Chapter 5-Plans

"Hermione," Draco croaked out. He was now extremely grateful to Hermione for forcing him to agree to do the brother/sister blood-bonding thing. She knew his location and help was on the way. He collapsed. The Dark Lord was not happy with Lucius' plans. He became angry when he discovered that Draco had not immediately corrected his father's incompetence. How on earth had Uncle Sev managed to withstand this kind of pain for so long? Blackness consumed his vision as it wildly tunneled and the last thing he saw before losing consciousness was Hermione and Uncle Sev's faces floating above him.

Draco struggled to rise, he couldn't get up! Someone was holding him down. He threw out his right fist as he slowly opened his eyes. His eyes widened. Hermione! Oh shit! He tried to pull back his punch, but found it frozen in place.

"Draco! You're awake! I was so worried! You scared me when you called me…I'm glad it worked. Of course I knew it should, but that knowledge never prepares you-" Hermione released his fist and pounced on him.

"Hermione, luv, you're rambling again and could you let go of my neck. It's getting harder to breathe." Draco smiled. He was safe. No one was hiding the Dark Lord in their cloaks…he really didn't want to see either Lucius or the Dark Lord at the present time.

"Sorry, hon. I'm very glad you're safe, but now that you're awake Dumbledore and Professor Snape want to talk to you." Hermione pulled him up into a sitting position and tossed his clothes at him. She smirked, "Hurry up and get dressed! The day is more than half gone now." She turned around as Draco started to rise out of the bed.

Draco rolled his eyes and quickly complied. He had learned long ago it didn't help one's health to argue too much with Hermione. He finished pulling on his shirt and offered his arm to Hermione. "Shall we?" She giggled and, once she had regained her composure, took his offered arm.

Dumbledore pulled a pensive from out of the cabinet behind his seat and set it down on his desk. "Mr. Malfoy, it would be more helpful if we were able to witness the events of this afternoon." Dumbledore gestured toward the bowl on his desk as he sank down into his chair.

"Yes, Professor. Although," Draco started, hesitating, "I think it would be best if you, Professor Snape and Hermione were to view it. Seeing as both of my encounters today concern her most directly."

Dumbledore's eyebrows shot up at this, but nodded his head in approval.

Draco drew his wand and placed it against his temple. He repeated the process of pulling the silver strands out several times. He put his wand away and inclined his head to the Headmaster.

Dumbledore stood up as Severus and Hermione stepped forward. Draco sat down as they were pulled into his memories and put his head in his hands. This was not going to be a very cheerful meeting…according to anyone's point of view. Hermione's especially.

Sure enough.

"Draco," she growled. He jumped out of the chair and sprinted to the other side of the room. Uh-oh. He was in trouble. She only went feral when she wanted blood. Gulp.

"Miss Granger, do control yourself. Its not the end of the world," Severus snapped. That meeting had confirmed some of his fears and he'd be damned if he would let that slip of a girl know that at present time.

"Not the end of your world, don't you dare ever mistake me for being stupid" Hermione snapped as she strode toward him. "Do you remember my first year here? Hmm? Danger lies before you, while safety lies behind. Two of us will help, whichever you would find. One among us seven will let you move ahead, another will transport the drinker back instead. Two among our number hold only nettle wine, three of us are killers, waiting hidden in line. Choose, unless you wish to stay forevermore. To help you in your choice, we give these clues four: First, however slyly the poison tries to hide you will always find some on nettle wine's left side; second, different are those who stand at either end, but if you would move onward, neither is your friend; third, as you see clearly, all are different size, neither dwarf nor giant holds death in their insides; fourth, the second left and the second on the right are twins once you taste them, though different at first sight. Three bottles were poison, two were wine, one for the black fire, and one for the purple fire. That was your logic problem. I solved it to get Harry through the fire and get myself back to help Ron, so don't you ever, in the slightest way insult my intelligence. I know exactly what Lucius' ideas mean for me and either way it would be the end of my world."

Severus opened his mouth to respond, but inside he was whirling. That bloody trouble-making chit could even remember that problem years later. It had taken him a few weeks to write that, thank you very much.

"Silence, both of you. Not another word." Dumbledore said calmly. His eyes were no longer twinkling. Severus and Hermione followed his order at once, but didn't bother containing the nasty looks they were sending each other's way. "Miss Granger, your safety is the prime concern at this moment. Please stay behind. Mr. Malfoy, please wait outside. I trust you to escort her back to the Gryffindor Common Room. Severus, return to the dungeons, I will be there shortly. We have another matter to discuss."

All of them looked at him, mouths gaping, and after a long moment, complied. Severus swept out with a gruesome expression on his face, robes billowing behind him. Draco calmly followed Severus and mentally prepared himself for a fun lecture.

Dumbledore watched the two gentlemen exit the room and then redirected his attention to Hermione. The twinkling in his eyes that had died once they had seen Draco's memories were back and full of humor. "Miss Granger, in a few moments, Professor Snape will be reading a letter I wrote to him before Lucius arrived." Dumbledore chuckled as Hermione gave him a look that said 'What does that have to do with me?' "From this moment on, you will either be with Mr. Malfoy, Professor Snape, Mr. Potter, Mr. Longbottom, Miss Lovegood, or Mr. and Miss Weasley. To aide you in this, you will take over teaching the first year potions class…"

Hermione gasped at this…this was the opportunity of a lifetime and he was just giving it to her! Dumbledore was surely crazy if he thought she was qualified enough to teach. All she really wanted was the chance to work under a Potions Master for her apprenticeship. She inwardly winced. Bad choice of words, Hermione…the correct word there would have been with not under. There, that at least sounded better, even if the mental images didn't go away.

"You are now Professor Snape's apprentice." Hermione's jaw dropped open at this as her thoughts were jerked back to the present. "I suggest that you start preparing your lesson plans. Double Potions for first year Gryffindors and Slytherins is Monday morning. Professor Snape will be present for your first class and will report to me on how well you are doing. Any questions? Good, I thought not. Now if you would be so kind to rescue Mr. Malfoy from Professor Snape. Good day, Miss Granger." Dumbledore gestured toward the door.

"Yes, Headmaster." Hermione promptly replied. She smiled slightly as the door opened and Professor Snape's voice could be heard, loud and clear. Poor Draco. Her grin turned feral once more…now Draco was going to face her. Poor, poor Draco.

Dumbledore chuckled. He too, at the current time, pitied Draco. Miss Granger did not appear to be pleased with him.