Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Harry and Ron were in a great mood as they sat down to eat. They were laughing and talking excitedly about what they would do now. Harry had entered the official Auror training program. As far as Ron was concerned, that sort of thing didn't matter much to him. He had decided that his calling was to work with George, not to be an Auror.

Hermione just pushed her food around the plate. Now that she had her NEWTs, it meant that she could do anything she wanted, but she now realized that she no longer had any idea what that was. A few weeks ago, she would have told you that she wanted to work for the Ministry, to further her SPEW agenda. But working on Severus' potion had been far more rewarding than she could ever have imagined.

"What's wrong, Hermione?" asked Ron.

"What?" she asked, startled back to the here and now.

"I thought you'd be happy, but you aren't really here with us, are you?"

"I'm sorry. I'm just trying to think about the future, about what I want to do."

"I thought you were going to go to work for the Ministry. You've been talking about the house-elves ever since the war ended, not to mention the Centaurs and the Goblins," said Harry.

"I do. I've just been rethinking how I want to go about it. Perhaps the Ministry isn't the best place to start. I just don't know." She didn't want to tell them the real reason. It almost felt as though she had a real mentor with Snape's notes. There were times when it seemed as though he were actually, physically talking to her. Though in a way, he was. He had written the notes with her in mind. "I was thinking that the cause should be more visible for a while, get more attention from folks, and then once I have people thinking seriously about it, I can go to work for the Ministry to accomplish what I think is right." She knew how un-Hermione she sounded, but she really didn't care.

Ron eyed her suspiciously. "Does this have anything to do with whatever it is you are doing at Snape's house?"

How to answer that question? It had everything to do with her work at Snape's house. He had been correct – she was a natural with Potions. She had only been afraid of failure and had never strayed from the exact formulae in the books; her aim had been exactness, not creativity. Now, with his encouragement, she was using her keen analytical mind (and amazingly, the occasional inspiration) to deconstruct and neutralize the toxins in Nagini's venom. "No. It's just that I've had a lot of time to think about what I want to do while we've been waiting. Everything is starting to calm down from the fuss at the end of the war, and I've just had some time to reflect on how everything has changed."

"Oh, right. Good point," said Ron, once again oblivious to the obvious.

"So when are you going to tell us what you're working on?" asked Harry.

"When I've finished the project. And before you ask, it has nothing to do with the Dark Arts. It's a Potions project. A very important one that could be of great benefit to the wizarding world, but unless I succeed, I don't want anyone to know about it. And I know if I tell the two of you about it, it will be hard for you to keep the secret. Can you respect this decision?" She knew that if she told them what she was working on, they would not leave her alone until they knew why. And once they knew why, she wasn't sure they would let her continue her work.

Harry and Ron shared a quick glance. Ron replied, "Yeah, we can do that. But, do you think you could spend a little more time at home? I know you get absorbed in your work, but I haven't been seeing much of you lately. Or maybe I can join you there?" he asked hopefully.

"I'll do what I can to spend more time at home. I'm just nearing completion, at least I hope so, and if I wake up with an idea, I like being able to test it out right away." She reached across the table and took his hand in hers. "Just be patient for a little while longer. Now, I think I should get some rest. I'm pretty tired." Before they could respond, she pushed away from the table and left. For a moment she considered returning to Spinner's End, but decided that after the conversation they'd just had, she should return to their flat.

When she arrived, she fell into the bed, fully clothed, and was almost immediately asleep.

**************

Hermione was in the lab, but her mind was only half on her work. She had received an owl that Malfoy would be stopping by at three to check on her progress. Knowing that she would soon be interrupted, she just couldn't concentrate. That and she was still feeling uncomfortable after their last meeting.

As the clock struck three, there was a knock at the door. She took her time making her way upstairs to answer the door. When she opened it, Malfoy was waiting patiently.

"Good afternoon," he said smoothly.

"Come in," she said. Once they were seated, she automatically asked, "Tea?"

"If it isn't too much trouble."

She resisted the urge to sigh and conjured up a tea set. Hot water poured forth from the tip of her wand and into the pot. "It will take a few minutes."

"Quite alright. I prefer freshly brewed to conjured tea. I do appreciate the effort." He leaned back on the sofa, completely at ease. "Since I have not heard from you, I assume that everything Donovan procured for you was in satisfactory condition?"

"Yes. My research has been progressing quite nicely. I could have answered that in an owl." There had to be more to his visit than just asking her about her research. "How is Severus?"

"The same. His condition does not change. At least not in this short amount of time."

Deciding the tea was ready, she poured for them both. Interestingly, they both took their tea black.

After he took a sip of the beverage, he remarked. "Excellent tea. Darjeeling I believe?" She raised an eyebrow at him, and he took another sip of tea before continuing. "I'm sure that you are wondering why I am here."

