Unlikely Friends

Title: Unlikely Friends Part 6
Author: Shannon
Pairing: Draco/Hermione, Hermione/Snape (friendship)
Rating: R
Warning: Contains Rape, not graphic in this part or any other but it suggested.
Disclaimer: Not mine, If you recognit, it, it belongs to J. K. Rowling
Distribution: Hermione¡¦s Library (http://hl.shadesofgrey.us/efiction/viewstory.php?sid=29) Twisting the Hellmouth, Tainted Love, WLS
Spoilers: Going to say anything through OoTP to be safe. Probably nothing really specific.
Summary: Hermione¡¦s attacked and can¡¦t tell her usual friends and ends up finding support in unlikely places.
Author¡¦s Notes: Takes place 6th year. I¡¦m assuming all 6th years are roughly around 16.
**Draco andpe ape are slightly OOC, but it is necessary for this to work.

Thanks to Victoria for beta-ing this part for me

Part 6

The rest of the week passed quickly. Snape had returned the next afternoon with all the books Hermione had requested as well as new homework assignments from her other professors. She finished grading the papers he had left for her, and had a new sympathy for him. She could now understand why he considered the students to be dunderheads.

Hermione spent the days working on her class assignments and grading potions papers of the younger entsents. She was still trying to work on simple spells but most of them were having disastrous results. Draco stopped by several times during the week to talk to her, or sometimes in the evenings he and Snape would go into the professor¡¦s private office and argue about something. Hermione was sure it involved her, or rather, her memories from the pensieve but no one wanted to discuss it in front of her.

Now that a week had passed she was starting to sleep better at night. She was no longer taking the sleeping potion every evening. She still had nightmares but was able to handle them better, and get herself back to sleep. She had even agreed to meet with Professor Mcgonagall this afternoon. Now that the time was approaching she was beginning to have second thoughts.

Draco was watching Hermione from across the table. He had come down to have lunch with her. Dumbledore suggested that since Draco was the only student Hermione would see, that spending time with her may help. Someone her own age, was likely to get her to open up more than a teacher. Certainly more than Snape, was Draco¡¦s first reaction to the statement. He knew she had agreed to meet with her head of house and he was glad, if for no other reason than so the professor would stop asking him about seeing her.

¡§You okay with this?¡¨ Draco asked setting his glass down, ¡§I can stay if you wish?¡¨

¡§Thank you Draco,¡¨ Hermione smiled slightly, still finding her growing friendship with the Slytherin slightly surprising, ¡§I doubt Professor Mcgonagall is a danger to me.¡¨

¡§Then why haven¡¦t you let her see you?¡¨

¡§Pity,¡¨ Hermione answered, ¡§I don¡¦t want people looking at me with pity.¡¨

¡§You were attacked,¡¨ he pointed out, ¡§Brutally.¡¨

¡§You don¡¦t look at me that way, neither does Snape.¡¨

Draco nodded considering what she had said. He didn¡¦t know about Snape but he didn¡¦t think he even knew how to pity someone. He still was finding showing her any kindness to be a strange feeling. However, he had learned in the last week that he had a lot in common with the Gryffindor. He hadn¡¦t expected too, not with her having come from a muggle family, but she had learned a lot about the wizarding world. She knew more charms, curses, and spells than most of the people in his own house, a trait that he had found annoying a ago ago, but now was beginning to see that it was because of a lot of hard work from trying to prove to everyone, including herself, that sid bid belong in this world. He had also learned that while Potter and Weasley were her friends, they sometimes annoyed her as much as they did him. She had explained S.P.E.W. to him, in great detail; that he didn¡¦t agree with her about, but he had to respect the amount of time and research she put into her cause.

¡§Still wouldn¡¦t you rather be with your friends?¡¨

¡§I miss them, but I don¡¦t want them to do something stupid,¡¨ Hermione answered, they had discussed this before.

¡§Eventually¡K¡¨ Draco¡¦s comment was cut of by a knock on the door.

