Hello Everyone.
It's been about a year now since I've updated. I realize that is a long time.
Like I've explained, if Angelus was divided into parts, I fee like chapter 9 was the end of Part I. As a result, I wanted to take a break and also take some time to figure out how I wanted to continue to develop the plot. After many writing blocks, lost of muse, and so on, I have finally got done with the next chapter. it is a little shorter I believe than my past chapters, but I'll make up for it in the next few.
I want to thank all of you who have taken the time to read this story and re-read this story. Your reviews are always so motivating. Thank you!
Here it is. I hope you enjoy!
Chapter
Draco had not spoken to her since that night.
It was easy enough to explain at the Manor. The Manor was large, and one could easily avoid another if one desired, as she had noted before. It was something, to her knowledge, that Malfoy took full advantage of both before and after the ball. Thus, it was Narcissa who informed her of their departure details and Narcissa who continued to oversee her stay at the Manor.
His behavior was harder to explain at school.
They had been in school for a week now, and she had yet to hear a word from him. They continued to attend class together, always sitting next to each other when possible. He would still touch her, put his arm around her waist. He would even lean in occasionally as though to whisper something in her ear, but he spoke not a word, yet, when he pulled away, he had a smirk on his face and Hermione did her part to blush.
Each time it happened, she wanted to ask him why, and each time she decided to keep her mouth shut, smile, and play along.
She wasn't quite sure how she felt about it.
She wanted very much to be angry with him, upset, frustrated, or annoyed. However, anytime she thought about the matter, she couldn't quite make up her mind.
One thing was for sure though: it hurt.
Draco's blatant avoidance of her hurt. The way he put so much effort into keeping his distance away from her, as though she were some sort of disease, hurt.
So, while in class she looked radiant, as a muggle-born girl who had just spent the holidays with her pureblood boyfriend should be, when she was alone in her room, she often found herself lying in bed, holding a pillow to her chest.
"Malfoy, are you listening to me?" Professor Severus Snape hissed as he glanced at Draco Malfoy who currently occupied an upholstered high-back chair located in the professor's personal study. It faced the brightly lit fireplace, as the air was still quite brisk in January, especially in the Dungeons where it had a tendency to be continually damp.
"Of course Professor," Draco replied in a calm tone as he looked up. His hands were clasped together as his elbows rested on the armrests. He looked the ideal attentive student. Suspicious, Snape looked at the boy with a keen eye from where he stood by the mantel. He was no fool. He had known the boy since his birth and saw how, at the age of three, he had employed whining, with pouts and tears included, as a tactic to convince his mother to give him another chocolate frog, as an example. Severus knew better than to trust such a boy now at the age of eighteen.
"Draco Malfoy, you will stop this foolish behavior now."
Draco's lips fell into a frown at these words. He knew the Professor had not been fooled. He could never fool Professor Snape. Inwardly, as he once again began to school his facial features, he cursed the Professor with every bit of colorful language he could think of. He was not in the mood to be lectured by his professor. It did not matter if he deserved it. He had every legitimate reason for his unreasonable behavior, a certain Hermione née Granger.
The night of the ball, he had felt too much, thought too much. Her actions alone that night were enough to think about. She had given him her life's blood, again. Once was enough to bind him to her for life. He did not want to think of the consequences of being the recipient of her life's blood once more.
He was falling further and further into her debt.
That is why, when she said she would oppose the Dark Lord, he wanted to scream at her, shout at her, anything to get her to understand the position she was putting him in. She was asking him to forsake his family and put them in danger. She was asking him to put her goal, her desire, her ambitions and her dreams above his own and stand by her side, her guardian.
What frustrated him the most, however, was that she was well within her rights to ask this of him. She had saved his life twice.
He would have preferred to bleed to death on that ball room floor.
Instead, she saved him and put him in a gilded cage, trapped by blood magic.
It disgusted him. He was no better than a slave.
His logic and instinct told him that Hermione would never ask him to bend to her will. However, if not for the blood magic, she still held a life debt over him, and his sense of pride would not, could not endure being the subject to someone's will.
Debts, however, must be repaid in full, as a Malfoy never lives without surplus within his vaults. He would follow her to hell, need be, to fulfill all that he owed her, if it didn't kill his sense of self, and pride, first.
