Hour of Grace

HOUR OF GRACE

by Strega Brava

Chapter Thirteen: For the Sake of a Slytherin

Hermione Granger had always suspected that Professor Snape kept many emotions hidden deep inside those glittering black eyes but now, knowing what he felt and seeing how little he showed to his enemy truly shocked her. It was little wonder his position as an informant was never challenged by the Dark Lord.

"I wonder if Veritaserum would have any effect on him?" She wondered as she nervously picked at the green peas on her plate.

Harry was grumbling something under his breath to Ron and, from the few words she was able to discern, she was sure it had something to do with Lucius Malfoy.

"Slimy git shouldn't be up at the Head Table," Ron poked at a piece of broccoli rather savagely. "I can't believe Dumbledore would allow it."

"He is on the Board of Governors, Ron," Hermione sighed drearily. "It would hardly be seemly for him to put the slimy git anywhere else."

Ron turned to her in amazement. "You, Hermione Granger, called Lucius Malfoy a slimy git."

Hermione glared at the triumphant smirk on Ron's face.

"I've never heard Hermione call anyone a slimy git," Harry concurred, absent-mindedly popping a mushroom into his mouth.

"Congratulations, Hermione. Welcome to Gryffindor House, home of the brave and despisers of the slimy git known as Lucius Malfoy," Ron shook her hand, despite her best efforts to pull it away.

Dean leaned over. "What did Hermione do? Did she manage to get 200% in Charms?"

Ron pretended to be overcome with emotion. "She called Lucius Malfoy a slimy git."

Dean shrugged his shoulders. "That's hardly news…everyone knows that." And with that original comment, Dean returned to his veal chop, muttering something about Hermione's grasp of the blatantly obvious.

Ron smirked. "See what I mean?"

"Don't pester her too much, Ron. We have a real problem with Lucius here. Professor Snape is trying to find a way to get him out of Hogwarts on the pretence of Ministry business but I think even he realizes that it is a flimsy excuse. Dumbledore can't compromise his position and Professor Snape can't reveal his true loyalties. It's a pickle, Hermione…a real pickle," Harry traced fork lines onto his mashed potatoes.

"And Draco isn't even allowed out of the Slytherin dungeons anymore," Hermione whispered, glancing around the table in alarm. However, the others were too busy eating to really notice what they were talking about.

"Do you think his father suspects anything?" Ron asked, his face clouded in anger as he watched Malfoy Senior listening to Professor Sprout with all the attention of a student in History of Magic Class on one of Binns' worse days.

Hermione shook her head. "There is no reason for him to think that anyone outside of Slytherin knows about the spell. I just wish we could come up with something…a way to distract him."

"Too bad we can't just let Snape and Malfoy get involved in an all-out brawl," Ron sighed with an odd smile on his face.

Hermione turned to Ron with a delighted smile on her face. To his chagrin, she leaned forward and kissed him soundly on the cheek.

"Geroff me, Hermione. What did I do to deserve that?" Ron sputtered to the sound of several Gryffindors laughing.

"You, Ron, are a genius. Come on, let's get to the library!" Hermione got up and started towards the doors.

Harry looked at Ron in amusement as the redhead wiped his cheek with his sleeve, provoking more giggles and chuckles from their housemates.

"Next time I even look like I am coming up with a good idea, please hit me with your wand," Ron quipped as they too left the Great Hall.

"Just be thankful the twins didn't see you," Harry smirked as they hurried to catch up to their friend.

Ron didn't answer although his face did take on an alarming tinge of green.

"Point well taken," Ron managed to reply.

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

"This idea is too dangerous. I can’t see that we could possibly convince him to do that," Ron frowned as he listened to Hermione detail her idea.

"I don't know, Ron," Harry was sitting on the floor next to a stack of books with his knees to his chin. "It could work if we can get him to agree. Who will ask him?"

"I will," Hermione answered, peeking her head over the top of the book she was pretending to read.

