Draco’s Remorse

Hermione wasn't surprised when after dinner Draco told her that he had been offered earlier finals. She was happy for him, but knew it meant that he wouldn't have that much time to spend with her. It wasn't like they spent much time alone together anyway. Someone always was in his office and if they were finally alone Draco was always on the verge of falling asleep.

She had started to wonder if they were drifting apart, so when she was called to his office Wednesday after dinner, she wondered what was up. And when she knocked on the door she felt uncertain of what she would find on the other side.

She heard Draco's voice call out, "Enter." and she slowly opened the door. Draco sat curled up in a big soft chair by the fire reading a big heavy book called 'Charms and the Good they do'. He raised his eyes from the book only a second and smiled, saying he would be done in just one more minute.

She used the time to look around the room. Stacks of test papers, books and other documents were stacked on the desk. Some dishes stood on a small set of drawers and it pretty much look like any other bachelor's home.

"There. Done…" Draco slammed the book together and floated it onto one of the bookshelves. Hermione turned and smiled at him, as he stood up she saw him for what he had become… "Good evening, Professor Malfoy." He smiled and sat down on the arm of the couch in front of her. "How have you been?"

Hermione thought she knew where this were heading and felt a sharp pain in her heart, but didn't let him see. "I've been fine, Professor… Been studying hard for the N.E.W.T's" She smiled even though her heart screamed out in pain, looking on the young man sitting in front of her with arms crossed over his chest.

"Flitwick tell me you're still having trouble with the Abera Crepusculio charm?" Draco studied her face and thought he saw a glimpse of pain in her eyes. He stood up and placed his hands on her shoulder and asked why she hadn't come to him. Maybe if he helped her she would find it easier. He tilted his head and looked worried at her.

"I didn't want to bother you with my problems… I know you're busy teaching charms and preparing for your finals." Hermione needed to get out of there before her mask dropped. When Draco raised a hand and gently caressed her cheek she thought it a lost cause. But she didn't move a muscle.

"So… Where do we stand…on us as a couple?" Draco whispered starring at her lips, refusing to meet her eyes. Hermione let out a little whimper of pain "I don't know… You tell me?" Draco felt a jolt of pain in his heart. "You still care for me?" He whispered so low that Hermione barely could hear it. She couldn't say a word, in fear of falling to pieces right in front of him, so she just nodded.

As he closed his eyes and drew a deep breath she felt a tear leave her eyes. He abruptly stood up and pulled her close. She could feel that he was shaking. "Why haven't you visited me then, silly girl… I thought you didn't want…" Draco had come to the conclusion that her not visiting was her way of letting him go.

Hermione let out a sob and whispered that she didn't want to be in the way because she thought he had discovered he didn't love her anymore. And when he lifted his head and kissed her with such passion, she knew that they definitely needed to talk more about their feelings before their uncertainties destroyed the chance of them staying together.

Draco hated feeling so weak, he was relieved that she still wanted them to try making their relationship work. As Hermione parted his lips with her tongue he sat back on the couch arm and leaned back, dragging her with him. She laughed and hid her head in the crock of his neck calling him silly. He turned them round so he was on top and the look in his eyes sent quivers down her spine.

Draco let his tongue draw a line on her lower lip and smirked as she closed her eyes clearly getting turned on. He moved his lips down just few inches from hers, but didn't kiss her, just stopped there, lips slightly parted and eyes hazy and half closed with desire. He didn't want to start something she wouldn't finish. It was painful to want her so badly and being refused more than kisses.

He was shocked when she drew him down and kissed him with such passion and yearning that he widened his eyes for a second, but the shut them and kissed her as passionately back. Hermione began to unbutton his shirt and he rose supporting himself with his palms to give her more room. She pulled it of him and cast it on the floor, gesturing for them to shift position again.

He didn't believe that this was really happening and moaned as she kissed a path down to the button keeping his trousers together. He was very aware of the growing hardness just below her last kiss. She climbed onto his abdomen and slowly unbuttoned her blouse, smiling and keeping his eyes with hers. She wasn't wearing anything underneath and Draco whispered that he like what he saw, letting his fingers wander up her back as she leaned down and kissed him gently.

