"Have you thought about employing Minerva as your secretary, Severus? She handles messages and your guests quite well..."
"I do believe she is content in her current position, Lucius," Severus sneered back in reply, "thank you."
"Brought your family for tea, have you," he mocked, nodding with his head to where Draco and Narcissa stood, faces hidden under their black traveling cloaks. Severus sighed, growing impatient with his old friend.
"What is it you want," Severus asked with irritation. "I could think of a whole host of other, more pressing matters I could be doing at the moment while you stand here making sarcastic comments about my staff, you see..." he waved an impatient hand, waiting.
"Severus," said Narcissa with urgency, pushing her hood off and stepping forward. Severus turned to look at her with disdain, but said nothing to the extremely pale woman who looked almost, dare he say it, desperate. "Draco is not safe with us anymore, he—"
"Quiet woman!" Barked her husband throwing his arm out to silence her.
"What my dear wife" (Severus raised an eyebrow) "is trying to say," began Lucius in what he hoped was a smooth voice, something that failed because of his tightly clenched teeth, "is that we feel our son would find it in his best interest to stay here...for the time being, as things outside of these walls are becoming less and less ideal for a...young man of his age to be living his life in."
Severus thought a moment before speaking. When he looked back up at Lucius, his eyes held nothing but the lowest contempt.
"I think my friend, what you are saying is that because of Draco's utter failure at his task last year, the Dark Lord is angrier than ever and wishing to do nothing more than make his life as miserable as possible. You are both afraid. Afraid for Draco, your family name, and your reputation. You wish to dump him with me, so perhaps he will not be punished any further...yes, what protective parents you are." Severus said sarcastically. And then he waited. Neither parent spoke, nor did Draco who hadn't moved or said one word since they had arrived.
The largest thing, Severus realized, that kept him from agreeing, was in fact the knowledge of what could happen should Draco leak word that Hermione was here as well. Not to mention what would happen if he knew their current...relationship.
But as he was about to deny them their request, he caught wind of Narcissa's emotions: frightened. Truly, genuinely frightened for her only son who was actually in current danger for his failure the previous spring.
Now Severus was a bit torn. Now comes the time to choose between what is right and what is easy...a voice echoed in his mind. Damn you, Albus, he cursed to himself, knowing the thoughts of the old man were all too true.
He could contemplate for the rest of the day, but he still knew he had to do what was right, even though turning them all away was the simple thing to do. He would find a way to make it work; he would have to.
After thinking it over several times and trying not to look at Narcissa's strained face, sick with worry and guilt for her son, agreed, turning her worried face into sudden and sharp relief.
Severus was still unsure of his decision as Narcissa said goodbye to her son, Lucius only giving him and Severus a curt nod, before ushering his wife out of the room who looked like she wanted nothing more than to stay as well.
Draco stared at the closed door after his parents for some time before being brought sharply back to life by Severus having taken hold of his cloak, turning him around so they faced each other.
"If your waste of parents insist you hide here, and do not be mistaken, that is what you are doing, then you will abide by every rule I lay down, is that perfectly clear," Severus said, his black eyes boring into Draco's sharp blue ones. Draco only nodded, looking like he was relieved to be there, but also that the sound of being told what to do again made him feel slightly more stable. That, and knowing that Severus would not harm him...
Severus eyed Draco suspiciously for a moment or two before nodding once and pointing to the doorway to the living quarters. Draco glanced over with his eyes before sighing heavily and turning to walk towards the door, Severus pausing first before following, knowing that in a moment, things would not be so subdued.
When the slight hint of a sudden uproar was heard, he made his way to the door, knowing this was now going to be a very interesting end to his already stressful day.
"What are you doing here, Mudblood," Draco practically spat as he entered the room to find Hermione and Professor McGonagall seated before him.
Severus was, thankfully, not far behind and upon hearing this, took him by the scruff of the neck and held him there for a minute, all but growling to him.
"Rule number one," he snarled. "Never call her by that foul name...or anyone else for that matter, do you understand me?" Draco looked positively frightened and bewildered at the same time, but he nodded quickly all the same, rubbing the back of his neck after Severus released him, throwing him forward a bit.
