Part 3
Severus Snape had no clue what he was going to say to Draco Malfoy until the words tumbled from his mouth. Once he began, he knew everything between him and the young man would change. He only hoped the boy was paying attention.
"Mr. Malfoy, I know how you must feel about my relationship with Miss Granger. There was once a time when I felt the same." Honesty was best, especially when one could relate. "A Gryffindor and a Slytherin cannot mix, correct?" This was said with a mysterious smile and got a chuckle out of Draco. "Wrong!" Snape yelled, slamming his fist down on the table. He grimaced slightly at the impact before continuing. Draco was giving Snape his full attention now, and he was not about to lose it.
"This school was created to educate young wizards such as yourself. It is meant to encourage cooperation among all students regardless of house and year."
Seemingly off topic, he continued, "This war has taught me something, Draco. Something about love, trust, and friendships. The wizarding world survives because of Muggle-borns. They are not a bane to our existence," bordering on pleading he stated this. "Albus Dumbledore stressed this to me when I first began here. That said, it must be stated that I trust Hermione Granger. I trust Harry Potter. . ." Draco was staring dumbfounded at this point. He wasn't sure he was hearing Snape correctly. Trusting Potter?
". . . And Draco, I trust you to do the right thing. I know your father has placed great emphasis on what you do after Hogwarts, but I want to put emphasis on something else. No matter who tries to make your decisions for you, only the ones you trust and who trust you are looking out for your best interest. However, you are the one who must make the decisions that will be best for you."
Because he found it relevant to the topic at hand, Snape continued by saying, "I'm not proud of my activities as a Death Eater. I've had nightmares for years. It was only this year those nightmares began to abate. Slowly, my dreams turned toward Miss Granger. At first I didn't understand why. I understand now, after yesterday evening. I needed comfort. I needed a guiding light. She has provided me with a source of hope. That is why, Mr. Malfoy," Snape's sudden turn to formalities was not lost on Draco. He realized the seriousness of the situation. "You must tell no one about us. I've already put Miss Granger in even greater danger than she was by just being Potter's friend. I beg you not to reveal any of what you know, for it could mean the death of the wizarding world, as well as the rest of mankind," he finished on this serious note.
Draco had a lot to take in. Snape trusted him. He would not let the Potions Master down. He could not do that after everything the older man had done for him. Draco had finally come to the realization that had been eating way at his brain all year. His way was not that of the Death Eaters and his father. No, Snape had told him that he was so much better.
Snape sat at his desk and watched silently as Draco processed everything. Was there still hope, or was it too late? He would soon find out. Patience was critical because he would not and could not force Draco into a decision the young man would not agree to.
"Professor," the blond finally said, "I want to thank you. I want to help whatever way I can. My place is here. You've shown me that."
Snape cold have hugged Draco at the moment, but he chose to remain seated at his desk. "Thank you, Draco. We need any help we can get." That was a relief. "You may leave now," Snape dismissed Draco.
"Professor, one more thing."
"Yes, what is it?"
"I'll try to set an example for the other students. To be honest, Potter and his friends aren't that bad. I mean, not as bad as I once thought. If you can accept them, so can I. I don't want to see what you've seen. I think I'll do all right by sticking with them."
"I believe you will, but, Draco, be patient. Mr. Weasley can be very stubborn, much like you. Don't force anything. It would, most certainly, be disastrous." Draco wanted to laugh at how much the Potions Master reminded him of the Headmaster at that moment, but he shook off the thought.
"Yes, sir. Thank you for everything, sir." He was to the door when he turned and said, "Congratulations, by the way." Draco left the dungeon. The closing of the door resounded though the room and Snape's head.
He had not given Hermione much thought until Draco brought up Harry. He dreaded what he had to do. Damn that girl and her persistence. Why did he have to experience love only to be forced to turn away from it. These were the times he dearly wished he had never been involved with Voldemort and the dark forces. He wanted to experience the finer things in life. Did he not deserve that by now? No, not yet. He still had his mission. "Fuck!"
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Draco was feeling a lot better after his encounter with Snape. He finally felt like he belonged somewhere. Lately, he had been rather lonely being one of only three Slytherins to stay for the holidays. Lucius Malfoy explicitly stated Draco was not welcome if he was not going to accept his ways and the younger Malfoy had made no indication by the time Christmas holiday arrived. As such, Crabbe and Goyle had left Draco with two first years. Sometimes he wondered why he kept those two lunkheads around. They were not good for anything but mild intimidation which really only worked on the younger kids anyway.
