A Secret Worth Keeping
folder
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female › Snape/Hermione
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
48
Views:
62,422
Reviews:
787
Recommended:
1
Currently Reading:
2
Category:
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female › Snape/Hermione
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
48
Views:
62,422
Reviews:
787
Recommended:
1
Currently Reading:
2
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
R.A.T.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters, only those that I created myself. Please do not harm me in any way. I only do this for fun.
~_~_~_~
A Secret worth Keeping
Chapter Twenty-One: R.A.T.
Silently, Severus echoed each step the Malfoy’s made as they walked the streets of Diagon Alley, until Draco stopped in front of what appeared to be yet another Quidditch equipment shop. The boy spoke to his father using hand gestures that indicated that he needed to buy something from inside. Lucius frowned, looked at the shop in question, then finally nodded. He retrieved a fat purse from his pocket and handed it to the boy who grinned as he pocketed the money. Lucius spoke quickly to his son before he stood back and with a loud crack, disapparated.
Severus watched as Draco looked up and down the street then entered the shop. Curious, Severus approached the window in time to see Draco approach the clerk. When the clerk turned Severus realized that it was one Marcus Flint, a former student that had graduated from Hogwart’s last term.
Odd, wasn’t he in London with the local Quidditch team there? He could have sworn that the boy was recruited to play during the summer playoffs. Strange that the boy was working in a shop instead of playing the popular sport. Despite his lack of fair play, the boy was good at the sport. It didn’t make any sense.
Severus grew more and more curious as he watched Marcus listen to the younger boy, frown, and then turn to the counter behind him. Whatever he was doing, it was beyond Severus’ line of vision. The young man appeared to fumble around then straightened up and indicated to the back of the shop with a flick of his hand.
Keeping out of sight, he watched the boys walk until he couldn’t see them. Once the way was clear, Severus opened the door and slipped, unseen, into the shop. As he stealthily made his way to the back, sounds of excited voices from outside the store echoed and he swiveled his head towards the entrance.
“Shit.” He muttered to himself as he quickly stepped back, melting into the shelves as a half-dozen Slytherin students hurried past his invisible form. In the rushrecorecognized, Crabbe, Goyle, Parkinson, Bulstrode and Zabini. All children of known Death Eaters. His blood chilled at the thought that Hermione and his child would be in extreme danger when Draco told them of Harry and Hermione’s false marriage. Last night’s plan may already be too late for their safety. With that horrible thought on the brain, he followed the laoungoung man into the back room and slipped past him to settle at the back to watch.
There was something big going on here and he needed to find out what, exactly, it was. After a good half-hour, and a constant buzz of chatter bouncing around the room, the meeting was called to order. Severus counted the heads and was surprised to find that there was twenty-five people standing around the tight space, all from his house of Slytherin, both past and present. He kept his back against the wall doing all he could to keep anyone from brushing up against his cloaked form. He didn’t want to be discovered just yet, at least not until he found out what was going on here.
At the opposite end of the room, Draco stood tall; his arms crossed against his chest looking very much like the Potions Master at his most intimidating. The young blond man’s face reflected the apprehensive atmosphere that surrounded him. From his stance, the others knew something was most definitely wrong and it reflected in their own moods causing a gloom to hang in the air.
Once everyone seemed to be present, Draco, looking as if he could execute anyone at that particular time, scanned the crowded room, stepped forward to the raised table, and stood silently waiting for the din to settle. He simply raised a hand and silence filled the room with an air of unsettled anticipation.
“I called this emergency R.A.T. meeting because of a major problem I have just became aware of.” Draco started in a loud voice. “Our movement has now become more important that ever. This new information will more than likely force us to reveal ourselves in order to accomplish our mission. We may need to strike sooner than we thought.”
Severus settled back against the wall to observe this ‘special’ meeting. The look and action of Draco held his attention. There was definitely ‘something’ big going on here. All around him voices murmured in response, a mix of excitement and fear.
