Disclaimer: Yup! You've guessed it, still not mine!

For the reviewer who decided to knock my title..... just to let you know, had you looked at the date, my story was published 10-18-03. Stuck on You the movie came out December 12, 2003 two months after my story was published. Try to get the facts straight before you dis things. Thank you.

What the Snake Said

Draco shifted uncomfortably as his professor stood silently looking at him, studying him as if searching for the smallest imperfection, the tiniest hint of a flaw. Draco found it quite disagreeable to be scrutinized so very closely and the heavy silence that fell upon the room was almost enough to choke on. Clearing his throat Draco looked up at his teacher expectantly.

Snape spoke in his low drawl with one arm crossed over his chest and the other rubbing his chin, his eyes never fell from Draco the whole time. "There are rumors boy, rumors about you and a Mudblood." Snape looked at the boy for any hint of a reaction and was almost certain that he saw one for half a second before Draco's face became a mask of ice. Feeling at least somewhat triumphant, the surly man continued.

"People are saying that you actually care for that filthy little wench. Tell me boy," he walked closer to Draco and leaned imposingly over the boy, "Is this true?"

Draco looked into his professor's eyes, never wavering, "Where did you hear such a preposterous idea as that?"

The professor smirked and stood up victoriously, "Avoiding the question, so it's true then. You do have a taste for Mudblood whores." Snape caught the glint that ran through Draco's eyes even though it did not touch the rest of his face. After many years of a spy, Severus had learned exactly what buttons to push and the tiniest signs that hinted a reaction. He continued on.

"You do know what the Dark Lord would do if he found out about your little obsession don't you? Hope you like to share." He smirked and notice that Draco began to sit up a little straighter. "Not to mention what he will do," Snape had begun circling Draco and was now behind the boy and he put both of his hands on the boy's shoulder, "to you."

Draco didn't move and so Snape continued on leaning in lower so as to whisper into Draco's ear, "No, not you though, not the great Draco Malfoy. You are far to smart to get caught up in such a mess. So what do you plan to do then? Fuck her until she is of no more use to you? Break her in and hand her to the Dark Lord as a present? That's what you are doing isn't it Draco? Taking you share of the spoils before you....."

But the potions master never got to finish his sentence because a spell had hit him in the chest and he went flying across the room and into a wall. When he looked up he saw Draco standing, breathing heavy, his hand clasped tightly around his wand, and a mix of confusion and emotions that Severus knew all too well covering his eyes. He had did it, broken through Draco's barriers and leveled them onto the same playing field.

Draco's confusion only spread as his professor began laughing. He hadn't at first realized that he had attacked his teacher, but the knowledge soon set in and Draco was certain he was going to be severely punished, that is until his teacher began laughing.

Snape looked Draco in the eyes, "Sit down boy!"

Draco dropped into the chair mechanically with wide eyes knowing that Severus Snape was not a man to piss off. There was surely going to be an intense repercussion for this.

Severus was once again circling him and finally stopped in front of him conjuring up a chair for himself. "Congratulations," the man said as he sat, further confusing his student, "You passed the first part of the test."

"I....." Draco shook his head, "What?"

"Shut up boy!" Severus snapped, "We haven't the time for your babble. What if I told you, you had a choice Draco? That you could do what you see fit."

"But Sir I..... I don't understand."

"There are two sides to this fight Draco, which will you choose?"

"Sir I am the Dark Lord's faithful servant just as you are," Draco said now fearing that by 'passing the test' he had proved some sort of disloyalty and that if he did not swear his allegiance to Voldemort, then he would find himself on the receiving end of a few unforgivables come the next Death Eater meeting.

Snape smirked sensing Draco's answer was over hasty and filled with fear. "Perhaps before comparing you loyalty to my own you should know that I have been a member of a band called the Order of the Phoenix lead by Albus Dumbledore- the chief opposition to the Dark Lord- for the past thirteen years."

If it was possible, Draco's eyes got even wider. "Sir, what are you saying?"

"I am saying Draco, that you can either choose to fight for or against the Dark Lord. Neither way will be easy, and any way you choose puts your life at risk, but you have a choice. Only your own heart can tell you where you belong, I belong fighting alongside Albus Dumbledore, against the man I once called Master."

Draco's brain was overflowing with concepts that he couldn't even begin to grasp. Severus Snape was not a Death Eater; not truly. He himself didn't have to join the ranks of the Dark Lord. Then, "But sir, isn't it dangerous to tell me all this? Suppose I choose to join the Dark Lord?"