"I was told by our Lord that information of the Angelus will be released in the press tomorrow morning," Snape finally announced.
Draco regarded his Professor carefully. This was no bluff. The Dark Lord was going to tell Wizarding Britain of the Angelus' Birth.
Tactically, it made sense. The Angelus name alone instilled fear in even the oldest of pureblood families, even if they would not admit it. Among the muggle-born and half-born, it would cause panic of the masses. The Dark Lord would use this to bring more power to himself, and help to further the cause.
"You must let the Angelus know, so that she may act accordingly," Professor Snape continued. His hand grasped onto a small pewter figurine of an cauldron: a gift from his mother for his fifth birthday, one of a few.
"Of course," Draco replied and stood up from his chair as though to leave.
"Draco," Severus exclaimed as he placed the figurine on the mantle. He had enough of the little Malfoy's games. "You can not go on like this. One wrong move from you will mean the end of all of us," he said, as though he were lecturing in front of a bunch of first years. The first years would be fully intimidated by now and ready to leave the classroom.
"You think I don't know?" Draco said in reply as he turned towards Snape. There was nothing different about Draco's demeanor, Snape noted. He continued to look poised and confident. Draco's eyes, however, had a desperate look of anguish in them, something Severus Snape was very familiar with. He had felt it more often than not in his life.
Draco closed his eyes and sighed, leaning against the mantle of the fireplace. His back felt the almost uncomfortable warmth of the fire, but he did not move away. The discomfort it offered was welcomed.
"She plans to oppose the Dark Lord," Draco finally whispered as he looked to the ground. He observed there was a rather plush rug of a rich brown-black color under the coffee table. The table was located in front of the chair he had occupied only a moment ago. He began to analyze the individual strands as the silence continued.
"Of course," Severus finally stated flatly, as if it were the most obvious fact. Draco opened his eyes to stare at the Professor, as though to assess the integrity of his statement. He continued. "Hermione Granger would not follow one she believes to be corrupt or power hungry. The Angelus has changed, but she is still a product of her upbringing. She will make her own path and make those around her bend to her will. She will, of course, accept nothing less."
Draco said nothing to this. His gaze returned to the individual strands of what Draco had now decided was a rug from the Orient. He closed his eyes. Yes, Hermione, the Hermione Granger of the past had a strong sense of right and wrong. She was headstrong and determined, even while she was socially shy and kept mostly to herself.
His Professor was right. Nonetheless, it bothered him that the Professor knew more about his ward than he did.
It made him wonder what other things he had missed about his Ward while he was caught up in his own flurry of problems and question if he was correct in his interactions with his Ward recently.
"Well, since there is nothing more to discuss, I shall be retiring to my chambers," Snape finally announced when he saw that Draco would not respond.
With a whoosh of his cloak, Severus turned and walked away from the fire place, only to pause at the door way leading to his chambers. He stood there for several minutes in silence and took that moment to observe the young Malfoy, unbeknownst to Draco.
It came out as a whisper.
"But what of me...?"
Draco did not speak specifically, nor did he realize he had spoken out loud, but Severus replied.
"Make her goals your goals and her desires your desires."
Draco lifted his head up to gaze at his professor, startled, his mask breaking for the first time since he had entered the Potion Master's chambers. Severus' eyes betrayed nothing as he stood by the doorway, back straight and head held high.
His professor, a double-agent, for whom he did not know. Even after the death of Headmaster Dumbledore, Draco Malfoy did not know where his professor's loyalties lied. He only knew that Severus Snape had two masters who demanded what they would of Severus.
Perhaps, Draco thought, perhaps his professor understood.
"Like it or not, your circumstance will not change," Severus explained. "It is better to make the most of it."
With that Severus Snape retired to is chambers, leaving Draco alone to his thoughts.
"Tomorrow," Draco announced after he had quietly regarded Hermione who was still wake in their common room.
He had just returned from Snape's quarters. It was well past midnight, and yet, when he entered the common room, he saw Granger sitting upon the loveseat in front of the fireplace, a book in her lap while she gazed at the flames, her mind obviously elsewhere. Her eyes would occasionally drop into sleep only to suddenly open again. The cycle would repeat.
