"The Maleviches plan to take over the world by Transfiguring themselves into dragons and burning all the major cities of the world."
Harry and Ron were dumbfounded.
Hermione laughed. "Don't you realize? You can't turn yourself into a dragon. The magical properties of dragons prevent them from being imitated by wizards. Scale models, sure, but not actual Transfiguration. If you try to Transfigure yourself into a dragon, you are consumed by dragon fire and die. The Maleviches are all insane because of the inbreeding within their family."
Breathing a sigh of relief, the tension broke.
"But Hermione, if Malevich is insane, why do we have to be here?" asked Ron.
"I think Malevich knows that I am on to him, and he would do anything to prevent me from finding out his secret. In his insanity, I'm not sure what he would do. I think this is what Snape meant when he said that Malevich was not what he seemed."
"You mean Snape was trying to protect you?" Harry blurted out.
"No way!" shouted Ron. "I don't believe it!"
"I really do. It makes sense. It explains why Snape has been staring at me all year. He's been trying to make sure that I'm not hurt or being coerced into anything," Hermione said complacently.
"So what are we going to do about it?" asked Harry.
"Nothing. By the looks of it, the plan will be executed at the end of this year and then all of the Maleviches will die. As long as we keep Malevich from hurting anyone while he's here, they will disappear the way they should have a hundred years ago."
"Hermione—are you going to stay with him?" Ron posed the question tentatively.
"Well it seems best, since I can pretend that I know nothing about it, but also be able to keep him in my sights. Just for now though." Hermione was trying to be kind to Ron, even though she didn't like him as he liked her.
"Yeah, that makes sense then." Ron brightened considerably. "Let's go back to Gryffindor then, shall we?"
As Hermione lay in bed that night, she went over that evening's events. Harry and Ron had accepted her explanation about Snape, but she wasn't so sure it was the truth. When Snape had saved them or other students before, he had just acted without reference to other people. Why had he given her the opportunity to find out and save herself? Did he want her to prove herself? But wasn't he always annoyed by her inquisitiveness? Or was she supposed to fail so that he could save her and prove that she was the insignificant little girl he despised? For once, Hermione didn't know what to think as she wrestled with the matter all night, tossing and turning in her bed.
Malevich found her at breakfast the next morning and inquired why she had ignored him the day before. Hermione lied and told him that she had had a headache and had not even noticed him. Malevich looked slightly skeptical, so Hermione was forced to agree to a stroll around the lake later that night to make him believe her.
"I'm not so sure that's a good idea, Hermione," whispered Harry once Malevich was out of earshot. "He might be up to something."
"I'll be fine Harry. Don't worry about me. With all of your Defense Against the Dark Arts teaching, I'm more than prepared."
Harry let the matter go, but he still looked concerned as he left the hall. As Hermione got up, she caught Snape's eye once again upon her. Looking directly at him, she mouthed I know before turning to follow Harry and Ron.
Hermione had thought that her hint to Snape would stop him from staring at her in class, but in Potions that afternoon, Snape's behavior had not changed. He continued to look at her so intensely that it almost disturbed her. Determined not to let it bother her, Hermione produced a perfect potion once again. But as she went up to Snape's desk to hand in her potion, she was unnerved by the eyes that continued to follow her, and her shaking hand spilled potion on his papers.
"Detention Miss Granger. Tonight." Snape's oily voice was low and soft.
"But sir, I—" Hermione tried to explain the situation.
"No excuses Miss Granger. My office at 8 o'clock."
Hermione returned to her desk slowly, giving Malevich a look indicating that he should meet her after class.
"Aleksei, I can't meet tonight. I have detention with Snape." Hermione was both relieved and apprehensive over telling him this.
"Hermione, I have so little time left here, and you are in detention? I refuse to accept this."
"I would if I could, but I can't defy a teacher like that. Can we meet tomorrow?"
Aleksei looked at her, searching her eyes for the truth. "Very well," he sighed, "tomorrow."
"Miss Granger, do you have any idea why you are in detention?" Snape sneered down at her.
"I spilled my potion on your papers, sir. I apologize." Hermione was trying to make this detention as painless as possible.
"Those were third year papers that I could care less about. What I am concerned about, Miss Granger, is the fact that you are involving yourself with Malevich."
"But sir, I already know that he is insane!"
Snape held up a hand to silence her. "For once, Miss Granger, you are wrong. The Malevich family is by and large insane, but Mr. Malevich is not. He has inherited the cunning, ambition, and violence of his family, but he is quite sane. You do not know what you are doing."
"It sounds like you're describing your own House," Hermione muttered.
"Miss Granger, do not be prejudiced simply because you are a Gryffindor. You are too intelligent to stoop to their biases."
"Then what should I do, sir? And why is Malevich here if he is that dangerous?"
"You should stay out of trouble. The rest of the staff does not know what Malevich is." Snape answered her question curtly.
"But how do you know, Sir?"
"I don't believe that it is any of your business Miss Granger."
Hermione sat in stony silence.
"Very well. If you must know, the Malevich clan killed my sister when she was on holiday in Russia. She happened to stumble upon their mansion. Being a half-blood, they killed her. Naturally I found out what happened and vowed private revenge."
Hermione was amazed. Snape had never shared anything so personal with anyone that she had ever met or heard of. She began to speak, but Snape once again interrupted her.
"Miss Granger, I respect your intelligence and I feel that you are trustworthy. Do not tell anyone what I just told you. Not even Potter or Weasley." He spat the names out. "Until the time is right, do not do anything. Stay in common areas and do not anger him. Do not let him know you know anything about him. I trust you can manage that."
Hermione nodded her assent.