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Chapter Seven

Hermione, after pacing back and forth in front of Severus's door for a few minutes, decided that there was no chance of her regaining her composure enough to concentrate fully on a potion that day. She flicked a finger towards his door, and it swung quickly outwards.

She was amused to hear a quiet yelp a moment later, and stepped back to better see Severus unfolding himself from an ungainly heap on the floor.

"You were leaning against the door."

"What an astute observation," he replied sarcastically, brushing himself down after an unpleasant fall for the second time that day.

"Could I enquire why?"

"If you wish," replied Severus, and sat down gingerly on one of the chairs in the room, rubbing one of his shoulders.

Hermione debated punishing the man for having the audacity to sit down without her permission, then decided against it. She covered her slight discomfort at this sudden attack of conscience by making a fuss of arranging her robes as she sat down opposite the man.

"Well?"

"Well what?"

"Why were you leaning against the door? I did ask you, you know."

"You asked for permission to ask me. I merely granted it."

"I don't need to ask you for permission to do anything."

"Maybe not, but that is what you did."

"Do you really not understand rhetorical questions, or are you simply as stupid as I am beginning to believe you are?"

Hermione watched as Severus's eyes flashed, and he stiffened as if preparing to give an insolent reply that she would surely have to punish him for.

The prospect was nowhere near as appealing to Hermione as she would have wished it to be.

Fortunately for Hermione, the man appeared to remember his place, and instead replied with, "Actually, I prefer simply to ignore rhetorical questions- they annoy me."

Silence fell once again as Hermione weighed the options of refusing to ask Severus why he was leaning on the door, or asking him and letting him have the moral victory. Finally, she decided to change the subject- after all, who cared what the man liked to do when he was alone anyway?

Certainly not her.

She cared nothing for him at all. Nothing.

"I had a very entertaining talk with my father just now," she commented overly cheerfully.

Severus elegantly raised an eyebrow. "Oh you did, did you? With your father?"

Clearly Severus had noticed that she was not in the mood to punish him, so felt that he could take liberties with her.

Well, thought Hermione, I think I will let it go today. Just today.

"Yes," she said. "My father and I discussed current affairs."

"Which were?"

"You. Well, killing you."

That would tell him! Just a little something to remind in whose hands his life was held.

Hermione looked down at the hands in question, which she had unconsciously been twisting. Her fingers were currently knotted together in a configuration she had never known they would fit into.

It rather hurt.

Hermione fixed her eyes on Severus's face as she nudged the knot that was currently her hands against her knee until her fingers popped out of place and were free once more.

"And what was the verdict?"

"He was rather unimpressed by your current attitude and lack of respect to myself," Hermione paused to give the man a meaningful look, which he appeared not to notice, "but I told him that if he killed you now, then he would need to find me a new teacher. You are safe for the moment- providing that you don't try my temper too much."

Severus opened his mouth, no doubt to make another 'cutting' reply, when there was a loud knock at the door.

Hermione waved a hand at the door, and a man strode into the room. He nodded quickly at her, then sat himself down on one of the chairs.

"I had no idea you were coming to visit, Draco. What is the occasion?"

"Do I really need a reason to come and see you?" asked the blond boy, looking slightly offended.

"Of course not," replied the witch with a smile, "but had I known you were coming, I would have asked the elves to make a proper lunch. What we are about to have is rather plain."

"And you think I am the type that would care?"

"No. I know you are the type that would care."

"Well! I don't think I will sit here just to be insulted." Draco stood, then quickly walked to a dining table that Severus had not noticed before in a corner of the room. He was accustomed to eating alone in his room. "I'm going to sit here instead so that I can eat while I am insulted."

A few minutes later, the diners sat at the table eating bread with various cheeses and dips, Hermione and Draco chatting amicably. Severus was surprised at how pleasant Draco was being to Hermione.

As the conversation took its course, Severus sat in silence. It appeared that the friendship that Voldemort had designed between Draco and Hermione had spanned many years. Indeed, they spoke as if they had known each other all of their lives.

Severus was impressed at the depth of the fictional friendship, and at the credibility of Draco's part in it. An outsider would truly have believed that Draco actually liked Hermione, and been shocked to find out what he really thought of her.

At the end of the meal, Hermione excused herself for a few minutes.

As soon as the door to one of her private rooms closed behind her, Draco turned to Severus, the charming mask gone to be replaced by a sneer.