"It's no wonder you weren't sorted into Slytherin," Ron sighed as he patted Hermione's shoulder.

"Why?" Harry asked, twirling his wand around his fingers.

Without a word, Ron reached over and took the book out of Hermione's hand and showed it to Harry. "Our dear Hermione may be bloody brilliant, but even she cannot read a book upside down."

Hermione blushed furiously as Ron handed her back the book and muttered a barely audible thank you.

Harry grinned. "Not quite the expert at subterfuge?"

"I don't see either of you in Slytherin," she snapped.

"Thank heavens for that," Ron sighed. "Look, I don't like this idea but I agree that it may be our only option. Do you want me to ask him?"

Hermione snapped the book shut, causing a cloud of dust to rise up. "No," she said firmly, "I have to do it. This is my responsibility."

"Where should we meet you?" Harry asked, getting up and helping Hermione up as well.

"Meet me by the Quidditch pitch in two hours. I should be able to come up with something by then," Hermione answered.

"Good luck, Hermione," Ron said earnestly. "We'll be waiting."

Hermione smiled, gave her book to Ron and hurried out of the library.

"So," Harry turned to Ron. "Do you want to read about the Courtship Rituals of 17^th Century Gypsy Trolls?"

Ron's grimace was all the answer required as they both headed to the section of the library which contained books on Quidditch.

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

Hermione walked quickly through the corridors of Hogwarts, intent on getting to her destination quickly.

"He can't say no…he just can't,"

she thought to herself again and again as she navigated the many twists and turns. The chill in the air told her that she was heading in the right direction.

Professor Snape's office door was open and, after allowing herself a moment to catch her breath, she politely knocked and entered the room.

"Well, if it isn't Miss Granger," an evil voice hissed from one of the large wing chairs facing the fireplace in Professor Snape's office. Hermione nearly shrieked in shock as she watched the thin form of Lucius Malfoy rise, seemingly out of the flames of the fireplace to look at her with utter malice and loathing.

"I will come another time," she managed to keep the tremble out of her voice and was about to leave the office when the door slammed shut on its own. Turning around, she saw his wand pointed directly at her, an odd smile on his face, which caused her heart to race in fear.

"No, Miss Granger, I do insist that you sit down," he made a motion with his wand and she found herself flying towards the chair before being deposited none too gently on it. She tried to get up but found herself immobilized.

"You cannot keep me here. My friends know where I have gone," Hermione whispered as Lucius kneeled next to her and took her chin in his hand, forcing her to look up at him. She hoped that her expression showed outrage and anger, rather than fear.

"Do you realize how easy it would be for me to take you away from Hogwarts for a few hours? I could return you and no one, not even that old fool Dumbledore himself, would be the wiser. Severus, dear soul, has gone to one of the classrooms to assist a Slytherin student who is failing Potions. He won't be back for some time and I don't believe he knew you were coming," Lucius negligently caressed her hair, massaging the back of her neck with his fingers.

"How did you know I was coming here?" She asked shortly.

"I didn't…merely a fortunate coincidence," Lucius commented casually as his hand slid down her side, resting intimately on her hip.

"What do you want with me?" She spat out the question in an accusatory tone.

He chuckled darkly as he caressed her thigh. Hermione thought her heart would burst out of her chest.

"I have heard that you are watching my son. I think it is so noble of you to concern yourself with his welfare…so typically Gryffindor of you. However, I think it is my duty to warn you to stay away from him as I have no desire to see you…hurt, now do I?" Lucius hand moved up to rest on her stomach, fingers just touching her breasts. Tears began to form in her eyes and she began to struggle against the spell.

"You do not like my games, Miss Granger? Then I suggest you heed my words or else we will be playing a very different sort of game…one you will be sure to lose," he leaned forward to whisper the words in her ear, cold lips grazing her cheek.

Hermione nodded fearfully. Lucius stood up and leisurely walked towards the door.

