Hey! Again, I must give you all my deepest apologies, but I'm sure you are all used to my long absences by now, sad to say. I will try to update soon, but you know me. Anyways, read on and I hope you enjoy!
"You must have been under the Cruciatus for quite a while," Snape said, like it was of no importance.
Draco did a double take at the man standing before him.
They were walking down the seemingly, never - ending corridors to the Hospital Wing, run by none other than Madam Pomfrey.
Draco was slightly lagging behind, because of his injuries. It was well over ten minutes since Draco used his voice last, so it was feeling considerably better.
"What makes you think I was cursed?" Draco asked, surprised it sounded so well, as well as masking his worry with an angry tone. "And besides," he added, thinking it was a valid point, "you teach Potions."
For a second, Draco thought Snape was in league with Lucius, since he clearly knew about the Cruciatus Curse.
'Maybe Snape is here to finish me off,' the poor boy thought. He shuddered, but quickly removed the thought from his mind.
Has Snape ever gave him any reason not to trust him? No, he hasn't, which is why Draco thought this idea was silly. He relaxed and listened to his Professor once more…but slightly kept his guard up.
He probably didn't need to, but he needed to be extra careful, especially around people who know about the grand plan…
"Not anymore," Snape informed. "I'm the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, and it doesn't take a fool to figure out it was the Cruciatus."
This was news to Draco, because for years his Head of House has been going after that job. Never would he think Snape actually managed to pull it off, considering how Dumbledore always picked someone else.
"Congrats," Draco stated, awkwardly, for he wasn't good with compliments. But he owed Snape something, since Draco always thought he would be a great Defense teacher.
"Don't stray from the topic at hand," Snape ordered, as they approached the door to his new office.
He opened the door, briskly went inside, and gestured for Draco to do the same. Draco entered with a hint of apprehension on his face, as Snape finally closed the door shut.
But then, Severus did something unexpected. He turned around and asked slowly, with a hint of concern in his voice, "Draco…Are you sure you're alright? Did he go too far?" as he put his hands on the boy's shoulders.
Even though Snape did it lightly, Draco's shoulders flared up with searing pain…but his thoughts distracted him from his shoulders.
The young Slytherin was completely taken aback at his teacher's sympathy. He honestly never expected it out of him.
But something troubled him more than Snape's out of character attitude. He clearly knew about who cast the curse on him, or why would he even bother asking that question?
Draco's heart started to pound more fiercely in his chest, as cold sweat tricked down his back. His senses were becoming more heightened and adrenaline began its way through his body.
Ignoring the pain in his shoulders, his earlier fears and theories were resurfacing about Snape.
What if he was in league with his father? How else would Snape know about it? Was he just playing him? Maybe he was acting like he really cared, when in reality, he was here to finish the job.
Draco said nothing, as his he slowly put his right hand in his robe pocket, unnoticed by Snape, and gripped his wand tightly.
He heard a loud, ringing in his ears and could feel the blood rush in his head. He started to shake slightly, but quickly stopped, for his teacher let go once he started.
Was this fear?
He is Draco Malfoy. He should never feel fear!…But Draco couldn't help it.
The poor boy never wanted to experience the wrath of the Cruciatus ever again, and he was deathly afraid that Snape might perform it on him now. He did not want to die…not then with his father and certainly not now!
Draco's breathing became labored, much to his dislike. He did not want to show fear…but his troubled thoughts kept getting the best of him. His eyebrows knitted together in frustration for not being able to calm down, and he averted his gaze from the Professor and onto the floor.
Snape observed every detail of his student's mental battle and it pained him to see Draco like this.
"The Dark Lord is cruel, Draco," Snape proclaimed, hesitantly in a low voice. "I am sorry he has done this to you…I hope he never must do it again."
Draco looked up in surprise, his fear being replaced by confusion.
Noticing this, Snape felt a pang of fear rush through him, as he asked, "It was the Dark Lord who did this…right?"
Draco said nothing for a moment, still shocked from what he had just heard. Snape thought Voldemort was the one who cursed him and not his father? His sympathy seemed real, and besides, Snape would never wait this long to kill.
Maybe his Professor was being truthful. Maybe he was sincere.
Draco loosened his grip on his wand, but still had his guard up for the time being, just in case.
His fear diminishing slightly, Draco responded, "Y - yes. Of course it was."
Damn it! Why did he have to stutter?
Snape, who either did not or chose not to notice his stutter, said "Alright."
It was hard to tell if Snape actually believed him, through his one - liner. Draco was concerned, but he pushed the thought to the back of his mind. For now, he would have to trust the Defense teacher. Who else could he trust? Dumbledore?…Certainly not.
A slight rush of guilt went through Draco at the thought of Dumbledore, but he hid it well with the signature emotionless wall plastered on his face.
But a sudden thought struck him like a bat.
"Sir?" Draco asked. "Why are we in your office and not at the Hospital Wing?"
"Because we need to talk," Snape answered, "about the Crutiatus…and the grand plan."
Well, I hope you all liked it! Is Snape good, or is he bad? You'll find out soon! Again, I'm sorry for not posting more frequently, but I will try! Thanks for being patient and please please please review!