Taught to Wed

Taught to Wed

Chapter 6 - Legilimency and Letters

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hermione found Draco in the library studying. She half expected it, as he knew of her detention. It wasn't likely that she would find him sitting there twiddling his thumbs. "Malfoy," she said curtly, approaching his table, "Ready for rounds?"

"Ready as I'll ever be, Granger," he replied, his trademark smirk stretching across his face.

Oh, how she hated that expression. Many found it charming, however, she wanted to hex his mouth off every time that expression made an appearance. Hell, she wanted to hex off his mouth every time he spoke. She just couldn't understand what everyone saw in the blonde git. Not that the entire school was salivating over him, but they sure didn't mask their appreciative glances. Maybe she was just jealous, or maybe that hated smirk reminded her too much of his father, pureblood scum that he was: Lucius, that is, not Draco.

The two made their way through the nearly silent castle. Draco kept chattering on about classes, anything to avoid the desire to ask the questions near to his heart. What he wanted was to ask Granger about Potter's staring and Potter's sexuality. However, he couldn't find a way to bring up that subject without either admitting to the fact he'd been eavesdropping or making it seem as if he were interested in Harry. Which he most certainly was not! No way! Uh uh!

Hermione managed to respond to Malfoy's questions and to his idle conversation. If she didn't know any better, she would think he was...nervous? As it was she had to keep deflecting anything that bordered on personal issues or potions. She absolutely had no desire to talk to Draco about her relationship, whatever it was, with Severus. Merlin! When did he become Severus?

Draco and Hermione finished their rounds rather quickly without actually giving away anything about their personal troubles. They split off at the Great Hall returning to their respective dormitories. Upon reaching Gryffindor Tower, Hermione quickly settled in to her studies. She wanted to get through as much work as she could, whilst still leaving a decent amount of time for meditation before bed. She was going to do her best at being prepared for the Legilimency tomorrow night.

Within an hour Hermione slammed her book shut, done for the night. She was quite exhausted and had been all day, despite what she kept telling herself. She had spent too much of the weekend worrying and studying to get much sleep. She gathered her books and headed to her room.

Due to her lack of alertness she was only able to meditate for a half hour. However, as she was already quite calm, this was not an issue. Sleep overtook her the moment her head hit the pillow and she was nestled under her blankets.

*****

Draco immediately pulled out his diary and sprawled across his bed to write. His father would never stand for that sort of uncultured behavior. One does not sprawl; nor does one write while lying on their stomach. Sod off, Father, he thought to himself, I'll bloody well do what I want.

*****

1 September 1997

Yes, I am writing again today. I rather hope things aren't this eventful all year. If they are I am sure I will drop from exhaustion. I still haven't figured out Father's reasoning behind the Polyjuice potion, however, it was waiting for me on my desk when I returned from rounds with Granger. It is my assumption that Snape has a large collection of pre-made potions. What exactly he needs them for I am unsure. I doubt he gets many requests for Polyjuice, so I don't see much reason for him to keep any of that around. Oh well.

I have decided that being the Weasel won't be quite so bad. Especially since I now know Potter confides in him. Perhaps I can get him to admit to whom he has a crush on. I hate that word; crush. It sounds so juvenile and violent. Not quite sure how I will take the idea of Potter liking me. Though it would be a vast improvement over him ignoring me. And a vast improvement over Pug-face. Though am worried that he might try to molest me like Pug-face. I should explain this train of thought; Potter has been staring at me, no, rather gazing longingly at me. In class, at dinner, and I am sure if he had been able to see me in the library he would have been gazing then too. I don't blame him though; I am rather attractive.

Still have yet to figure out the Snape/Granger conundrum. It seemed that Granger was evading my questions tonight. If they even lightly touched on personal things, she somehow managed to evade them. I bet if she had not have been a Mudblood she would have definitely been a Slytherin. Will have to talk with Father about Professor Snape and Granger. Maybe he knows something I don't. He does have close ties to the Professor.

I have decided to use the Polyjuice on Saturday. I am sure I can manage to get Ron away from Potter and Granger long enough to learn something of value.

*****

Draco put his diary away before heading to his private bathroom to take long soak in the tub. After his hectic day he needed to unwind, and writing hadn't been quite enough for him. He drew a lavender-scented milk bath: the lavender to help him relax, and the milk to help keep his skin creamy and soft.