Hermione moved off the couch to the other side of the room, so she would be blocked from view, in case it was someone other than Professor Mcgonagall, it was unlikely but she didn¡¦t want to take the risk. Draco walked over to the door and pushed it open slightly, seeing the Professor on the other side he stepped aside and let her enter.

¡§Hello Professor,¡¨ Hermione greeted the older witch, as she stepped from the shadows.

¡§Hello Hermione,¡¨ she replied then looked at Draco, ¡§Mr. Malfoy.¡¨

Draco greeted her then looked at Hermione questioningly.

¡§It¡¦s fine,¡¨ she smiled slightly, ¡§I¡¦ll see you later.¡¨

He nodded silently and left, pulling the door closed behind him. He was supposed to be meeting Dumbledore and Snape in the Headmasters office soon, but he figured he had time to return to his room and at least start his History of Magic paper.
*****

Hermione was now sitting on the couch, Professor Mcgonagall occupied the chair that Draco had vacated at her arrival. Hermione was watching the older woman. She could already see the pity in her eyes and was afraid she would quickly regret agreeing to this meeting.

¡§Why did you want to see me Professor?¡¨ Hermione asked, ¡§Surely you didn¡¦t believe that Professor Snape was harming me?¡¨

¡§Oh no, of course I didn¡¦t,¡¨ Mcgonagall reassured her, ¡§Hermione don¡¦t you believe you would be better off in your rooms, or with, well, anyone other than Professor Snape. Someone you can talk to?¡¨

¡§No, I don¡¦t,¡¨ Hermione replied, ¡§And I do have someone to talk to. Draco visits almost every day and¡K¡¨

¡§Mr. Malfoy? Do you think that¡¦s wise, I¡¦m aware he¡¦s been working for the Order, but he is still a Malfoy.¡¨

¡§And I¡¦m still a mud-blood. Harry and Ron are reckless at the best of times, if¡Xthey¡¦ll end up dead.¡¨

¡§You¡¦re missing all of your classes.¡¨

¡§Yes, but Professor Snape is bringing me the work, and even if I return to my room, every time I try even the easiest charms things blow up,¡¨ Hermione smiled weakly, ¡§Think Neville six years ago.¡¨

¡§How do you expect to control your emotions, which is what¡¦s causing the problem, if you hide here?¡¨ Mcgonagall asked.

¡§I¡¦m not hiding, I just need time,¡¨ Hermione replied, ¡§Do the boys still think something is wrong? Draco said they¡¦re suspicious.¡¨

¡§They are, I¡¦ve been able to reassure them so far, but¡K¡¨

¡§Draco, and Professor Snape are meeting with the Headmaster today, I believe they have a plan to¡Xtrap¡Xthe person who¡Kthey have a plan. Once they¡¦ve caught him, Harry and Ron can know that I¡¦m here.¡¨
*****

Draco walked into the Headmaster¡¦s office and joined the two older wizards already seated around the desk. Both had stopped speaking when he arrived and were now waiting for him to take his seat.

¡§Have you heard from your father again Mr. Malfoy?¡¨ Dumbledore asked.

¡§No sir, he did say weekly though, so I expect to in the next few days.¡¨

¡§Very well. As I was telling Professor Snape,¡¨

¡§I still don¡¦t think its¡K¡¨ Snape interrupted.

¡§I don¡¦t believe that stopping Hoade ade visits was the best course of action,¡¨ he continued ignoring the Slytherin¡¦s protests. ¡§If your father, or Voldemort wished to draw out Harry or myself and doesn¡¦t get a response, they may attack the school directly.¡¨

¡§Letting us go back to Hogsmeade will put more mud¡Xmuggle-borns in danger won¡¦t it?¡¨ Draco asked, ¡§He¡¦ll attack again hoping more attacks will¡K¡¨

¡§Force my hand, yes,¡¨ the Headmaster agreed, ¡§I don¡¦t intend to send all the students into town. Just two, if you both agree.¡¨

¡§Who?¡¨ Draco asked, not following the older wizards thoughts at all. Although, judging by the scowl on the Potions Masters face, he probably wouldn¡¦t like the answer.