“What is this new information?” Greg Goyle’s voice rose up, curious.
“Sadly, a marriage.” Draco shook his head. “And a baby…”
“Whose?” came another voice. “Why should a marriage concern our cause?”
Draco turned to address the new speaker. “Because the couple is Harry Potter and Hermione Granger.”
“That’s impossible. Hermione ran off last year. No one has heard from her.” Parkinson rebuked with a shake of her head. “If there were anything between the two, then Harry would have been off after her. I mean…come on. Harry has better taste than Granger.”
Draco raised a hand to stop her words. “I have it from the horse’s mouth, Pansy. I have just come from The Leaky Cauldron where I just saw Harry, Hermione and the Weasel. They were in the middle of a shopping spree.”
“So? School does start in a few days remember?” Pansy shrugged, not caring.
“They had more than school supplies, Pansy. I am not an idiot. There were bags from several popular infant stores…and…Harry stated that she was his wife when I teased her about being pregnant. Also, come to find out that she had already had the baby. I don’t know what possessed them to doing something so stupid, but they are now more in danger than before…and now they have brought a baby into the world. A new target…” He trailed off.
The group looked at the each other with matching dreaded demeanors.
“What do we do now? How in the hell do we work with these new facts? Our fathers will want to know everything about those two, especially now that Hermione is back, and now…with a baby? Are those two mad? Fuck…This plan was bad enough when we were to protect just those two…but now…Oh shit, This is going to be impossible.” Vincent Crabbe moaned leaning forward to cradle his head in his hands.
Draco nodded in agreement. “They did mess this up big time. Things will be very difficult from now on.” He moved around to stand in front of the head table. “I still say we go to Professor Snape. I think we can trust him. He’s…”
“…He’s a known death eater Draco. We shouldn’t involve him.” Blaise Zabini crossed his arms across his chest. “We don’t dare let this group be known. If the Dark Lord ever found out about us…” He faltered and looked around.
“We need help here. This is far above our heads now. The revolution can’t proceed as planned with this new development. We can’t risk the life of a newborn baby. The plan has to be altered.” Draco stood looking around the room taking a moment to look each person present in the eye. “I say we vote on it. I say we contact Snape and recruit his help.”
Zabini stood up and waved his hand to quiet the rising voices. “I still say we can do this alone. It is too risky to bring in an outsider. Professor Snape included. He is a friend of a lot of our fathers and I don’t want to risk my dad finding out about my disloyalty to his Lord. Personally, I like my hide still attached to my body.”
A few voices echoed in agreement.
“Besides, we have no idea that Snape would be…co-operative. To bring him in would be the equivalent of inviting a snake into a rat cage, so to speak.” Crabbe interrupted. “I trust him, but not with this. Our freedom means to much for me to take any chances.”
“Here, Here.” Parkinson chanted nodding her head in absolute agreement with her co-student and co-conspirator.
“Look…” Draco took a deep breath and a step forward. He needed to convince the group if any of this was to continue. “Snape has always gone out of his way to help each of us when we returned from those ‘required’ bloody conclaves each month. You, Goyle,” Here he turned to flash gray eyes towards his overtly large friend. “You had to have your arm nearly reattached after the ‘re ‘required’ beating your father gave you…and you…Pansy.” Turning his gaze to the young pretty girl and sighed as she nearly sank into her chair. “You had to undergo extensive healing after the so called ‘seductions’ you suffered by how many men at the last gathering? Offered up by your own father?” He paused when her face paled at the memory. He gave her a sympathetic look then turned his attention back to the crowd again. “Snape has been there for each and every one of us after those meetings. Healing us himself so that Madame Pomfrey never had to know what we have to go through. He never asked for anything in return for his comfort. He has helped us, kept our secrets when we rambled on in our pain. I suspect that we must have spoken of things that have been said within these walls during those times, and he hasn’t mentioned any of it. I think he would help if we ask him to. I don’t think he likes what he does any more so than we do.”