When Draco nearly fell asleep in the warm bath, he decided it was time to go to bed. He was relaxed enough that he would fall asleep instantly, and that meant a night where he didn't have to ponder the inner workings of Potter. Never thought I'd be so glad to be busy. Will make it much easier for me to get sleep this year. Draco curled up under his blankets and fell fast asleep; however, his thoughts still managed to linger on Potter.

*****

Harry sat down in the common room at a table next to Ron. Pulling out parchment and a quill, he began his letter to Bill, occasionally asking Ron for advice on how the letter sounded. However, Ron was not all that helpful in the letter-writing department. He would just say, "That sounds fine, Harry."

*****

Bill,

Ron told me that I could owl you. He said that you told him you're gay. He told me this because I told him that I think I might be gay. I'm not sure though. Well, I am pretty sure I am but still, I am confused about it all. I think it would be helpful to talk with someone who is. Because if I am, then the feelings I am feeling now must be similar to how you felt when you realized you were gay. Or maybe not. I was just wondering if maybe sometime soon you'd like to talk with me face to face. I feel awkward writing this in a letter. Perhaps it will be easier in person. If you don't want to, it's fine.

Harry

*****

Harry went up to his room to give Hedwig the letter. Hedwig hooted happily at being able to travel so early in the year. It was normally at least a week or so into the term before Harry had any reason to send out a letter. Harry informed Hedwig that the letter was to go to Bill Weasley in his London flat, not to the Burrow. Hedwig hooted in reply and then flew off to pay Bill a visit.

Harry sighed and fell backwards onto his bed. It had been a long day; just like every year, the first day of classes were the worst. Except for the O.W.L. exams, and now this year the N.E.W.T.s. It didn't take long for Harry to drift to sleep.

*****

Harry sat down to breakfast the next morning, eager for the owl post. He pushed his food around the plate nervously, unable to eat whilst waiting for Bill's response. He had never really talked much with Bill, but Ron talked about him and Charlie like they were the best big brothers one could have.

Sometimes Harry wished he really were a part of the Weasley family, just to have been able to grow up with siblings. That and to have grown up in the wizarding world. He felt so naïve about everything here. Honestly there was no way he could just learn everything at once, but he wished he could have grown up with all of this. Not with the Dursleys. Not in the muggle world. And most of all not have to have grown up so bloody quickly.

Harry was silently cursing Voldemort when a letter landed in his eggs, Hedwig hooted angrily at him. He snapped out of his thoughts and broke off a piece of toast for the snowy owl. He pulled the letter out of his breakfast, brushing off the egg residue before opening the letter.

*****

Harry,

No need to be so nervous. You were rambling like a loony in that letter you sent me. However, I am quite sure I deciphered it correctly. How would you like to meet at the Three Broomsticks on Saturday? I Flooed Dumbledore to make sure it would be okay for you to visit Hogsmeade. He said it wouldn't be a problem. And before you get all spastic, I didn't inform him of the nature of the conversation that we will be having. It is not my place to discuss that matter with the Headmaster. If you would like Hermione or Ron to come with you, they have permission from Dumbledore, too. See you Saturday at noon, if that is good for you?

Bill

*****

Harry pulled a fresh piece of parchment from his bag and replied to Bill's letter.

*****

Bill,

Noon sounds fine. I would rather not bring Hermione and Ron with me. I have talked with both of them already, and I think I would be more comfortable talking one on one about this.

Harry

P.S. Thanks!

*****

Harry gave Hedwig a piece of bacon before sending her off to London again. Hedwig gave a delighted hoot and nuzzled Harry's hand before flying off. Harry then dug into his meal like he hadn't eaten in days. It then sunk in that he hadn't really. He'd had a few bites here and there, but he'd been off in space during all his meals yesterday. He couldn't even remember if he ate at all on Sunday. The last meal he really remembered eating was at the Sorting Feast. He had eaten enough then to last him a few weeks, but in all reality he was making up for the meals he had over the summer. Aunt Petunia had put Dudley on an even stricter diet and thus the whole family suffered. She had even stopped buying things that were off Dudley's diet, so there wasn't even anything worth sneaking anymore.

Ron watched as Harry dug into his meal with abandon. He was glad to see that his friend was eating again. He knew Harry had been nervous about sending the letter to Bill and was relieved to see that Bill had responded so quickly. Not to mention how happy he was that Hedwig was a determined and fast owl.

