Hermione stood waiting for two minutes before pulling a book out and resigning herself.
She had made it through two chapters of her psychology book before the door abruptly jerked open. She stood up quickly and followed the billowing robes that were already vanishing around the corner into the sitting room.
Severus was already seated in one of his agonisingly uncomfortable armchairs when Hermione arrived. She perched on the very edge of another chair and looked at him
“A goblin-wrought blade infused with basilisk venom. Would it be enough to destroy a horcrux?” she asked, similarly choosing to skip the basic courtesies of small talk.
Severus blinked, his onyx eyes always inscrutable. She could almost see the occlumency walls behind them.
“The sword of Gryffindor,” he said after a moment.
Hermione nodded.
“I believe it would,” he said slowly, steepling his fingers and looking thoughtful. “Although we won't know for sure unless we find a horcrux.”
Hermione nodded with a faint sigh. Severus' lip curled slightly and he snorted faintly.
“At times like this… I wonder just how much Albus manipulated events over the years,” he said.
Hermione stared at him in surprise. “You think second year was intentional?”
He waved her off with a flick of his wrist.
“With Albus, it's impossible to say. But it is mysteriously convenient that we happen to have such a weapon within our grasp,” Severus said, then his expression grew harsh. “He was always quite confident about his skills of manipulation. Perhaps if he had been less opaque we would not be losing the war.”
“What do you mean?”
Severus looked at her.
“You are aware his injury from the ring was terminal. I had been preparing potions to keep the curse at bay, but his death was inevitable the moment he placed it on his hand. He planned his demise for the end of sixth year. He even requested that I kill him, rather than leave him to the final ravages of the curse. He also suspected before the term began that Draco had been assigned to try killing him as well.”
Hermione stared in shock.
“Albus was so confident that he had everything in hand that he didn't take sufficient precautions,” Severus continued, “I cannot imagine that he would have neglected to mention the horcruxes after being cursed by one. He likely intended to inform Potter through a series of vague hints. He knew far more about the Dark Lord's early years than anyone, but he never deigned to confide such things to others.”
Severus' expression grew bitter and far away as he fell silent.
“He knew Draco was going to try to kill him?” Hermione asked, floored by the revelation.
“Knew. Suspected,” Severus said with a faint nod. “It was hard to differentiate when it came to Albus, but yes, he was anticipating it. Unfortunately for all his plans, Draco acted much more quickly and decisively than even Albus anticipated. You would think a wizard so old would have been more meticulous, but clearly not. His overconfidence was to the detriment of all who survived him.”
Severus glanced at Hermione.
“What made you suddenly think of the sword of Gryffindor?” he inquired, his tone suspiciously casual.
Hermione met his eyes.
“An injury that I encountered gave me the idea,” Hermione said.
“Indeed,” Severus said with an arch expression.
Hermione gave him a look. “You know about Draco's punishment.”.
“Of course. I had the delightful task of milking Nagini for the venom. Alastor mentioned that you've been treating him. I was surprised to hear it.”
“It's not as though he could hide the injury. Did you realise how severe it is? Tom intended to poison his magic with it. By the time I found out—,” Hermione fell silent for a minute. “I wish you would have informed me, so I could have started sooner.”
Severus was silent and appraising as he studied Hermione.
“You're using it,” he finally said.
Hermione flushed faintly and met his eyes.
“Yes,” she said. “It seemed like the logical thing to do. You were right, he is isolated. He nearly jumped out of his skin the first time I put my hands on him to heal him.”
“If you had been trained by Bellatrix Lestrange for years, you would probably flinch when touched too,” Severus said dryly.
Hermione paused to consider. “What do you know about his training? He's said things that — I don't understand. The cruelty employed seems excessive. Even by Death Eater standards.”
Severus' mouth twitched. “He was initially recruited as punishment for Lucius' failure. Consequently, I believe the Dark Lord gave Bella a rather free hand in choosing training methods. She was suspicious of my loyalty, so it was not a process I was consulted over. I do know that despite the brutality, Draco was determined. He took it and he kept coming back, even when it was no longer necessary. He was determined to climb rank. He was the youngest person to ever take the Mark. Being the lowest tier does not sit well with Malfoys.”
“Was there anyone he was particularly close to in the past? Someone who died? That he cared about? His motive — it feels like atonement for something, at times.”
Severus steepled his fingers and pressed them against his lips thoughtfully.
“Not that I ever observed. At least, not among his housemates,” he said after a minute.
Hermione sighed.
“What about his mother? He mentioned her when he first made the offer.”
“Narcissa became reclusive following Lucius' arrest. I rarely saw her, and when she did appear she was quite withdrawn. If she ever had objections, I never heard her make them.”
“She seemed doting back in Hogwarts,” Hermione said, tilting her head to the side as she tried to remember details about Narcissa Malfoy. “But that was all by Owl Post. It doesn't seem like she intervened on his behalf at all during his training.”
“Lucius' imprisonment seemed to have a rather profound effect on her. Much in the way her death affected him.”
Hermione shivered slightly at the thought of Lucius.
“So Draco just fell to the wayside for them both,” she concluded, feeling sorry for him. She stifled the pity and changed the subject. “Lucius nearly killed Ginny last night. We still don't know how he tracked them down.”
“There are genetic trace spells,” said Severus thoughtfully. “They are extremely Dark Magic, and they take quite a toll. However, I would not underestimate Lucius' determination.”
“Are there ways to evade them?”
“I'll send a book to Moody. I don't imagine the Weasleys will be receptive to any protective rituals recommended by myself — or you, for that matter.”
Hermione's mouth tightened and she looked away, feeling stung by the fair assessment. Her advocacy for Dark Magic and her defense of Severus had cost her a great deal of credibility among her friends.
She swallowed the hurt and changed the subject abruptly.
“I finally neutralised the venom in the runes. I'm going to close the incisions tomorrow night. Do you have any suggestions?”
Severus snorted. “I'm sure your planned treatment will be the best he can hope for.”
Hermione stared at Severus and felt as though she were missing something.
“Alright,” she said, standing up.
“Tell me, what do you think of Draco now?”
Hermione paused and looked back at Severus. His eyes were narrowed. Almost suspicious. Her lips twitched to move before she felt ready to speak, and she pressed them together for a moment while she gathered her thoughts. She tucked a loose curl behind her ear.
“He's lonely. And angry about something. I think he wants to be better than he is. You were right that there's something about me that draws him in. He tries not to, but he can't seem to help giving in when he has a chance to.”