Nope I do not own these characters so please don't sue

Chapter 4: New Discoveries

Draco glanced at the wall clock hanging in his study. 'Okay, time's up!' he told himself and got up from his sofa putting the book he had been reading into the shelf. He went to his room and opened the drawer at his bedside table and pulled two wands owned by Hermoine and Snape. While he walked towards the room where Snape and Hermoine were locked up, image of Snape throwing hexes at him came to his mind which made him shudder. As he stood in front of the door, he leaned his ear against his door and listened. All he could hear was total silence. 'Hmm, I guess my plan worked.' He grinned. Draco took his wand from his pocket and waved it to unlock the door. He sighed deeply, turned the knob and as he opened the door, he was met with Snape's scowl.

"Good morning Snape!" he greeted innocently. Draco saw Snape rolled his eyes and walked pass him and was followed by Hermoine who smiled at him. He was relieved that Snape did not hex him and was glad that at least Hermoine was not mad at him. He then noticed the wands that he was holding and called for their attention. "Hey wait! You're forgetting something!" Draco said. Snape heard him and stopped and quickly turned. Hermoine, on the other hand, was not paying attention and walked straight to Snape. Bodies collided. Hermoine almost fell back but suddenly felt a tight grip on both of her arms and realized who had done it. She looked up at Snape who was holding her tight and blushed. "Thanks." She said quietly. Snape gently moved Hermoine aside and swiftly grabbed the wands from Draco's hand. Hermoine watched as her former Professor walked passed here and towards the door with anger in his face. She knew that the dark haired man was not pleased with what Draco did to them but she knew that was not the reason that angered the man. Snape was indeed angry but not at Draco and most definitely not at Hermoine. He was furious at himself with the way he acted while they were in the room and how he got so distracted that he almost forgot his wand. Never in his entire life did he ever forget about his precious wand. He regarded it as part of his body—his soul.

"Don't go yet. I have prepared you a breakfast" Draco said moving beside Hermoine.

"I'd prefer to go back to my abode." Snape said.

"I thought you were hungry." Hermoine said with a tone of concern. Draco looked at the bushy haired woman and saw that she was indeed sincere and concerned. Snape remained standing in front of the door and dare not to look at both of them.

"I never said I was hungry."

"That's not what your stomach said awhile ago." She said teasingly while Draco was sensing a different aura that surrounded his guests. Snape was sensing that Hermoine drawing nearer towards him and decided to immediately leave the premises though his stomach prefers to stay and eat.

"I must go." And with that, Severus Snape exited. Hermoine felt a pang on her heart. She thought that things would be better between her and Snape after their conversation in the dark room. Draco was disappointed with his mentor's action and felt sorry for the young lady which made him shook his head and placed his hands on his sides. 'You stupid git' Draco said referring to Snape. And then there was a moment of silence and was then broken by Draco inviting Hermoine to have a breakfast with him in which Hermoine happily obliged.

They ate their breakfast in silence. Draco observed his companion with interest. Hermoine seemed to be bother at something and Draco had an idea who is bothering her.

"So tell me, what happened?" Draco mused. Hermoine who hardly noticed him snapped back.

"Hmm?" She was confused.

"When I locked you up, tell me, what happened to you and Severus back there?" Hermoine gave a faint smile and said, "We talked."

"And?" Draco said hinting to further dwell further into the Hermoine and Snape's conversation.

"And we have some to agreement, or so I've thought." Hermoine was no filling with emotion, trying hard to quell her self from crying. 'I thought we connected actually.' She told herself intending not to let Draco know what she thought thinking he might give malice into it.

"I'd rather not talk about it. It just ruins my day."

"That bad, huh?"

"Not really."

Sensing that Hermoine was starting to feel uncomfortable, Draco changed to a lighter topic and their entire breakfast together went on smoothly. They laughed, debated, agreed into different topics that came into the table. Never did both of them ever imagine that one day they'll be able to have a pleasant conversation in which Hermoine noticed and so did Draco. They had such a wonderful time that they did not realize the time. And then they became silent. Draco's face changed into a serious mode.

