In Wisdom's Creed

Here we go, Chapter Six!

I know it's been a while; I'm quite seriously ill at the moment, so I'm witting when I can, but my mind's not very focused on it.

The title for this Chapter is 'Hidden Secrets'

The quote is the following:

Hidden by old age awhile
In masker’s cloak and hood,
Each hating what the other loved,
Face to face we stood:
“That I have met with such,” said he,
“Bodes me little good.”
-- William Butler Yeats (1865 - 1939)


Yet again, if you want to know when I've updated, drop me an email at secretlysnape@yahoo.co.uk

Please review!

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"Hello Miss Granger, Professor McGonagall." Lucius smiled as best he could. It was obvious he was still very weak from his ordeal.

"Good afternoon, Mr Malfoy." said Hermione. "How are you feeling today?" Hermione perched on a chair that had been put next to the bed whilst Professor McGonagall took a place towards the corner of the room, just observing.

Lucius smiled again.
"All the better for having someone cheery to talk to. Your Potions Master has been here quite a bit, you have no idea of how irritating he can be at times! Especially when one isn't feeling well."

Hermione glanced at Professor McGonagall and they both grinned.
"Oh I have some idea, Mr Malfoy." She chuckled. "I'm glad to see you have a sense of humour though, you do seem to be holding off the curse rather well at the moment."

Something flickered across Malfoy's face and he looked away from her.
"Yes... yes I do.. but do not be lured into a false sense of security, Miss Granger... if it takes me again I could be a very dangerous person... I don't want to hurt you if it happens. Make sure you take care and have a Professor with you each time you come here."

McGonagall half smiled at Hermione.

"Oh I will, Mr Malfoy, I know you don't want to cause anyone any hurt, but I know that the curse is very strong and that sometimes you can't control it."

Lucius looked back at her, relief showing in his eyes.
He smiled.
"So, I've been told that I'm going to be your project. I must say I'm rather glad, I'm sure your bedside manner is better than old Snape's at least." He grinned at her and then suddenly looked serious.
"You're a very clever witch, Miss Granger. Even the Death Eaters have had to come to terms with that, despite your being muggle-born. I'm sure that if anyone can break this curse, you can do it."

Hermione blushed at his praise, and then paled at the thought of having attracted the attention of the Death Eaters.

"Thank you, Mr Malfoy... but I just study well. I'm sure that with the aid of my Professors we can come up with something to help you and everyone else under this curse, though."

"Well, any way that you think I can help, I'd be glad to. Anything you can think of to ask me, I will answer, and I do mean anything. I have no secrets. I didn't want to do those..." he paused and stared at the bed sheets. When he spoke again it was much more quietly. "I didn't want to do those horrible things, but I will not say I did not do them... anything you need to know, I will tell you. We have to beat this curse, how many other lives has it destroyed?"

He looked back up at her, his eyes glistening with tears.
Hermione smiled reassuringly at him.
"We'll break this curse, Mr Malfoy, with your help and all of our knowledge, we can do this."
She laid her hand on his, McGonagall tensed slightly and watched them closely.

"Don't worry, Mr Malfoy. It wasn't your fault."

He smiled gratefully.
"That didn't stop me from doing it though."

"No, no it didn't, but you've done so much now by coming to us. With your help I'm confident that we can beat this curse, I really am."

He smiled and blinked wearily.
"Thank you, Miss Granger. You give me reason to live. I'm sorry though, I'm so tired now. I cannot do much yet."

Hermione stood and smiled at him.
"I'll leave you to sleep, Mr Malfoy. I'll see you again soon."

He lay back on the pillows and smiled.
"Don't be shy, good company is a rare treat."

McGonagall smiled at Hermione as she ushered her out of the room. Hermione felt pleased, she was filled with confidence now and was certain that she could help to beat the Imperio curse.

She smiled at Professor McGonagall as they left the room, then stopped dead as she saw Snape standing outside, seemingly waiting for them.

He turned as they approached, the look in his eyes of pure venom.

"So." he hissed. "I thought I might find you here with your little pet."

McGonagall frowned. "Professor Snape! What are you doing?"

He glared at McGonagall and then stared back at Hermione.
"I think perhaps you've forgotten something, Miss Granger."
He spat her name out as though he hated to say it.

Hermione stepped back.
She had never seen Snape this angry, not even with Harry.

"Professor? I don't know... forgotten something?"

Snape flushed slightly and started towards her, but McGonagall intercepted him.
"Severus, what is wrong with you, how dare you intimidate Hermione like this?"

Snape ignored her and continued to glare at Hermione.
"Thought you could ignore a detention, Miss Granger and get away with it because everyone wants to give you time to heal poor little Lucius?"

Hermione blinked and gasped.
"Oh no!"

McGonagall blinked and looked at Hermione.
"Detention?"

Hermione bit her lip and stared at Snape nervously.
"I'm really, really sorry, Professor... I completely forgot... I was helping Ron and Harry with their Transfiguration practice and it completely slipped out of my mind!"

"Not good enough Miss Granger!"
He glared at her again.
"You will now serve detention until I think you have learnt not to cause trouble and think you can get away with it. This evening, my office, seven pm."

He turned, swirling his cloak around him, and stalked out of the hospital wing.

McGonagal watched him go, speechless, then recovered and turned to Hermione who was almost shaking.
"Hermione, dear, are you ok?"

Hermione nodded slightly.
"I can't believe I forgot his detention!"

McGonagal half smiled.
"Forgetting a detention is never a good thing, child... but... why did you have a detention?"

Hermione hesitated and glanced around the wing. It was surprisingly empty.
"Umm... I made some mistakes in potions... well.. Professor Snape seems to think I did... I know I didn't.. but well.. my potion was all wrong at the end. I'm sure there was something else in there."

She sighed.
"Professor... I'm a little worried about working with Professor Snape... I know he's a Professor, and I know how brilliant he is with potions, but... well.. ever since Mr Malfoy arrived, it seems that Professor Snape hates me."
She looked up at Professor McGonagall who was smiling kindly down at her.

"Oh Professor Snape is a grump, Hermione, dear. Though he was rather angry just now. He's just upset that Lucius is, once again, in the limelight where he was. Don't tell anyone this, but he's always been second fiddle to Lucius, no matter what he's done. He thought that being a member of the Order and spying on You-Know-Who would give him the chance to shine and do something without that shadow, and now Lucius is here and overshadowing him again."

Hermione nodded slowly.
"I can see why it would upset him, I just wish he wouldn't take it out on other people. He's... well... he's kind of scary when he gets angry..."

McGonagal smiled again.
"Yes, he can be a little scary. Don't worry about it dear, I'll talk to Professor Dumbledore, and we'll calm him down. He'll be professional when you start working on things together, after all, he loves his potions and you are a very clever young lady."

Hermione smiled gratefully, but wasn't entirely sure that Professor McGonagal was right.