Severus sat in complete dumbfounded silence as he listened to the barrage of traitors around him. His ears were burning in response to the words being bandied around. These offsprings of Voldemort’s inner most circle of the Death Eaters had somehow joined an alliance of some sort. He was still a bit confused what their group was associated with. The remarks about revolution and freedom, however, gave him some clue. He rose slowly to his feet careful that the cloak still shrouded him from view and moved stealthily to the front of the room.
“I say we put it to a vote.” Draco stated raising his hand once more for silence. “All for us letting Snape in the ‘Revolutionaries against Tyranny’ raise your hands to be counted.”
He counted the hands and marked them down on paper.
“Those against?” Zabini asked and watched as a few hands rose into the air.
“Done…” Draco took a deep breath in relief. “It is passed that we tell Snape about…”
“No need to bother.” A silky drawl rang out and Draco twirled around in surprise, reaching for his wand in automatic response. His eyes widening as the man under discussion removed an invisibility cloak and stood sneering, at the gathered group.
“What…how…” His voice stammered.
“Close your mouth, Draco, you look like a fish.” Severus carefully folded the cloth and stood facing the horrified young group. “I am glad that you voted to let me in on this little…revolution. I just need someone to update me on your currant activities.”
“Sir…We have…I mean…I don’t.” Zabini stammered his face reddening.
“Sit, Zabini…I do believe that I have the floor.” Severus pressed the boy’s shoulder and he fell compliant into his chair. A rush of voices rose from the crowd, which he silenced with another raised hand. “Draco was right. I am here to…help…in whatever way I can. Now…” He turned to look at the young Malfoy with an amused look. “Tell me everything. What and who started this idea, and what have you accomplished so far?”
~~~~~~
Thank you to everyone that has been reading this.
Raven, WriterLady1031, PaganPoetry, Dawn, WizardingAngel and Sarahe; Thank you all. I really appreciate all your kind words.
Michelline, Potions Mistress, spaz141 and Merrideth: I hope you all liked where I took Draco in this chapter and bear with me there will be lemons in future chapters.
Meg: A series? Hum…have to think about that one. LOL…thanks heaps!
Deb: I have happily added you to my ‘to notify’ list. I will send you an email to let you know when I updated I’d hate for you to miss anything either. I hope you enjoyed where I took Draco and his gang.
PotionsMistressM: Happy ending? I think I can oblige. Keep reading.
VegasVWchiK: Aww…and my most favorite local reader has read my story. LOL…Thanks.
Tanya: Now, she wouldn’t go shopping for their son if Severusldn’ldn’t somehow go along. Hermione wouldn’t stand for that. Draco. I hope you like where I took him and his friends. Please keep reading and reviewing. It helps me out a lot. Let me know if something doesn’t sit right.
Ladydeathfaerie: LOL.. You should speak, oh queen of sneaks. The last few chapters you posted I didn’t know about so turn about is fair play, dear heart. LOL I am SOOOO glad you liked that part. Its one of my favorite silly words… Nincompoop!
M: More is herd mod more is coming
Daisy: So many questions and not much answers for you as of yet. Keep reading I hope you like where I am taking this. I know there are LOTS of chapters, however when I started this I didn’t really have that many chapters planned. It’s kind of grown in leaps and bounds. You have got me to thinking that I should break this up into two stories. I’m thinking about that. Thanks for the idea
MsPixie: I’m going to blush here. But I thank you very much for your kind words. Things like that makes a writer really want to do more. Voldemort will indeed have a cow when he finds out about the baby, but as you have probably got from this chapter…not all will go his way. Please keep reading.
Midnight Tiger: I like your way of thinking. The two alpha males will more than likely get into it at some point. Have lots more to write yet and I love a good confrontation. LOL
MeganAnn: I simply MUST thanks MetaMuse. LOL. I am so glad that you like my version of Daddy Severus. It’s how I envision him if he was to become a father. I hope you continue to read and let me know if you are still enjoying this little fic of mine. Much love to you.