Snape laughed, a sound that held no merriment. "How quickly you forget that a simple spell would erase this encounter entirely from your memory."

Draco looked at the ground, "Oh." He was still so confused. There was a choice? He could follow his own heart? His own feelings and opinions mattered? Did he have any desire to join the Dark Forces? Did he have any desire to cross his own father? "My..... my father," he whispered.

"What?" bellowed Snape, "You wish to be the same as your father?" Draco shook his head. "You feel bad leaving your father to his own fate?" Again Draco shook his head. "Well what then? Speak up boy, we haven't the time for this!"

After a second Draco spoke in a voice that sounded even smaller than he felt at the moment. "What will my father do to me if I choose the other side?"

Snape sighed figuring this was the time in which he was supposed to show compassion, or the closest thing to compassion he could show. He knew Draco's father well, and knew too that where it counted, Draco did not have a father, merely a large barrier that stood between him and freedom.

Not very good at the human relations aspect of life, Severus laid a hand awkwardly on top of Draco's own. Both Draco and the professor looked at the area of contact neither being much used to the subject especially in the paternal way Snape was attempting to convey. Snape took his own hand back. "Look," he began, "You father is not the worlds most powerful wizard, and in truth, most of his power comes from material possessions and not magic, you are stronger than him by far, and with the proper training could easily defeat him in any battle."

Draco looked up at his professor as the latter continued to speak. "You are now old enough to be legally responcible for yourself and your father cannot hold such a power over you any more. Should you choose our side, you will be provided for as best we can. True, it will not hold a candle to the spoils you receive at the Malfoy Manor, but it is meant much kinder." Draco thought that he must have been imagining things because he thought for a moment he saw his professor's eyes become watery.

"First Draco, before you make any choice, let me show you this." The professor pulled out a pensive and began filling it with his thoughts and memories. Touching his wand to the silvery liquid, he encouraged Draco to look.

Many scenes dances before Draco's eyes, most too horrible for words. He saw men screaming in agony as other men wearing dark cloaks helped themselves to the firsts' women. He saw children clutching blood-soaked teddy bears as they watched their parents fall, unaware of what was going on or what was about to happen to them. He saw grown men cry as their bodies writhed and bent in angles unnatural for normal humans. He saw blood, and tears, and death, and murder, and theft, and rape, and arson, he heard all the screams of the victims and began to believe that the sound would never leave his brain, he began to feel nauseous as he continued to look and felt that he would surely vomit or pass out if he saw any more before the picture changed again, and he saw a very pretty girl with dark brown hair and eyes of the same color smiling at him looking jovial and innocent. As she stood there smiling sweetly, the pensive went dark and the images ceased all together.

Draco was silent, not quite sure of what to say. He swallowed and then heard his teacher speak.

"Her name was Elizabeth. She was the only woman I will ever love. We met here at Hogwarts and planned to marry shortly after we graduated. She was a pureblood, but she had a kind heart, a kind heart that looked at me and didn't see a monster, a kind heart that could not stand to see innocent blood spilt or so many lives ruined. The Dark Lord wasn't happy that I planned to marry a girl who did not agree with his philosophy. One night while she slept he kidnapped her and then summoned me to his castle. I was forced to watch as ever Death Eater took his turn with her, forced to watch as she refused to cry or scream because she would show no weakness, forced to watch, as she was beaten to death. I myself was beaten and cursed and locked in a dungeon for three months with only enough food to just keep me alive. I was content to sit there and starve, they forced me to eat and kept me alive only to let the horror of what happen weigh upon me.

"It was after I got out and was a very broken man that I again ran into my old headmaster, and he could tell somehow that I needed out. He helped me as no one has helped me before. He took me in like a son and employed me both as a teacher and a spy. I have been both ever since. She had tried to stop me you know. Tried to keep me from joining his ranks, but I was blinded by my own ambition for power and by want of revenge to those who smote me in school. If I had not let my hatred of Potter and Black blind me, I might still have her today."

Draco was both confused and not confused, because as all he heard had not yet sunk properly in, he knew what he had to do. He got up and began walking towards the door.

"Draco, where are you going? You didn't tell me what choice you had made."

The blond stopped and turned to face his professor. "The rumors were true Professor, I do have feelings for her."

