Author's note: thank's for the lovely reveiws, Lonelynomore, don't worry we see more of Draco's conniving and ambition in the later chapters, i have-however-tried to make him so resigned to his fate that he uses cynical humour to assuage his frustration. :)

also, does anyone want to BETA for me? please? pretty please?

Chapter 8 - The Potions Master

Severus Snape had just finished all his work for the evening when he heard a sharp knock on the door. He arched an eyebrow, most of the students were scared enough of him in the daylight hours that he didn't have to deal with them after the sun went down.

"Come in." he said, he did not raise his voice although he knew the person on the other side of the wooden barrier would hear him.

His prized prefect opened the door and-without an ounce of tentativity that would normally be present-slid gracefully into the room.

"Professor," he said nodding once.

Snape sighed inwardly.

He should have known. Out of all the students only Draco Malfoy had the nerve to look him in the eye without cowering and only Draco Malfoy had any competence in his subject, and only Draco Malfoy could not be manipulated as easily as a stringed puppet.

He was the thorn in Snape's side. Not Draco himself, obviously, (he was Snape's godson the closest thing the Potions Master had ever had to a son) but simply his potential. It was such a shame to see such brilliance squandered over a thing as vile as Voldemort. Snape had been trying desperately since his first year to turn him a way from the dark path that he insisted on hurtling down, hot on the heel of his father. Lucius. Even thinking the elder Malfoy's name made Snape want to sneer, a weakling hiding behind his money, his title and his dark lord.

Pity, Draco adored him.

"Ah, Master Malfoy." greeted the Potions Master. He gestured to one of the straight backed chair that stood in front of his table. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Well, professor," began Malfoy as he lowered himself into the seat. "I have a matter of some importance to discuss with you."

He was hindered from saying anything else, when the very last person Snape expected slipped though the door after him.

"Professor?" asked the slightly timid voice of Hermione Granger.

Ah, Hermione Granger. It was wise not to get the Potions Master started on her. The Gryffindor prefect was blessed with such brains and yet absolutely no common sense. He no longer had anything against her sort (Mudbloods.) as many in his house did but, there was something in the manner of Hermione Granger that just put people off. Or perhaps it was just him. She was the epitome of everything Gryffindor stood for, headstrong, stubborn, persistent and exceedingly (to the point of naiveté) loyal. Perhaps that is why he did not like her.

He turned from her to Draco, surprised that he did not find any anger or even mild annoyance on his face. Only astonishment and nervousness.

"Professor may I speak with you?" Hermione asked.

Snape nodded. Though his face remained unreadable, his mind was ringing with alarm bells. Why would two of the best students at Hogwarts visit him at the exact same time, and why wasn't Draco making rude comments about her.

Curious.

"Yes, Miss Granger, what is it you would like to discuss with me?"

"Uhm, professor, I..." she trailed off and then looked to Draco hopefully.

Draco frowned.

"It seems Miss Granger has found herself in a family way." there was a pause. "And I am the father."

There was a pause.

Severus Snape was rather ashamed to admit that he was quite stunned.

Something was amiss, Snape grasped that much, but he was going to have to gather more information.

There was only one way to do so. He hoped Miss Granger would forgive him for saying what he was about to say.

"Draco Malfoy!" he said in his quietest most dangerous voice. "Never in the years that you have been here did I think you would lower yourself so. To roll around in such filth! I had thought that Lucius raised you better! The offspring is tainted with dirty blood!"

Hermione inhaled sharply, looked rather horrified that Snape would ever speak about anyone like that. Snape caught her eye for an instant and held it before continuing on with his sermon.

"You must deal with the consequences of such an infection!" Snape allowed his voice to rise up a notch. "I shall not aid you! You shame your line with this MUDBLOOD whore."

Draco was on his feet in an instant.

"Professor! HOW DARE YOU?" he cried angrily, he pulled out his wand and pointed it at his potions master. "I do not wish to do this but if you ever question Hermione's virtue ever again I shall be forced to make you regret that you did."

Snape was rather impressed at the out burst. Draco Malfoy was not one to loose his temper so early in the game.

Snape schooled his features back down into his usual calm dispassionate mask.

"Sit down, Master Malfoy." he said, his voice back to normal.

"No!" Draco cried, he stood still furious.

Hermione however put a hand on his arm and nodded for him to sit down, they locked eyes for a second and he sat. This exchange did not escape the Potions Master's notice.

"I meant that sermon as a test of your devotion to her." Snape explained. "I do not want to bother the Headmaster with a veritable waste of his time."

"You thought that this was some sort of prank?" demanded Draco incredulously.

Snape nodded.

"You cannot expect anyone to believe wholly that the two of you have entered a relationship, much less consummated it, after five years of biting animosity." he said. "But it seems you have genuine feelings for each other, and will work together dealing with the repercussions of your actions."

"Thank you -"Hermione began to answer.

"I don't suppose that you are thinking of terminating the pregnancy?" asked Snape suddenly as if I had just occurred to him. It hadn't, he had simply needed to make sure this wasn't some sort of demented prank.

He enjoyed the reaction his question brought about. Hermione Granger's eyes grew to very nearly twice the size of normal; she glanced nervously down at her stomach and covered it with her arms. Draco glanced at her and shook his head.

"No." he answeredfor the both of them. "This situation was the fault of our actions, terminating the pregnancy would only be the cowardly way out, not to mention murdering an innocent child. Professor, I'm almost insulted. Hermione and I are old enough to deal with the consequences we have created."

Snape almost smiled. perhaps he may not be able to save Draco Malfoy. Hermione Granger, however,could. this was a facade of some sort, of that he was sure, but this may just have been the break he had been looking for.

"Very well then." he said. "It seems that you two have decided to be mature adults about this situation. I will grant you an audience with the headmaster."

A Few Moments Later...

When their Audience with Snape was over, Draco reached for Hermione's hand and led her out. he was sure to open the door for her and letting her pass through first, Snape would surely notice if he was not the perfect gentleman.

Once they were a good ways away, he released her hand and supprsed the urge to burst out laughing. He allowed his regular smirk to replace the carefree smile, however.

Hermione stared at him half in awe half rather puzzled.

"You know your head of house a little too well." she said shortly. "It's almost scary."

Draco smirked.

Before they had entered the lions den, or rather the snake's den as the case was, he had told her what was most likely to happen.

First of all, he knew that he was going to have to go in first, and she would pretend to come in after him and he would be worried for her safety. Snape was, after all a deatheater. Then he would listen to him explain and test them, most probably by insulting Hermione to see how Draco would react. He practically predicted Snape's reaction word for word.

"I dealt with Snape, Granger," he said choosing not to respond to her comment. "And Iplayed my role well. Now, you are going to have to make Dumbledore believe that you love me more that anything else in the world."

Hermione frowned in distaste.

"Don't worry, Malfoy." she snapped.

Draco tutted.

"You know," he said thougtfully. "This isn't going to work.If we're going to convince them, then we're going to have to refer to each other in our first names."

Hermione scowled at him.

"Don't push me, Malfoy." she said. "I've had my quota for revolting thoughts today."

She proptly turned and stalked off.

Draco rolled his eyes.

It was a good thing Snape liked to keep these thing quick and straight to the point, he had spent enough time with her today. He could only hope that Dumbledore would be just as quick.