"I wish you a pleasant day, Miss Granger," he said in a mockingly polite voice. Casting his wand once, he smirked and opened the door to the office, disappearing from view.

Hermione, now freed from the spell that had bound her to the chair, rushed out of the room and into the corridor. She raced from one classroom to the next, not stopping until she reached the right one.

Professor Snape was looking over a parchment with Blaise Zabini when he saw Hermione race into the classroom. At first his expression was one of deep concern and then he took on the aspect of the cold Potions Master. After all, as Hermione thought, Blaise was a Slytherin and appearances were very important.

"What is the meaning of this intrusion, Miss Granger?" Professor Snape bellowed.

She tried to answer but was breathing too hard from having run such a distance.

"Miss Granger, I insist that you answer me immediately or I will have to take points from Gryffindor and take you to my office to assign a detention," he repeated deliberately.

Hermione took the hint and began wheezing to great effect. Even Blaise looked a bit concerned.

"Miss Granger, since it is apparent that you are unwilling to answer me, I would suggest that we continue this delightful conversation in my office. Blaise, please go to the Library, take out the books I suggested and this parchment will be much improved. Miss Granger, I will be taking 10 points from Gryffindor for the intrusion. Now, to my office if you please."

Blaise exited the classroom as quickly as possible, not wanting to risk any outburst from the Potions Master who looked absolutely livid. Hermione adopted a meek and humble expression and followed Professor Snape dutifully; head bowed as if mortified that such a thing could have happened to her.

They reached the office in considerably longer time since they were walking at a somewhat slower pace. Professor Snape opened the door in an offer of mock civility and, after ushering Hermione inside, soon followed her. She sat down on his desk wearily as he cast several spells to ensure complete privacy.

"Hermione, what happened?" She started at the use of her first name.

"I'm sorry if I am being too familiar…you simply looked so frightened and that is not a thing that I associate with you," he sat down on the chair opposite her.

"I came to see you and Lucius Malfoy was here," she whispered.

Professor Snape stood up in a heartbeat and walked over to where she sat. Taking both her hands in his, he looked at her worriedly.

"What happened?" He asked.

"He confined me to that chair and warned me to stay away from Draco. He…he almost…he threatened to…" she could not keep the tears from spilling from her eyes.

Professor Snape stood there for a moment, at an absolute loss as to what to do. Awkwardly, hesitantly, he put his arms around the weeping student and patted her head softly. Hermione stiffened momentarily but quickly realized that Professor Snape would never hurt her…although the urge to giggle was difficult to stifle. He was petting her head as if she were a pet herself. Obviously, he was not used to comforting people.

"It will be all right, Hermione. I will make sure that Lucius stays away from you. Unfortunately, I know very well the sorts of games he plays," he sighed as he held the trembling girl.

"That's exactly what he said, Professor Snape," she murmured somewhere into his robes, "He said that, if I did not stay away from Draco, we would be playing a different sort of game and I would not win."

Hermione felt Professor Snape's arms tense for a moment before relaxing again and wondered what was running through his mind.

"Professor Snape, we have to get Lucius away from Draco long enough for me to cast the spell. Ron had some idea of you fighting with Lucius but I don't think that could possibly work," she whispered, feeling a sense of hopelessness rise inside of her.

"I think there may be a better way," Professor Snape replied.

Hermione pulled away to look at him in surprise. He simply smiled at her and, taking her chin in one hand, made her look directly at him.

"It will be all right, Hermione. Trust me, I have an idea. In the meantime, I think detention at 8:00 p.m. will serve as a suitable starting point. And be sure to bring Potter and Weasley…they have a part to play as well."

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

Hermione stood together with Ron and Harry in the corridor outside Professor Snape's office. She looked at the others and knocked on the door three times.

"Come in."

Harry opened the door with a small smile and allowed Hermione and Ron to enter before he did, closing the door carefully behind him.

