Chapter 46

They discussed their plan and soon Kayla went back to the library and Harry returned to the common room. When he passed the marble staircase, he heard somebody calling him "Harry" although it sounded more like 'Hairy'.

The black-haired boy turned around and watched Draco coming towards him. Harry had to restrain not to burst into a fit of laughter by the sight of the other boy.

Draco Malfoy was dressed in tight red leather pants, black high-shaft boots with ridiculous high heels and a black tank top.

Harry shook his head, trying to banish the image that had just been burnt into his retina.

The Slytherin pranced along the corridor, his well-manicured hands on his hips.

"Hello sweetcheeks! What are you doing here...all alone?"

Harry shuddered visibly and shook his head again in disgust.

"Just leave me the hell alone Malfoy"

Draco walked up to him and ran a hand through Harry's messy hair. "Your hair is wonderful. I'd love to get my hand on that. A few highlights would make you even prettier. I'm really good with hair-do's, you know? Just have a look at Vinnie's perm"

The Gryffindor turned around to finally return to his common room, when Malfoy's arms sneaked around his waist and Harry felt the boy's body pressed into his back.

"Let me go NOW or I will kill you here on the spot" Harry growled furiously.

Malfoy instantly let go and stumbled a few steps backwards. Harry didn't look back and started to leave the scene when he heard heart-rending sobs.

He turned around and found the Slytherin sitting on the floor, his face buried in his hands, while tears were dropping on the cold stone floor.

Harry felt bad by the sight of this. He had to remind himself that this was not the regular Draco. This was the girly Draco.

He knelt down next to crying boy and stretched out his hand to touch the boys shoulder.

"Stop crying Mal- uhm Draco"

"You hate me! Everyone hates me!" the boy called between sobs.

"We don't hate you. We're just not used to this kind of .... affection." Harry didn't know what else to say as suddenly Malfoy jumped up and wrapped his arms around Harry's neck.

The Gryffindor awkwardly padded the Draco's back before he pulled back.

"I have something to do in the common room" he said and hurried down the corridor.

"Aloha baby" Malfoy called before he went down the marble staircase and headed for the dungeons.

Harry arrived at the common room and found Ron still sitting in the same chair.

"What's wrong with you Harry?" Ron asked curiously.

"I just ran into Malfoy" Harry sighed.

"Did he hit on you this time?" Ron laughed.

"Yes he hugged me" Harry shuddered. "And then he was crying because everybody hates him"

"Wonder why is that" Ron mocked as he returned to his books. Then suddenly his head jerked up and he stared at Harry. "By the way... where did you go in the first place?"

"I wanted to get some info about Hermione but I couldn't find her. Now that you mention it, Kayla asked me if you could help her with something she's doing in the Room of Requirement. She needs somebody tall to help her."

Ron looked puzzled but shrugged and asked "Are you coming too?"

"I think I should finish my essay here real quick. I'll join you later" Harry said, trying hard to suppress the smile.

Ron shuffled out of the common room and headed for the Room of Requirement. When he pushed down the handle, he heard a distant mumbling inside.

He opened the door and as soon as he stepped over the threshold, the door slammed shut and locked itself.

"What the heck..." Ron shouted and span around to open the door, but it didn't move.

"No use to try it Ron. The same happened to me." Hermione sighed.

As Ron recognized he wasn't alone he turned around and faced Hermione.

"Who did that to us? A Slytherin using Polyjuice Potion?" he snarled.

Before Hermione could say anything a piece of parchment appeared on the little table in the middle of the room. They settled on the two chairs next to the table and Hermione broke the seal.

Dear Ron and Hermione

We are tired to watch you both languishing. You won't get out of here before you haven't had a serious talk.

Kayla and Harry

"Oh no" Ron sighed and clenched his fists. "This can take forever"

"What do they mean with languishing? I'm not languishing for anything" Hermione said excitedly.

"When I get my hands on Harry he will regret to be born" Ron growled.

They both sat in awkward silence for a little while and nobody knew what to say.

Then Hermione finally cleared her throat and called "This is ridiculous! Say what you have to say Ron and get it over with"

Ron snapped "There's nothing I have to say. You say something"

Hermione jumped from her chair, rushed to the door and banged against it "Let me out now!"

She had no idea what to do, so when her fists started to hurt, she returned t her seat and buried her hands in her face.

I am not going to cry in front of him, she scolded herself, but couldn't prevent that a few tears fell on the parchment.

Ron felt his heart brake when he recognized that Hermione was crying.

