Chapter Five

Once she arrived at her room, Hermione was pleased to find that her school trunk had been packed and delivered to the room. She quickly donned a pair of blue jeans, a grey jumper, and an outer robe. Comfortable, she quietly slipped out of her room and walked down the hall to the Headmaster's office. She found him, as usual, sitting at his desk going over paperwork.

As she entered, he looked up and smiled.

"Ah, Miss Granger, how good of you to join me. I trust your evening was pleasant."

"Hardly," scowled Hermione as she took her seat in front of the Headmaster's desk. Though the evening had ended well, Hermione could not forget what a nightmare the ball had been in general.

"Well then," said the Headmaster, still smiling, "shall we take a look at your options?" At her nod, he continued. "Now, I'll read out the number of a suitor, and you tell me your thoughts concerning him." Hermione nodded her agreement.

"Very well, then," answered Professor Dumbledore. "What did you think of suitor number one?"

"He was pretty rough with me," responded Hermione. "It was like he didn't know how to be gentle."

After hearing her pronouncement, Professor Dumbledore conjured a small chalk board to sit next to his desk. With a wave of his wand the words suitor one appeared, followed by suitors two through nine.

"So you will not be choosing suitor number one?" clarified the Headmaster.

"No, I will not."

Promptly, Professor Dumbledore crossed suitor number one off the list.

"What did you think of suitor number two? I noticed he received two dances."

Hermione laughed at the Headmaster's hopeful expression. "That's only because I thought it was adorable how he felt the need to dance perfectly. But he was definitely disappointed when I told him my grades had been slipping. I couldn't be with someone who doesn't support me even when I'm down."

"Very well, then," responded the Headmaster, crossing number two off the list. "What about suitor number three? He also got two dances."

Hermione thought about him for a moment. Suitor number three had been nice enough. "He was wonderful. He was energetic and made me laugh, but part of me says that he was too energetic."

Without a word, that suitor was also crossed off the list.

"What exactly are your feelings toward suitor number four?" questioned the Headmaster.

"Professor, did you see me slap him?" The Headmaster nodded, barely containing a smile of mirth at the thought of the suitor on the ground after the encounter.

"Then I believe you have your answer," responded Hermione cheekily. Number four was quickly crossed off the list.

"What did you think about suitor number five?"

Hermione scowled. "He only said hurtful things and made me feel bad. I can't be with someone who makes me feel worse about myself." Within a moment, he too was crossed off the list.

"What was your opinion of suitor number six?"

After thinking for a moment, Hermione responded. "Number six was ... lovely. I truly enjoyed talking to him, and while I don't know if we'd ever develop romantic feelings for each other, I definitely felt a friendship with him."

"So what you're saying," pressed the Headmaster, "is that number six is a possibility?" Hermione nodded, and Professor Dumbledore circled suitor number six.

"What were your feelings toward suitor number seven?"

"He was George Weasley, Professor. And as much as I love him, he's too much like a brother to ever be anything more."

"Very well," responded the Headmaster, crossing off suitor number seven. "What about suitor number eight?"

"He was too pushy," answered Hermione, not revealing that the main reason she didn't like him was because she still wasn't ready to talk about everything that had happened since Christmas.

After crossing number eight off, Professor Dumbledore looked back at her. "And last but not least, what did you think of suitor number nine?"

"Out of all the suitors, he was the only one to consider my feelings. He didn't push me or anything. He let me be silent, which is what I really wanted. He didn't give me useless words, but he gave me comfort. I don't know if our personalities match, but he made me feel safe. He was definitely a possibility." The Headmaster took a moment and circled number nine, just as he had done with number six.

"Well, Miss Granger, it seems you have two different options. Would you care to learn the identity of these men?"

Anxiously, Hermione nodded her head. She was about to discover whether or not the evening had been a complete disaster after all. With a flick of his wand, the Headmaster made it appear so that the name of each of the men appeared next to what number suitor he was. She scanned the list first, and then reread it thoroughly.

