In Wisdom's Creed

Heya folks,

I've not really done anything on my fan fic for a while. I'm hoping that putting up a site will at least make me get around to writing. I've been rather ill and I've had computer problems, but things are tiding over now, so I should be able to write more. Unfortunately, because I didn't check my yahoo account for so long, it got deactivated. It's back up now though, so if anyone wants to know when these stories are updated, drop a mail to secretlysnape@yahoo.co.uk and I'll add you to the list.

I've put up a website, though, with my fan fic.
It's only on geocities at the moment, and it's not great, but that's just so I could get stuff online asap.
I'm working on a better one.

URL is: http://www.geocities.com/secretlysnape/

Here's the latest Chapter of In Wisdom's Creed.
It's not too long, and the next chapter probably isn't going to be too long either.
It starts to get interesting after that though!
So keep reading!

SecretlySnape

The quote for this chapter is:

"The secret breathed within
And never spoken, woken
By music; the garlands in
Her hands no one has seen.
She wreathes the air with green
and weaves the stillness in."
-- May Sarton

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

A month passed quickly. Hermione found herself spending more and more time with Lucius. He had insisted she call him that now, as they had become friends.
She'd found that strange, what she had known Lucius as was a monster. But now, she really enjoyed their talks, and she really did think of him as another friend.

At first, Ron and Harry hadn't been very happy with the amount of time she was spending on her 'extra credit project', but she'd pointed out that they spent as much time with quidditch practice, so they'd accepted it.

"Well you do seem happy doing all this extra work." Ron grudgingly said to her one Saturday morning at breakfast.

Hermione grinned. She still felt guilty for not telling Ron and Harry what was going on, but she knew it was for the best.
"Well I enjoy extra school work, Ron, you should know that by now!"

"It's unnatural" exclaimed Ron, ripping a piece of toast in two. "I don't know anyone who likes the school work they have to do, let alone extra. You're nuts!"

Hermione chuckled and glanced at Harry who rolled his eyes at Ron and grinned.

"Anyway," he chimed in, "You'll get extra credit which will help later on won't it?"

She smiled gratefully at him, "Yes, it will. It should help me get a job more easily."

Harry nodded and once more tucked into his breakfast.

At this point, Neville approached the table. He was late for breakfast, which wasn't unusual, but today he had a look of nervous excitement on his face.

"Harry! Ron! Hermione!" he whispered, sitting down next to Hermione.
He glanced around the hall, his gaze resting on the Slytherin table for a while.
"I... I've got something to tell you. But it should probably be secret..."

"What is it, Neville?" asked Harry curiously.

"Let's go outside, and I can tell you."

Hermione frowned curiously. Whatever Neville had to say was obviously important to him. And a secret?
She hoped he hadn't been near the hospital wing for a while.
She reprimanded herself internally for being paranoid. Neville wouldn't know about Lucius.
She smiled and stood up, grabbing a handfull of toast.

"Well, let's take some food with us, Neville, you've not eaten yet."

He smiled gratefully at her. "Good idea, Hermione."

The trio followed Neville out of the great hall and down the main stairs to the front doors.
They ventured out into the sunlight and headed down towards the lake.
It was a rather nice day and the boys started planning their Quidditch practice for later that morning.

Her spirits lifted as she realised she'd be able to spend more time with Lucius. A shame he'd have to miss such a lovely day. He was mostly over the torture now, but he had to remain inside so that he wasn't seen.

Neville stopped suddenly and looked all around.

"Doesn't look like anyone's here, Neville." Said Ron. "So... what's the big secret?"

"I was in the library this morning, I'd forgotten to return a book that I borrowed a month ago for Snape's essay on Dragon Blood... and... I heard some Slythering talking. Blaize Zabini I think it was... he said that Malfoy's Dad's gone missing and Malfoy's pretending not to be worried, but Zabini thinks he is..."

Hermione gasped before she could help herself.
All three turned to look at her.

"Well... umm... if he's missing it's bad right?"

Neville nodded, seeming to accept the explanation.
"Zabini said that Malfoy said his Dad went away on business trips a lot, but Malfoy doesn't seem to have had warning about this one."

Ron grinned.
"Well, if Malfoy's Dad has gone and got himself hurt, all the better for us, right?"

"Ron!" snapped Hermione.

Ron and Harry looked at her, confused.
"But.. he's a Death Eater, Hermione. If he can't spy for Voldemort, all the better, right?"

Hermione bit her lip, trying to cover her worry.
"Yes... but.. what if it's Voldemort who's hurt him?"

"Who cares?!" exclaimed Ron. "The less Death Eaters the better! Especially Malfoy!"
He swung his arms in a cheer.

"Damnit Ronald, you have no sensitivity at all! Who says he's really a Death Eater? we only have your assumptions, and they seem to have been wrong about a few people all along!"
With that, Hermione stomped back up towards the castle, leaving three very bewildered people behind her.

"What.... what was that all about?" ventured Ron, looking at Harry.

"I don't know, Ron." responded Harry. "But.. she's never really been with us on the 'get rid of the Death Eaters by whatever means possible' thing... I don't think she likes the idea of them being hurt either."

"But they're evil.." said Neville woefully

"Yes, they are Neville, and don't worry, they'll all be caught, some day." Said Harry gently, "Hermione just doesn't like the idea of people being hurt... you know what she's like about Snape. Always defends us when we call him names and stuff."

Ron and Neville nodded.

"Girls eh?" grinned Ron, rolling his eyes.

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