I Didn't Know Snape Had a Secret Chamber

I Didn't Know Professor Snape Had a Secret Chamber

Chapter Three - Nice Going, Draco!

"Great," Hermione hissed to Draco, "Snape!" Draco raised a light, pale eyebrow and glared at the witch that teachers dubbed "the cleverest witch of her year" and sneered.

"Nice to see you aren't blind, Mudblood." Snape was sitting at a desk, obviously brewing a potion. He hadn't noticed that there were voices lingering in his chambers, voices without any seeable bodies -- just yet.

Draco took a step forward, ready to say something. Hermione, however, held him back and look quite puzzled. "I didn't know Professor Snape had a secret chamber," she muttered.

"Of course, you wouldn't," Draco drawled, "but I do."

"Why?"

"I'm a Slytherin."

"You say it like it's a good thing,"

Snape looked up. "Who's there?" he snapped. Draco and Hermione froze, though they felt quite silly. Snape couldn't see them. Could he? Hermione felt Draco's body heat. She was quite moved to regurgitate her dinner.

The Potions master frowned at the lack of answers and went back to his work. How long would they have to stand silently still? Both students seemed to wonder. Hermione had to add another inch or two to her Transfiguration essay, and Draco really had to pee.

"Reckon we should leave," Draco mumbled out of the corner of his mouth.

Hermione shook her head violently. "You really are mental, aren't you? We can't leave until he's done with the potion."

Draco looked as if he read a notice that informed him that he'd become a Hufflepuff. "Are you mad, Granger? That may take hours." Hermione bit her lip and rolled her eyes. It was taking all the resistance in the world to stop her from going 'I'm an unbearable know-it-all!' on Draco.

"It won't take hours," she snapped, "the potion is beginning to simmer. It should only take three minutes or so. Honestly, I thought you were good in potions," her voice was beginning to rise over then that of a normal whisper. Draco shushed her. It was taking all of his resistance not to place a Silencing Charm on her.

"I am good in potions," he said defensively. He watched Professor Snape cautiously. The cauldron had bubbled, and now it was smoking. Even Draco noticed this sign of potion development - it was done, finally. He really needed to use the bathroom.

Snape poured some potion into a goblet and sealed it. He stocked it in his closet, and grabbed for his cloak. Draco heard Hermione take in a sharp breath. "He's leaving. Now's our chance," she whispered.

They followed Snape on his heels until they reached the colossal Chamber door. Snape went right through the door. "That's it," Hermione breathed. "Alright, let's go." They moved toward the door and suddenly, the eerily quiet that filled the Chamber had just erupted in a high pitched wail of pain.

"Ow! Oh, son of a bitch," Draco sputtered, rubbing a bright red bump on his forehead. Hermione gasped.

"Draco! We're sealed in!"

"Well, duh, Mudblood."

"Harry? Did you see Hermione?" Ron asked, getting into bed. Harry groaned and rolled over in his sleep. He muttered something that sounded like "get Malfoy" but Ron wasn't sure. He poked his friend again. "Harry, wake up!"

The Boy-Who-Lived lazily opened one eye. "Eh?" His fiery-haired friend leaned over his bed so far that Harry could smell the Chocolate Frogs that Ron had had as a 'before bed' snack.

"Hermione. She's not in her room."

"What?"

"Ginny said she never went there."

Harry sat up now, wide-awake. "Where could she have gone?" He reached into his trunk for his wand and then --

"RON!"

"What now?"

"My...Invisibility cloak is gone."

"Yo, Crabbe."

"Yo, Goyle."

"Where's Draco?"

"Dunno. What do you reckon?"

"I reckon... We sleep."

"Yeah, it's late."

"Yo, Crabbe."

"Wha, Goyle?"

"I...Oops, sorry I forgot."

"Maybe Draco's right."

"Bout wha?"

"You really are thick."

"Good night, Crabbe."