Her first discovery was that Charlie Weasley was number one. Makes sense, thought Hermione, he works with dragons. Probably doesn't really know how to be gentle. Looking on, she discovered the identity of number two was Percy Weasley. The prat, she thought. Number three was none other than Fred Weasley, and Hermione smiled as she remembered how much energy he had.

She had been dreading discovering who number four was, afraid of who she had slapped. She was not disappointed; Hermione let out a small squeak when she realized that suitor number four was none other than Harry's Godfather, Sirius Black. Number five, she was surprised to see, was Bill Weasley. Immediately, she felt a small bit of remorse for speaking so harshly to him. Bill had lost the love of his life, Fleur, and their unborn child in the war. He was grieving just like she, yet he was handling it much more maturely.

Hermione closed her eyes before glancing at the identity of number six, one of her two options. When she opened her eyes, her jaw dropped as she saw the name Draco Malfoy staring back at her. What the bloody hell? thought Hermione. She hadn't talked to Draco since before Christmas Eve. Come to think of it, he hadn't teased her, Ron or Harry since before Christmas Break. How she would ever face him again she did not know.

Skipping over number seven, whom she knew to be George, Hermione fixed her gaze on the identity of number eight...Remus Lupin. Poor Remus! She had acted a fright towards him. He truly wanted to help her, but her pride had gotten in the way, and she had thrown his help back in his face.

She closed her eyes once again before looking at the identity of suitor number nine, her only other option. If she didn't want to end up with Malfoy, the name of this suitor better be good. Taking a deep breath, Hermione fixed her eyes on the name. Truth be told, if her jaw had dropped when she discovered the identity of number six was Draco Malfoy, it positively fell off when she saw the name Severus Snape next to suitor number nine. Eyes wide and mouth gaping open, she fixed her gaze back on the Headmaster. He looked at her encouragingly for a few minutes until she was ready to speak.

What a nightmare! Out of nine men, the only two she felt any real companionship with were the two men that were directly involved with the night her parents were murdered! While she knew Draco had gotten her to safety, she recalled Luna telling her that it was Professor Snape that had delivered her to Grimmauld Place. In her own grief, she had not sought out the rest of the story as to what had happened that night, but with the options she was looking at right now, she had a feeling she was about to find out.

"But Pr ... Prof ... Professor Dumbledore," stammered Hermione, "I can't marry Malfoy! He's just ... he's so ... he's just not an option."

"Then how about Professor Snape?" questioned the Headmaster.

"He's my professor!" shrieked Hermione, refusing to tell Dumbledore the real reason she didn't want to marry him was because of the part he had played the past Christmas Eve.

At her outburst, the Headmaster gave Hermione a knowing look. "Miss Granger, I think it's obvious that the results of this evening have proven that you need some facts cleared up about your past. I must admit I never wanted to fill you in on the details because I believed it was Severus' and Mister Malfoy's place to do so. It seems, however, that if you are to marry either of them in the near future, they need to tell you the details and answer any of your questions. My advice would be to go and speak with both of them at the same time. The three of you have much to discuss."

"What do I say to them?" asked Hermione, scared and confused.

"My dear, say whatever you want. But in the end, make sure the crucial questions I have no doubt are buzzing in your mind, are answered."

Hermione nodded, noticing a subtle shift in the Headmaster's posture. Taking that as her queue to leave, Hermione stood and returned to the Room of Requirement, where a certain snarky Professor and a blond-haired ferret were sure to give her no end of grief.

As she stepped out of the Headmaster's office, Hermione felt her hands trembling. She knew she was expected to speak with Professor Snape and Malfoy, but her Gryffindor courage failed her. A part of her wanted to knock on the door to Room Seven and hang out with George for the rest of the night. She wanted to avoid the whole Marriage Law ordeal. The rational part of her brain, however, told her that this confrontation with Draco and her Potions master had been a long time coming.