In that moment, he felt guilty and ashamed of his behavior as of late. Even while she was his Ward, even while she was the Angelus that had him bound two times over in Blood magic, she was still Granger, a mere girl, human with emotional needs.
Hermione looked up at Draco in surprise, mostly at the fact that he had spoken to her rather than his presence. She had been up, waiting for him, even while she would never admit it to him. To him, she was simply up, reading a rather engrossing book. She had saw when Snape spoke to him earlier towards the ends of potions, under the pretense of observing his potion. She saw the look in Draco's eyes, and she grew worried. When he didn't return after dinner, she decided to wait up for him, passing the time with her school work. Once she had finished her assignments, she had begun to read.
When he saw he had her attention, he continued.
"Tomorrow, in the paper, they're going to announce your presence."
That caught her attention. She sat up straighter, and the sleep she had felt only moments before left her. She closed the book in her lap and set it aside. "What do you mean?" she asked with a frown and a look of worry upon her face.
"Snape was told by the Dark Lord that the post tomorrow morning was going to run a story," Draco explained. He continued to stand by the loveseat, an armrest separating the two of them.
"Why would he allow such a thing?" Hermione inquired. She knew it would bring the wizarding world into a state of panic and unease, bring the Dark Lord more power, but it also brought her closer to danger and being revealed to the general public. It didn't make sense to her. It wasn't worth it.
"To instill fear," Draco replied simply.
"Of course," Hermione replied. "But, why was I not asked my opinion on such matters? It is, after all, my life they are discussing."
Draco paused and looked at her in mild surprise.
She had only been formally introduced to their society a few weeks ago, and already she was acting as though she owned the place. It was foolish because to survive, one did not question the Dark Lord's decisions, but also admirable because their society could have used more people like her. Then perhaps, the Dark Lord would have never risen to power.
"It's the Dark Lord's decision," Draco replied. He had no better response.
"Of course," she replied catching his gaze.
It unnerved him, so he continued to speak to fill the uneasy silence.
"Of course they won't run your name in the article or even have a picture, but it will be enough to create panic among the masses."
She continued to look at him.
Closing himself to the guilt he felt at once more neglecting her, he turned his back to her and headed for his room. He took each step with deliberate haste, to get himself out of there in the most efficient manner without making it seem like he was running away.
He thought he had succeeded. Then he heard her voice.
"Draco,"
He paused, his foot coming to a standstill as it landed on the floor. He stood in place, unable to take a step forward and unwilling to turn around and face her. He could feel her expectant gaze upon him, waiting for him to turn around before she said what was on her mind.
He couldn't stand it.
"Give me some time," he spoke in a subdued manner before walking into his room and shutting the door firmly behind him.
Hermione could do nothing but helplessly watch as Draco shut her out of his life once more.
As Draco had informed her the night before, news of the Angelus broke out at breakfast.
After staring at Draco's door for several minutes, she finally retired to her bedroom, books forgotten as they were left open on the coffee table and around the floor of the loveseat.
She wasn't sure how to feel about the news. A part of her was frightened. It brought her a step closer to revealing herself to the public, but most importantly, to her friends.
She had never had very many friends as a child due to her being different. When she had come to Hogwarts, it was still difficult to make friends. However, even while she hid away in her books and studies, Harry and Ron had somehow managed to break though and they'd been together ever since. Well, since this whole business had started.
She still missed them, very much, but she felt that her betrayal would be harder if she had stayed as close to them as in the past.
Thus, another meal sitting in quiet, alone.
She had tried her best to act as though it were any other day. To everyone else, it was any other day, at least, until the paper arrived. She was eating a bowl of oatmeal with cinnamon and honey when the first owls arrived.
It started out tame enough. She heard a few exclamations of "What?" and "Bloody Hell" from her House table before the whispers became a dull roar as people began to gasp and discuss the news printed before them on the front page.
Hermione, as a friend of Harry Potter, had long learned to ignore such reactions to the news printed in the Daily Prophet and continued to eat her meal in silence. However, as soon as the words "Angelus" were whispered, she did her best to hide the impulse to snatch the nearest paper and devour the words written, despite having been informed of its content. Instead, she took a few deep breaths as she continued to eat her oatmeal. After a few minutes, she grabbed a paper discarded on the seat next to her by a second year and began to read.