¡§Understand this will take sometime, it won¡¦t happen in the next few days,¡¨ Dumbledore began before beginning his explanation, once again ignoring the protests of the Potions master.
*****
¡§She¡¦s never going to agree to this,¡¨ Draco told Snape as the older wizard gave the password to open the door to his rooms.

¡§It¡¦s dangerous and ridiculous,¡¨ Snape agreed, ¡§I can¡¦t believe you agreed to it or how he expects us to convince Miss Granger to¡K¡¨

¡§Convince me to what?¡¨ Hermione walked out of the bedroom carrying a roll of parchment and a quill.

¡§Um,¡¨ Snape and Draco both looked at each other.

¡§How did the meeting with Professor Dumbledore go?¡¨ Hermione asked, ¡§He wants me to do something?¡¨

¡§He wants me to help you start using magic again,¡¨ Draco said, not completely lying. Dumbledore had suggested that too.

¡§Why would you have to convince me of that?¡¨ She frowned.

¡§Well, we thought you may not like the idea of having a tutor?¡¨ Draco suggested.

¡§Why does he think I need one?¡¨

¡§Not so much a tutor, we both believe that if you can relax you¡¦ll be able to control your emotions and be able to perform spells again,¡¨ Snape offered.

¡§I have no problem working with Draco until I can do it on my own,¡¨ Hermione answered, ¡§But I don¡¦t believe that¡¦s what either of you were talking about.¡¨

¡§How was your meeting with Professor Mcgonagall?¡¨ Draco asked hoping to change the subject.

¡§As expected,¡¨ Hermione frowned, ¡§She either thinks you¡¦re holding me hostage or that I¡¦m running away from probleEithEither way she¡¦s not happy that I¡¦m here.¡¨

¡§She hasn¡¦t told Potter or Weasley anything has she?¡¨ Draco asked quickly.

¡§No, what were you two talking about?¡¨ Hermione asked, this obviously concerned her and if neither of the two Slytherins wanted to tell her it couldn¡¦t be good.

¡§We don¡¦t have to talk about it to¡X,¡¨ Draco began, maybe they could wait a few days, she would be more receptive to the idea when she had regained some control of her magic.

¡§No,¡¨ Snape said quietly as he began to pace, ¡§She might as well know now. Give her time to either come to terms with it or find a way to talk him out of it.¡¨

Hermione¡¦s face paled slightly. If they were this sure she would hate the idea she wasn¡¦t sure she wanted to know now. It was, of course, too late to back out, as Snape was already motioning her to sit.

¡§First, you need to know who your attacker was Miss Granger¡K¡¨
***********************************************************************
Torny
Igladglad you like it so far. I¡¦ve never read ¡¥Splinters¡¦ actually I¡¦m pretty new to the HP ¡¥verse at all. This is the first fic that¡¦s pure HP though I¡¦ve written a couple HP/BtVS crossovers.

FuMan Skeeto
Sorry it took so long, actually chapter 5 was done when I posted 1-4 but my betas apparently disappeared. I do have a new one now so hopefully it won¡¦t be so long anymore.

Campy Capybara
Thanks, this fic was actually intended to be a HG/SS fic but has kind of drifted to the D/HG pairing. Kind of decided that after being raped, being involved with a teacher would be too close to repeating the abuse. (Hope that makes sense)

I hadn¡¦t thought about the Maurader¡¦s Map but good point that could pose a problem. ƒº

Mel
Glad you¡¦re enjoying it. So everyone but Draco, Snape, and Hermione must die? Actually not that bad of an idea.

Editor Dee
Thanks, I¡¦m glad the OOC doesn¡¦t seem too bad. The warning is mostly there to avoid angry emails about it. I also think there¡¦s some leeway in personality because the books are really Harry¡¦s POV so you don¡¦t see a lot of aspects of certain characters. I will try to update soon. ƒº

Deb
Sorry about so long between updated, they should be coming a little faster now. Of course Lucius is too arrogant to not contact his son, and yeah, both kids have a lot to deal with, and it¡¦s going to get worse. ƒº