In Wisdom's Creed

Hiya folks!
Sorry about the massive delay, I've been really ill.
I've also had comments about people wanting to know about updates, or when the story's complete.

If you mail me at secretlysnape@yahoo.co.uk I'll put a list of people together and email you all when there's updates.

So; the second chapter of In Wisdom's Creed.
And, as with all of my chapters; a quote:

"Pity the sorrows of a poor old man,
Whose trembling limbs have borne him to your door,
Whose days are dwindled to the shortest span;
Oh give relief, and Heaven will bless your store."
-- Thomas Moss

Enjoy!

SecretlySnape

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Severus jumped at the sudden rapping on his door. He glanced at his watch, it was only 9:30, but he wasn't accustomed to such demands for his attention.

The rapping came again and he stood, putting his quill down on the papers he had been marking.
He walked over to the door and opened it quickly, ccausing Hermione to fall inwards as she had been about to knock again.

"Miss Granger, what on earth is all this noise about?" He exclaimed angrily.

"Professer Snape... I... umm... I didn't know who else to come to."

He looked down at her confused, she looked concerned, almost scared.

"You didn't know who else to come to about what?" he ventured a little more gently.

Hermione glanced around the Dungeons classroom. It was empty, but she still didn't want to speak about it out there.

"Umm... could we go into your office please, sir?"

He blinked in confusion at her, then unable to think of a retort, sighed and made way for her.

She slipped past him and started to pace the small room, waiting for him to close the door.

He closed the door and went back to his seat.

"Well? What is it you need to see me so urgently about?"

Hermione frowned thoughtfully.

"Actually, I've changed my mind, Sir... I think it's best if you come to my room."

Snape almost choked.

"What?!"

Hermione blinked a couple of times, then stared at the floor.

"There's something I need to tell you, and show you... and it's better if I do both at the same time... and... it's better for the other person involved too..." she trailed off and started to wonder about the sanity of having one of Voldemort's main supporters in her room, "and for all of us..."

The sudden fear on her face made his mind up.

"OK, we'll go to your room.
It would be easier to floo to the Gryffindor common room, but I feel that would attract unwarranted attention. So it will have to be the long way."
He sneered slightly; "At least as Head Girl you have your own room, I wouldn't want to be seen going to your dormitory..."

She frowned at him. Did he have to be such a bastard all the time?
She couldn't reproach him really though, or provide a retort of her own, she needed his help too much.


--x--

Hermione paused at the door to her room and listened carefully.
There was no sound from inside.
She turned to Snape.

"Sir... this might shock you at first... don't... umm.. overreact please."

He looked at her astounded.

"Why, what have you got in there? A Hyppogriff?"

Hermione blinked and then giggled. Snape rolled his eyes.

"Well come on, I've not got all night you know, I have papers to mark."

"Sorry Sir...umm.." Hermione trailed off and looked at the door worriedly, then took a deep breath and opened the door.

She stopped halfway.

"Just a second, Sir..." taking out her wand she cast the Silencio charm on the door, then walked into the room, turning the light on.

Snape entered behind her and closed the door, then turned around.

For a moment there was silence.

Then Snape exploded.

"What the HELL do you think you're doing, Miss Granger, with Lucius Malfoy in your bed?"

Hermione cringed.

"I KNEW you'd over react! And don't even THINK I want him in my bed!" She paused and looked at Malfoy, remembering the look in his eyes as he was begging for help.
She sighed as Snape glared at her as though he were about to curse her into the ground for daring to talk back at him like that.

"He.. he needs our help, Sir. Really..."

Snape stared at her dumbfounded.

"Have you gone mad?"

"No.. really Sir... look at him, he's been hit by the Cruciatus curse, and more than once... and... he's under the Imperio... he doesn't actually support Voldem"
"

Snape's jaw dropped.
That couldn't be true... could it?
He stepped back, trying to make his knees feel solid again, whilst not allowing Hermione to see him so shocked.

"What makes you think that?" he said quietly.

"Well... I heard him apparate, and heard someone in a lot of pain. I thought it might be you, Sir, so I went to help...and it was him... and at first he told me to go away and called me... called me a mudblood. And then he started to shake, convulse, it was horrible, he was screaming in pain... and he asked me to help him... and then he was back to being himself... and then it happened again and he said he couldn't hold it off for much longer, and he begged for help... it was horrible Sir..."

Snape blinked and sat down on her chair. This couldn't be right... Lucius had gone back to Voldemort, he loved the killing, the pain, the whole ideal...

Snape frowned. "Why come to get me and not take him to the medical ward?"

"Well..." Hermione started, and then paused, looking at Lucius. He couldn't fight it off properly, so she couldn't reveal all of their secrets yet... "You know lots about the Dark Arts, Sir... and about defence against them, and if he's trying to fight the Imperio Curse, I thought... well.. .I thought you might be able to help him." she finished lamely.

Snape glanced at her, knowing that wasn't the reason at all.

"He's hurt. He needs medical attention. And he is NOT remaining in your room."

Hermione nodded slowly.

"Do you think he's going to be ok, Sir?"

Snape rolled his eyes; Hermione's concern for the world was a little much sometimes, Lucius was, after all, a Death Eater... his thoughts stopped and he looked at her. He was a Death Eater too...
Not that he needed her concern...

Damn the girl.
Lucius Malfoy of all people.

"I'm sure he'll be fine, Miss Granger, I shall take him to the Medical Ward where he'll be kept for his own good, and our own good. May I remind you that this is one of Voldemort's supporters.
If he can't fight the Imperio off, he's a very dangerous man."

Hermione nodded and looked at Lucius again. If he could fight it off though...