Chapter 45: The Rumor Mill

The Courtyard, Wizarding World...

Draco Lucius Malfoy glared rather murderously at the overzealous Ron Weasley. He had been quite tired of the mouthy penniless Pureblood since their first arrival at Hogwarts. The red haired Gryffindor prat had always seemed to open his mouth at the most inopportune times. The cold gray eyes of the newborn werewolf had been unsettling as Ron bravely glared back at him. The situation had seemed to escalate since Draco had started spending a good deal of time in Hermione's company. As much as the bushy haired witch detested the sleek blond wizard, she had promised Severus to keep an eye on his charge when he wasn't around due to various aspects of his being a Potions Master. Draco had been kind enough to keep the secret of Snape's affair with his Gryffindor student and even going so far as to be rather courteous to the Muggle-born witch.

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Earlier That Day...

Hermione had gone straight from Gryffindor tower down to the dungeons. She had a smile upon her face as she greeted Draco Malfoy at Snape's door. She had taken no notice of several other Slytherin were prowling the dungeons on their way to breakfast of course. Snape had been finishing up his grading of parchments. It seemed Hermione's charitable mood had been extended to Draco, whom had accepted her company, not that he had a choice, as well as her place in his godfather's life.

Draco moved over to his seat on the sofa and began reading his rather interesting potions book. It seemed his focus had been fine tuned as a result of his werewolf abilities. He had been reading nearly everything he could get his hands on in an attempt to "broaden his horizons." That had he was trying desperately not to listen in on his uncle's interactions with the bushy haired Gryffindor.

Hermione made her way over to Snape whom had been just finished his lesson plan for the up coming Potions classes this week. Draco had already gotten a jump start on his assignment as did Hermione, so neither of them had been worried. The bushy haired witch made her way over toward the ebony clad Potions Professor as he got to his feet.

She giggled as he pulled her into his embrace and softly kissed her exposed neck.

Draco had smirked from behind his book noting the obvious affection his godfather had been showering on the witch. He had not known when they begun shagging but it had done little to change the dour wizard's overall demeanor, of course he could have simply been playing his part.

"What are your plans for this after noon?"? she asked trailing her hand up his ebony clad chest in a rather seductive manner.

"I plan to...make a run to Diagon Alley." replied Snape thinking of his packed schedule. "Then I have to brew potions to stock the infirmary should one of you students become ill, it will be handy to have a few potions to remedy that."

Hermione sighed.

They had less time to spend with one another than she realized.

Snape smirked noting her disappointment.

"We have quite a bit of time before breakfast...perhaps..." he began and was immediately silenced by her pressing her soft pink lips into his pale ones.

A low growl rumbled from deep in his throat and his eyes took on a kind of predatory glow.

Hermione led him by the hand toward his bedroom and proceeded to close and heavily ward the door. Draco shook his head not at all looking forward to his keen hearing picking up the activity between then two of them. Quite frankly, he had wondered how the girl had been still alive given all he had known about his godfather's wolfish habits and temperament.

Later...

Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger exited Snape's quarters about thirty minutes after he had. The witch had been a bit worse for wear, but ready to take on the day after being freshly showered and dressed for her classes. Draco's appearance had not been as neat as it once had been, with his Slytherin tie loose and his shirt wrinkled. He didn't see much of a need to groom himself as if he had been a pristine statue if he was only going to mess it all up again.

Hermione's wet hair and Draco's rumpled clothes gave way to gossip as the two of them strolled down the corridor and into the great hall.

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The Corridors, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...

Draco had been ten seconds away from tearing Ronald Weasley a new one, when he felt a heavy pale hand upon his shoulder. The low growl continued to rumble in his throat as he glared rather murderously at Ron, whom had taken a step back before the junior Malfoy could lunge at him.

"Draco." said the cool baritone voice of Severus Snape. "Let it go."

The low whimper from the enraged junior Malfoy had not been missed.

"Yes sir." replied Draco narrowing his gray eyes at Ron.