"Hermoine…" Draco started though didn't know how to continue. Hermoine waited for him to continue having a feeling that Draco has something that he desperately wants to get out in his system.

"…I'm sorry." He lowered his head and dare not to look at her feeling a surge of guilt.

"For what?" Hermoine asked innocently, though she has an idea.

"I'm sorry for hexing and locking you up with Snape. I really thought I was doing the right thing." Her heart melted hearing him say that. She moved her hand across the table and reached for Draco's hand. "No need. I think you did the right thing. If it's any consolation, what you did had its benefits." She smiled. Draco looked at her and squeezed her hand. Tears are now falling from his eyes which made Hermoine's heart melt even more. "I'm also sorry for…everything. You know, for being a pain to you and your friends."

"I forgive you. And besides, you were young."

"And stupid" Draco added. Hermoine laughed, removed her hand from Draco's gentle grip and moved across the table and sat next time. She put her hand on his shoulder. Draco thought it was warm.

"I don't think you're stupid. In fact I think you're quite intelligent. Maybe you were just, misguided." Draco felt relieved and hugged Hermoine. She was surprised at his gesture and wrapped her arms around him. For the first time in Draco's life, he felt peace in his heart as if a thorn was finally removed from his heart. "Now let's forget about the past and let's think about the present, shall we?"

"Great idea." He replied. He glanced at the clock and was surprised that it was already lunch. Hermoine decided that she must go back to her flat for she had some potions to work. Before she exited Draco's abode, she hugged him again and gave a peck on the cheek which made Malfoy blush. Draco closed the door as Hermoine left and remained still. 'Well that went well.' He thought. He was glad that he and Hermoine had closure and felt that he can finally move on with his life.

*****

Snape arrived at his Manor confused and angry. He paced back and forth to his study cursing himself of what had happened at Draco's house.

"What's the matter my boy?" said the man in the portrait. Snape looked at where the voice was coming from and saw the man in the portrait smiling. 'What's with him?' he asked himself rather asking the man whom he was referring to.

"Sod off Albus." He said and he heard Dumbledore laugh. "Now what did I do?' the old wizard said with a laugh. Severus ignored him and lay on the sofa covering his face with his arms and relieving the moment he had with Hermoine in the dark room.

Severus put Hermoine's head that was on top of his lap and laid it on the floor. He fixed the strap of her dress that previously slid off her shoulder revealing a little of her left breast. Being tempted by someone is the last thing he wanted especially by his former student and member of the Golden Trio.

He doesn't want Hermoine to wake up with him sitting close to her fearing that she might give other meaning though in truth it was him whose mind is a little not so innocent. He moved at a far dark corner of the room never removing his eyes from the young lady lying unconsciously on the floor. After a few minutes, Snape jerked at the sight of Hemoine moving. The young lady slowly rose and sat, glancing at her surroundings with perplexed face until she noticed a dark figure in the far corner of the room.

"How are you feeling Miss Granger?" said a familiar silky voice. Hearing that voice sent chills down her spine. There are times during her school year at Hogwarts where in she was sometimes mesmerized with her Portions professor's voice especially when he slowly and deeply emphasizing every word. She recalled that time during their class when Snape said, 'Turn…to page…three hundred…and ninety…four.'

'Arrggh!!!!' she shook herself as she felt another chill. 'Surely a voice like that can hypnotize any listener. I'd probably jump at him right now if I didn't know who owns that voice. Very seductive' she thought.

"Um, I, I'm alright." she said as she tried to composed herself. She tried to stand but failed. Weakness still overwhelmed her body. Severus noticed and moved quickly towards her and put his hands on her shoulder.