Draco settled his gaze on the Gryffindor table. Potter was digging into his meal like he hadn't ever eaten before. He wondered why this bothered him. It didn't bother him in the aspect that Potter looked ridiculous or that he looked like a pig. It bothered him because he'd been that way himself a few times. Times when he hadn't eaten for days. He wanted to know what was bothering Potter so much that he hadn't been eating. Why do I care what's got Potter's pants in a twist? Draco shook his head and returned to his meal.

*****

The day had passed much more quickly than Hermione had expected it to. It was now dinnertime and she ate determinedly. She was eager to get down to Snape's office to get to the bottom of the Veritaserum issue. Within ten minutes of sitting down to eat she was wiping her mouth a final time before leaving. She told the boys she would see them later and slipped out of the Great Hall. As Ron expected, Snape followed suit and was leaving through the doors behind the head table. He wanted to follow, but suppressed his urge to invade his best friend's privacy.

Once again the two arrived at the Potion's classroom at the same time. This time Severus led her to the back of the classroom and into his office, warding both sets of doors behind them. As it was, Legilimency was an invasive process and he didn't want anyone breaking either his or her concentration.

"Miss Granger, if you would please clear your mind of any particular memories you do not wish to be known," he said, sliding a black and silver pensieve in front of her.

Hermione nodded and followed his example as he pulled a few particularly painful memories and placed them into his own pensieve. His glimmered brilliant silver with jade inlaid between the serpentine swirls that wrapped several times around. She decided the best memories to pull would be all the ones involving the Polyjuice potion in her second year. Though she was sure he knew about it, she was not going to let him know the full story.

When they finished filling the pensieves, Severus motioned for her to sit across the desk from him. They both sat down and began meditating, trying to clear their minds to make the task easier. "Miss Granger, are you ready to begin?" he asked, his eyes locking on to hers. She nodded, not breaking the eye contact. "Very well then. Legilimens," he said and soon found himself in one of the most brilliant minds to enter Hogwarts in quite a while.

Hermione shuddered as she felt Professor Snape gently sift through her memories. So far she had been able to deflect him from some of her more embarrassing childhood episodes like the time she had, in a fit of rebellion, deliberately failed a test. The problem was she was so caught up in the feel of him in her mind that she relaxed her guard more than she realized. Relaxing slightly, she left her mind drift to some of the more pleasant sights she had seen, unfortunately for her the first thing that sprung to mind was the view as she had followed Professor Snape Friday night. Those long legs, hinting at strong muscles in the thighs, and the backside, rounded off with one of the best rear ends she had ever seen. Hermione had always been one to admire a tight rear end, and she had been surprised to learn that her Professor had such a one... That memory, coupled with the one where she had once seen Snape sans clothes was enough to bring a blush to both her and Severus' cheeks.

"Miss Granger! Focus," Snape growled, trying to push away what he had just seen. Hermione jumped slightly in her seat before focusing her attention back to the matter at hand. There was no way she could possibly feel the same about him as he did her. Severus began sifting through her mind again, this time she was guiding him through the memories of Friday night much more quickly than he could have paid attention to, until he found the one they were looking for.

Hermione was looking into his eyes with an intensity that conveyed desire and the deepest love. The scent of flowers filled the air and the sounds of joyful weeping mingled with the warm feelings pulsing through Hermione's hands, She was tightly holding on to his. "You may kiss the bride," floated a short distance to her ears and she leaned in and kissed him. It was the best kiss she had ever received. It conveyed every emotion she felt as she turned and looked to see the crowd that had gathered for her wedding.

Snape pulled out of her mind and they both stared at each other in shock. Eventually Severus broke the silent tension that had filled the room around them, "Miss Granger, that was most definitely a vision."

Hermione nodded and let out a slight breath, "That still leaves one question, Professor. Why?"

"I do not know the answer to that one, however I am quite sure it will reveal itself in time. Now, if you'd like to collect your memories from the pensieve, you are excused. I will see you in class on Monday."

Once again Hermione was at a loss for words and merely nodded at her Professor, her fiancée. She collected her memories and left the oom, knowing that she needed to talk to Harry and Ron about this, but knowing that they would not react well. Soon, she though, I will tell them soon. Once I decide how I feel about all of this.