"That question had crossed my mind. I'm also wondering what interest you have in this. It doesn't seem like you to help out of the goodness of your heart."

He dramatically placed his hand over his heart. "You wound me. How much do we really know about each other? Very little. Though I daresay I know more about you through Draco than you know of me."

She almost snorted tea out her nose. "Draco? You expect me to believe that he told you anything that was true about me?"

A dark look crossed his face. "Do not ever accuse my son of being a liar." After a few seconds, he relaxed. "And yes, he told me what a skilled witch you are. Severus clearly knew what he was doing when he chose you to cure him."

"And why are you helping him? What do you get out of it?"

"Is it so hard for you to believe that he is my friend and that is reason enough for me to aid him?"

She looked into his eyes, trying to gauge the truth of his words, but she quickly gave up, realizing that he had been practicing deception for decades. "It doesn't seem like you to do something unless there is gain in it for you. Is it money? Severus has quite a lot of it, and I know that Ministry has leveled many fines against you."

He gave a low chuckle. "Those fines are inconsequential. I assure you, any money that he has saved is a pittance compared to what I have at my disposal. Severus has done many favors for me over the years, not the least of which was saving Draco's life. Saving his is the least I can do for him. Does that satisfy your curiosity?"

"I suppose. But why are you here today?" She was still highly suspicious of his motives.

"I know that you are a very dedicated person, and I imagine that you have been working nearly non-stop on the potion since you took up the task. I thought perhaps you might like to take a break, refresh your mind, join my family for dinner."

She choked on her tea. "You want me? To join you for dinner?"

"I have treated you with nothing but respect since you started this endeavor, have I not? It should not be so difficult for you to believe that we would enjoy your company. I know that in the past my attitude, and that of my family, towards Muggle-borns has been... well, something to be ashamed of, but that was what the times required. I have always respected the talents of witches and wizards over the mere detail of their heritage... thus my close friendship with Severus."

She could see no obvious reason to refuse him. And while she remembered all the horrible things he had done to her friends and her, he was still a powerful wizard, and it would not be prudent to turn him against her. "Tonight?"

A broad smile crossed his face. "Excellent. We will see you at seven." Rising to his feet, he crossed the room and softly kissed the back of her hand. Before releasing it, he said, "I'm look forward to it."

When he let go of her hand, an uncontrollable shiver crept up her spine. She was more sure than ever that he wanted something from her, something above and beyond her services on behalf of Severus, but she still could not imagine what that might possibly be.

*************

Hermione stormed into the house, slamming the door behind her. She had known that Malfoy was up to something, but she had never expected it would be that. Just thinking back on what happened sickened her.

Dinner had started innocently enough. The Malfoys had been uncharacteristically polite, and even she had trouble doubting their sincerity. It had started off very surreal since the last time she had been at the manor, they had been going to kill her. The only mention of that incident had been a statement by Lucius Malfoy that he hoped her visit would be much more pleasant this time around.

They had taken dinner in the garden, which she had to admit was quite lovely. She didn't think she had ever seen such a collection of magical flora in one place. It really had made a lovely setting for dinner and took her mind off her previous experience at the manor.

They sat at a small table – she was across from Narcissa with Lucius on her left and Draco on her right. She had to admit that Draco looked much healthier than when she had last seen him.

Conversation during dinner had been quite pleasant. They had discussed the changes in the Ministry, and both Narcissa and Malfoy had asked sincere questions about her transition from Muggle to magical world and whether she thought the Ministry was doing enough. They seemed genuinely interested in what she had to say.

Draco had been surprisingly quiet through most of dinner. She would catch him watching her from time to time, but he would always look back to his food when she caught him. Before desert was served, Lucius and Narcissa had excused themselves.

That was when the trouble had started.

Draco moved his chair closer to hers and reached his hand across the table to place it over hers.

A pained look crossed his face. "No, not at all. I am attracted to you. Is it love? I don't know, but I long to find out. Please, just give us a chance. Get to know the real me," he pleaded

"Think about it. I'll wait for you," he called out to her as she left.

It had all been a set up. Lucius Malfoy was every bit the manipulator she had suspected. The Malfoys were only interested in her because of the prestige they could gain from associating with her. Just thinking about Draco's kiss made her skin crawl.

Retreating to the cellar, she decided to bury herself in her work. Unfortunately anger and inebriation did not make good companions to potions brewing, and it didn't take long before she broke her last bottle of dragon's bile. And since it was a highly reactive substance, she could not recover any of the spilled liquid.

Slamming the notebook closed, she stormed upstairs and decided to take a cleansing shower and see if she could get some rest. In the morning she would purchase more bile and continue her work. She was incredibly close and hadn't needed this sort of setback.