Mary: Sorry if these little review answers make you a bit upset. So, I will try to cut them down a bit more.
~_~_~_~
A Secret worth Keeping
Chapter Twenty-One: R.A.T.
Silently, Severus echoed each step the Malfoy’s made as they walked the streets of Diagon Alley, until Draco stopped in front of what appeared to be yet another Quidditch equipment shop. The boy spoke to his father using hand gestures that indicated that he needed to buy something from inside. Lucius frowned, looked at the shop in question, then finally nodded. He retrieved a fat purse from his pocket and handed it to the boy who grinned as he pocketed the money. Lucius spoke quickly to his son before he stood back and with a loud crack, disapparated.
Severus watched as Draco looked up and down the street then entered the shop. Curious, Severus approached the window in time to see Draco approach the clerk. When the clerk turned Severus realized that it was one Marcus Flint, a former student that had graduated from Hogwart’s last term.
Odd, wasn’t he in London with the local Quidditch team there? He could have sworn that the boy was recruited to play during the summer playoffs. Strange that the boy was working in a shop instead of playing the popular sport. Despite his lack of fair play, the boy was good at the sport. It didn’t make any sense.
Severus grew more and more curious as he watched Marcus listen to the younger boy, frown, and then turn to the counter behind him. Whatever he was doing, it was beyond Severus’ line of vision. The young man appeared to fumble around then straightened up and indicated to the back of the shop with a flick of his hand.
Keeping out of sight, he watched the boys walk until he couldn’t see them. Once the way was clear, Severus opened the door and slipped, unseen, into the shop. As he stealthily made his way to the back, sounds of excited voices from outside the store echoed and he swiveled his head towards the entrance.
“Shit.” He muttered to himself as he quickly stepped back, melting into the shelves as a half-dozen Slytherin students hurried past his invisible form. In the rushrecorecognized, Crabbe, Goyle, Parkinson, Bulstrode and Zabini. All children of known Death Eaters. His blood chilled at the thought that Hermione and his child would be in extreme danger when Draco told them of Harry and Hermione’s false marriage. Last night’s plan may already be too late for their safety. With that horrible thought on the brain, he followed the laoungoung man into the back room and slipped past him to settle at the back to watch.
There was something big going on here and he needed to find out what, exactly, it was. After a good half-hour, and a constant buzz of chatter bouncing around the room, the meeting was called to order. Severus counted the heads and was surprised to find that there was twenty-five people standing around the tight space, all from his house of Slytherin, both past and present. He kept his back against the wall doing all he could to keep anyone from brushing up against his cloaked form. He didn’t want to be discovered just yet, at least not until he found out what was going on here.
At the opposite end of the room, Draco stood tall; his arms crossed against his chest looking very much like the Potions Master at his most intimidating. The young blond man’s face reflected the apprehensive atmosphere that surrounded him. From his stance, the others knew something was most definitely wrong and it reflected in their own moods causing a gloom to hang in the air.
Once everyone seemed to be present, Draco, looking as if he could execute anyone at that particular time, scanned the crowded room, stepped forward to the raised table, and stood silently waiting for the din to settle. He simply raised a hand and silence filled the room with an air of unsettled anticipation.
“I called this emergency R.A.T. meeting because of a major problem I have just became aware of.” Draco started in a loud voice. “Our movement has now become more important that ever. This new information will more than likely force us to reveal ourselves in order to accomplish our mission. We may need to strike sooner than we thought.”
Severus settled back against the wall to observe this ‘special’ meeting. The look and action of Draco held his attention. There was definitely ‘something’ big going on here. All around him voices murmured in response, a mix of excitement and fear.
“What is this new information?” Greg Goyle’s voice rose up, curious.
“Sadly, a marriage.” Draco shook his head. “And a baby…”
“Whose?” came another voice. “Why should a marriage concern our cause?”