He could sense the warmth radiating from the place between her legs, as she sat there straddling him. He ran his fingers up her thighs and followed her body shape up to her shoulders. He pulled her down, kissing her so intensely that she let out a moan of lust and ground her hips down, making Draco raise his hips and tilt back his head letting out a cry of pleasure, wanting more.

Ripping the rest of their clothes off on the way they ended up in Draco bed. She was driving him over the edge and he didn't want her to chicken out, so he kept deepening his kisses as he stroke his hand over her body making her tremble under his touch. He had waited for this for so long! And now that it was happening he was afraid it would end all too soon, as he felt his control slip away. Ohhh, he wanted her so bad.

He turned her onto her back and buried his head between her shoulder and neck, whispering how he loved her and begged her never to let him go. As she parted her legs for him, he fought hard not to lose what little control he had and through hazy eyes looked for a sign that she didn't want to go on. But he didn't know if he would stop if she wasn't up for more.

He moaned as she nodded and reach for him. Fighting not to rush it and hurt her, he pushed slowly in to her, biting down on his lower lip, struggling not to thrust in, in one hard move. As she raised her hips to greet him, he whimpered her name overcome with desire and pushed all the way in groaning in pleasure as her warmth tightened around him. He gazed at her face to check if she was alright, she looked so beautiful, eyes lightly closed and mouth open.

He started to move slowly back then thrust in a bit forcefully making her cry out in a mixture of pleasure and pain and begged him not to stop. He picked up speed as she held him tight, digging her nails into his shoulder and he felt her quiver as she was about to be overtaken by orgasm. He once more buried his head in the crock of her neck and whispered for her to let go and just enjoy the ride. She arched her back and cried out his name again and again as shocks of pleasure shot through her body.

Draco clenched his teeth holding back, but he felt the recognizable tingling in his body prior to climax. "Can't… hold…back… I'm gonna… Oh my GOD…'Mi" He felt her tighten and groan "shit, shit… too soon..." and then his body began to shake as the climax took control over his body. He tilted back his head and let out a cry of ecstasy, Hermione's hand on his hips pulling him closer.

He collapsed onto the bed rolling off of her, shaking and panting for air; eyes closed, body glinting of sweat and mouth slightly opened enjoying the after heat. It had been worth waiting for! He trembled and moaned as Hermione ran a finger over his chest. "So… Slytherin Prince… Was it okay?" The sweet worried sound of her voice almost broke his heart.

He turned his head, raising his hand to play with a strand of her hair. "Do I look like I'm complaining?" he whispered and dragged her down for a kiss, asking who had been her first? She rolled around and pulled his arm round her, whispering that it didn't matter; it had only been that one time and a mistake. Draco kissed her neck and whispered as long it wasn't Weasley he could live with it, making Hermione giggle and whisper that it never had come to that between her and Ron. "I loved him more like a brother… It would have been too weird!"

"Umm… didn't think to ask but are you… on the… you know?" Draco felt a flutter of panic in his stomach… He wanted children some day, but it was too soon. Hermione yawned and asked "The pill? Ummm, have been since I dated Krum… Despite the fact that nothing happened there either…" As she drifted off to sleep, Draco wondered who had "picked her flower," but guessed he would never know.

The next morning they were awakened by a knock on the office door. Hermione started to panic and jumped out of bed trying to locate her clothes. Draco yawned and stretched, smiled and grabbed his boxers. Wearing nothing more than that he asked who it was, as it wasn't time for classes yet. When Zabini's voice told him to quite playing Professor and just open up, Draco cast a quick glance at Hermione who sent him a kiss and closed the door to the bedroom.

Draco conjured up a housecoat and tied the strings around his waist before opening and letting Blaise in, asking why the hell he was knocking on Draco's door at five in the morning. "Never too early for gossip… Guess who I saw leaving the headmistress office just before…!" Draco frowned and raised his shoulder and asked how the hell he would know.

