
"After months, maybe years, of Voldemort and the Death Eaters pushing their ideas on her, mine will be very easy to accept. I have all the cards, I just need to play them right."
Hermione looked up as the door to Snape's office opened, and the two men stepped out. She smiled at Draco. He walked over and picked both his bag, and hers.
"Ready to go to Charms?" Hermione nodded. Snape was the first to head to the Charms room, Hermione and Draco followed, keeping a bit of a distance.
"What were you two talking about?" Hermione asked.
"Just about the new situation. He wanted to make sure you were adjusting, and if any students had caused any trouble for you," Draco replied. "I told him that it hasn't been very long, but you seem to be doing very well with the whole thing, and that I have taken care of anyone who has caused any problems." He slipped his fingers through hers. "And that I will make sure that you continue to adjust well, and that no one bothers you." Hermione smiled at him.
"Thank you, for everything you have done, and everything you will do." They spent the rest of the walk to their classroom in silence.
Hermione and Draco were sitting on her bed going over their potions assignment when there was a tap at the window. Both looked up to find a large black eagle perched on the window ledge.
"That's Voldemort's eagle," Draco informed her. "Let me handle him. He doesn't know you yet." Draco rose from the bed and opened the window. He held out his arm and the eagle wrapped his talons around Draco's arm. After lifting him into the room, Draco gently stroked his head. "Hello Hades. What do you have for us, my friend?" The bird turned his head towards Hermione. "It's for her?" He brought the bird over to Hermione, and sat back down on the bed. "Go ahead and untie the letter from his leg." Hades stuck his leg out, and Hermione reached over and untied the letter.
"Can I pet him?" she asked.
"Give him a minute to adjust to your presence," Draco replied. "He's very moody, and he doesn't take well to people he doesn't know. Read the letter, give him a treat, then he'll probably allow you to touch him." Hermione nodded, and unrolled the parchment.
"Should I read it allowed?" she asked.
"If you would like to."
"I will," she said, then began to read. "Dearest Desdemona, I know it has only been a day, but I thought I would inquire as to how you are doing. Did your arrival at the school go well? How was the meet with the Headmaster? Were you resorted into Slytherin? I hope things went as they were planned. Has Draco been keeping an eye on you? I'm sure he has. I hope you know that you can trust him with anything you may need, or any questions you have, just as you can trust me. Hades will not return to me until he has a letter, but if you wish to wait a few days to reply, feel free to do so. Give Draco my regards. Sincerely, Your Father." Hermione rolled the letter back up and placed it inside a desk drawer.
"He wants me to write to him also, and tell him how things have been going from my point of view," Draco stated as he conjured a perch for Hades.
"Why do you say that?" Hermione asked as she dug around for owl treats. "He likes owl treats, doesn't he?"
"Yes, he does. Anytime Voldemort says, 'Give my regards,' that translates into, 'He needs to communicate with me.' I don't think he wants you to know that I'm supposed to be spying on me."
"Are you spying on me?" She looked up at Draco as she held out her hand to give Hades his treat.
"Only if you would like me too. I won't be watching your every move. Although I can't say that I will leave you alone with Potter and Weasley. Voldemort would have my head if I allowed that."
"Well, thank you for not trying to spend every waking moment suffocating me. I really appreciate that."
"I know I couldn't stand to be constantly watched like that. I don't see why I would want to do that to you. And I do have other things to do that babysit you 24/7." He smirked at her.
"I'm sure you do, Mr-I'm-So-Important," she returned his smirk. "Now, let's get back to this potions work."
Several hours later Hermione lay awake in her bed, alone for the first time that day. As much as she was hoping to lay down, relax, and sleep, sleep would not come. There were far to many things rushing through her head. She could barely sort her thoughts out, let alone calm them enough to sleep.
Dumbledore was much to calm about the entire situation. She was going to have to watch what she said to whom, and where it was said. Dumbledore was sure to have every living thing under his command watching her. It wouldn't come as a surprise to find out that he had recruited the house elves as little spies. She knew things were going to get worse before they got better. The teachers were already treating her differently, as though they were afraid the she was jump onto her desk and start screaming about how she wanted all the Mudbloods dead and that her father would kill them all. Snape was the only teacher that had started treating her kinder than he had before she was taken from the castle. She had Transfiguration with the Gryffindors tomorrow morning. Professor McGonagall had always been the teacher that she could turn to when she needed help. Now the role of the mentor had been given to Snape. She wondered if Snape was really spying for the Order. Draco seemed to trust him very much... She would have to bring the subject up to Draco, very carefully of course.
It was 5:00am before she finally fell asleep. Her alarm went off at 7:00am.
"You look like shit," Draco greeted her.
"Thank you for your encouraging words Mr Malfoy. Exactly what I need after my 2 hours of sleep," Hermione said with her icy glare.
"No need to get all hostile on me. Go in the bathroom, put your hair up, throw on a little makeup, and you'll as beautiful as ever." He kissed the top of her head as he pushed her towards the bathroom.
Draco shook his head and sunk into the nearest recliner as Hermione was fixing herself up in the bathroom. If her insomnia continued, she was going to become a mess, very quickly. Voldemort would not be pleased with this. She had to be happy, healthy, and alert for the upcoming "party." She also had to be prepared. Teaching a tired Hermione was going to be much more difficult than teaching a wakeful one.
Draco looked up as the bathroom door opened. Hermione stepped out with her hair in a messy bun, and a hint of makeup on her face. She looked much better than when she had entered the bathroom. She still didn't look like her usual self, but it was an improvement. Draco stood up and met her at the door exiting their dorm.
"Do I look any better?" she asked.
"You look like a tired Hermione, but still a beautiful one," he replied, smiling down at her.
"Thank you," she said, then stood on her tip-toes to place a gentle kiss on his cheek. Draco ran his hand down her back, and wrapped it around her waist, after he had picked up their bookbags.
"Ready for a new day?" he inquired.
"Not really, but I'll give it a try anyways."
A/N: I hope you all enjoyed the new chapter. It's 4am, and I'm much too tired to go through and re-read it, so please forgive any/all of my grammatical errors. I'll probably begin working on the new chapter tomorrow, or rather, later today, so expect it up within a couple weeks. And remember to REVIEW! : )