Draco turned to address the new speaker. “Because the couple is Harry Potter and Hermione Granger.”
“That’s impossible. Hermione ran off last year. No one has heard from her.” Parkinson rebuked with a shake of her head. “If there were anything between the two, then Harry would have been off after her. I mean…come on. Harry has better taste than Granger.”
Draco raised a hand to stop her words. “I have it from the horse’s mouth, Pansy. I have just come from The Leaky Cauldron where I just saw Harry, Hermione and the Weasel. They were in the middle of a shopping spree.”
“So? School does start in a few days remember?” Pansy shrugged, not caring.
“They had more than school supplies, Pansy. I am not an idiot. There were bags from several popular infant stores…and…Harry stated that she was his wife when I teased her about being pregnant. Also, come to find out that she had already had the baby. I don’t know what possessed them to doing something so stupid, but they are now more in danger than before…and now they have brought a baby into the world. A new target…” He trailed off.
The group looked at the each other with matching dreaded demeanors.
“What do we do now? How in the hell do we work with these new facts? Our fathers will want to know everything about those two, especially now that Hermione is back, and now…with a baby? Are those two mad? Fuck…This plan was bad enough when we were to protect just those two…but now…Oh shit, This is going to be impossible.” Vincent Crabbe moaned leaning forward to cradle his head in his hands.
Draco nodded in agreement. “They did mess this up big time. Things will be very difficult from now on.” He moved around to stand in front of the head table. “I still say we go to Professor Snape. I think we can trust him. He’s…”
“…He’s a known death eater Draco. We shouldn’t involve him.” Blaise Zabini crossed his arms across his chest. “We don’t dare let this group be known. If the Dark Lord ever found out about us…” He faltered and looked around.
“We need help here. This is far above our heads now. The revolution can’t proceed as planned with this new development. We can’t risk the life of a newborn baby. The plan has to be altered.” Draco stood looking around the room taking a moment to look each person present in the eye. “I say we vote on it. I say we contact Snape and recruit his help.”
Zabini stood up and waved his hand to quiet the rising voices. “I still say we can do this alone. It is too risky to bring in an outsider. Professor Snape included. He is a friend of a lot of our fathers and I don’t want to risk my dad finding out about my disloyalty to his Lord. Personally, I like my hide still attached to my body.”
A few voices echoed in agreement.
“Besides, we have no idea that Snape would be…co-operative. To bring him in would be the equivalent of inviting a snake into a rat cage, so to speak.” Crabbe interrupted. “I trust him, but not with this. Our freedom means to much for me to take any chances.”
“Here, Here.” Parkinson chanted nodding her head in absolute agreement with her co-student and co-conspirator.
“Look…” Draco took a deep breath and a step forward. He needed to convince the group if any of this was to continue. “Snape has always gone out of his way to help each of us when we returned from those ‘required’ bloody conclaves each month. You, Goyle,” Here he turned to flash gray eyes towards his overtly large friend. “You had to have your arm nearly reattached after the ‘re ‘required’ beating your father gave you…and you…Pansy.” Turning his gaze to the young pretty girl and sighed as she nearly sank into her chair. “You had to undergo extensive healing after the so called ‘seductions’ you suffered by how many men at the last gathering? Offered up by your own father?” He paused when her face paled at the memory. He gave her a sympathetic look then turned his attention back to the crowd again. “Snape has been there for each and every one of us after those meetings. Healing us himself so that Madame Pomfrey never had to know what we have to go through. He never asked for anything in return for his comfort. He has helped us, kept our secrets when we rambled on in our pain. I suspect that we must have spoken of things that have been said within these walls during those times, and he hasn’t mentioned any of it. I think he would help if we ask him to. I don’t think he likes what he does any more so than we do.”