Professor Snape was studying a chart describing the wizarding periodic table of magical elements. He was staring at a particular element with great interest. Waving a wand negligently to cast privacy spells, he tapped at this element with emphasis.

"Professor Snape, are we going to drug Lucius Malfoy?" Ron was scratching his head, trying to remember which element was at that precise location.

"That would not be a bad idea…although I think that, if it were possible, I would rather poison him than simply drug him," Professor Snape replied, turning to face them.

"Why would it not be possible?" Harry asked.

"He wears an amulet that warns him if there is poison present in anything he drinks or eats, doesn't he, Professor Snape?" Hermione ventured.

"If I could, I would award 5 points to Gryffindor, Miss Granger," Hermione was pleased and slightly relieved that he did not call her by her first name in front of Harry and Ron.

"He must have done that because he felt sorry for me before," she thought as she regarded him carefully. "One surprise after another."

"No, I am going to distract Lucius by going after him where it hurts the most," Professor Snape commented as he walked towards the small group.

Ron grimaced slightly and Hermione almost giggled. There was no doubt as to what was running through the head of her best friend.

"No, Mister Weasley, I do not think I will have to resort to a physical attack although, if it came down to that, I believe myself equal to the task. There is another way that will ensure that I have Lucius' full attention. I will attack his ego…his enormous megalomania, if you like," the older man smirked at Harry's look of admiration.

"Of course," Harry said quietly. "That makes perfect sense. We have all seen how highly he thinks of himself and his pedigree."

"Bloodline, Mister Potter, not pedigree. Lucius, despite all appearances to the contrary, is not an animal."

Ron's snort of disgust demonstrated his disagreement.

"I have already set up a meeting with him tonight in the Slytherin Common Room on the pretence that I want to know more about his son's upcoming initiation into the Death Eater fold. He will not want to miss an opportunity to vaunt about his knowledge of the Dark Arts and how he fooled even me and how close he is to the Dark Lord and, well, I think you see the point."

"A man who likes to hear the sound of his own voice," Ron scoffed as he sat down heavily on a chair, leaning back and crossing his arms over his chest.

"How do we get in?" Hermione asked.

"Shortly before the transformation is to begin, I will leave the Common Room to search out a rare bottle of a muggle alcoholic beverage which I keep in my office. I hate to waste it on the likes of Lucius but it cannot be helped. When I re-enter the Common Room, you, Miss Granger, accompanied by Mister Potter will be with me under the concealment of the Invisibility Cloak. He will want to show me the spell firsthand and I should be able to get you both inside. I will then ask Lucius to join me for a drink in the Common Room and, seeing as he was never one to say no, I will try to get him somewhat inebriated."

"What about me?" Ron asked, jumping up. "I have to help too. Hermione is my best friend."

Professor Snape turned to him and looked at him seriously. "You do have an important role to play, Mister Weasley. You must bring the Marauders Map here to my office and watch it carefully. If you see that Lucius somehow gets past me and returns to the room where his son is kept, you must inform the Headmaster immediately. On the mantle, there is a black jar filled with iridescent powder. Throw some of the powder into the fire and he will know the situation is critical."

Ron nodded. "I understand, Sir and I will be watching carefully."

"I will try to return to the office a few minutes before the transformation begins which, I am told, is always at two in the morning. Don't keep me waiting or all is lost," Professor Snape warned as he opened the door to his office.

"We'll be here," Harry assured him, reaching for Hermione's hand.

"Yeah," Ron answered, putting an arm around her shoulders. "Wouldn't miss it for the world."

Professor Snape almost smiled as he watched the three students walking away.

"All for the sake of a Slytherin," he thought to himself. "There may be hope for us after all."

*******At the appointed time*********************************

Hermione watched Harry and Ron play a game of wizarding chess on a board they found in Professor Snape's office.

"At least they have a way to dispense with their nerves. I can't even read," she thought to herself as she perused the various titles in Professor Snape's massive collection. She patted the little bottle hanging around her neck almost compulsively as if to remind herself that she had not inadvertently left it behind.

