Proud of You

First of all, let me apologize to everyone for taking so long to get the next chapter up. Life has been crazy and still is, but I'll try my best to not have such a long stretch in between chapters again.

The song I listened to during this chapter was Glass Skin by Dir en grey. For those of you who don't know, they're a Japanese band but this is one of the songs there is also an English version of in case any of you actually go check out the songs I mention in each chapter lol. I listened to the Japanese version because I just think it sounds better..but that's just me. Anyway, I picked this song because it seemed to identify with both Snape and Draco at different points.

I'm not particularly thrilled with how this chapter turned out but I'm my own worst critic. Let me know what you all thought of it please! Thanks for reading!

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

"Draco, I'm sure you're curious as to why I asked you to come see me," Professor Snape began as he took a seat across from the young man. Draco simply nodded, unable to find his voice. " I believe I owe you an explanation for my extended absence. After the war, I thought it best to lay low for awhile. I'm sure any remaining Death Eaters weren't too happy to find out I was a spy for the Order. I didn't want to put anyone in unnecessary danger by revealing I was alive."

"I understand, sir," Draco said dubiously.

Snape regarded his godson, once the scared boy who seemingly overnight had transformed into a man. He realized as he held Draco's grey-eyed stare that understanding did not always equal forgiveness. Something told him that perhaps he had wounded the young man more deeply than he originally thought. He knew he should attempt to apologize but honestly what good would that do?

"Sir, if that is all, I have some studying to do."

"Of course, don't let me keep you from your studies."

With a mumbled thank you, Draco all but fled from the office. Snape sighed and ran a hand over his face and instantly regretted the movement when a sharp pain shot down his arm. Muttering curses under his breath, he gingerly got to his feet to go speak to the Headmaster about the possibility of getting a temporary assistant. Upon entering the Headmaster's office, he found Albus with his head in his hands. The older man looked up as Snape took a seat across from him.

"They all hate me, Severus," he lamented.

"Did you expect them to feel any differently?" came the caustic reply.

"Miss Granger let me have it the worst."

"How surprising."

"Severus, I'm being serious. See for yourself," he said as he pointed to the pensieve behind him.

Even though his muscles still protested movement, he made his way over to the pensieve and peered into it. As he watched the scene unfold before him, he couldn't help but feel a small swell of pride towards the Golden Trio, namely Hermione...wait, when did she become Hermione to him? Shaking his head to clear that particular thought, he excited the memory and regarded Albus.

"It's as much as we deserve and you know it," he finally said quietly.

"I suppose you're right but I had hoped they would understand."

"They understand just fine Albus, but that doesn't mean we are forgiven."

"What do you mean 'we'? They haven't spoken to you, have they?"

"No, but I had the same sort of discussion with Draco prior to coming up here and while he didn't blow up at me like your precious Gryffindors did you, I could tell that he was less than pleased with me." Severus sat back down and looked Albus in the eye. "You know that Miss Granger overheard the two of us arguing about me delivering her to the Dark Lord. You didn't really expect her to just forget about that did you?"

"Of course not, but..."

"Albus, sometimes I wonder how much of your optimism is delusion," he sneered.

Albus gave him a look of disapproval. "Severus, I'm assuming you came up here for a reason other than to berate me."

"Actually yes I did wish to speak to you about something. As you know, I'm still suffering some lingering ailments due to the attack by Nagini. I find myself in need of an assistant. Someone who can help me brew some potions for Poppy and perhaps some other tasks."

"Well, Severus, I'm afraid all of the staff are far too busy to take on any additional work."

"I see. Perhaps a student then?"

Albus' eyes twinkled and Severus knew he was in trouble. "Did you have a particular student in mind?"

"Hermione Granger," he answered immediately.

The old man's eyes twinkled even more. "Miss Granger is an excellent choice. Would you like to ask her or shall I?"

"I'll speak to her after class," he said, eying the Headmaster warily.

"Excellent! Do let me know how it goes."

"Of course, Headmaster. Good evening," Severus said with a small bow and then headed back to the dungeons.

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

Later that night, Hermione and Draco met in the Room of Requirement. Hermione noted that Draco seemed upset during dinner and when she asked him about it, he requested they meet here to discuss what was bothering him. She watched him pace the room a few times.

"Draco," she said softly, "come sit down and talk to me."

Draco turned to face her and she noticed his eyes were that same dark grey color they were the other morning before breakfast. She found it strange she never realized how expressive his eyes were. They seemed to change hues depending on his mood. Of course, she didn't spend a lot of time looking into his eyes prior to the war.

