Author's Note: I'd like to thank everyone who has reviewed this story and my special thank you goes out to Momentyne, who is currently my beta and on occasion my cowriter, since english isn't my native language. She's the one who helps me getting the story as I intended to write it. So again my eternal gratefulness.
Chapter 5
"Our sweetest songs are those that tell of our saddest thought." - Percy B. Shelley
"It was actually very amusing. Ginny was quite crimson, when I suggested she'd liked Draco for some time." Hermione said to Severus, while they were working in the lab. He raised his eyebrow at her, "Are you implying that you weren't aware of Miss Weasley's feelings for Draco? From the very beginning of their befriending, there has been more between those two than meets the eye. They've both harboured amorous feelings for each other for a long time and it seems that Miss Weasley is, or was, unwilling to recognize those feelings as such. And as for Draco, I've had many concerns about him. He seems to have taken those first few steps towards taking his feelings more seriously, not to mention generally trying to be a better person."
Hermione smiled at him. "Perhaps he did take that first step, but he used the same lines to chat up Ginny as all the others. Besides that, Ginny is not convinced Draco is serious about her because he made so many jokes about them getting together, while dating other women. You can't blame her for getting angry at him." Severus continued with a potion that needed attending. He added some potion ingredients and cautiously stirred the potion a few times before he looked up again.
"I can assure you, I was not trying to accuse Miss Weasley of such. I do, however, want to point out something - have you ever seen Draco go out with these women besides the major events? Because I have it from a reliable source that Draco hasn't been involved in a romantic relationship in over 9 years, and, to top that, has not been sexually active for almost 5 years." At this information, Hermione stared at him, mouth agape and body slack, causing the research folders she was holding to tumble to the floor. She picked up her papers and continued to stare incredulously at her partner.
"You're trying to tell me that the whole playboy act is just a ruse? Where, pray tell, do you get your information?" A mischievous glint sparkled in Severus' eyes; a sparkle which reminded her a lot of her former headmaster Dumbledore and she couldn't help but ask herself if Severus took over some traits from Albus. She reckoned he would deny it if she brought the subject up.
"Let's just say I had a unpleasant run-in with a distraught Miss Brown. It seems Draco spilled his secrets to her, while intoxicated. I believe the exact word Miss Brown used was 'plastered'. That description doesn't leave much room for interpretation does it. As you can imagine, it was out of question that she had to carry such a burden, so I Obliviated the twi- young lady." Now Hermione was certain - Severus was the new Albus Dumbledore in a dark, brooding disguise. She giggled at the thought. "So, we have Ginny, who has been harbouring feelings for Draco and is unwilling to admit to that, and Draco, who is also harbouring feelings for Ginny, but is unable to express them properly. Perhaps it is time to intervene and help the poor sod out? Even though…I never thought I had to help Draco Malfoy with girl trouble." She added as an afterthought.
"Why should we intervene in such matters? I didn't need help to seduce you? I ..." Hermione wrapped her arms around Severus, interrupting him. "I believe I was the one who seduced you." She whispered causing Severus curve his lips into a small smile. "Perhaps..."
Hermione continued "So I think we need to help them somewhat; I just don't know how. We have to think about that, besides there was something else I wanted to talk about." Severus sighed. "When does the talking cease? We do have work waiting for us, woman! I believe you still have to add the Billywig stingers." Hermione scowled at him. "Yes, I do know that, it's due in 5 minutes. As you know, I am quite able to work and talk at the same time, Severus; anyway, I just wanted to express my concerns about Luna Lovegood." Hermione walked back to her cauldron and started to slice the Billywig stingers into tiny strips.
"You mean the Ravenclaw that continuously kept on nagging about Crumple-Horned Snorkacks and other nonexistent magical beings? I believe she was the one who killed Lucius Malfoy, and apologized to Draco afterwards. She was rather strange - wasn't she Harry's girlfriend at the time?" Hermione shook her head. "No, they were never involved, but there was a possibility Harry liked her more than he let on. But you know Harry; he wouldn't say so, because of the war. He was too concerned about the fact his loved ones might get hurt. However, I do know for a fact that Luna loved him and still does. She all but told me when I ran into her after lunch with Ginny. She looked like a ghost, you should have seen her. And when I talked to her, she was incoherent and she kept on staring to something behind me. She looked scared and I swear I heard her whisper 'go away', but I'm fairly certain she wasn't talking to me. Now that I think about it, it was actually quite alarming to see someone like that."
"What do you suggest, Hermione? Not everyone can be helped no matter how much you try to save them." Indignantly Hermione snorted. "I know I can't save everyone. But I do like to save the people close to me or the people who are close to the people I love." Severus didn't seem unnerved by her statement and even dared to smirk at her "Did you even try to calculate how many people you could end up helping, if they were in distress? In the name of Merlin, you know the whole Weasley family!" Severus went on, on a somewhat less ridiculing tone "I know you care for Harry; in fact the reason why you are doing this project is more about you caring, than displaying your academic qualities and to see your name printed above a research article that has been published. But what can you honestly do for a girl that may be losing her mind, Hermione? Especially since the majority of the Wizarding community seem to think she lost her mind the day she was born."
Hermione couldn't help getting irritated and hit the desk with her small fist. "May I remind you that we are talking about the same girl who killed Lucius Malfoy? However you may look at it she is still a war hero and should get some respect for that. Especially from you because you should know how vile and powerful Lucius was." Severus knew he passed the line there and let her continue her rant. "Sometimes you're still an inconsiderate old git who skulked around the Hogwarts Dungeons. I'm guessing the only reason why she could kill Malfoy like that was because he had done something to someone she loved and now she's still feeling guilty or lonely. That is driving her insane and the only thing I wanted to ask you was if we could invite her over, to help with our research; seeing as she was a Ravenclaw. I do believe you do know what that means?" Hermione paused slightly for effect, "It means she probably has the brains to help us with something, which will also take her mind of whatever is killing her inside."
He had to agree that she had a point, he nodded agreeably, "You're right…on both accounts. Please accept my apologies for being inconsiderate; the only thing you should do is discuss the matter with Miss Weasley, but I don't see why she should object to your scheme. Anyhow you have my approval; she might bring new insights we haven't thought of" Hermione hadn't expected him to cave in so suddenly, but she did hear his sarcastic undertone and glared at him. Fortunately he left it at that and now it was just a matter of a Floo-call to Ginny and writing a letter to Luna. Shaking out of her reverie, she looked upon her cauldron and only then she realised, she forgot to add the Billywig stingers to her potion; so her potion was probably worthless now. She looked up to see if Severus had realised it. He smirked at her and drawled in an amused tone "I believe you can scourgify that cauldron, it seems talking and working aren't compatible after all." The only reply she gave him at that moment was a scowl.