The Return of the Angelus
By – Rita Seeker
The Angelus, known right hand of the Dark Lord, and ruthless killer of muggles and purebloods alike, is alive and well! It is rumored by many that the Angelus made an appearance on New Year's Eve at the Annual Ball held at the Parkinson Manor this year. While details are unknown, eyewitness accounts say the Angelus was formally introduced to society that night. The last known Angelus was Marcus Angelus, who played a critical role during the Dark Lord's last reign of terror. Stay tuned for this developing story!
To learn more about the history of the Angelus, turn to page B5.
Hermione tried her best to ignore the way everyone spoke as she read the paper.
"A killer," they whispered.
"He's our age," another whispered as someone next to him said, "It could be a girl."
"It could be one of us," another hissed.
Silence rose as people looked around them, suspecting each other to be the Angelus. The whispers and looks continued as people ate their breakfast. Hermione did her best to ignore the talk and mechanically shovel food into her mouth.
Even if she had told herself that this would happen when the news came out, even if she had tried to prepare herself since the moment she had found out she was an Angelus, it still hurt.
Her first class was potions. It was one she was not looking forward to.
She realized upon returning that Ron and Harry were still upset with her, if not more upset. She knew Christmas accounted for a majority of their sour looks. Hermione had gotten something for everyone except them. Even Ginny looked unsure of how to approach the subject. While it would be appropriate to thank Hermione for her gift, she did not want to get on Harry's bad side, or her brother's for that matter. Thus, after small waves and hidden looks sent her way the first few days back from break, Ginny had now stopped and only nodded her head in acknowledgment of Hermione's presence.
Not that it really mattered. The Daily that morning made sure of that. She couldn't help but wonder if she should be, perhaps, a little grateful for the distraction it provided.
She slowly made her way to the dungeons when midway she saw Draco leaning against the wall of the corridor. She slowed down to a stop not far from him.
He looked lost, and Hermione could not help but wonder if perhaps Draco felt as though his life was turning upside-down as well. Her identity was tied to his life as well, after all.
He looked up at her and she continued walking, this time stopping in front of him.
He said nothing. There was an awkward sort of silence that Hermione wanted to fill. Before she could say a word, however, he held out his arm. She took it.
They walked in silence to the classroom. The halls were empty as it was mere minutes before classes were suppose to start for the day. Perhaps class had already began.
Draco had been watching her closely that morning. When the post came, he could see her tense up, her grip on her spoon so tight her knuckles looked white even from a distance. He saw her grab a paper as he too pretended to look at one with Blaise. He saw her calmly fold it back up and continue to eat what appeared to be oatmeal, and he could see the look in her eyes which said she was far from okay.
He realized he felt a pang of concern for the girl, and that he didn't like to see such looks upon her face. When Blaise inquired about his Ward, Draco sent him a glare and went back to eating his meal.
Still, the news worried him. It meant that people would be watching Slytherin more closely to find the identity of the Angelus. While she was tucked away safely in the lion's den, he had to be careful not to reveal her whereabouts. It also meant he had to keep a closer eye on his housemates, especially those who were present at the Ball.
"Be careful, and even more careful," he said as they finally came to a stop some distance from the classroom. "We do not know who is yet on our side."
Hermione looked up at him. He had said "our" not "your" side. She felt, for the first time since the ball that perhaps they were still in this together.
Perhaps Draco had just realized his mistake. As he opened his mouth to speak, Hermione cut him off with a small smile and a "I will." Then, she ignored the look on his face as she strode past him and walked into the nearly filled classroom before he could speak another word.
She chose a seat toward the front, one of the few desks open. Very few wanted to sit so close to the Potion's Master where at times, you were a mere arm length away. As she sat, she saw Severus Snape glance up from his place at his desk. His eyebrow rose in question at the absence of Draco. She looked towards the door as Draco entered the classroom to take a seat next to her. He was the last to enter the classroom.
"Good of you to join us Mr. Malfoy," Professor Snape exclaimed as the door shut with a bang. Hermione could see students jump from their seat, even if such sounds were expected with each lesson in the Dungeons.