She approached the door to Room Nine and lifted her hand to knock but stopped short. Taking a deep breath, she thought, I must be insane, before bringing her hand down to knock on the door. She closed her eyes, praying he wouldn't answer, but she had no such luck. Her eyes snapped back to the door as she heard it unlock and then open.

As Professor Snape spotted her standing in the doorway, his usual frown contorted into a mild look of surprise, a change so slight Hermione almost didn't catch it.

"Miss Granger?" he asked. "What are you..."

"Hello, Professor Snape," Hermione cut him off, worried that if she didn't get this over with, she might very well pass out. "Sir, if you would be so kind as to follow me." She made to walk away but stopped when she realized her professor had no intent to follow her anywhere. Summoning whatever ounce of courage she still possessed, Hermione sighed, grabbed his larger hand in hers, and pulled him out of his doorway and through the hallway to Room Six. Without hesitation, Hermione lifted her arm and knocked on the door three times.

Professor Snape, who had been shocked at her bold action, immediately disentangled his hand from hers.

"Miss Granger, I don't know what you think you're doing, but I assure you..."

He was cut off by Draco opening the door to his room.

"Uncle?" asked Draco, clearly confused at the sight of Severus and Hermione standing in his doorway.

Upon hearing this, Hermione's heart stopped. By saying this, Draco had taken Hermione back to the night of her parents' death, a night she distinctly recalled him calling out for his uncle in desperation. He had taken her to Professor Snape? What had happened after that?

"Hermione?" asked Draco, a small smile on his face. "What are you doing here?"

"Hello, Draco," she responded uncomfortably. "Do you mind if Professor Snape and I come in?"

"Of course not," answered Draco, pushing his door open even more. Tentatively, Hermione walked into his room. She noted as she entered that his room consisted of two armchairs and a bed, all of which were a dark shade of navy blue. She sat down in the chair on the right, motioning for Professor Snape to take the other, while Draco chose to lounge on the bed. Looking at the two men, Hermione saw that the professor had changed back into his foreboding black robes while Draco wore a grey jumper and jeans.

Hermione sighed as they looked at her expectantly. She dropped her head into her hands, resting her elbows on her knees. She couldn't believe the Headmaster had sent her to talk to both of these men about her parents' death, a subject she clearly wasn't ready to discuss. She felt the eyes of both the men watching her silently as she brooded over her options. Finally, she spoke.

"Do you ever feel like Professor Dumbledore is a puppet master? Just pulling the strings on everybody's lives?" She heard a snort come from the direction of Professor Snape and fixed her gaze on him.

"I feel that way every bloody day of my life," he responded.

"I feel that way right now, Professor," answered Hermione, offering a small smile.

"Call me Severus. If this is about what I think it is, then it's only right you call me by my name."

"What are you here for, Hermione?" questioned Draco. Severus rolled his eyes at Draco's interruption.

"It's a wonder you made it into Slytherin at all, Draco. You have no sense of subtlety."

"Little touchy tonight, aren't we, uncle?" bit back Draco, a smirk playing on his face. Hermione smiled at Draco's attempt to lighten the mood.

"Draco," said Severus, "how many times do I have to tell you not to call me uncle? I am not your uncle, and I never will be."

"I don't know." responded Draco. "I think you'll just have to accept that I'm going to call you that until it gets boring." Severus was glaring at Draco with a high amount of distaste while Draco met his glare with a sloppy grin. Annoyed, Severus turned his attention back to Hermione.

"I apologize, Hermione; please continue."

"Okay," said Hermione quietly. "Well, after the ball tonight, I went to speak with Professor Dumbledore to tell him my top choices." She paused as both men were now watching her intently.

"And surprisingly," she continued, "the only men I would even consider out of the group are the two of you." Hermione watched as Draco's mouth gaped open for a moment and then formed a pleased smile. Severus, after all his years of spying, however, managed to keep his features in an undistinguishable expression. When neither made any move to speak, she continued.

"The Headmaster told me I should speak to the two of you together. He said I would know what to ask."

"And do you?" asked Severus, his tone barely a whisper. He seemed reluctant to speak, as if speaking would break the peace the three had tentatively formed.

