Chapter 10

Hermione felt a tap on her shoulder; she turned to see a first year looking up at her holding an envelope with her name on it. She took the envelope and the first year turned and walked away without a word. She broke the seal on the envelope and pulled out a short note.

Hermione,

Meet me in the same place.

Ten minutes.

I'll be waiting.

Love,

Your Prince

Hermione scanned the staff table and Snape had indeed left dinned early. Hermione looked over at Draco who was talking to Zandra. Hermione had eaten her meals with Zandra and Draco since he introduced them the week before.

Draco glanced at Hermione as she looked pointedly at the door to signal that she was leaving. He gave a slight nod and a barely visible smile, and then looked back at Zandra who had not stopped talking. Hermione jumped up and headed towards the door to the entrance hall.

She took a sharp left into the girls bathroom, she pulled out her hair tie and scrunched up her hair, she always felt a little prettier with her hair down. When she was satisfied with her reflection she returned to the entrance hall and started up the stairs. She took a right on the second floor and stopped in front of a portrait of Fawkes, she placed a palm on the birds' plumage and the portrait disappeared revealing an arched doorway. She walked through the doorway and after she did the portrait reappeared behind her, she walked down the hallway thinking to herself, wondering what the room would look like this time. Snape changed the room every time he invited she came, she could never know what it would look like.

Reaching the end of the hall she stepped out into the room. The walls of the small circular room were covered from top to bottom with books. There looked to be thousands of books all in different colors and sizes. A large chair that looked as if it could accommodate Hagrid sat in the middle of the room.

Hermione strode across the room and began to examine the books. Behind her she heard the distinct sound of someone clearing their throat.

"It's amazing Severus." She said turning around to face him.

"I knew you would appreciate it." He replied wrapping his arms around her waist, and placing a kiss on her forehead.

Her grabbed her by the hand and led her to the chair in the middle of the room.

"I want to read to you." He said sitting down in the chair. Hermione sat on his lap with her legs across his.

"And what exactly are you going to read to me?" She asked, leaning against his chest and resting her head on his shoulder.

"Poems." He replied grabbing a book off the side table and showing it to her.

He opened the book and began to read.

"Lay your sleeping head, my love,
Human on my faithless arm;
Time and fevers burn away
Individual beauty from
Thoughtful children, and the grave
Proves the child ephemeral:
But in my arms till break of day
Let the living creature lie,
Mortal, guilty, but to me
The entirely beautiful.

Soul and body have no bounds:
To lovers as they lie upon
Her tolerant enchanted slope
In their ordinary swoon,
Grave the vision Venus sends
Of supernatural sympathy,
Universal love and hope;
While abstract insight wakes
Among the glaciers and the rocks
The hermit's sensual ecstasy."

His voice was deep and soothing; she could feel the reverberation of his words in his chest. The passion with which he spoke each word put Hermione at ease. She sat there listening to him speak but not hearing the words anymore, only hearing the passion and love in his voice.

"She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellowed to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impaired the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o'er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
How pure, how dear their dwelling place.

And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent."

Snape looked down in time to catch Hermione's shut as she was whisked away by sleep. He put his book back down on the side table and brought a hand up to stroke her hair, he placed a kiss on her head.

He love the way she looked in sleep. Her chest gently rising, then lowering. Her mouth slightly agape her soft breaths warm and soothing on his neck. Her arms wrapped around him in a loose embrace.

His hand ceasing motion as he made to run it over her hair once more, he himself began to fall asleep. He did nothing to fight it. Within minutes they were both sleeping soundly.

***

Zandra watched Hermione exit the great hall, she turned back to Draco and smiled sweetly.

"Listen, can we go somewhere private?" She asked.

"Uh yea." Draco said caught a little off guard. He grabbed her hand and they walked from the great hall. He led her up the stairs to his dormitory. He motioned to her to sit on the couch as he turned and lit a fire in the grate.

"So what do you want to talk about?" Draco asked sitting next to her.

"Um well…I…I have been thinking." Zandra said nervously.