"My pleasure, professor." Draco replied rather arrogantly. Hermione could see Severus internally fuming at Draco's cheek. Instead, he returned the comment with a small nod of the head. It was apparent to Hermione that their interlude last night had not left the two with warm fuzzy feelings for each other.
"I hope you had the wits to read your assignment for class today. Otherwise, this period will be far from pleasant today," Professor Snape sneered to the class. With the wave of his wand instructions appeared on the board behind him.
"You are to brew blood-replenishing potion today."
With that, the Professor Severus Snape began his lecture. While in normal circumstance, Hermione would be furiously writing down notes to subject matter she already knew, today she wrote very little of substance. Instead, Hermione found her mind constantly wandering to the boy to her left.
He sat as he did on any other day. He looked uninterested, as though he had more important things to do with him time, but his notes would often tell otherwise. Hermione knew that he wrote down important steps and memos each time he lifted his pen. Today, he did the same.
It felt wrong though. Things were not the same. The existence of the Angelus had been revealed that morning. With it, went her hopes of disappearing and living forever under the name Hermione Granger. He had said our side. Our side.
At the conclusion of his lecture, she rose with the rest of the class to their respective places, gathering the appropriate ingredients and preparing them along with her set up.
The time passed in relative ease. The task in front of her provided Hermione with something to set her mind upon, so she would not think of other things. The rhythmic chopping of potions ingredients, the clockwise and anticlockwise turns, they all helped to turn her thoughts elsewhere. She found it soothing. Perhaps this was the appeal of potions.
She was in the middle of cutting some mulberry leaves when Snape approached behind her. She did not hesitate in her movements. Instead, she remained relatively calm and comfortable, that is, until his hand whipped out and grabbed her wrist, causing her to drop her knife. The clatter, along with her wince had everyone's attention in one second flat. The fact that it was Hermione Granger had a majority of the classroom staring at her with eyes the size of saucers, Draco Malfoy excluded. He looked from her to the Professor, eyes narrowing as they progressed.
"What were you cutting with?" Snape hissed as his grip around Hermione's wrist grew tighter. She winced and tried to pull her wrist away in hopes is escaping his grasp.
"A twenty-four centimeter silver blade sir," Hermione replied, "as noted in the text."
He glared at her for cheek. Instead of picking up her blade, he instead picked up another, a bronze eighteen centimeter blade she had set on the counter for later use.
"I believe this was the blade in use," he exclaimed as he examined the blade.
Hermione looked at him in a mix of fury, shock and confusion. She schooled her features, as she had learned at the Manor, and, instead of instinctively dropping her jaw, Hermione looked at the Professor with a look of innocent confusion. He could see, however, the fury in her eyes which demanded an answer.
"The potion, Miss Granger, is very clearly ruined," he sneered loud enough for everyone to hear. "Start from the beginning," he announced as he vanished her current, rather perfect, potion.
She sent him a glare as she replied, "Yes Professor" and set about gathering ingredients once more. She knew very well this would mean she'd have to stay over the class period.
As she made her way to the stores, she saw Draco grab a cosmos flower stem and throw it into his potion. The result was the potion bubbling up and over the cauldron in a blue, sticky goo.
"What is the meaning of this?" Snape hissed furiously as he vanished the potion contents and made his way to Malfoy's station.
"A stem must have made it's way into my potion," Draco replied casually as he shrugged his shoulders. The look he sent Snape almost challenged him to do something.
Furious, Snape pointed to the door. "Get out."
Draco's smirk turned into a frown. "What?" he asked, his voice calm, but his eyes looked at Snape with anger.
"I said get out," the Professor replied giving Draco a slight push in the direction of the door.
They stared at each other for a few seconds, the tension in the room rising with each passing moment. Hermione found herself unable to breathe, anxious. She gripped her wand tightly in her right hand.
Finally, Draco gave in and began to back his things. She stood frozen, on her way to the storeroom, all propriety forgotten as she stared at Draco. On his way out, his shoulder crashed into hers, causing her to fly to the floor. She looked up at him as he paused to look down at her. Even while he sneered and his anger real, she realized in that moment that he was worried. It was with this thought that Hermione head Draco walk out and close the classroom door behind him.
As Hermione walked to the storeroom, she began to assess the facts. Snape ruined her potion for a reason. Most likely, the reason was to have her stay alone after class. Why he wanted her alone was still in question.