He reached for her hand and said "What is it? Do you not feel well?"

"Help me! Ron I'm frustrated. I like somebody but he doesn't like me. No matter what I do ... he just doesn't seem to notice me."

"Who is it?" Ron demanded, jumping up from his seat ready to protect his friend. "Who is it Hermione. He deserves a proper beating"

The brown-haired Gryffindor didn't say a word.

Then the reality hit Ron with full force. She liked somebody and by the taste of Hermione, he bet he didn't stand a chance.

"Who is it Hermione?" he asked softly. He didn't really want to know, but no matter whom it was he didn't deserve her when he ignored her like that.

"He is kind and funny, loyal and brave." Hermione whispered through her fingers.

So he's a Gryffindor, he thought and the faces of his dorm mates flushed through his mind.

"Hermione please tell me who it is." Ron asked again, but the girl still didn't answer his question.

Ron plucked up all his courage and whispered "Hermione, if he doesn't get a move on and ask you to the ball, would you..."

Hermione hands moved away from her face and looked at him "Yes Ron?"

"Would you go with me then?"

Hermione's eyes lit up and a big smile appeared on her face when she threw her arms around his neck and sobbed loudly at his shoulder.

"Sorry Hermione I didn't want to upset you" he stammered.

"You didn't upset me idiot. Do you even have the slightest idea how long I've been waiting for you to say that?"

And then reality hit Ron again.

His ears went fiery red and he felt all warm and fuzzy inside. Slowly he closed his arms behind her back and hugged her tightly.

At this moment the lock of the door snapped open.

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Snape once again was sitting in the chair next to the window. Professor McGonagall had sent him notes about what was going on in his old house. Malfoy's sudden change of attitude disturbed him deeply.

He was worried what would happen to him when he would return home during summer. Lucius was not a caring father. He had always seen his son more as a trophy than a child. Severus knew his former companion would never tolerate this kind of behavior.

He was determined to get back to Hogwarts before Christmas, not only because of Draco but also because he still expected the planned attack.

He had to be there, because he was the only one who could read the signs right.

Then all the horrid dreams came back into his mind. The dreams he had while he had been unconscious.

One in particular almost had brought him to the edge.

He had been ready to give up and just die just to not relieve this ever again. He was in his summer home at the coast just after he had joined the deatheaters. Blinded by the power he had been offered and unsatisfied with his life and career he had thrown himself in the claws of the Dark Lord and his followers.

Malfoy soon after that had told him he had to give up the relationship he had with a muggle girl. He loved her very much and he hated himself that the foolish decision he had made ruined their whole future together.

He visited her at home and explained to her in every detail why he had to leave her and the desperate look in her eyes broke his heart.

They sat down and talked for hours about everything. Almost everything.

Then the dream always changed location

He sat at the teachers table in the Great Hall almost 12 years later. The blond girl that caught his eye had been sorted into Ravenclaw and he had been thunderstruck.

Convinced it couldn't have been a coincidence, he wrote to his old love and the reply he received extremely increased his death wish.

The blond Ravenclaw was indeed his daughter and her mother had known she was expecting the very last time they met.

She had sent various pictures along from the day she was born until her 11th birthday.

He knew it was impossible to ever tell her he was her father. She was raised to believe that the man she had married a few months after their break-up was her father and he didn't want to interfere.

All he had left was to watch over her the best he could and to be as less hostile as he dared to.

Her bright blue eyes were just like her mothers' and just the fact that she looked like Susanna proved that she, at least biologically, was his daughter.

When he realized that she at least inherited his bright mind and his talent for potions, he did everything his power to get her in his advanced potion class.

He loved his daughter dearly, even when he couldn't show it openly, and all he wanted was to protect her.

The fact that his daughter had made friends with Potter and his crowd wasn't to his liking, but there was not much he could do about it.

He had no say in any matter concerning her and so all he could do was to make sure that the notorious troublemakers and rule-breakers didn't get her in distress.

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Harry and Kayla curiously observed the door to the Room of Requirement. They were just wondering if they would make it out there before curfew when the door suddenly unlocked. Kayla grinned widely and they both silently walked up to the slightly open door. Harry peeked in and spotted Ron and Hermione in a tight embrace.

He beckoned Kayla closer to have a look and she sighed softly. They both decided they didn't need to see anymore and returned to the common room.

The next morning before class Hermione and Ginny decided to check on the Muscail Potion in Myrtle's bathroom.

When the door closed behind them, Ginny glanced at her fellow Gryffindor with a wicked smile.