"I think so," she answered, once again placing her head in her hands. I can do this, she told herself. Looking back up at the two men, she spoke.

"I want you each to tell me, in your own words, what happened the night my parents were murdered."

Upon hearing this, Draco's grin turned into a stony expression full of resignation. Though Severus' face did not change, Hermione noticed he looked a bit paler than usual. There was silence in the room for a few minutes as Hermione waited for them to begin their tale. The problem was that neither of the men seemed sure what to say.

"I suppose I'll start," said Severus. "Mine and Draco's versions of the story fit together like a puzzle." He paused, and Hermione motioned for him to continue. "I was in my small home on Christmas Eve, alone, when my Dark Mark started to burn. I immediately Apparated to the Dark Lord and found about ten other masked figures had also been called. I know Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy were two of them, but the others' identities I do not know. We Apparated to a small area of woods I'm sure you're well acquainted with, about a mile outside your home.

"The Dark Lord stood before us and went over the details of his plan. He wanted all of us to Apparate into your home, quickly dispose of your parents and then capture you. He wanted us to bring you to him so that he could torture you for information and then give the rest of us a chance to rape you."

Hermione's eyes widened in shock; she had never thought she was the main target of the Death Eater attack, merely that Voldemort wanted to kill her parents to upset her and, by extension, Harry.

"After that, he wanted us to kill you," continued Severus. "Once I heard his plan, I waited for my turn to speak. When the Dark Lord motioned for me to talk, I told him that if I were to join the mission, I would be compromising my post at Hogwarts as Dumbledore's spy. After a moment of thought, the Dark Lord gave in and excused me from the mission.

"Hermione," he said, looking directly into her eyes, "I need you to understand that my intention upon leaving the woods was to get to the Order's Headquarters and warn Dumbledore he needed to save you and your parents. I couldn't do it myself, lest the Dark Lord discover my treachery." Hermione nodded; she knew he was telling the truth.

"However," said Severus, "the Dark Lord, always hesitant to trust anyone, wasn't willing to take any chances of his plan failing. Now that I knew his plan, he needed someone to watch me to be sure I wouldn't ruin it. He ordered Lucius and Narcissa to escort me home. After taking us there, Lucius apparated back to the Dark Lord. Narcissa remained to keep an eye on me until the mission was complete. I thought about simply Apparating away, but I could feel that Lucius had placed anti-Apparition wards on my home. So unfortunately, all I could do was wait in my home with Narcissa."

There was silence as Hermione digested this information. She could practically feel the sadness emanating off of this man in waves. Severus truly had wanted to save her parents and was deeply regretful that he had failed in his mission.

Hermione saw Draco looking at her and nodded for him to begin his part of the story.

"Well, I don't know if you're aware, but I came of age last September. Since then, Father has..."

"Stop," said Hermione, cutting Draco off. "For my sake, can you call him Lucius?" Her voice had a slight waver, and Draco simply nodded his agreement before continuing.

"After I came of age, Lucius insisted I accompany him to Death Eater meetings. I wasn't allowed to take the mark as I'm still in school and couldn't take the risk of Dumbledore finding out. Hermione, to comprehend this story, I need you to understand that when I first attended these meetings, I truly believed that what the Dark Lord did was right. I had all the same thoughts about Muggle-borns as he did, and I truly enjoyed watching him torture a defenceless Muggle." Hermione's eyes widened at Draco's proclamation. She'd always known he was cruel, but to enjoy watching torture was such a despicable thing to even admit to. Draco continued on with his story.

"Early last December, Lucius took me to another meeting. This time around, I was supposed to watch a middle-aged Muggle man be tortured. At that point, I'd watched so many other tortures that the man's screams didn't faze me. What did faze me was when the man started pleading for his life. He said he couldn't die; his eldest daughter was getting married and needed him to walk her down the aisle. Then he told us his wife had just found out she was pregnant and he couldn't leave her. The man begged for mercy, and then Lucius killed him.