However, it was very clear to her that Draco Malfoy did not want Hermione alone with Severus Snape. As a result, he tried to sabotage his own potion and reputation in order to stay with her. However, this was foiled when he was dismissed rather than punished by starting over as Hermione had. Then, it also became very clear that Severus Snape wanted to be alone with Hermione, much to the displeasure of Draco Malfoy.
The rest of the class period passed silently as students rushed to finish their potions, unwilling to face the wrath of an angry Professor Snape. One by one the students bottled up their potions and left until only Hermione and the professor was left.
Once the final student had left and the door closed firmly behind them, Professor Snape made his way to Hermione and vanished her potion for the second time that day.
She glared at him, unable to form the words she had wanted. It seemed inappropriate to say such things to a Professor.
He simply raised an eyebrow. She continued to glare at him.
"You and I both know I did not want you here so you could finish your potion," he replied calmly as he indicated for her to sit in her seat by front of the room. She did not move. He looked at her rather exasperated. "If it is of any console to you, you could have made that potion in your second year."
She wanted to remain stubborn, but she gave into the bribe and made her way to her desk. Snape followed her to the front of the room where he began to pace quietly in front of his desk.
She wasn't sure if she should inquire as to why she was here. Instead, she took the time to observe the general orientation of objects on his desk and wonder if they were for show to intimidate the students or truly his own personal taste preference. For example, while his lab notebook and the various student papers and potion vials on his desk seemed to be of use, the addition of rather gruesome potion ingredients, such as frog eyes seemed rather dramatic and unnecessary.
After moments of silence, Hermione Professor Snape would not initiate the conversation, as he looked rather deep in thought, and decided to speak. "I don't understand why everyone must sabotage my work in order to get my attention."
He looked at her amused. "Yes, ill performance on your part seems to have a way of grabbing your attention," he replied, the amused look not leaving his face.
She huffed in annoyance before speaking. "What is it that you wanted to talk to me about? Draco seemed more than eager to stay behind. It seemed as though he didn't want to leave me alone with you."
Professor Snape paused in his pacing to observe her.
After a moment, he said, "It seems that Narcissa has taught you well."
Hermione did not reply. She simply waited patiently for his response.
"I spoke to Draco yesterday about his behavior," Snape explained as he continued to pace slowly once more. "It has come to my attention since the night of the ball things have not been well between the two of you. If word were to get out of disagreement between the two of you in the school or in the pureblood society, it would not bode well for either one of you or us. Since Draco was less than forthcoming about what has happened, I thought you would provide better perspective."
Hermione listened to Snape's words and thought about it. The words Draco told her earlier came to mind. We do not know who is yet on our side. It was possible that because Draco doubted Snape's loyalty that he was so reluctant to leave Hermione alone. She threw this out the door, as it was Snape and Blaise who saw her first preform her magic and saw the bond between herself and Draco. Had Snape wanted to exploit this, he would have done it sooner. No, it was more likely that Snape told Draco off as a father would scold a misbehaving child and had his pride hurt.
"I can't be quite sure," Hermione began. "After the night of the ball, he began avoiding me. He goes through all the proper gestures, but his mind always seems far away."
"Draco mentioned that you planned to oppose the Dark Lord, is this true?"
Hermione looked at Snape surprised. She had not expected Draco to mention that fact. She wasn't sure how wise it was for others to know of her plans. She looked at him, hesitating. As though he could feel her hesitation, he stopped to look at her directly. She took a deep breath. "Yes," she whispered.
"Good," Snape replied and continued his leisurely pacing. "I would expect nothing less of you."
"You're not surprised?" Hermione asked, rather surprised at his response herself.
"Angelus," he replied using her title for what felt, the first time. "I have seen you grow for the past seven years. While Draco may be willing to believe that you'll bow down before the Dark Lord, I know you have too much justice and will in you to do so. My only concern is how you will go about doing it."
Hermione looked at him dumbfounded. Perhaps she had underestimated her Professor.
"I haven't thought much about it yet," Hermione replied honestly.
"There is time," Snape calmly replied. "As for Draco, give him some time. While it is easy for you to adjust to our world, since you've once had to adjust to ours as you transitioned into Hogwarts, Draco has lived within the same lifestyle he was born into and it is all he knows. Your arrival, and especially your intentions to oppose the Dark Lord, have turned his world rather up-side down. It'll take some time for the information and it's implications to sink in."