The door opened and Professor Snape stepped into the room. Without a word, Hermione and Harry disappeared under the Invisibility Cloak. The older man reached into a cabinet and pulled out a bottle of an amber-coloured liquid and grabbed two glasses as well.

"Pity to waste such a fine thing as this Glenmorangie on you, Lucius," he muttered to himself. He pointed to a black jar on the mantle to his fireplace. "Mister Weasley, if Lucius somehow gets into the room of confinement before the spell is complete, throw some of this powder into the fireplace immediately."

Ron nodded, somewhat pale and fidgety but alert all the same.

"Come along now…we mustn't tarry," Harry and Hermione quickly followed the Potions Master out of his office and down to entrance to the Slytherin Common Room. Within a moment, they were inside.

"About time you got here, Severus," the voice of Lucius Malfoy drawled from an overstuffed sofa.

"A matter of taking a few points from Gryffindor for finding students in a most compromising situation," Severus replied easily, setting the bottle and the glasses on a small table.

"A Slytherin worth his salt would never be caught like that, especially not by an overgrown bat like yourself," Lucius laughed as he stood up and walked towards the other man. Hermione and Harry silently moved to position themselves by the door to where Draco would be brought.

"Of course not, Lucius. Especially not someone as cunning and intelligent as yourself. Look at what you accomplished…managed to fool the Headmaster himself. The Dark Lord must be pleased with you," Severus poured out two glasses and handed one to Lucius.

"Of course he is pleased with me. I gave him what he wanted…no, what he needed. He needed an heir and I had one just for him. My place by the Dark Lord's side will be assured once Draco goes through his initiation," Lucius nearly drained the glass in one sip. Hermione noticed that Professor Snape merely touched his lips to the liquid.

"Is it almost time?"

"Yes, he should be down momentarily."

As if on cue, Draco appeared, accompanied by his ever-present bodyguards, Crabbe and Goyle. Hermione noticed, with disgust, that Crabbe had a bit of what looked like mashed potato in his hair. Draco himself looked very pale.

"Good evening, Father. Good evening, Professor Snape," Draco said politely.

"Good evening, Draco. Are you ready?"

"Of course, Father," Draco followed Crabbe and Goyle to the door and, once opened, stepped inside. Hermione and Harry hurried in before Lucius and Professor Snape could get to close. The two hidden students quickly took up their position at the back of the room and were thankful that Goyle's loud belching hid any tiny sound their feet might have made.

"Honestly, a pig has more manners than you," Draco sneered as the two other boys tied him to the chair.

"Fascinating," Professor Snape said with a mixture of awe and reverence. Hermione noticed how Lucius held his head just a little higher at the praise.

"Everything in place, Draco?" Lucius asked, stepping into the room to check the bindings himself.

"Yes, Father," Draco sat serenely as if he were on a throne.

"Excellent. Professor Snape and I will be discussing various matters in the Common Room. Crabbe and Goyle, you needn't come down afterwards. I will ensure that he gets to bed."

"Yes, sir," the two boys grunted and hurried out of the room and towards their dormitories.

"I will close the door now, Severus. You do not need to witness him when he is not lucid. Now, there is the small matter of the Glenmorangie…" and with that Lucius closed the door.

Hermione and Harry waited quietly as Draco sat there, not moving…looking for all the world like an alabaster statue. Only the faint movement of his hair gave any indication that he was a living being.

And then, it happened. Draco began to tremble and shake once again, moaning incoherently as he struggled against the bindings. At last, he was himself!

As he moaned and cried, Harry and Hermione moved to stand in front of Draco. Quickly, she reached out a hand to cover Draco's mouth. His eyes went wide with fear as she stepped out of the cover of the Invisibility Cloak. When she was sure he would not betray their presence, she removed her hand.

He stared at her for several moments in complete disbelief.

"Hermione," he finally managed to utter in a parched voice. "Is it really you?"