Disclaimer: I do not own any asked of the HP universe.

Note: (The first part of this chapter is not told in the 1st person POV like the rest of the story)

Chapter 16

Decisions

Lily had been closing up the library for the night when she noticed the restricted section gate was unlocked. It was still closed but the lock was not latched. Pulling her wand from her robe pocket she quietly opened the gate and headed inside. Not that she expected to find anything threatening, but better to be safe then sorry. It didn't take long for her to find the culprit. At the far right end on the second shelf against the far wall stood Draco Malfoy.

"Do you have a pass Mr. Malfoy?"

The boy jumped and shoved the book he had pulled out half hazardly back onto the shelf.

"M-Mrs. Snape."

"Yes, that's me. Now I ask again, do you have a pass to be in the restriction section?"

Pushing his long blond hair from his pale eyes, shaking his head he replied, "No ma'am.".

"Very well, head back to your dorm and I will have to imform your Head of House where I found you."

The young Slytherin simply nodded and left. Once he was out of view Lily went over to see what he had been looking at. The book that he had shoved back on the shelf was in fact a book about repairing dark objects. Pulling the book back from the shelf she placed it under her arm and left the restricted section."

XXX

(Back to Severus POV)

"What could he possibly want with that book?" Lily asked me as we sat by the fire later that evening. The kids were already fast asleep but sleep was not something that came easily for me as of recent.

"He's trying to repair something most likely. The question was, what? Narcissa said The Dark Lord had given him a task, most likely he was hoping the book would aid him in whatever that is."

"I suppose so. So what are you going to do, tell Albus?" She suggested.

"I could… or we could try a different approach."

By the look she was giving me I could tell I was about to get a lecture. "Sev, I don't like where this is going. We are part of the Order if Draco is doing something Dark we should tell the Headmaster."

"Your right Lily, I should but if I tell Dumbledore, he most likely simply tell me to continue to keep a close eye on him and nothing more. I've been doing that for weeks and nothings come of it. In fact, lately, he seems to be going out of his way to avoid me, but if I could find a way to build his trust then I might have an easier time finding out what he's up to and in turn stopping it."

With a sigh Lily relented, "I see your point. Okay Sev, what did you have in mind."

"It's simple really, I give him the book."

XXX

"Mr. Malfoy, stay behind." I called out as he was placing his books into his rucksack as class ended.

"Yes sir," He bit out, clearly no happy about being called out. He probably thought I was going to yell at him for getting caught in the restricted section or for getting into his business as he had done before.

As the rest of the class made their way out of the NEWT level potions class, Draco made his way toward the front. "You wanted to see me sir." He said coolly.

I then reached down took the book he had been trying to steal the night before off my desk and held it out for him. "If you needed to visit the restricted section you could have simply asked me. I am the Head of you house I could have easily written you a pass, plus my wife is the librarian. Try and use some cunning next time Draco."

In return he gave me surprise look but then a small smile and nod," Yes, sir. Thank you."

"Of course. I don't mind helping you Draco. I do want you to succeed in your task as much as you so." I lied.

Draco's gaze dropped. "I-I can't fail."

"I know you can't, which is why I want to help. I will not force you, but if you need me at any time, please feel free to ask. We are fighting for the same cause after all."

"My Aunt Bella doesn't think so." He admitted. "She believes you're a traitor."

I couldn't help but laugh. In all of her madness, that was the one thing she could see clearly. "Your Aunt doesn't know what she's talking about. Azkaban has rotted her mind."

"Maybe, but it didn't rot yours, did it?"

"No. Thanks to Lily it did not. You should probably be going. You don't want to be late for Herbology."

"Yes, sir. And, thank you…for the book."

I gave him a simple nod and in turn he left and headed to his next class. Once he was gone, and I headed into my office, I called for my house elf, "Dobby."

The small, odd little creature appeared before me with a pop. "You called Dobby, Severus, sir."

"Yes, I need you to keep an eye on Draco when he's outside of class. I want to know his whereabouts at all times, but Dobby he cannot know you are following him, understand."

"Yes sir! Dobby will watch Draco like a hawk!"

XXX

A/N: Very short I know, but there's more coming soon.