A/N: I know that i haven't updated my last story for almost a year. Sorry about that. I'm going to try to soon.The idea for this storyjust came to a few nights ago and i'm not really sure where its going to go. Please just stay with me and give me your thoughts on it. And a special thanks to my friend Robyn who came up with the title and is my wonderful beta!
Disclaimer: All the characters belong to the brilliant author of the Harry Potter books J. K. Rowling.
Chapter One
He watched the mudblood pick at her food again. He didn't know how the people who she called her friends hadn't noticed, but they hadn't. He sneered. Taking another bite of his dinner he turned his attention back to Pansy, who was trying to get him to notice her new clothes. Or something like that. He couldn't really remember what she had been talking about. There was a pause and he realized she had asked him a question. He nodded and said, "Yeah." It seemed to work. She started rambling on again. After another few minutes, he stood up and excused himself from her and headed back to the Slytherin common room. Seeing Snape walking his way, he put on a smile. Unlike what everyone else thought, he managed to get good grades, and not just because some of the teachers liked him. No, he worked a lot harder than people realized. Though sucking up to the teachers did have its advantages.
"Hello Professor," he said, slowing down a bit but trying to get by without having to have a conversation.
"Draco." Professor Snape nodded. "I was just going to come get you. The headmaster wanted me to talk to you about something. Come down to my office."
Draco raised his eyebrows. He had no idea what the headmaster could want, but gave a mental shrug. When they arrived in Snape's room, he sat in the chair that the potions master pointed to and waited for Snape to explain. He was curious, but his parents had raised him with good manners. His father would never have tolerated him asking what he wanted out of turn. Lucius Malfoy made it very clear that he was someone to be respected.
Settling himself in his chair behind his desk, Snape folded his hands on the table. Deciding to just get right to the point, he said, "The headmaster wanted me to talk with you about a project. Before I say anymore, I need to know what side you are on in the war. And do not think about lying to me boy. I will know." Draco looked startled. What side was he on? He didn't know. His father was pressuring him to take the mark but he was holding back. He had seen what Voldemort was. And knowing that he didn't really feel like giving his life to that… Sure he agreed with what you-know-who was fighting for. He had been raised to think that muggle-borns were no good and that wasn't going to change. But Voldemort wasn't even a pureblood. He was a half-blood. How could you say only pure-bloods had the right to study magic and not be one? It didn't make sense.
"Uhh.. Well I'm not really sure. I haven't thought about it really." That was a lie. He had thought about it a lot since his father had talked to him about receiving the mark. "I don't think I could follow You-Know-Who, but I'm not totally on the other side either."
Snape nodded. "Well perhaps this project could help you make up your mind. But to give you all the details, we have to be sure that you won't… well that you are trustworthy is a better way to say it, I suppose. Think about what I have said and come back and talk to me when you have made up your mind." Draco nodded and stood up. He knew a dismissal when he heard one. And that one was quite clear. "I will sir." He walked to the door and turned around. "And thank you."
Snape smiled when the door to his office had closed. Perhaps Dumbledore was right about Draco after all. Maybe he could be converted to their side.
Hermione pushed some of her food around. She didn't know how Harry or Ron hadn't noticed her lack of eating, but in a way she was glad. She saw Ginny glancing at her with a strange look on her face. Giving a fake smile, she took a bite of something. She wasn't really sure what it was that she had on her plate, but it seemed to satisfy the younger girl who had turned back to Colin. Closing her eyes, she faked a yawn and stood up. "See you guys. I'm going back to the common room. I still need to work on that essay for Charms." Harry and Ron looked up for a minute. They gave her a weird look.
"Didn't you already finish that?" Ron asked.
"What? Oh, no. That was the Potions one," she lied. "Well I'll see you later then," she said ,practically running out of the Great Hall.
Getting to the portrait of the fat lady, she mumbled the password and climbed in. Trying to keep tears that were welling up in her eyes back, she went to her dorm and threw herself down on her bed. Suddenly she couldn't keep the tears in anymore. Throwing her face down in a pillow she cried and cried. After a while she got up. She needed to go wash her face. She didn't know why she was so depressed lately. For that was what it was, she decided. Nothing else made sense. It wasn't that time of month, and that didn't affect her eating like this did, anyway. It seemed like she was sad all the time. And that she, Hermione Granger, who was always in control, couldn't control anything anymore. Eating was they only thing she could. So she ate less. It felt good to be able to control something in her life.
Walking out of the bathroom she went out to the common room pretending nothing was wrong. She was working on some of the homework from that day's lessons when Professor McGonagall came in. Spying Spotting Hermione, she came over. "Miss Granger, may I have a word with you in my office?" Hermione looked up. What could Professor McGonagall want now?
"Uhhh sure." She set her quill down and stood up. Following the professor out of the common room, she waved a hello to Ron and Harry as they entered. When she and Professor McGonagall reached her office, Hermione sat down. "Umm so what was it that you wanted to talk to me about?" She couldn't think of anything. She had made sure she had kept up with all her school work and she didn't think anyone had noticed her not eating.
"Well Miss Granger, the headmaster thought that you might be interested in helping with something. I'm not sure exactly what it is for. All I know is that he wants you and Mr. Malfoy to work on a potion. He didn't tell me what kind or, like I said before, what for. I thought it best not to ask at the moment as he seemed…stressed. But I'm sure that whatever it is, you are up to the task. But before you say yes, I must tell you that no one else can know about it. Not even Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley." She said as Hermione opened her mouth to reply. She nodded. Even if she would be working with Malfoy, she would do it. She needed something else to occupy her time.
"I'll do it." McGonagall nodded and gave her a warm smile.
"I thought so. Professor Dumbledore will meet with you sometime soon to tell you more about it. That's all I can tell you for now." She stood up and Hermione stood with her. "I will see you tomorrow in class then. "Good night."
Walking back to the common room, Hermione thought about what Professor McGonagall had said. It sounded like it would be good for her. Even if she had to spend more time than she wanted to with Malfoy. Walking quietly back into the common room, she slipped past Ron and Harry who were talking in front of the fire. They didn't notice her go up to the girl's dorm and she gave a silent thanks for that. Changing into her P.J.'s she climbed into bed. It didn't take long for her to fall asleep, which was a blessing. She had had trouble with that lately. That night, for the first time in a while, she had a dreamless sleep.
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