Draco spun around to come face to face with Snape. Draco immediately knew that Snape was angry – angrier than usual – and that he was in trouble.
"My office. Now," growled Snape. His tone left no room for argument.
Draco gulped and followed. This wasn't good. Not good at all. They did not speak on their way to his office. Snape's stride alone showed how mad he was, and Draco kept his head down.
Once in his office, Snape sat down at his desk and studied Draco for a while.
Draco did not know whether to sit down or not. In the end, he decided to sit down because he didn't trust his knees at the moment. He was a grown man, damn it, he wasn't supposed to be so intimidated by his teacher.
After a long, dreadful silence, Snape began to speak. His voice was eerily even and quiet, which only scared Draco more. How could someone even speak so quietly without whispering? "What are you doing out of your dormitory this late at night?"
Draco was at a loss – improvisation had never been his strong suit. He did not really have any friends outside of Slytherin so there was really no good reason for him to be sneaking around late at night.
"Ehm- I met the girl I told you about," he stammered, the only reasonable excuse his mind could concoct at such short notice.
Snape did not say anything. He just kept looking at him. Staring. He obviously did not believe him. Admittedly, his damp hair and dirty shoes might have given his head of house a hint as to where he had really been. "Are you sure that is what you have been doing?" he finally asked.
"Yes, sir," Draco felt dreadful for lying to him and he knew that Snape did not believe him anyhow. But what was he supposed to say? That he had met up with Neville Longbottom and Sirius Black for a midnight chat? He would get kicked out of school before finishing the sentence, assuming Snape would believe the truth any more than his mediocre excuse. The way his godfather looked at him and the silence made him want to confess everything. But he couldn't.
"Tell me Draco, where were you this morning?"
That took Draco off guard. "This- this morning, sir?"
"Don't act stupid," he hissed, for the first time letting his anger show. "This morning. This morning, when someone broke into the Gryffindor dormitories," Snape specified. Draco gulped, this was the end. "And not just any dormitory, but the one of Mr. Potter. Broke in and destroyed the room. This morning, when you were late for your class with Professor McGonagall. Where were you?"
"It wasn't me!" Draco yelled and jumped up. The insinuation irked him, even though it was true.
"Sit. Back. Down," Snape hissed.
"I'm sorry, sir," Draco muttered and did as he was told. "But it really wasn't me! I swear! How would I even get into Gryffindor?" Again, Snape remained quiet. "Please," Draco added, "It wasn't me. You have to believe me."
But by the disappointed look on his godfather's face he could tell that he did not believe him. Draco was not prepared for the next question the professor asked him. "Did you help Sirius Black into the castle?"
Draco opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
"Draco, answer the question," Snape's voice rose.
"No! Of course not!" Draco replied indignantly.
"So, your distraction in the Great Hall on the day he attacked the portrait guarding Gryffindor was just a coincidence? And your odd behavior recently? That you are missing while someone breaks into said room? And that you sneak around at night? In the Forbidden Forest, no less?"
"Yes! I wouldn't do anything like that." The insinuation again rubbing him the wrong way. He realized that it wasn't the thing itself that bothered him, but the fact that it meant the people around him believed him to be capable of assisting a murderer kill one of his classmates. Granted, had he been in Snape's position, he would have drawn the same conclusion. The Weasley twins had played their red-hair prank right when Sirius broke into Hogwarts. It was an unlikely coincidence and Draco could see why Snape would think it an attempted distraction, especially when it was also obvious that he was sneaking outside of the castle and had been missing when someone had broken into Gryffindor. Still, it hurt that his own godfather thought so little of him. "I don't like Potter, I grant you that, but I don't want to kill him either," Draco continued heatedly. "Maybe I don't care if he gets expelled or humiliated in front of the whole school," although that had not been true for some time now, "but murder is something else entirely."
"Draco," Snape sighed, and Draco could see that he still had not convinced him, "you might think that this is a good idea, maybe even the right thing to do. Something that would make your parents proud. But it is not. What you are doing is dangerous. Not just for Potter, but for you as well. Black is a deranged serial killer who has spent over a decade in Azkaban. He is unpredictable. He could kill you. And aiding him might end with Azkaban for you, too."
Draco took a deep, calming breath, looking Snape straight in the eyes. "I am not helping Black. I swear."
"Your final word?"
"Yes."
Snape considered him again. It was quite clear he did not believe Draco. And Draco had to admit, the evidence against him was strong, perhaps stronger than any words he could utter would ever be.
The way Snape looked at him made him nervous and he averted his gaze. Draco knew that Snape was a good Legilimens. He could sense that Snape was thinking about just reading his mind. It was clear through the way he looked that he was just one step away from diving into his mind. Easier than reaching a confession through mere talking. Better for the school, the greater good. Perhaps even the right thing to do for a teacher suspecting a student of assisting an alleged mass murderer. Draco wasn't a bad Occlumens but using his abilities would make Snape even more suspicious than he already was and he probably wouldn't be good enough to keep him out anyway. Not stopping him, however, would also be bad. Then he would know everything. About Neville and Black and Astoria and the time travel. Draco was stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Snape looked at Draco. Stared him down, even. And then, miraculously, he looked away. "I would advise you to be careful, Draco. Don't do anything stupid. If you need to talk, you can come to me. I will be watching you. If anything else happens, I will inform the headmaster and your parents. You may leave now."
Draco couldn't believe it. Snape let him leave! And he hadn't read his mind.
"Thank you, sir," he whispered and made his way towards the door.
"And Draco?"
"Yes?"
"You will be serving detention with Filch. Every night from now till Christmas. Have I made myself clear?"
"Yes, sir," Draco left the office as fast as he could.
He had been let off lightly, which was really just because Snape liked him. Or had liked him. He wasn't sure about that anymore. If he believed that Draco was helping the man who killed the woman he loved, then Draco probably wasn't in his godfather's good books anymore.
The mistrust and disappointment from his godfather burned, and punished Draco more than any detention ever could.
So much for improving his relationship with his godfather, was the last thing he thought before he fell into a troubled sleep.
TBC
A.N.: Oh no. It doesn't look good for Draco. How will he be able to help Sirius if Snape is watching his every move and he has detention every night?
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