"Ronald Weasley! And as I put out my ciggy, I looked up just as a Lavender Brown with big, wet eyes was leaving with her Mum and Dad, them looking pissed" Blaise sniggered and said that it didn't take the brightest person to figure that one out… Weasley had knock up Brown. "Wonder if they'll be kicked out of Hogwarts?" Blaise grinned and looked into the blue and silver flames in the fireplace.

Draco shook his head… No wonder that the Weasley's had so many children… It seemed they didn't shoot blanks. As the door to his private quarters opened and Hermione walked out, Blaise dropped his jaw and was about to comment on it, but Hermione just looked harsh a him and told him to shut it and coiled up on the couch besides Draco, him putting his arm around her.

Blaise just shook his head and said he hoped they were more careful than Weasley. He said he better get going and Draco nodded and said they could see each other later.

"What's that with Ron?" Hermione looked at Draco with wondering eyes. Draco raised his shoulders, not wanting her to run off to comfort Weasley. But when Hermione pleaded he sighed and told her what Blaise had witnessed, adding that she better go see if he needed a friend. Hermione kissed him gently and thanked him for understanding that her friends meant a great deal for her and if they needed her…

"Go… But come back and visit me… It feels empty here with out you!" Draco reluctantly let her go. As she left he began his usual morning routine: getting ready for his N.E.W.T's and preparing lessons for his students. He grinned at the words "His students" as he sat down to run through the 2nd year's syllabus.


Hermione found a gloomy looking Ron sitting on the walkway toward Hagrid's hut. She was thankful for the enchanted map the Twins had made for her to keep track on the boys. She walked over and sat down beside her friend not saying a thing; waiting for him to confide in her if that was what he needed.

"So… It's all over school by now?!" Ron asked in a hushed voice, Hermione placed her hand on Ron squeezing it gently. "Aren't I the fool…? Thinking she might be the one!" Ron looked devastated out over the grounds. Hermione frowned but didn't say anything, but wondering why Ron thought that.

"She's three months along…" Ron stood up and began to walk away.

Hermione stared after her friend thinking that she was missing something… Three months along… THREE! Ron and Lavender had first got back together after school started… It wasn't his child she was carrying! "Oh, poor Ron!" Hermione felt sad for him it had to be some shock and now he had to face the whispers from Hogwarts gossip-squad. "Ron… Wait up!" She got up and ran after him.


Lavender's parents had pulled her out of school, but that didn't help on the gossip. Some felt sorry for Ron others found it sooo funny. Harry had more that once defended his friend, as it seemed that Ron had lost all will to fight back and just lost himself in the books, not wanting to let this mess ruin his N.E.W.T's.

He had gone home for the weekend to get away from it all and had asked Harry to come along hoping it would take away some of his mothers sad looks. It was twice in 1 year love had cheated him and as it was right now he would prefer love to let him be.

Ginny was overexcited that Harry was coming home with them; she missed him so much when she had to go home for the weekend. She had asked Hermione if she wanted to tag along, but Hermione had declined. She had already promised her mom and dad to come home this weekend, and she kind of wanted to tell them of her and Draco.

Hermione had shone like a star and Ginny felt so happy for her friend, even if it would have been cool if she had become her sister-in-law. She promised to bring back something from the Twins shop, as naturally, it was one of the stops they had planned for the weekend.


Hermione had waved goodbye to her friends as they boarded the train to London and had made her way back to the castle to talk to Draco before going home. He had explained that he needed to stay and looked forward to a little quiet time to read up on Transfiguration before taking the exam on Wednesday afternoon. But she just wanted to see him before she took the floo home. It seemed that all students were going home this weekend, so she wondered if Draco would be lonely.

As she knocked on the door and waited for permission to enter, she thought that it seemed like years since the time of Voldemort and was glad that they had been able to come back to school. "Come in…" Draco's voice sounded irritated but when he saw it was her, his face lit up. "So… Going home now?" He stood up, took four giant leaps and stood up straight in front of her smiling.