"I think you should refrain yourself from moving too much. You're still weak. Why don't you lie down." He said formally and with an unreadable expression. Hermoine wondered if there was concern within those lines. She let the man before her gently pushed her into the cold floor gently removing his hands from her shoulder passing through her arms before his fingers finally left her skin. She as she felt his rough fingers touching her skin she felt a sudden sensation. A sensation she never felt before. She then noticed that Snape was still staring at her. Snape snapping back and realizing what he was doing fixed himself and move away from her. 'Now that's weird.' Hermoine thought. Then there was a moment of silence, both of them trying to figure out what to do or say next. Finally it was Hermoine who broke the ice.

"What happened anyways? All I remember was, I was here with Draco. Then I heard him utter something and I felt something had hit me. And then all went black." When she remembered what happened to her, her eyes grew wider. "Draco! He hit me with a curse!" she exclaimed as a surge of anger built up inside her. "How can he do this? I thought…I thought…"

"Now, now Miss Granger…" Snape interrupted. "…before you make any conclusions, let me clarify that Draco did this—meaning hexed you, lured me in here and locked us up—because he thought that it was the best way for us to have a chitchat and provide us the opportunity to get along." He said in a calm voice. Hermoine snorted. "Him and his Slytherine antics." She said sarcastically.

"Better that than your Gryffindor foolishness." He said crossing his arms on his chest.

"MY Gryffindor foolishness? Now what have I done that you found so foolish?"

"Clearly you were off guard because you trusted Draco. That is why you were easily hit by his curse. If it was only a different situation you could've been killed by now! Now isn't that what you call foolish?"

"Well how about YOU!!! How come you're still here with me locked up in this bloody room?" her voice was beginning to rise.

"Well I came for your aide, but unfortunately, I wasn't able to see right through Draco." He reasoned.

"Hah! Now isn't that what you call foolish?"

"No. It just so happened that my ability to respond quickly has become rusty. Considering that it has been a long time since I have used my wand and probably because Draco is much younger and quicker."

"Rubbish." she interrupted. "But of course," Snape continued. "Draco failed to fool me unlike other people. He was just quicker." Hermoine raised herself up and lean on her left arm and faced the man. She raised her brow at his excuse.

"Really? Then why don't YOU get us out of here if you think you're so brilliant?"

"I can't."

"And why is that?"

"He stole my wand." Hermoine gave a laugh while Snape remained still. "Like I said, I'm a bit rusty and he's a little bit quicker." He defended himself. Hermoine snorted. Snape felt triumphant in vexing his companion. They were both startled at the loud knock coming from the door.

"Hey will the two of you keep it down a bit. I have guests here!" said the voice on the other side of the dorrr.

Hermoine and Snape looked at each other. They thought that the party ended since they did not hear anymore loud music and chattering people. 'Guests? What guests? They've been quite foe almost like an hour. What are they now doing up there? Praying?" Snape thought.

"Draco!!! Draco, get us out of here now!" Hermoine said in a commanding voice. She tried to get on her feet but failed yet again. "Stupid little girl." Snape muttered quietly.

"Well if I can still here you bickering down there and not get along then the probability of me letting you out will be highly unlikely I'm afraid." Draco replied. Hermoine continued to plead for their freedom but received no answer while Snape, who was silently observing her, was starting to get annoyed.

"There's no use pleading Miss Granger, that won't budge even the slightest bit. Clearly Draco is determined to succeed with this shenanigan and apparently if we him to set us free we must do what we are told. Very Slytherine indeed." He smirked. Hermoine rolled her eyes and turned to him.

"Will you stop that?!"

"Stop what?" he asked innocently.

"Very Slytherine." Hermoine said making faces. "Very mature Miss Granger, very mature. Honestly, Miss Granger, if you are so bothered on why I treat you more like a little girl and less of a woman then you should try pondering on your immature reactions when someone offends you." He said with calmly. Hermoine was surprised at what he said. 'How did he know that?' she asked herself.

