Chapter 16: Hermione

Chapter 16:

Hermione:

It had been her intention to confront Severus with the way he was treating both her and Draco as soon as he returned. It had been her intention to let him know that it wasn’t going to be tolerated, that she wasn’t going to allow him to force Draco to stay here with them, and that she wanted to know whatever it was he would have told Draco about her had she not been in the room. Severus’s voiced echoed in her mind:

What had he been about to say? What is he not telling me?

Those had been her intentions. And when Severus Apparated into the bedroom, she had rushed up to him, letting her anger and irritation flush her cheeks. But instead of chewing him out like she (and Draco) had planned, unplanned words streamed from her lips.

“Where on earth have you been, Severus? How dare you just leave me like that, with no explanation, just leaving me to worry!”

Where did that come from?

He stood there staring at her with an unreadable mix of emotions decorating his face. Then the faintest rays of relief sank into his cheeks, and he actually smiled at her.

“You think a smile is going to calm me down? I want answers, Severus!”

His smile broadened even more as his lips parted in reply.

“I’ve just come from visiting with your father.”

The anger froze. What? My father? What was he doing there?

“Draco was kind enough to point out your heritage last night, and that made me realize how vulnerable your parents would be, should the Dark Lord learn of their whereabouts… And with me gone from Hogwarts, that would only take a matter of time.”

I can’t believe I didn’t think of this… Of course Voldemort would try to use my parents as bait! Why didn’t I realize this before?

And then, fear.

“Are they safe? Tell me they’re safe, Severus!”

He nodded happily.

“They are quite safe. I’ve warded their house. As long as they stay within its walls, they will be safe. Your father persuaded me to check on them once a day, which I will do. I’ve also taken the liberty of warning them not to allow a certain blonde-haired wizard to come in, no matter how genial or polite he may appear.”

Draco suddenly cleared his throat, which reminded her of their agreement. But her anger was melting away with each word that Severus spoke.

Misunderstanding her silence, Severus continued, “I hope this has made amends between us for how I treated you last night, Hermione. I was not right to speak to you in such a manner… and I promise not to make the same mistake in the future.”

That was all she needed to hear. Relief flooded through her. He was the man she thought he was. He cared about her enough to spend, by the exhaustion grounded in his face, all night trying to protect her parents. He was man enough to apologize when he made a mistake. She ran over to him, wrapping her arms around him.

“Thank you.”

A somewhat-muted gagging noise came from Draco, and the certainty she’d just felt cracked. Still wrapped in Severus’s arms, she raised her chin towards Severus, determined to keep her promise to Draco.

“And what about Draco? Are you going to apologize to him and let him go?”

His body stiffened, revealing the answer before he opened his lips.

“No. He won’t be safe outside these walls.”

Draco’s voice piped up behind her.

“I’m allowed to make that decision for myself. I’m not the child you think I am.”

Pulling herself away from Severus, she searched his face for the justification behind keeping Draco prisoner.

“You will not be safe outside of these walls. I could not bear for you to not be safe.”

As much as she wanted to prolong the feeling she’d just had moments ago when everything had seemed alright between her and Severus, she had to speak up in Draco’s defense.

“He’s right. You’ve no right to make that decision for him.”

In that instant, Severus transformed from being the Severus she knew and cared for into the fearsome Professor Snape.

“I am his Professor, and I do what’s best for my student!”

A sneer sullied Draco’s thin lips as he spat, “And was it best for me last year when I was down on my knees in front of you?” Shock roiled through her stomach as the meaning of his words hit her. “Was ‘It is over’ best for me? Was choosing a Mudblood over me best for me? You’ve only ever done what’s best for you, and you know it!”

Severus’s lips puckered with anger, but said nothing. Then, with a sigh, he said, “I’ve had a long day. I’m going to get some sleep. We can talk about this again later.”

With that, he went downstairs, leaving her alone, again, with her conflicting emotions and the person who was indirectly the cause of all of them: Draco Malfoy.