Severus watched as Draco hurried from the room and smiled as the door shut. Somehow, Saving Draco from the very fate he had incurred felt as if he was finally beginning to put right everything that he had done wrong. He knew that Draco's choice would break him from his family line completely. Severus decided that as he would have no children of his own, he would see Draco provided for. True he was not as rich as the Malfoy's but he had his own little sum that would allow them a rather comfortable life. He felt as if Draco were going to have the life he never got to have.

As soon as Draco left, he walked straight up to his dorm and didn't even stop as he entered. He crossed straight to the bed and cradled Hermione's sleeping form in his arms and pressed his lips to her own and felt her slowly awaken to find herself in his arms.

At first she seemed as if she would start in fright, but then her eyes softened and she raised a hand to Draco's face touching the side of his eye where a tear threatened to spill.

"Draco," she said in a soft and innocent voice that was still laced with sleep, "You're crying."

He smiled as a few tears fell freely now, "I love you. I know it's soon and sudden, but I do. And I am not going to let you go, not now not ever."

Hermione pushed herself so she was sitting upright and took Draco's hand in her own. As he continued to talk, his voice began to shake. "I don't have to be a Death Eater, I don't. I can be with you, and we can be happy. We can get married and we can have kids and live happily ever after and we wont have to worry about anything because as long as we have each other, we will be all right.

Hermione smiled as she cupped Draco's face in her hand and kissed him until she felt his muscles relax and his pulse calm. She gave him another warm smile and pulled him towards her so that she was cuddling him and his head lay upon her breast. As she began playing with his hair, she told him to tell her everything from the beginning.

".....And I just walked out of the Potions Room. Everything seemed so much clearer."

When Draco finished speaking he looked up at Hermione his grey eyes shining with newfound hope.

"So what are you going to do then?" she inquired, hoping that Draco had some plan or another.

"I have absolutely no idea!" He began laughing causing Hermione to stare at him as if he were hysterical. When he regained control over his laughing fit, he enlightened her as to what was so funny. "That is to say I am not going to become a Death Eater, however, it means that once this school year has ended I have no where to go." The seriousness returned to his eyes and he rested his head once again on Hermione. "I'm alone."

"No," Hermione corrected holding him closer to her chest, "Not alone, never alone. You know I am going to help you with this. You will get through it."

Draco shook his head and buried himself as far into Hermione as he could. "Just hold me."

They stayed like that for the rest of the night, resting together finally knowing that they were free to express their affections.

Albus Dumbledore sat in his office when an owl flew in through the open window. Relieving the bird of its burden, he stroked its feathers and sent it on its way. The letter inside was written in a very neat pen and was rather short and to the point.

Headmaster,

After much discussion with my roommate, Mr. Malfoy and I have decided to remain the remainder of the term in this dorm so that we may be better apt to fulfill the requirements of our assignment. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Hermione Granger

Albus smiled as he folded the letter and put it away. He was expecting company at any moment and the letter promised that the future meeting would bring good tidings.

"Headmaster," a low voice called from the doorway.

Dumbledore smiled, "Ahh! Come in Severus. Do sit down. Lemon drop?"

Snape brushed the sweets aside allowing the old man to continue.

"Your attempt was successful Severus, I do believe that with your help as well as the help of Hermione Granger, Draco will become one of us. I need you now Severus to show him the way."

Severus's eyebrows lowered slightly, "What exactly are you proposing sir?"

"I need you to teach Draco all that you know. I need you to help him realize the good inside of him. He will doubt himself in the same way you did, Severus. You are the one person who could even relate to what he will go through. It will be because of you that Draco's life will be better."

Severus fell silent. He had for a long time wanted the chance to save lives and thought many opportunities had arisen and were met with success, none had filled Severus's desire to repent for the evil deeds of his past. Now, he was given the opportunity of not saving a life, but a soul. The man looked up into the knowing eyes of his employer. "I will do what pleases you Headmaster."

Dumbledore smiled, the twinkle in his eye was present as always. "Very good Severus. I expect you to meet with the boy three times a week at least, and if you would, with Miss Granger as well." After Severus cringed slightly he added. "She will also be key to the boy's survival."

"Very well," the Potions Master grumbled.

"You may tell Draco that we have arranged for him to stay at headquarters once the school term comes to an end. I believe he will be glad to hear it."

"Indeed," Severus agreed.

The Headmaster smiled once more, "That will be all Professor."

Snape bowed his head, "Good evening then."

"Good evening."

See this on didn't take nearly as long! hope you liked it! THANK YOU ALL for reading, reviewing, and enjoying my story! Until next time which shouldn't take too long. I want to get out one more chapter before I leave for college at the end of next week.