At this moment the Professor paused and looked at Hermione very closely.
"He will not fail you though. If anything, Draco is fiercely loyal. He will pull through."
Hermione nodded. She had felt Draco's fierce loyalty before on the night of the ball. While on occasion she had reason to doubt him as a person, she had never doubted him as her Guardian and his duty to her. "Thank you Professor."
"If you ever require assistance, you are always welcome to send an owl to me. I heard the Malfoy's gave you one as a gift this Christmas?"the Professor asked as he turned away to sort the vials and essays on his desk.
"Yes, it's a charming little owl and behaves very well," Hermione replied as she felt this was her signal to leave. She put her book back over her shoulder and stood up.
Snape nodded. "Of course, the Malfoy's expect nothing but the best." He motioned his hand towards the door and removed the privacy charms Hermione had been previously unaware of. "You're welcome to leave."
Hermione nodded again. She paused before taking her exit. "Thank you again Professor."
Severus Snape did nothing but nod and motion for her to remove herself from the room. Hermione hid a small smile as she headed out the door, happy to know there was one person in the castle, besides Draco, whom she could place her trust in.
Hermione quickly made her way to her quarters. Dinner was starting and she wanted to eat quickly to finish some readings and assignments before making rounds later that night. The halls were mostly empty as many of the students had already made their way to the Great Hall. It was a small relief. She hadn't gotten used to all the looks sent her way after being away from them for so long. She also thought they had gotten worse after she had spent the holidays with the Malfoy's. No doubt the rumors were flying within the school about how they must have spent the holidays.
She had entered her room with a quiet calm within her. She felt accomplished. She had one ally on her side who had a standing within pureblood society, despite his half-blood status. Even if it was not a strong ally outside of the school, it was an ally nonetheless.
This feeling of calm soon left as soon as she had an irate Draco Malfoy in front of her.
Upon Hermione entering the doorway, Draco Malfoy leaped up from the loveseat and made his way towards her in great, powerful strides. She did everything to prevent herself from whipping out her wand at him in defense.
"What did you talk about?" he asked viciously as he continued to take large, angry steps towards her.
"What does it matter to you?" she replied as she tried to back out of the room. Her hand reached behind her to find the door handle. Even as her mind told her that Draco was a friend who would do her no harm, his actions and his body language told her otherwise and created a sense of panic within her.
"Of course it matter to me!" he hissed in reply as he finally reached her and grabbed a hold of her wrist. She let out a small yelp as he dragged her non-too-gently to the loveseat and threw her down. All hopes of leaving the room were lost.
"Tell me," he demanded as he stared her down.
She sat, upon the loveseat, hand in her lap with her legs tucked politely in front of her. It was a rather defensive pose as Draco stood towering over her.
She stuck out her chin as she gathered her courage and replied stubbornly, "He wanted to talk about your behavior as of late. He's worried you'll endanger both of us."
"Well you can tell him to take his worry and get the hell out of my business," Draco hissed quickly in reply as he began to prowl around the common room as though he were a cat looking for a fight.
"Your business?" Hermione exclaimed loudly as she stood up from her seat. "This is our business," she explained, rather hurt that his use of the word "our" could be forgotten so quickly. "and I have every right to talk to the Professor if need be!"
Draco Malfoy walked straight up to her and grabbed onto the first thing he could: her tie.
"My life is none of your business," he hissed as he used her tie to pull her face closer to his.
She looked at him furious. "Your life is my business," she hissed back. "You're my Guardian, and I am your Ward. When your behavior decides to jeopardize my position, then I am fully entitled to interfere with yours."
He let go of her tie as if he were holding onto fire and turned around to walk away from her. He knew she was right and he had nothing to say in his defense, so he did what he could do, which was to walk away.
"Don't you walk away Draco Malfoy," Hermione screamed as she chased after him.
He whipped around to glare at her. "I have every right to walk out on you. Just because my life is your business does not mean you can tell me what to say or do."
They stared at each other for quite a while before Draco opened the door and slammed it shut behind him leaving Hermione to examine the patterning of his door another time more.
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