"You can come with me, if you have changed your mind… My parents won't mind… After I tell them of us that is…" she smiled and looked down at their hands, fingers weaved together. Draco sighed and said she knew he couldn't, he needed to concentrate on his finals. She nodded and looked a bit disappointed but smiled and said that she had to go. With a soft passionate kiss she let go and told him to have a nice weekend.

"Say hi to your parents and tell them I look forward to meeting them after my exams." Draco walked over, looked at her walking down the hallway and smiled as she turned around and blew him a kiss. He closed the door and felt happier than ever. He went over to the fireplace and grabbed a handful Flo powder and called for Malfoy Manor.

Soon Narcissa's face emerged in the flames "Hi, sweetheart… You called?" Draco smiled at the sight, he hadn't quiet gotten use to it yet, but it was easier and quicker that owling. "Mum… Just wanted to wish you a nice weekend and tell you that I'm taking my N.E.W.T Transfiguration exam on Wednesday… Think I'm ready?"

Narcissa's face nodded and said she believed he was and asked how he was settling as at Professor. The two talked for a while until Draco said he had to go and they said goodnight. Draco returned to the big stack of books and began reading up on the whole 7th year syllabus… That part of his punishment for hitting Slughorn, McGonagall hadn't lifted! As he read he felt his eyelids getting more and more heavy and finally he fell asleep on top of a chapter about human-to-animal transfiguration. If that had any significant for his dream he didn't know, but he awoke with a jerk from being hunted by a werewolf and a big black dog.

"Think I'll better take a break." He murmured to himself and cast a look on the clock on the wall. If he hurried he could join the other Professors in the great hall for dinner.


When he entered he was surprised to see Zabini at the table as the only student back in Hogwarts, if you didn't count Draco as a student, that is. "Evening Professor… Come sit by me… I have some questions you might be helpful to answer" Zabini looked genuinely worried about something, so Draco sat down by is side.

"We can talk after dinner, I'm famished" Draco rose his goblet to the other Professors and put the goblet to his lips, loving the taste of good Elvin wine. He really liked the benefits of being Professor; to be able to drink fine wine at dinner every evening still technically being a student was just so enjoyable. He reached for the cured ham and was offered the plate by none other that Slughorn "The house-elves have made the most tender ham I have ever tasted… You're a good eater I believe?"

The tone was friendly on the surface, and only Draco marked the word Eater, knowing Slughorn still questioned his allegiances. The sneer that had been his trade mark appeared after have being gone for sometime now. He looked a Slughorn in pure undisguised repulsion hissing "Take that back!" So loud that all eyes turned to him.

Slughorn leered at the young man, thinking he had the other professors on his side. "Well, you are an Eater, aren't you…? Taken over for you father yet…? Surely you've been offered the leading role after Voldemort's demise." Laughing out loud he realized he was the only one.

"Unless you have proof for your accusation, I think you owe Professor Malfoy an apology?" McGonagall's voice was icy cold and the other Professors looked shocked that Slughorn would cause a scene at dinner. Slughorn began sweating and only stuttered "but…but… but…The mark on his arm?!"

Draco looked like he had a tough time controlling his rage. He pulled up the sleeve and in a cold voice asked, "Is it this mark you mean…" and made sure all saw it.”Yes, I joined the death eaters… I have never denied that… But as you can see… The mark isn't that pretty any more is it? No… 'Cause I blasted it off on the night I failed my task… Hoping he then couldn't track me down… Naïve I know!"

He abruptly stood up and asked who at this table still believed him to be an active death eater… No one raised a hand… Slughorn looked very uncomfortable and said in a very defending voice "Well… You just can't change your ways that quick… I for one will not work in the same school as he who let Dumbledore's murder in that night!"

McGonagall were furious and said that she accepted his request to leave the position as potions professor! Making Slughorn gasp a "Now, I have never…." and leave the room without another word.

The silence was so dense you could cut it with a knife. McGonagall looked at Draco as he sat down again. "What more trouble can I expect from having you here in the castle, Professor?" Draco raised his shoulder and said that depended entirely on other staff, students or whoever, seemingly people didn't trust him.