Hermione, who along with McGonagall had abandoned their seats when they saw who walked in, caught Severus' eye, shooting him a look to ask, 'what in the name of Merlin is going on?' But Severus only rolled his eyes subtly, shaking his head, truly seeming annoyed with the entire situation.
After quite the awkward silence followed, Severus waved his hand at the floor on the other side of the room where somewhat of a trapdoor appeared, Hermione's eye's widening, sure the others were doing the same at the new door.
Severus spoke to Draco then in an even voice, as though he were trying very hard to not lash out at him with his wand.
"Go down and get settled," he said with almost clenched teeth. "I shall be down later."
Draco said nothing, but still looked terrified and left, clambering down the door in the ground without another glance back at any of them. As soon as the wood made a loud thud against the floor, Severus waved his hand once more and the door disappeared.
Hermione glanced over at McGonagall who had the exact mirror of a face she did: confused. Hermione admitted to herself she was also a little scared too...Severus' visitors had obviously been the Malfoys but why did they leave Draco behind?
After a time, and after politely telling Severus to try not to lose his temper with the boy, McGonagall announced that she should leave, muttering to Hermione quietly to call on her should things get out of hand. Hermione absentmindedly nodded, really having not heard half of what McGonagall had just said, being far more concerned with the internal war Severus seemed to be battling with.
She watched his back for a time at where he stood on the other side of the room, unsure of what to say, not because she was afraid of being snapped at, but because she hadn't the slightest idea of what was going on.
"Severus," she asked cautiously. He didn't move for a moment. And then she saw his back rise and fall with a heavy sigh and he turned around to face her.
With sad, questioning eyes, Hermione waited patiently for him to find his words. He let out another sigh before he practically trudged over to the sofa, passing Hermione and sat down heavily, resting his head in his hands.
Hermione furrowed her brow as he passed her and did this, not seeing Severus as the kind of man who "plopped" down onto the sofa to do some heavy thinking.
It took him a few seconds, but finally Severus began to recount everything that had just happened out in the office with the Malfoys and how they practically begged him to shelter Draco.
"I can't deny it, he needs help or the Dark Lord will surely kill him," Severus said flatly. "But having him here now causes danger to—"
"Me," Hermione finished for him. He nodded to his lap.
Another sigh.
Hermione sighed too and sat down next to him, having nothing to say to make it a better situation. She knew that if Malfoy leaked anything outside of the castle, or even inside the castle for that matter, she would be in big trouble. She only hoped that under Severus' watchful eye, he would never get the chance.
Without another word, Severus stood up and walked slowly over the area where the invisible door was, waved his hand over it and descended, the door thudding closed behind him.
Hermione watched him, knowing not to take it personally. She knew it was taking a lot of thought to process all that just happened, and how he was going to keep it under control.
Knowing that prying would only make matters worse, she decided that she would refrain from...unnecessary questions that could potentially put Severus in a more foul mood.
After sitting and thinking to herself on the sofa for a while, and figuring it would be a while before that door opened again, she heavily decided to go and clean up, beginning to smell her body odor...and not enjoying it.
Sinking into the bath, Hermione lay back and closed her eyes, feeling somewhat relaxed, allowing the warm soapy water to practically hypnotize her into a lazy, half sleep.
So many thoughts were finding their way into her head while she sat there, making it difficult for her to feel totally peaceful at all. So finally she gave up, getting out of her bath, draining the water which had turned a bit murky what with how filthy she had been trying to find those secrets in the study.
Hermione wandered over to the sink where she leaned on the basin, staring down at the drain for a time before finally looking up at her reflection in the oval mirror. She didn't know what she was looking for; perhaps some answers she had been searching for in the past months...or perhaps it was the fact of whose bathroom she was standing in at that moment.
Sighing and finding a small smile creep onto her face, she lazily tied her curls back and stepped away from the sink, knowing she needed to stop letting her mind do all of the talking. She had done enough of that in the past. Now it was time for her heart to be the one speaking for her.
A large yawn escaped her mouth as she entered the bedroom, realizing how extremely tired she had become. Without any further thoughts, Hermione lay down; slipping into dreamland the instant her head hit the pillow.
Severus emerged from the door to Draco's room hours after he had initially gone down there to set a few things straight for Draco so he didn't go saying things he shouldn't be.