"I don't know where to begin," he said softly, pulling Hermione from her musings.

"Just talk. Even if it doesn't make any kind of sense, I've found that sometimes just voicing your thoughts and feelings helps." She thought back to her own ramblings at Professor Snape's grave.

"He said he stayed hidden to protect everyone. While I know he's being honest about that, it's such an un-Slytherin thing to do. Normally, we only look out for ourselves and to hell with everyone else. The more I learn about my godfather, the more he doesn't fit the typical Slytherin mold." Hermione smiled at this. She had long since come to that same conclusion about Professor Snape.

"He really doesn't, does he? Personally, the things I've seen over the last year have taught me that there is a lot more to most people than the particular attributes of the house they were sorted into."

"Mia, I've been betrayed by people before. It never hurt like this."

"It's because you actually care about him," she replied quietly.

He nodded. "Ever since I was a boy, I've always looked up to him and respected him, moreso than my own father. I just don't understand why he didn't find some way to let me know he was alright. Instead, he let me grieve for him and then he just shows up here...and..." Draco trailed off, too choked with emotion to continue.

"Draco, he did it because he cares about you too. He didn't want anything to happen to you because of him. How would you have felt if he revealed to you he had survived and then he ended up getting killed by some crazy Death Eater? What if they found out you knew of his whereabouts and captured you and tortured you for information? How do you think that would make him feel?"

Draco sighed and ran his hands through his hair. "I know. I know what he did was for the best but he didn't even say he was sorry."

Hermione tentatively leaned closer to him and when he didn't move away, she slid her arms around his shoulders and hugged him gently. She was a little surprised when she felt his arms wrap themselves around her waist and pull her closer.

"Thank you for listening, and thank you for being a good friend," he whispered.

"Anytime," she whispered back. He gave her a little squeeze and pulled back slowly. Hermione's eyes flitted to the clock on the mantle. "It's late. We should probably start heading back."

"Can we just stay here? I don't really feel like going back to my room tonight," he said as he gave her a hopeful look.

"Alright, I don't see what it would hurt. Do you want me to invite our friends?"

"What's the matter, Mia? Don't feel like fielding all the questions that are sure to arise about whether or not we shagged?" he teased.

Hermione smirked. "We would have entirely too much fun with that one and you know it."

Draco shook his head. "Who are you and what have you done with Hermione Granger?"

She laughed and then turned serious. "I could ask the same of you. If someone would have told me a year ago that you and I would one day engage in a heart-to-heart, I would've questioned their sanity."

"I'm just full of surprises, aren't I?" he asked and flashed her a small smile.

"You're not the only Slytherin who has surprised me. You better be careful or word may get out that you're actual human beings," she teased.

Draco's brows furrowed in confusion. "What other Slytherin surprised you? Don't they know I'm the only one who's allowed to do that?" he jested back.

Hermione smiled weakly but then her face sobered. "Your godfather. The Headmaster told him he should take me to Voldemort to prove his loyalty. Professor Snape became angry and outright refused. He told the Headmaster to find another solution."

"How did you find out about this?"

"I was doing patrols and heard Professor Snape yelling. Then I hid and listened to the rest of the conversation."

Draco shook his head in disbelief. "I can't believe the Headmaster even suggested that! What was he thinking?! Giving you to Voldemort? That would've been suicide for the Order, not to mention Harry. Thankfully, my godfather doesn't suffer from bouts of head-up-ass syndrome and was able to set the Headmaster straight."

Hermione chuckled. "It was crazy. The only reason I even stopped was because Professor Snape yelled; something I've never heard him do before. Even when he was angry with us, he never raised his voice."

Draco was still having trouble believing what he was hearing. "I think we've had enough seriousness for tonight. Let's get the rest of the gang down here and relax for a bit, yeah?"

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

The group of friends stayed up until the wee hours of the morning. Eventually Ron and Lavender crashed on one of the three beds in the room. Harry and Ginny soon followed suit. Draco crawled into bed and held the covers open for Hermione.

"Come on in, love," he cooed. She rolled her eyes but smiled as she crawled in next to him. He laid the covers over her and draped his arm over her waist. "Is this alright?"

"Yes, it's fine."

"Good night, Mia."

"Good night, Draco."

In the moments before she drifted off to sleep, Hermione reflected on how close she and Draco had become. She was truly glad they were friends. He wasn't joking when he said he was full of surprises. Little did she know, that come tomorrow Professor Snape would surprise her yet again as well.