When Hermione Fights

New Drama

Chapter translator: Aivy

Chapter beta: Dani

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Severus' POV

Why had I gone to the Manor for breakfast? I asked myself in irritation! What had caused me to expose myself to this? I could have stayed in my own home, or in the dungeons, before being exposed to the horrible, dull chatter of the other, incompetent professors and then having to endure the noisy, ill-mannered children in the evening, but this was even worse.

However, compared to the appalling situation that awaited me in Lucius' home, I preferred the noise and chatter of Hogwarts. What had the three of them done this time to create such a tense mood?

The minx, Hermione, the life and soul of the party, looked very attractive in a nice brown summer dress that showed her in the best light, but she was surprisingly taciturn. Every now and then she glanced furtively at Lucius and he looked at her with a gleam in his eye that was undeniable to me and that I had never seen or noticed in him before. They tried to keep this eye contact a secret, which made me raise my black eyebrow with a scowl.

Draco mostly looked at his empty plate. From the looks of it, he was not hungry. On closer inspection, I realised he was also slightly pale around the nose, as if he was feeling sick. Something must have happened during the night!

I could see him giving his father venomous glances from under his hair and occasionally adopting a tense posture.

Hermione, seemed more and more uncomfortable with the continued silence and now looked at me for help, but I gave her my unreadable look and just shrugged my shoulders for a moment. What did I know that was riding the drama queens that were the Malfoys? Was I always around?! She had to know what was going on, but she seemed surprisingly helpless in the situation. From the looks of it, you had to put the Dark Lord in front of her, then she could cope with anything. A bad-tempered Malfoy and an indefinably-tempered Malfoy, though, obviously just overwhelmed her. Thus I was delightfully entertained at her expense.

Quite abruptly, Lucius interrupted the silence and turned to Hermione in a demanding and blasé manner:

"You have some explaining to do, missy. What was that with Potter and you at the jeweller's yesterday? Such a stupid disguise, did you think I would not see through it? Spit it out, I want details. Who is his intended and how can he be so stupid?"

I saw her roll her eyes in annoyance, even letting Lucius see this, but he made no comment about it, just continued to stare at her in a wait-and-see manner that really surprised, almost shocked me. Then suddenly her gaze softened and became pleading, all I could think was what a manipulative bitch.

"Lucius, don't push it any further please, it's better if you don't know what he's planning, believe me." Astonished, I saw her pleading look, saw Lucius weighing and eyeing her. How she slid a hand towards his, but stopped just before it touched his. Their body language was weird, they seemed so turned towards each other all of a sudden. Lucius did not seem aggressive or annoyed because she asked him not to ask further, but seemed to be considering her words. Draco watched this like an eagle and I saw his pinched expression increase, far from pleased at their new familiarity. He seemed absolutely uninterested in the news about Potter. He was totally distracted by what was going on between those two, who were skilfully blocking us out and seemed to be openly courting lately.

Something was going on, this confirmed my suspicions, which I had already developed with the brilliant atmosphere that prevailed here at the table, and I knew nothing! What kind of spy was I? This was truly exasperating, my mood was getting better by the minute.