Severus sat in complete dumbfounded silence as he listened to the barrage of traitors around him. His ears were burning in response to the words being bandied around. These offsprings of Voldemort’s inner most circle of the Death Eaters had somehow joined an alliance of some sort. He was still a bit confused what their group was associated with. The remarks about revolution and freedom, however, gave him some clue. He rose slowly to his feet careful that the cloak still shrouded him from view and moved stealthily to the front of the room.
“I say we put it to a vote.” Draco stated raising his hand once more for silence. “All for us letting Snape in the ‘Revolutionaries against Tyranny’ raise your hands to be counted.”
He counted the hands and marked them down on paper.
“Those against?” Zabini asked and watched as a few hands rose into the air.
“Done…” Draco took a deep breath in relief. “It is passed that we tell Snape about…”
“No need to bother.” A silky drawl rang out and Draco twirled around in surprise, reaching for his wand in automatic response. His eyes widening as the man under discussion removed an invisibility cloak and stood sneering, at the gathered group.
“What…how…” His voice stammered.
“Close your mouth, Draco, you look like a fish.” Severus carefully folded the cloth and stood facing the horrified young group. “I am glad that you voted to let me in on this little…revolution. I just need someone to update me on your currant activities.”
“Sir…We have…I mean…I don’t.” Zabini stammered his face reddening.
“Sit, Zabini…I do believe that I have the floor.” Severus pressed the boy’s shoulder and he fell compliant into his chair. A rush of voices rose from the crowd, which he silenced with another raised hand. “Draco was right. I am here to…help…in whatever way I can. Now…” He turned to look at the young Malfoy with an amused look. “Tell me everything. What and who started this idea, and what have you accomplished so far?”
~~~~~~
Thank you to everyone that has been reading this.
Raven, WriterLady1031, PaganPoetry, Dawn, WizardingAngel and Sarahe; Thank you all. I really appreciate all your kind words.
Michelline, Potions Mistress, spaz141 and Merrideth: I hope you all liked where I took Draco in this chapter and bear with me there will be lemons in future chapters.
Meg: A series? Hum…have to think about that one. LOL…thanks heaps!
Deb: I have happily added you to my ‘to notify’ list. I will send you an email to let you know when I updated I’d hate for you to miss anything either. I hope you enjoyed where I took Draco and his gang.
PotionsMistressM: Happy ending? I think I can oblige. Keep reading.
VegasVWchiK: Aww…and my most favorite local reader has read my story. LOL…Thanks.
Tanya: Now, she wouldn’t go shopping for their son if Severusldn’ldn’t somehow go along. Hermione wouldn’t stand for that. Draco. I hope you like where I took him and his friends. Please keep reading and reviewing. It helps me out a lot. Let me know if something doesn’t sit right.
Ladydeathfaerie: LOL.. You should speak, oh queen of sneaks. The last few chapters you posted I didn’t know about so turn about is fair play, dear heart. LOL I am SOOOO glad you liked that part. Its one of my favorite silly words… Nincompoop!
M: More is herd mod more is coming
Daisy: So many questions and not much answers for you as of yet. Keep reading I hope you like where I am taking this. I know there are LOTS of chapters, however when I started this I didn’t really have that many chapters planned. It’s kind of grown in leaps and bounds. You have got me to thinking that I should break this up into two stories. I’m thinking about that. Thanks for the idea
MsPixie: I’m going to blush here. But I thank you very much for your kind words. Things like that makes a writer really want to do more. Voldemort will indeed have a cow when he finds out about the baby, but as you have probably got from this chapter…not all will go his way. Please keep reading.
Midnight Tiger: I like your way of thinking. The two alpha males will more than likely get into it at some point. Have lots more to write yet and I love a good confrontation. LOL
MeganAnn: I simply MUST thanks MetaMuse. LOL. I am so glad that you like my version of Daddy Severus. It’s how I envision him if he was to become a father. I hope you continue to read and let me know if you are still enjoying this little fic of mine. Much love to you.
Mary: Sorry if these little review answers make you a bit upset. So, I will try to cut them down a bit more.