"It was the first time I realized that these victims weren't just drones we were poking fun at. These were actually people with real lives outside of the torture chambers. That man had friends and family who lost a brother, a husband and a father when he was killed."

Hermione looked at Draco only to see his eyes filled with unshed tears. Touching her hands to her cheeks, she noticed she was crying as well.

"After that meeting, Severus came and spoke to me in private. He had noticed during the meeting just how uncomfortable I was and pulled me aside to remind me that all the victims I had watched be tortured, raped and killed had families who would never see their loved one again.

"A week later I was walking through the corridors here at school, and I noticed you, Ginny Weasley and that Lovegood girl all walking to dinner. You all seemed so happy, and I wondered how anyone could be happy with the state of the world being what it was. Severus saw me watching you and came up and reminded me that you three all had amazing worth and that, because of your connection to Potter, you were also big targets to the Dark Lord.

"Gods, Hermione, it made me sick to think of any of you being tortured the same as that Muggle man."

Hermione was openly crying now. Needing comfort, but also wanting to give comfort, she got up and sat next to Draco on the bed. She took his hands in her own and squeezed reassuringly. Draco, surprised, but also comforted, squeezed back; he continued speaking.

"By the time Christmas Break came around, I was seriously having doubts about the Death Eaters. I wasn't called for any meetings, but Lucius was; he had a meeting every night. On Christmas Eve Lucius was called to the Dark Lord for an all day meeting. My mother was expecting to be called later that evening but was told I should stay home.

"That day my mother sat me down and asked me if I was having any doubts. I know I probably shouldn't have, but I broke down and told my mum everything I was scared and worried about. People are actually being killed out there, and no one seemed to care. Seeing me so upset, my mum told me she'd been regretting her choice to join the Death Eaters for a while too.

"So my mum, being brilliant as she is, concocted a plan. She said that when she was called to the Dark Lord that night she would Disillusion me and take me with her. If I chose that I really wanted nothing to do with the Death Eaters, I could follow her and save whoever they were attacking. She warned me that it wouldn't be easy turning my back against the Dark Lord but that she believed Dumbledore would help us. Hermione, I have to admit that I was still reluctant to turn to the side of the light. Mostly because the trait I lack most is courage; that's a Gryffindor thing.

"My mum gave me a Portkey that would take me to Severus in an emergency. She said if I managed to save anyone, I should go to him and that he would help me. The two of us waited in apprehension for hours that day. Finally, around dusk, she was called. She Disillusioned me and took me with her.

"In the shadows of the meeting, I watched and listened to the Dark Lord's plan. Hermione, please know that as soon as your name was mentioned, I had made up my mind; I had to save you. I know I've never been nice to you, and to be honest, I've never wanted to be nice. But I have to admit that I've always felt some weird kinship with you. You're the only person who's ever challenged me. We all know you're top of the class, but did you know I'm second? Hermione, I couldn't let you die; I had to save you."

Looking at the sincerity in Draco's eyes, Hermione started crying even harder. She felt her shoulder being nudged and saw Severus offering her a handkerchief. She took it gratefully and turned back to Draco.

"When I heard the Dark Lord say that Mother had to escort Severus to his home, I panicked. I had no idea what to do, but I knew I had to try. I suppose you know what happened next, Hermione. I Apparated into your home, dragged you into a closet and Portkeyed us to Severus."

Draco's tale had warmed Hermione's heart more than words could say. To think that she had played a role in Draco's decision to join the light was incredible. Sighing, she turned toward Severus, wanting the tale to be finished.

"What happened next, Severus?"

"When Narcissa escorted me back to my home, she called me out on everything. She said she knew I was a spy for the Order but that she wouldn't turn me in. She then told me that after the Dark Lord was defeated by Potter the first time, she knew she could never really be a faithful servant if he ever came back. She then told me of the conversation she'd had with Draco earlier in the day. We knew that his actions that night would tell us of his true allegiances. If he brought you back safely, I would take them both to Dumbledore as reformed Death Eaters. If not, I would only take Narcissa.

