NOVEL NEXT Chapter 8: Chapter 8
McGonagall turned back to Hermione once they were alone and tilted her head thoughtfully. "Will you listen to what I have to say if I release the spell?"
"Snape's really a spy?" she asked with a meek tone.
"I swear to you on my life," she said clearly. "Will you listen to me?"
With a confused and pathetic sob, she nodded her head and felt her arms and legs regain control. She wiped away the evidence of her weakness on her sleeve and observed the witch she looked up to with wild and desperate eyes. "Snape," she murmured hesitantly. "He can't be a spy. He killed-
"Albus left me one of his memories before he died," the headmistress started, her voice wavering a little with emotion. "And it was of a discussion between him and Severus-
"But-
"Albus knew about Draco Malfoy's mission," she continued. "And he asked Severus to complete...the task, so that Mr Malfoy would not. He wanted to save him-
"He is not worth saving," she frowned, shooting an agitated look to the kitchen door. "He is-
"You must understand that Mr Malfoy was forced into his mission, Hermione," she offered, but the argument was weak. It was hard to defend someone who had put so many lives in danger all before his seventeenth birthday. "Albus knew that Severus had agreed to an Unbreakable Vow to protect Draco so he asked Severus to do it instead-
"Does Malfoy know all this?" she questioned, spitting out his name like poison.
"I don't think so," McGonagall shook her head. "He knows that Severus is a spy for the Order, and that makes you the fourth person to know this information. No one else knows and I intend to keep it that way-
"So why was Snape here? Surely coming here would be dangerous?"
She sighed. "He's asked me to protect Mr Malfoy from now on-
"What?" Hermione barked, her brow wrinkling with distaste. "Why the hell should we?"
"Because if we don't," she answered carefully, making sure her student would understand the importance of her words. "Then Voldemort might find Mr Malfoy and kill him-
"That's no real loss-
"And then the Vow would kill Severus," she carried on, ignoring the harsh words from the girl. "Also, if Mr Malfoy left here, then he could reveal Severus' secret and he would be killed."
Hermione faltered.
Snape is a spy. One of us...
"And above anything else," McGonagall brought her back to the damning present. "If we don't protect Draco Malfoy from harm, then Albus' sacrifice will be for nothing."
The female fraction of the Golden Trio felt something in her chest drop. None of this made sense, and yet everything seemed to slide into place in her head. She would swear to Merlin's grave that every second of this haunting night was draining away her energy. There was just too much too handle; too much to take in. Snape. A spy. Dumbledore had known...And then a troubling thought popped into her head.
"Why did you call me here?"
"Because he will be staying with you," McGonagall told her steadily. "You are my most trustworthy student and your skills as a witch are-
"How can you do this to me?" she moaned, scrunching her face with stress. "I hate him. He's evil-
"I know that this is a lot to ask," the other witch said with genuine sympathy. "But there is nobody else I can trust with this. You have a spare room-
"We'll kill each other-
"No you won't," she argued, taking some steps towards the witch to place a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I am keeping his wand and I will ward your dorm so he can't leave and you have a password for your bedroom-
"There must be someone else," Hermione pleaded. "Anyone else. One of the professors-
"You are the only person who I trust to handle this," McGonagall breathed sadly. "The other professors have too much on their plates as it is. I need you to do this-
"For how long?"
"For as long as it takes," she answered cryptically, offering the girl another apologetic frown. "I am really sorry for this, Miss Granger. If things are really that bad then I will do my best to make other arrangements, but I honestly believe that you can do this."
She wanted to protest; to tell McGonagall to let Malfoy rot in the grave he had dug himself. She wanted to point out that he would probably try to kill her in her sleep, or that she wouldn't last a day without hexing the twat until he was a pointless mess smeared against her wall. But images of Dumbledore fluttered in her brain.
If we don't protect Draco Malfoy from harm, then Albus' sacrifice will be for nothing...
"Okay," she found herself mumbling absently. "Okay, I-I will try."
McGonagall's face instantly relaxed. "Thank you," she gave the young witch a forced smile as she handed her back her wand. "I know this will be difficult for you, and I promise that I will do what I can to make it easier for you."
Hermione released a loud and lonely breath. "I'm tired," she whispered, her body and mind overworked and desiring sleep.
"I think we all need some rest," the headmistress agreed. "I will escort you both back to your dorm and set up the wards."
"Alright," she shrugged, too exhausted too argue any more. "Let's get this over with."
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