Asking for the potatoes he closed the subject from further discussion and they consumed the rest of the meal in silence. Draco was fuming, finally realizing that it would take years before things like this wouldn't happen. As he rose from his seat as the first, Blaise asked permission to leave the table and with the Headmistress's nod, the two young men left the room, Blaise's hand on Draco's shoulder.


"You shouldn't let them get to you in that way!" Blaise and Draco sat on the couch in Draco's office enjoying a glass of cognac from a bottle Draco had received from Hagrid as a gift for saving his life. Draco sat leaning his elbows on his knees and swirled the second glass of golden liquid, irritated that he once more had become unwillingly the center of attention.

Throwing the entire contents of the glass down in one, he shook his head and went for a refill. "Careful, Professor or you'll get drunk… We can't have that!" Blaise said in an amused and bemused voice, not sure if his friends rage would be solved at the bottom of a bottle of fine liquor.

"So what… I think that's just what I need… To get so fucking hammered that I can't stand on my feet!" Draco sounded bitter and threw down another glass. Why was it so hard for people to accept he had switch sides? Pouring another glass it hit him… Again it was because of his father… Lucius had pretended to have been put under the Imperius Curse, when he was questioned after the first war against the Dark Lord.

Was he ever going to get away from that man's dark shadows! Draco spun round and smashed the glass into the burning fire. He looked grim watching the sparks and high flames caused by the liquor still in the glass. Blaise rose and walk over to his friend, putting his hands on the grimacing boy's shoulders. "It will eventually get better…Believe me… But you can't expect to gain every ones trust… Not ever… But eventually people will see that it is possible for a Malfoy to become a hell of an asset for the entire wizarding community… Wait and see" Blaise could see how his friend was hurting and pulled him in for a hug.

Draco didn't fight it, just rested his head on Zabini's shoulder. After a moment he looked up into the other boy's eyes "Thanks…" the look in Blaise's eyes startled him and touched him at the same time. And when Blaise moved his hand behind Draco's neck and kissed him, Draco let him and even kissed him back, moaning slight as their tongues meet. However hard they tried to fight it, they were attracted to each other.

If it was the booze that made Draco not care he didn't know, but it gave him the self right to enjoy it for just a minute more, before he smiled as he push Blaise away. "Just can't resist me, eh! We stop here… You have Daphne and I have 'Mi… Let just blame the cognac!" Draco went over to the door and opened it and gestured to Blaise to go.

As his passed by Draco placed a hand on his shoulder "Let's agree not to do this again… It's not fair to Hermione and Daphne… Or to us…!" Blaise just nodded and left glad when the door closed behind him. One sentence kept screaming in his head… Not that! Please not that!


That night Draco's dreams were filled with shadows and snarls of werewolves and black dogs clearly fighting. At a quarter past four he woke bathed in sweat, deciding that it was useless to try to get more sleep. He undressed, wrapped a towel round his waist and headed to the prefect's bathroom.

Wandering the silent and empty halls, from time to time seeing a shimmer of a ghost floating by, he thought of his time here a Hogwarts and how time had the strangest way of sending you in a completely other direction, than you and every body thought you go. He felt thankful that fate had saved him and had given him a chance more.

He tapped in his usual choice of bubbles and slipped into the hot water diving down completely and again breaking the surface. His eyes caught a shimmer of white and he wiped the water from his eyes and face "Hi, Myrtle… How are you?"

The ghost girl whimpered and asked if she was good enough for him to talk to now. Draco apologized for yelling at her before, making Myrtle smile and giggle as she floated down towards Draco, sniggering as the bubbles parted giving her full sight of his body. Draco rolled his eyes and moved some bubbles back so he was covered.

"Where is your little Brunette…You two broken up?" She sounded cheerful at the thought and whimpered in disappointment when Draco shook his head and told her that 'Mi had gone home for the weekend to tell her parents of them.