"It was a great surprise later when I heard Draco scream 'uncle.' I ran to help the two of you, but you were unharmed, but unconscious. We weren't quite out of the woods yet, however, as none of us could leave my house without being detected. We had to hide you and Draco, since neither of you was supposed to be there. We put you in my bed, Hermione, and pulled the covers up over your head; Draco hid in my potions closet. When Lucius came to pick up Narcissa, he inspected the house to make sure no one else was there. He didn't find either of you. He then released the wards on my house and took Narcissa with him back to the Manor.

"As soon as they were gone, I picked you up and Apparated you to Grimmauld Place. The Weasley and Lovegood girls were walking up the stairs, on their way to bed, I presume, when I got there. As I have no desire to stay in that house longer than absolutely necessary, I deposited you in their care and asked Ginevra to tell her mother to call an emergency Order meeting."

"What happened in the meeting?" asked Hermione, who was now shaking violently as her sobs took over.

"I basically told them what Draco and I have just told you," responded Severus. "Then Dumbledore made Draco and Narcissa spies for the Order."

Hermione closed her eyes as the last of the story digested in her mind. She'd needed to hear all that, but that fact didn't make hearing it any easier. As she cried, she felt Draco's arms come around her shoulders. She leaned her head on his arm and cried for a while longer. Finally, as her cries began to dissipate, Hermione fell into a deep sleep, leaning heavily on Draco.

"Alright, I think she's asleep," whispered Draco as he stepped away from the bed.

"Good," responded Severus. "She must to be exhausted."

"So who do you think she's going to pick?" asked Draco.

Severus snorted loudly. "I hardly think she's going to marry the man who failed to save her parents."

"She knows you tried," answered Draco. "So what do you think it would be like to be married to her?"

Severus sneered. "I suppose the two of you will fall madly in love and live happily ever after like all fairy tales."

"No, I don't think we'd ever fall in love, at least not romantically. I could see us as friends but never lovers."

Severus raised an eyebrow at Draco's confession. The thought of the young man being married and not taking the opportunity to shag his wife whenever he felt the need was preposterous. There was a long pause in which neither man spoke. After a while, Severus broke the silence.

"You know ... we should probably ... braid her hair."

Draco's eyes couldn't have widened any further after hearing the Potions master's statement.

"Are you serious?"

"With hair like that, I'd assume she does it every night," was Severus' response. "If she woke up to find we'd braided her hair, she might feel more at ease around us."

"Just one problem," said Draco. "I have no idea how to braid hair."

Severus looked undecided for a moment. Though he wanted to do something nice for the girl, he'd rather it wasn't him actually doing the nice thing. What the hell, he finally decided.

"If you hold her up, I'll do the braiding," he suggested.

Draco immediately agreed to this idea and lifted her up so that Severus was facing her back. Immediately, Severus began weaving his hands through her hair, which was silkier than he'd thought it would be. He found himself unconsciously leaning forward to smell the flowery scent left by her shampoo.

"So how did you learn to braid, uncle?" Draco had an incredulous look on his face; he never would have guessed Severus possessed such a talent. He looked in awe as he saw a faint blush forming on the older man's cheeks. Reluctantly, Severus answered the question.

"Your aunt had me braid her hair when we attended school."

"Ahh, the mysterious romance between the Potions master and aunt Bella." Draco's eyes were glimmering with glee at the opportunity to tease Severus.

"So you seriously braided my aunt's hair every night? Uncle, you must have been such a tosser."

"Tosser, I was not," snapped Severus. "But coward, I was." Severus finished the braid that now went down Hermione's back and tied it off with a Slytherin green ribbon.

"I suppose we should both stay here until she wakes up," commented Draco.

"It would seem so," answered Severus, settling back in his chair.

As the two men prepared to relax, however, they had no way of knowing that a very distraught Narcissa Malfoy was making her way up from the Hogwarts gates, intent on speaking with the Headmaster.