Of course, he had started to find out much, much more than he intended. Draco was so troubled now. Well, he had been ever since his sixth year when he was tasked with killing Dumbledore, but now being on the run from both sides wasn't making things any easier for the boy.
Severus was sure that Draco did not intend to share so much right then, but it seemed to pour out of him without hope of ceasing once he started. The whole time there had been one particular emotion pouring out of him: it was not fear, but regret.
Draco Malfoy had never truly wanted to be a part of all of this; that is, being a Death Eater. Yes, he had taken considerable enjoyment in acting superior to others around him because he was pureblooded, but he never wished it to go as far as it had. He only did what he did because his parents seemed to need him to, or at least that's what it felt like to a boy of that age.
Severus knew the feeling all too well...the pressures, keeping up appearances, so to speak. He of course had never had such a family to impress, and certainly not many friends when he was Draco's age that cared what he did, more or less whether he lived or died.
But he supposed that all of this talking Draco had just done had just reassured him that there would be no problems with...letting out secrets.
Speaking of beautiful secrets...he thought to himself as he entered his bedroom and saw Hermione laying there, sound asleep, looking as though she hadn't had time to even get under any covers she had been so tired.
He smiled faintly at her as he gently picked her up and moved the sheets back, placing her back down and covering her still-sleeping body, daring to place a hand on the side of her head, as if reassuringly...or perhaps ensuring she lay there soundly.
He knew all he was feeling, but Severus was not the kind of person to so openly express himself. Although, he knew Hermione would not wait around forever to hear what she needed to; even though they accomplished much through simply feeling.
Despite all of this, he knew the time would come, the time when he would allow that wall to break and every hidden feeling, thought...all of it would come to life.
Lying down next to her, Severus got as close as he dared without waking her, noticing how at ease he felt now, just like she seemed to be practically every time they touched.
Very, very gently, Severus reached over and touched her cheek, unwilling to wake her but unable to have her so close and not be able to touch her. With only the side of his index finger, he quietly stroked her soft face, mentally reminding himself this was the reason he now got a decent sleep at night.
Hermione felt him touch her face ever so lightly, but she felt it nonetheless. Even though she knew Severus thought she was asleep and would be startled should she open her eyes, she did it anyways, meeting his now-frozen gaze in the semi-dark room.
She off-handedly noticed that he immediately stopped what he was doing the moment her eyes opened, although he did not withdraw his hand from her face.
Smiling, Hermione shifted her weight slightly, noting again how Severus never moved. She suddenly then became a bit more serious, looking him straight in the eye, noticing in his face as she got used to the dark how troubled his expression was, although he was trying not to show it.
"What happened down there?" Hermione asked with concern knowing the last thing Severus needed was something more eating away at his conscious.
Even though she did not specify something in particular, Severus knew exactly what Hermione was referring to in her inquiry, although he was almost reluctant to share it.
With an inaudible sigh, Severus finally removed his hand from her face and turned to lie on his back, staring up at the ceiling, trying to form an explanation she would understand.
He finally began to speak, explaining all he could about Draco and the real danger he actually was in now that he had failed the Dark Lord.
"He isn't exactly safe from either side," Severus commented after explaining a bit. "The light wont take him because, well, he is a Death Eater and the Dark Lord's followers are to capture him on the spot should he be found. That's why he is here."
Hermione, who had been completely silent while Severus explained all of this to her, still said nothing, as if waiting for him to add something else.
"I was reluctant at first, probably because I couldn't believe Lucius Malfoy had the nerve to show up here...but Draco is in fact in serious danger," Severus added somewhat bitterly or annoyed, Hermione couldn't exactly tell; most likely the latter.
He just let that hang there in the dark air, seeming to be finished with what he was saying. Hermione saw him barely shrug it off before shaking his head slightly and closing his eyes, as to close the conversation.
Hermione decided to just drop it there, recognizing his tone and knowing it would be unwise to continue asking questions, especially at this late hour and after what had just happened.
Hermione too then turned over to lie on her back, no longer feeling as tired as before. She stared up at the great domed ceiling for some time, not thinking about anything in particular, but just how as different as things had been for her when she ended up here, now they were going to be even more so what with their 'new addition.'
For being so tired earlier and then suddenly becoming so incredibly wide awake, it proved difficult for Hermione to actually find sleep again. But it did finally come, overtaking her in an instant when it did.