Chapter 5: One Week Later…
After the meeting with the Lestranges, Hermione and Severus returned to Hogwarts where she took the floo home to retrieve the rest of her possessions for school. She figured that if she was who Bella claimed she was, that the Grangers would be in danger if she stayed there for news. So with Dumbledore's permission, she stayed at Hogwarts, where she also discovered that she was head girl.
So that's how she came to be sitting in the very spot that she was first introduced to when she arrived at Hogwarts. She was enjoying the sound of the debate between Minerva and Severus about the House Cup. Snape amazed Hermione about how much he loosened up when students weren't around. Suddenly, the hall doors opened and through them stepped none other than Draco Malfoy.
"Hello mu… I mean, hello Hermione. Here are the results of the test you had done at Saint Margo's." Draco said a bit too nicely as he strutted toward her.
Hermione smirked out of annoyance and took the offered parchment. After if fully reached her possession, she tore open the seal and began to read it hungrily. Suddenly, all the color drained from her face, the reaction sadly didn't go unnoticed.
"Tests Miss Granger, dear are you alright?" Madam Pomphery questioned. There wasn't a response. Snape looked up and saw Dumbledore nod at him, and he made his move.
" Miss Granger, will you please come with me?"
She stood as if in a trance, wavered a bit and in a flash, Snape and McGonagall grabbed her and escorted her out of the Great Hall and into a nearby classroom, the trio was closely followed by the young Malfoy. Severus requested a moment alone with his two students, McGonagall nodded and granted the request. He took no time casting a silencing spell around the room and when he was done, he looked at Hermione. He was about to speak, but Hermione beat him to the punch. "All this time, I had secretly hoped that they had made a mistake, that I was related to Remus or something. Then outwardly, I begged that I had finally found my family. I wanted to be part of a family that would understand who I am, and I have."
" Think on the bright side, you are now related to me and my gorgeous body." Draco sucked in his stomach and pushed out his chest and slightly flexed his muscles.
"That's not a bright side," she paused, "that's gross." She laughed and playfully slapped him in the stomach. He relaxed again and they laughed until their sides were sore.
" Listen Hermione, I am glad you are part of my family now but I am sorry that this is happening. If there is anything I can do-"
"Actually, there is something that needs to be put on the table." Severus stated, " Hermione, when we met with your parents, Bella asked me a very *hem* awkward question, well favor. She told me that the Dark Lord has ordered Bella's daughter, you, is to marry a death eater." He paused again to compose himself. " Her request was for that death eater to be me."
If it were possible, both students became as white as there potions master, Hermione came back first. "Sir, you're my professor! Does the Headmaster know of this request?"
"No, but I think he has an idea of what's going on."
"Why not Crabbe or Goyle? No offense sir, but they seem like more logical choices for my Aunt and Uncle," Draco Said.
" Draco, do you realize what your two goons would do to her?"
Hermione stepped in before they got too into the debate, "I'll do it."