Draco raised his hand and mimicked stroking her cheek. "Don't look so sad… You're still my girl… The one that listened when I had nowhere to turn…" It almost looked like the ghost girl blushed and she squealed in delight and disappeared into a spill vent. Draco grinned and dived under again, jumped up, grabbed a clean towel and headed back to his room. "Better get on with it" he thought as he closed the door.

He didn't leave his room all next day, just sat with the books taking notes and concentrating on the complexity of metamorphing. His eyes were beginning to hurt and as he looked out the window he realized it was morning. He hadn't slept at all that night, no wonder his eyes stung. He looked at the vial with Dreamless Sleep Potion Madam Pomfrey had been kind enough to bring by. The other students would be back in few hours and he knew 'Mi would be knocking on his door, to tell him of her weekend, so regrettably he couldn't take the potion or he would be nearly impossible to wake. Stretching and yarning he made his mind up just not to sleep at all and went in to change his robes.

He jumped when a voice sounded behind him "Master Draco, sir…" Spinning around he saw a very tired looking Dobby standing next to the door. "God dammit, Dobby… You scared the living hell out of me… What are you doing in my room?"

Dobby explained that he had been waiting behind the door the whole night with a message from Harry Potter Sir. Draco looked wondering at the house-elf "And…?" Dobby frowned and tried to sound as much as Harry as possible.

"Tell Draco to keep out of my head and out of my dreams… He has no business there at all!"

Draco looked confused; he hadn't deliberately taken a tour of Harry's nightmares and wondered how the hell their dreams had gotten connected. He asked Dobby to tell Harry that he, Draco, hadn't done it on purpose and that he would talk to the Headmistress right away to figure out how to stop it from happening again. Dobby sighed tiredly, snapped his fingers and was gone.

Draco was undoubtedly intrigued to find out what had made their unconsciousness' entwine and hope the Headmistress was a morning person. He really didn't want to wake her up and have a cranky middle-aged witch to deal with. He felt a little off after last night's cognac throwbacks, but felt it served him right, so didn't do any about it.


McGonagall was in fact up, had been for a while and was just finishing up a conversation she had very mixed feelings about. "I really appreciate you coming in and helping us out at such short notice… The school board has all agreed that, considering the… umm...recent past, it can only be until end of this school year… unless the parents agree to keep you on."

They shook hands just as Draco knocked on the door. "Enter!" McGonagall call out and Draco walked in. "What the hell!" he smiled as he meet his Godfather's eyes that greeted him and excused himself he had a syllabus to check up on before class. "Wait, you might be able to help with this slight problem I've stumbled upon." Draco sat down on a chair and Snape followed his example as Draco started to explain the problem.


"So, as you see, now I'm dreaming Potter's dreams…Which would be a lot more fun if it wasn't nightmares!" Draco finished and leaned back on the chair and asked how that could happen. Snape looked at Draco with a slight frown and said that he knew Draco to be a very talented Legilimens as well as Occlumens. So if he and Mr. Potter had formed a special bond, Draco unconsciously would want to know if Potter was okay and therefore connected on the subconscious levels.

"Well, if his dreams are a sign, I would say Potter isn't alright at all… Being hunted down by a werewolf and a bloody ugly black mutt isn't my favourite dream scenario!" The two adults cast a quick glance at each other, both thinking the same. McGonagall said she didn't believe that was what Harry dreamt about, but his minds way to scare off intruders! "Clearly the werewolf is an image of Remus Lupin and the black dog of Harry's Godfather Sirius… Quiet interesting that Harry would choose those two to guard his dreams and thoughts."

"Is there a way to cut this bond so it won't happen again?" Draco sighed "I need my sleep!" Snape suggested to stock up on Dreamless Sleep Potion making Draco growl that then there had to be made some changes to the ones Madam Pomfrey had at the moment, cause they totally knock him out. Snape nodded and said he would take a look at it and have some ready by tonight.

