Chapter 2 Snape's Counsel

Next day as Harry and Ron were recovering in the Hospital Wing I went to the library to do some extra studying for my N.E.W.T.'s and I saw Malfoy sitting by himself, which was odd since he was usually flanked by his cronies, Crabbe and Goyle. I should express some gratitude. After all, he went through pain so I would not suffer, I thought.

I walked toward him and before I could utter a word he commanded, "Go away, Mudblood."

"I only wanted to thank you," I volunteered, ignoring his insult.

"Thank me for nothing; last night never happened," Malfoy responded silkily.

"Yes it did," I firmly replied. Then I recalled something. "That's not the first you protected me. At the Quidditch World Cup when the Death Eaters were attacking the Muggles you cautioned Harry and Ron to keep me out of sight because I'm Muggle-born."

"So? That doesn't means anything," he drawled.

"It most certainly does, and I want to know what it means," I stated.

He sighed, "I can't tell you." I stared after him as he left the library. I had never felt more confused in my entire life. How could someone rescue you one day and call you a Mudblood the next?

"That was an interesting conversation," said a cold voice from behind that caused me to start.

"Hello, Professor Snape," I answered.

"Could I ask you to promise me something?" requested Snape gravely.

I was thoroughly shocked to hear him ask that, but nonetheless I replied, "Of course, Sir."

"Don't ever commit suicide," stated he. I had never seen him look more serious.

I looked at him in complete bewilderment. I was about to question, "Why on earth would I do that?" yet it came out, "Why on earth would you ask me that?"

"Because I know from experience that nothing destroys a man more than when the woman he loves murders herself," he told me without emotion.

I should have offered him compassion, though there was only one thing on my mind at that moment. "Are you implying that Malfoy loves me?" I gasped.

"For a student that receives top grades you certainly lack your common sense," responded Snape coldly.

"Well, if he does love me he has a poor way of showing it," I pointed out.

"Granger, he can't show it because he isn't allowed to love you," Snape spat. He was obviously quite annoyed that I did not already understand this.

Yet I wanted to know more. "Why isn't he allowed to love me?" I politely inquired.

"It goes against everything that he, his family, and his friends believe in," he said to me as if I were thicker than a brick wall.

I figured it would be safest not to push him any further. "I see, thank you," I replied.

I began to walk away when Snape said, "I do not wish to see Draco hurt; do you promise?"

I nodded sincerely.

I then sought out Malfoy. I located him beside the lake with Crabbe, Goyle, and Pansy.

"May I speak to you for a minute?" I asked him.

Pansy answered before he could respond, "Go back to your Gryffindors."

I ignored her and looked at Malfoy.

"I'll be right back," he informed his friends.

Crabbe and Goyle grunted in surprise and Pansy wrinkled her nose in disapproval.

We walked a few feet away, where we were still in sight, but out of earshot. Malfoy waited for me to speak.

"Professor Snape told me the strangest thing," I began.

"And what was that?" drawled he.

"He claims that you are in love with me," I stated calmly.

Malfoy now lost his cool demeanor. "He did? W-what else did he tell you?" he stammered.

"What else matters? All that matters is whether or not it's true," I replied matter-of-factly.

He gazed at the ground. "It's true," he confessed.

I had not been certain if it was correct or not, either way I had expected him to deny it. When he admitted it I was struck speechless.

"Just forget about it; it doesn't matter," he told me coolly and turned to leave.

"If you love someone you cannot forget them," I responded, surprised by the emotion in my own voice.

He stopped. "Do you love me?" he asked, sounding uninterested, though I could discern by the look in his breathtaking gray eyes that he was.

"I am not positive, though I do know that it would be foolish not to find out," I replied truthfully.

"How do you intend to find out?" simpered Malfoy.

A feeling of reckless Gryffindor daring suddenly came to me and I stepped forward and lightly put my mouth over his. When I broke the kiss he kissed me back harder and longer, neither one of us caring who saw.

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