"A spy all along? Why Severus, I expected better of you."

"You have no idea how sorry I am to disappoint you," he replied, making it clear that he was not the slightest bit sorry.

The beautiful face before Severus curved into a malicious smile.

"You can say whatever you like, Severus. You will get what is coming to you."

"I'm sure," said the man blandly. He would not allow himself to be angered by someone as unimportant as Draco.

"There is one thing I don't understand, though," said Draco slowly. "Why did you do it? Why work for Dumbledore? Why give up all the power? You could have had it all."

Severus could not stop himself- his sneer rivalled that of the Malfoy before him.

"Because I have a conscience, and I know what is right and wrong. I can see past what is right for me, and am doing what is right for others instead."

"You are happy to just sacrifice yourself, then? However did you become head of Slytherin?"

"The same way I managed to become a spy in the Dark Lord's inner circle. They call it intelligence- I doubt that you would recognise it." Draco's lip curled in response, and he opened his mouth to reply, but Severus had not finished. "What does impress me is how someone of your low level of intelligence managed to put up such a good act. I expect that it will take Hermione weeks to see you for what you really are."

Draco's face twisted into a snarl. "One of the sayings of those muggles you so love is 'those in glass houses shouldn't throw stones'. Do you want to know how that translates into the wizarding world?"

Severus watched, suddenly apprehensive, as he pulled out his wand and pointed it at him.

"What we say is 'unarmed wizards shouldn't insult those in possession of wands'. And do you remember the way we real Death Eaters have of teaching people lessons?"

Predicting what was coming, Severus looked wildly around for something that he could hide behind. There was, of course, nothing. As he flung himself towards the nearest chair, he heard the most welcome sound that had ever reached his ears.

"Draco, what on earth are you doing?"

"You pet potions master insulted me, so I was going to teach him his place. Honestly, 'Mione, you have him so badly trained!"

"Please don't call me 'Mione, you know how much I hate that name."

At any other time, Severus would have noted that she had put up with it in the presence of the Weasleys and Potter, but not Malfoy, Currently, however, he was revelling in the joy of having all his limbs and breath in his body.

"Now can I punish him?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Because only I am allowed to punish him."

"But-"

"Stop acting like a child, Draco. I can do what I want with Severus. Actually, I would rather like to finish the potion we were working on earlier now. Would you mind leaving? I will see you properly another time."

After arguing with Hermione for a couple of minutes more, Draco turned and, with a final scowl at the dark haired man, left.

Hermione watched Draco out of the room, and stood thinking for a moment. Why had she done it? Why could she not bear to have harm done to the infernal potions master that she did not even like? What was wrong with her?

Severus watched as she suddenly straightened and shook herself, then followed her into the laboratory, smiling slightly.

Right, I have a bit of a plea here: I have started one of these new C2 Communities (come on, weren't you intrigued?), and it is basically a collection of the funniest fics I have ever read. But the catch is: I few staff, very few fics in it (although that is mainly because R rated things aren't allowed- ahem) and barely any members! So.... I would like to recruit! Anyone that wants to become a member of staff, or simply wants to recommend a fic or two, please email me (or leave your email ad in a review) and I'll get back to you! Please have a look and give me some feedback! Thanks for your help.

I continue to be shocked at the response I am getting for this fic! I love you all! (I also love all my non-reviewers but followers anyway.)

Thanks to Squashes (aww, thanks... but I can always improve!), Daniel-radcliffes-girl, sophianwin, (er, sorry about the typo all comes from the lack of beta and spontaneous writing! and as to the girl-woman thing: well, how about that I'm not really sure and therefore just switch? All I can do is my best, and it doesn't amount to very much!) Jewlz, Artemis MoonClaw (yep, you just about defined me! And its just how I like things!), Lover not a fighter, (slack off? Moi? Never... ahem) Nakhash Mekashefah (won't happen again. Thanks for the Lexicon idea- great site!), Kail Ceannai, stargazer starluver

Little tasks: Cookie goes to anyone who guesses what Voldie's plan for Hermione is! Also, as a really random thing, I have noticed that my Severus appears to have many of the traits of a certain Tamora Pierce character. Guess who?

Also, I apologise for the rubbishness of this chapter. I really don't like it, but just needed to put it up and ever after rewrites it just won't improve. Sorry!

PLEASE REVIEW!