He was almost to the common room when he decided to go to the Great Hall instead. Snape had dragged him from the table before he had a chance to eat, so Draco was hoping to find a bite to eat. He found Harry and Ron playing Wizards Chess and Hermione reading. What better time to try to make friends out of enemies than the present?
"Hello, Draco. Would you like some Spam?" asked Harry jokingly.
"No thanks, Harry. But I am hungry. Is there anything left?"
Ron could not believe he had just heard Draco being nice to Harry. Something strange was going on; he was sure of it. "What? Daddy doesn't feed you anymore, Malfoy?" Snape was right. Ron Weasley would be a challenge.
"Look, Ron, I'm not my father. All I asked is if there was something I could eat. You don't have to be rude about it," he spat back.
Harry and Hermione had shared a look when Draco originally responded to Harry. They knew immediately what had happened. Hermione smiled and Harry smiled back. To stop Ron from making another comment, Harry responded first. "Hermione, can you take Draco to the kitchen?"
"I can. Come on, Draco. No starving allowed here." Hermione stood and walked out of the Great Hall with Draco at her side. Ron watched helplessly before turning on Harry.
"What was that about? Now you're consorting with the enemy! Are you going to join Slytherin next? It's possible you were sorted wrong. I heard the hat! It said you would do well in Slytherin."
Harry looked at Ron. He stared for a minute or two before finally responding angrily. "You don't get it, Ron. This isn't about houses. This isn't about family reputations. This sure isn't about some bloody sorting! This is war, Ron, and Draco has just chosen his side, ours! We shouldn't fight like this amongst ourselves. You're the one who's acting like you're on Voldemort's side, not us!" Harry left angrily to find Hermione leaving a furious Ron at the table. Harry vaguely heard the crashing of chess pieces as he left the Great Hall.
Albus Dumbledore had witnessed the whole event. He was glad to see Draco was no longer a wild card, but he was also deeply worried about Ronald Weasley's behavior. The red head did not want to accept that Snape and Draco were on their side. Something needed to be done, especially with Snape's next big move. "This is quite the mess, Severus. I hope you can clean it up," the headmaster seemed to say to no one in particular.
End Part 3
Severus Snape had no clue what he was going to say to Draco Malfoy until the words tumbled from his mouth. Once he began, he knew everything between him and the young man would change. He only hoped the boy was paying attention.
"Mr. Malfoy, I know how you must feel about my relationship with Miss Granger. There was once a time when I felt the same." Honesty was best, especially when one could relate. "A Gryffindor and a Slytherin cannot mix, correct?" This was said with a mysterious smile and got a chuckle out of Draco. "Wrong!" Snape yelled, slamming his fist down on the table. He grimaced slightly at the impact before continuing. Draco was giving Snape his full attention now, and he was not about to lose it.
"This school was created to educate young wizards such as yourself. It is meant to encourage cooperation among all students regardless of house and year."
Seemingly off topic, he continued, "This war has taught me something, Draco. Something about love, trust, and friendships. The wizarding world survives because of Muggle-borns. They are not a bane to our existence," bordering on pleading he stated this. "Albus Dumbledore stressed this to me when I first began here. That said, it must be stated that I trust Hermione Granger. I trust Harry Potter. . ." Draco was staring dumbfounded at this point. He wasn't sure he was hearing Snape correctly. Trusting Potter?
". . . And Draco, I trust you to do the right thing. I know your father has placed great emphasis on what you do after Hogwarts, but I want to put emphasis on something else. No matter who tries to make your decisions for you, only the ones you trust and who trust you are looking out for your best interest. However, you are the one who must make the decisions that will be best for you."
Because he found it relevant to the topic at hand, Snape continued by saying, "I'm not proud of my activities as a Death Eater. I've had nightmares for years. It was only this year those nightmares began to abate. Slowly, my dreams turned toward Miss Granger. At first I didn't understand why. I understand now, after yesterday evening. I needed comfort. I needed a guiding light. She has provided me with a source of hope. That is why, Mr. Malfoy," Snape's sudden turn to formalities was not lost on Draco. He realized the seriousness of the situation. "You must tell no one about us. I've already put Miss Granger in even greater danger than she was by just being Potter's friend. I beg you not to reveal any of what you know, for it could mean the death of the wizarding world, as well as the rest of mankind," he finished on this serious note.