"And." Draco prompted after a moment of silence.

"Well remember how I told you that I haven't been with anyone since we broke up?" Zandra continued wringing her hands in her lap.

"Yea." Draco said his throat dry.

"Well I…I may have lied." Zandra finished quickly.

Draco was silent, he didn't know what to say, what to do. A thousand questions ran through his head. Who? For how long? When? How far did it go? Did she…with him? Oh god please no. Did she love him? Does she still love me? Why? Oh god why? It was my fault I know it, if I hadn't been such an idiot it would have never happened.

"I'm sorry." Zandra said taking Draco from his thoughts.

"No, no it's my fault. I should have been a better boyfriend. We wouldn't be having this talk right now if I was." Draco said.

"No it wasn't your fault. It was my decision, I could have said no when he asked me out." Zandra said her voice still a little shaky from nerves.

"Did the two of you?" Draco asked scared of the answer.

"No."

"I don't know what I would have done if you did."

"I…I uhh…broke it off with him because…cuz…I whenever I kissed him I saw your face." Zandra said.

"Well you know I love you, and I haven't been with anyone since you, and I don't want to be with anyone but you."

"I know and I want to be with you too, but…Blaise…well he won't allow it."

"What do you mean he won't allow it?" Draco said trying to keep his temper in check.

"He said that I am not to go out with you, he doesn't even want me talking to you."

"Why?"

"He says you are untrustworthy, a liar, and a cheater, and that you will break my heart again." Zandra said not looking Draco in the eye.

"What would he know? I haven't spoken to him in a year and a half. I have changed Zandra. I'm not the same person, I have grown-up. I know that I hurt you and I know that I fucked up, but I never never could do that to you again. I love you." Draco said keeping his temper, but also now having to fight back tears.

"I know but he's my brother. Draco, he would never forgive me."

"He's your brother; of course he will forgive you. How could he not, if he loves you as much as he claims then he will only want to see you happy." Draco said taking running his fingers over her hands in his.

"Draco I don't want him angry with me."

"He will only be mad for a little while, he can hate me all he wants, but if you are happy then he will forgive you, even if he won't forgive me." Draco said kissing her hand.

"Maybe you're right. How will I tell him?" Zandra said.

"Well I think he will figure it out sooner or later, seeing as you don't go around kissing every guy in the school." Draco said with a chuckle. Zandra smiled slightly, then kissed him.

"I missed you."

"I missed you too." Draco said wrapping his arms around her tightly.

Draco would have loved to stay like that with her all night but then reality crashed down around him. He released Zandra.

"Fuck!" He said a little louder then he had expected.

"What?" Zandra asked obviously a little started.

"I have to find Hermione. We have to meet with McGonagall in fifteen minutes before patrol." Draco kissed Zandra again. "You can wait here if you wan. We will be back at midnight." Draco kissed her again, then ran from the room headed toward the secret room that Snape sat up especially for him and Hermione.

Ten minutes later Draco reached the portrait of Fawkes. He placed his hand on it, then when the portrait disappeared he ran down the hall as fast as he could.

"Hermione!" He yelled when he reached the room.

Hermione and Snape both jumped nearly falling from the chair.

"Come on we have to meet McGonagall in five minutes." Draco said.

"Shit." Was Hermione's only reply as she jumped from the chair, kissed Snape and ran out the door with Draco, heading towards McGonagall's office, to report for patrol.

"You are late." McGonagall said from behind her desk.

"Sorry Headmistress. We lost track of time." Hermione panted clutching a stitch in her chest.

"Yes well don't let it happen again." McGonagall said.

"It won't." Draco said.

"Good now let's get on with this meeting." McGonagall said. "Now I need the two of you to go to Hogsmead tomorrow to supervise the trip the rest of the students will be making. You don't have to watch them like a hawk but just keep your eyes open for trouble. I need you to meet me in the Great hall at eight am. We will be collecting permission slips from third years and checking that other students trying to go on the trip have permission too. That will be all, you are dismissed."

Draco and Hermione got up from their chairs and said their goodbyes and walked from the door.