The Power of Pain

Chapter 31

Lunch had been a pleasant affair. All three parties having kept their conversation cordial and on neutral topics. Draco made to leave shortly after but not before asking if he could stay the night. Hermione had been sad to hear about his mother's passing even though her memory of the woman wasn't the most pleasant, she could see the pain in the boy's eyes. No one should have to lose a parent that way.

Her mind had rounded on herself after that, blocking out the rest of the conversation between the two of them. She wondered about her parents. If they were alive, or well— if they missed her. She had been gone a very long time.

She scratched at the side of her head absently as she attempted to think about what they looked like. It had been a vain and headache inducing experience. She had let the thought go with a heavy sigh rubbing at her temples just in time to hear the back door close.

She glanced up at Snape when he came back to pick up the dishes. He paused looking at her face but she waved a dismissive hand forcing a smile on her lips and turned her head away from his intrusive look, noticing a few books that he had stacked at the corner.

With a glance to his freshly turned back, she pulled open the top one and flipped it open to a marked page. She was just about to turn to the picture of the creature when a large heavy hand slammed down over hers.

"Miss Granger, do you think it wise to tempt fate?" His face was startlingly close to hers and she reared back just a bit bringing his large nose into focus. She didn't understand, not at first, then her brain caught up and she swallowed thickly.

"I'm sorry, sir." She said in a rushed whisper slowly pulling her hand back from under his. He sneered slightly snapping the book shut then turned sharply, placing it on top of the cabinet well outside of her reach.

She made a small face, his temper at her was rolling through their connection but it was muddled and messy,"I want to help." She chirped finding her courage that had hidden somewhere behind her thumping heart. "Please, I know I can help." Her face turned softer as she watched him. She felt something akin to fear wash through their connection before it was snapped closed. She twitched.

"Maybe, something that's...I don't know, not as direct?" She chewed her lip a bit waiting for his answer. His fear slightly confused her but as she lingered on the residual feeling she started to understand. She focused back on his face. He looked like a cobra sizing up its next strike, it left an odd sort of flutter in her stomach.

He watched her eager face, his lip twitching a bit baring his sharp canine. Always the insatiable know-it-all, craving knowledge well beyond her years.

"Fine." He growled out after some time, "On one condition." His tone left no room for argument and he paused watching her head nod vigorously. "The first sign and I mean at the very first sign." He said leveling his eyes at her watching her resist the urge to cow away from him, "You are to immediately stop what you're thinking about and close the book." He watched her nod again, her eyes filled with a spark of understanding and respect for his terms.

He pulled the legilimency text from that morning from the top of the stack holding it out to her with a raised judgmental brow. He watched her lick her lips like she was a thirsty man lost in a desert, her eyes locked onto the text in his hand.

"Thank you." She took a small breath reaching out as if she was approaching a stray dog. She glanced towards his narrowed eyes when her hands closed around the text. She felt the urge to run her fingers over his, something to quell the tension that was rolling off of him. Her mind told her the dangers of such an idea; fearing that he was wound so tight a simple touch might snap his control.