Draco had a lot to take in. Snape trusted him. He would not let the Potions Master down. He could not do that after everything the older man had done for him. Draco had finally come to the realization that had been eating way at his brain all year. His way was not that of the Death Eaters and his father. No, Snape had told him that he was so much better.
Snape sat at his desk and watched silently as Draco processed everything. Was there still hope, or was it too late? He would soon find out. Patience was critical because he would not and could not force Draco into a decision the young man would not agree to.
"Professor," the blond finally said, "I want to thank you. I want to help whatever way I can. My place is here. You've shown me that."
Snape cold have hugged Draco at the moment, but he chose to remain seated at his desk. "Thank you, Draco. We need any help we can get." That was a relief. "You may leave now," Snape dismissed Draco.
"Professor, one more thing."
"Yes, what is it?"
"I'll try to set an example for the other students. To be honest, Potter and his friends aren't that bad. I mean, not as bad as I once thought. If you can accept them, so can I. I don't want to see what you've seen. I think I'll do all right by sticking with them."
"I believe you will, but, Draco, be patient. Mr. Weasley can be very stubborn, much like you. Don't force anything. It would, most certainly, be disastrous." Draco wanted to laugh at how much the Potions Master reminded him of the Headmaster at that moment, but he shook off the thought.
"Yes, sir. Thank you for everything, sir." He was to the door when he turned and said, "Congratulations, by the way." Draco left the dungeon. The closing of the door resounded though the room and Snape's head.
He had not given Hermione much thought until Draco brought up Harry. He dreaded what he had to do. Damn that girl and her persistence. Why did he have to experience love only to be forced to turn away from it. These were the times he dearly wished he had never been involved with Voldemort and the dark forces. He wanted to experience the finer things in life. Did he not deserve that by now? No, not yet. He still had his mission. "Fuck!"
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Draco was feeling a lot better after his encounter with Snape. He finally felt like he belonged somewhere. Lately, he had been rather lonely being one of only three Slytherins to stay for the holidays. Lucius Malfoy explicitly stated Draco was not welcome if he was not going to accept his ways and the younger Malfoy had made no indication by the time Christmas holiday arrived. As such, Crabbe and Goyle had left Draco with two first years. Sometimes he wondered why he kept those two lunkheads around. They were not good for anything but mild intimidation which really only worked on the younger kids anyway.
He was almost to the common room when he decided to go to the Great Hall instead. Snape had dragged him from the table before he had a chance to eat, so Draco was hoping to find a bite to eat. He found Harry and Ron playing Wizards Chess and Hermione reading. What better time to try to make friends out of enemies than the present?
"Hello, Draco. Would you like some Spam?" asked Harry jokingly.
"No thanks, Harry. But I am hungry. Is there anything left?"
Ron could not believe he had just heard Draco being nice to Harry. Something strange was going on; he was sure of it. "What? Daddy doesn't feed you anymore, Malfoy?" Snape was right. Ron Weasley would be a challenge.
"Look, Ron, I'm not my father. All I asked is if there was something I could eat. You don't have to be rude about it," he spat back.
Harry and Hermione had shared a look when Draco originally responded to Harry. They knew immediately what had happened. Hermione smiled and Harry smiled back. To stop Ron from making another comment, Harry responded first. "Hermione, can you take Draco to the kitchen?"
"I can. Come on, Draco. No starving allowed here." Hermione stood and walked out of the Great Hall with Draco at her side. Ron watched helplessly before turning on Harry.
"What was that about? Now you're consorting with the enemy! Are you going to join Slytherin next? It's possible you were sorted wrong. I heard the hat! It said you would do well in Slytherin."
Harry looked at Ron. He stared for a minute or two before finally responding angrily. "You don't get it, Ron. This isn't about houses. This isn't about family reputations. This sure isn't about some bloody sorting! This is war, Ron, and Draco has just chosen his side, ours! We shouldn't fight like this amongst ourselves. You're the one who's acting like you're on Voldemort's side, not us!" Harry left angrily to find Hermione leaving a furious Ron at the table. Harry vaguely heard the crashing of chess pieces as he left the Great Hall.
Albus Dumbledore had witnessed the whole event. He was glad to see Draco was no longer a wild card, but he was also deeply worried about Ronald Weasley's behavior. The red head did not want to accept that Snape and Draco were on their side. Something needed to be done, especially with Snape's next big move. "This is quite the mess, Severus. I hope you can clean it up," the headmaster seemed to say to no one in particular.
End Part 3