"I never told you that I'm bothered with the way you treat me." She raised her left eyebrow while crossing her arms on her breasts. 'Oops!' Snape thought.

"Have you been reading my mind Mr. Snape?"

"No. It was just obvious." He lied.

Feeling more exhausted, she lay back on the floor, closed her as she pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed.

"I think its time that we decided to be just civilized at each other." Snape remained silent. Sensing that her companion was not going to respond, she continued.

"I actually know that you're capable of being nice. Being rude is just a front of who you really are. I know you have a capability to love since Harry told me about you and Lily…"

"You have no idea what I am and what I am not capable of! You do not know me." Snape snapped. "And don't you dare try to talk about me and Lily thinking you know something!"

"I may not know everything about you. But all I know is that you were kind to her and you loved her."

"You don't know what you're saying." His was beginning to tremble as emotions of his past are starting to build up inside him. He still missed her that was true. Hermoine crawled towards him and knelt in front of him holding his hand that was resting on his lap. He wanted to remove her soft, warm hand but decided not to.

"I know how exhausting it is to keep on hating, bickering with other people. I know I am. Sir, life is too short. Do not waste the remaining days of your life being sulky; instead, spend it with peace and happiness. I know you have lived your life with pain and suffer but that has to end now. Move on sir. I know you deserve better a life after all that you have done for us." Snape blushed at what she said. For the first time in his life someone, aside from Lily saw him as a human being who deserved to live. He never knew how an insufferable know-it-all can see right through him despite the way he had treated her. He looked into her eyes and saw nothing but purity and sincerity. He didn't know what to say, though he doesn't want her to know that she had touched him—his soul—because he sees it as a sign of weakness and he doesn't want to be taken advantage of.

Hermoine was a little bit surprise by his silence. She was expecting a snarl from him but instead noticed that the sides of his lips slightly raised and that's all she wanted to know. She knew that she had somewhat touched him though she doesn't want to let him know that for she might push her luck. The tension that arose between the two of them suddenly disappeared. Though they remained silent, each of them was, in some ways, relieved to have that conversation. 'I guess Draco's plan did work.' Hermoine thought. They sat together side by side in silence, leaning against the wall in deep thought. Hermoine, who was failing to keep herself awake, yawned loudly and slowly, closed her eyes. Snape looked at her and smirked. After a few seconds she was finally asleep, and there would bet time that her head would almost fall as if she was head banging, which would suddenly wake her up and then instantly back to her sleep. Sensing his companion's ordeal, he gently moved his hand across her head into the other side of her temple and slowly pulled her head on his shoulder. Snape sighed as he realized, 'Maybe it wouldn't hurt if get along with her. She is in fact intelligent and definitely worthy to converse with.' Then he too realized that he was sleepy so he closed his eyes, leaned his head against the wall maintain a still position so that Hermoine's head won't slide off from his shoulder.

Snape woke up as the ray of light hit his face and noticed the woman beside him. Little did he know that Hermoine was already awake but did not dare to move for she finds her position quite comfortable. They both started as they heard a click on the other side of the door and quickly they both got up and climbed their way towards the door. Though Snape's initial plan was to hex the young Malfoy, he decided that with what happened last night, it was worth being locked up with her. He realized that when they were together he felt that a burden was lifted, he felt warm and relaxed.

"Severus? Severus? Are you sleeping?" Albus called the man lying on the sofa. When Snape did not respond, the old wizard smiled at the sight of the man, smiling while drifting into a deep sleep. 'He is probably having a very pleasant dream' he thought.

Gee! I never thought I am capable of writing a chapter this long!

Hey guys I need a help,how can i put a 1.5 spacing on my work, though i formatted in my Microsoft Word, but when i uploaded my story it changes into this! I do not like reading a single spaced story and I do not want my readers to be uncomfortable reading them and I'm worried that I might ruin your eyesights, so please help.

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