"Care to fill me in on the news about you and my brother?"

Hermione, who had already started to stir the potion, blushed furiously but didn't answer.

"Oh Hermione! I heard Ron and Harry talking about it when we went down to breakfast."

Hermione sighed "Yes Ron asked me to the Yule Ball and that's it"

Ginny knew she shouldn't push the issue now, so she decided to find out if Harry would like to share all the juicy details.

"Do you know what you're going to wear?" Ginny asked finally.

"I haven't decided yet" Hermione replied. "And you?"

"I would love to get new dress robes, but..." Ginny mumbled slightly blushed.

Hermione looked at her friend and frowned. She knew that the Weasleys had not that much money and they surely couldn't afford new dress robes for her daughter. Her dress robes from last year would fit Ginny but she deserved better than more hand-me-down clothes. A smirk grabbed on her face when she had an idea.

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After the first December week, Severus had recovered almost totally and was eager to return to Hogwarts. He had agreed to share the potions position until after Christmas break to give him time to restore his energy and to avoid a relapse.

So Kimberly would take over the first - to fourth years and he would teach the fifth- to seventh years.

Professor McGonagall was very relieved that he also was going to be head of Slytherin again. She didn't mind to cover for a few weeks but as long as she was headmistress she should be objective and not involved in inter-house affairs.

Sirius had volunteered to help packing the few belongings of the potion master, but Snape refused. He had never wanted any help from the animagus and he surely wouldn't start with it now. When he walked into Dumbledore's study to say good bye before he flooed to Hogwarts, he found Celeste in a chair next to the fireplace. She didn't hear him coming, so he stood by the door and watched the young witch.

Without her help I would have died, he thought, while a grateful smile played around his lips.

He barely aloud his emotions to display on his face, but when he felt unwatched and especially in the presence of the young witch he couldn't repress it.

"Ready to go wizard?" he heard Celeste's warm, soft voice and startled.

Immediately he scowled and walked up to her.

"I just wanted to tell Dumbledore that I'm returning to the school"

"Professor Dumbledore left the house an hour ago."

Severus wondered what was wrong with the young witch, never acted so ... cold.

"What are you going to do now?" he asked, not daring to move any closer.

"I don't know yet. I'm going to wait until Professor Dumbledore comes back and see what he thinks"

"I wanted to ... thank... you for your care."

She simply nodded, while he left the room after a short "Good bye" his cloak billowing behind him.

When he stepped into the fireplace to floo to the dungeons, he felt a little sad about their short and cold parting. I'm getting too mushy; he scolded himself before the familiar spinning sensation set in.

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Kayla and Zara were chatting animatedly about the upcoming Yule Ball while they walked down to the dungeons.

They just turned the last corner when they both ran into something black and got knocked to the floor.

"Watch where you're going, silly girls"

Kayla stared at the blurry figure towering above her while she rubbed her hurting head.

"Excuse me sir, we didn't see you coming"

"Then the two of you should invest some galleons in good glasses." he snarled and rushed down the corridor.

"Oh no" Kayla sighed.

"What?" Zara whispered, holding on to her head, trying to focus. "Snape's back"

"That's exactly what we need. Now the good times are over" the Ravenclaw growled as she tried to get up from the cold floor.

"We have to hurry or we'll be late" Kayla exclaimed. "At least he won't teach today"

They entered the classroom and sat down just before Professor Wells entered.

"At first I want to inform you that Professor Snape will take over the class again next week"

Trying to overhear the various groans, the teacher continued.

"His job for the ministry ended earlier than anticipated, but he still has to do a lot of work. So he will only teach the classes of the 5th years and above until Christmas break. Then he will completely cover al potions classes."

Zara and Kayla changed meaningful glances as the teacher informed them of their assignment.

They started to work when Kayla heard Draco Malfoy whisper "Oh yeah.... Professor Snape" She chanced a glance at the Slytherin and watched him licking his lips as he continued to talk to his neighbor. "Professor Snaaaape ... mmmmm.... he's such a hunk"

The Gryffindor had to stifle a giggle when she imagined how interesting the upcoming potions classes would be with Malfoy's new attitude.

At the end of class everybody started to clean their work places. Malfoy was in an awfully good mood and swung his wand excitedly humming "I'm too sexy ".

Kayla was wondering how he knew a muggle song when all of a sudden she heard a loud bang and the Slytherin's cauldron flew through the air.

"Oops" Malfoy cried with his high-pitched voice right before the metal connected with the head of one of his class mates.