The two Slytherins made moves to leave and McGonagall waved them off, once more puzzled by how similar the two moved and looked. Almost like father and son… But that couldn't be…


At the breakfast table Draco fought like mad not to dose off and flinched when Professor Sprout asked him to pass the butter, causing the entire table to grin and Hagrid ask if the bedbugs kept him awake at night. Draco just sneered and yarned and passed the butter leaving big smiles on the half giant's face. Then McGonagall mentioned that Severus Snape had agreed to cover the rest of the years potions classes and she hoped, nay demanded, them not to blame him for what happened last year, as they all knew he had been bound by an Unbreakable Vow.

Draco smirked knowing that it actually was two Vows that forced his Godfather's hand that night and took a sip of his goblet of passion fruit juice. That was their secret.

As the other Professors started to debate the upcoming trip to Hogsmeade and if it was safe, Draco wished them a good morning and left to find the potion master, to hear if he could allow Draco to watch him prepare the sleep potion so he would be able to do it him self later. But he only reached the stairs to the dungeon before someone called his name and he smiled.

Hermione came darting down the stairs and threw her arms around his neck, whispering just how must she had missed him. Draco ran his hand up her back and pulled her head back so he could reach her lips. He felt her quiver as their lips met, pulling her closer.

"Do you two have to block the fastest way out of the dungeon?" Blaise voice snapped and Hermione giggled as Draco swung her round to let Blaise by, not seeing the painful look the young wizard sent her boyfriend. But Draco saw it and wished he could help him get over it. However, when Hermione drew his mouth back to hers and licked his lips, Blaise' pain was forgotten. Draco pushed her back against the wall, hiding his head in the crock of her neck murmuring that she better not leave without him again!

A shock of short pain made them jump from each other and when Draco spun around to see who had the nerve he was met with Snape's cold stare making his anger disappear like dew before the sun. "Please try to remember school rules also apply to Professors, Professor Malfoy!" Snape looked as unapproachable and cold as ever. "Sorry, Professor… It won't happen again!" Draco swallowed and knew they better be more careful in the future.

Hermione starred in disbelieve at Snape not ready to believe her own eyes. "Something wrong, Miss Granger!" Snape snapped at her making her blush and stutter she just didn't expect to see him back in Hogwarts. Draco just realized that she had no idea what had happened over the weekend and it had to be a fairly big shock for her to stand face to face with the potion master, believing him excluded from ever teaching at Hogwarts again.

"Ummm, Slughorn quit and the school board thought that Professor Snape would be the best to step in at this moment of the school year… I'm sure McGonagall is going to share…" Draco stopped by the look in his Godfathers eyes. Hermione could just image the fuss this would make with the parents; Dumbledore's killer back as a Professor to teach their precious children potions in a dark and gloomy dungeon. She hoped the Headmistress knew what she was doing.

"Come, Draco… I think you would like to see how to adjust the potion so it won't knock you out next time!" Professor Snape put a hand on Draco's shoulder and shoved him before him down the stairs to the potions classroom wanting to have a serious word with his Godson before he blew this extremely rare opportunity at changing the worlds view on the Malfoy's.

Out of sight of Hermione, he slapped Draco over the head asking him if he had lost every last brain cell, what it looked like to risk his position as Junior Professor for kisses in the halls. If he didn't realize that he, Draco, was suppose to be a role model for the other students and if he didn't care if he broke the rules, the students won't either.

Draco went pale… He hadn't comprehended that his new status made it even more important to follow the rules… How idiotic of him…

Snape was satisfied with Draco's reaction and added that if he respected the school rules, he would soon gain respect from both fellow staff members, students and even parents. Snape added that Draco's love life had to be kept behind closed doors as long as he wanted to be a Professor in Hogwarts. "I can't believe that you would risk loosing all this for some nookies in the corners!"

Draco blushed, embarrassed beyond anytime before… Snape put his hand on the young man's shoulder "If she wants the best for you, she'll understand… Come, we have under an hour before my dungeon are filled with the usual group of dunderheads trying to grasps knowledge beyond their reach… Knowledge their minds are too petite to appreciate."

Draco could keep from smirking thinking to himself "He's back!"