The red head wizard narrowed his blue eyes at Draco right back.

"Next time." mouthed the sleek blond Slytherin.

Ron had been about to respond when he suddenly noted the eerie red glow behind Draco Malfoy's gray eyes.

"What the..." he trailed off noting that Snape's eyes had still been on him.

The red head wizard tried to keep his hands from trembling.

Hermione made her way toward the scene. She had been fortunate enough to catch Severus before Draco serious hurt Ron. His well timed intervention averted disaster.

The bushy haired witch grabbed the trembling red head wizard and pulled him away from the two very dangerous Slytherins.

"What were you thinking Ron?" she asked glaring at him.

Ron looked at her with a hard expression then narrowed his gaze.

"You're one to talk." he countered. "What were you doing hanging around Snape and Draco so much?"

Hermione had not known what any of that had to do with him being so stupid.

"You know very well that I am working on a project with Professor Snape." she said annoyed. "And Draco is always around...Professor Snape is his Head of House."

Ron balled his fists further enraged.

"So what is the big idea with you snogging Malfoy in the dungeons?" he spat.

"What?" asked Hermione caught completely off guard.

"You heard me!" accused Ron. "You were probably shagging him too."

"Ronald, you don't know what you are talking about." she replied.

"Like hell I don't." snapped Ron. "You're nothing but a...whore...a no good Slytherin loving whore!"

No sooner had Ron said this did Severus Snape's ears perk. Draco's gray eyes widened and before he could say anything to discourage his Head of House from his course of action it had been too late, Snape took off like a dungeon bat out of hell.

Hermione's amber eyes widened when Snape suddenly appeared a deep and very growl erupted from him and he seized a startled Ron Weasley by the collar. Thinking rather quickly, the bushy haired witch cast a Notice-Me-Not charm over the area in a bid to keep Snape's semi-transformation a secret from the other students.

"Severus don't." she said turning her attention to trying to keep the wizard from ripping the unsuspecting Gryffindor to shreds.

"KILL WEASEL!" growled the enraged werewolf Potions Master.

Beast-Mind:

It insulted the female. It must be eliminated. The scent of blood had been in the air as the mighty creatures claws seeped into the red head weasel's meaty soft flesh. The scent of jasmine had been around coming off the female in waves. The beast threw itself against the confines of it's fleshy prison. No mound of flesh was going to keep it from it's prey.

"Please don't hurt him..." said Hermione her soft trembling hands pressed against his ebony clad chest. "Professor, put Ronald down."

Snape growled tightening his clawed grip on Ron Weasley's throat.

"Professor please...for me put Ronald down." she said. "He's an insensitive motor-mouth git but he doesn't deserved to be killed because of it...and you don't deserve to go to Azkaban because he's being stupid."

Ron had been unable to speak as Hermione skillfully flicked her wand and cast a quick charm to render him unconscious.

"Please Severus." she said softly.

Snape let out an irate grunt and dropped Ron Weasley onto the ground. His body landing in a limp heap. The bushy haired witch knew that she would have to wipe his memory of this little skirmish before it got out of hand.

The Potions Professor caught his breath and his wolfish side had faded back into the darker recesses of obscurity. He grabbed the bushy haired witch and pulled her close to him.

"You are not a whore." he said his obsidian eyes piercing her amber ones with his intent. "That...child...obviously never deserved you."

Hermione flashed the Potions Professor a half smile and nodded.

"I'll be alright." she said. "Go on and get back to work."

Snape nodded.

"You have detention, Miss Granger." said Snape with heat behind his obsidian eyes. "My office after supper."

Hermione nodded not wishing to convey how much she would be looking forward to that detention.

"And do inform Weasley that he too has detention...about two weeks worth." said Snape bitterly. "With Filch."

Hermione had been greatly amused by Snape's gesture in using his position as Potions Professor to defend her honor rather than ripping him apart as a werewolf.

"I will." replied the bushy haired witch canceling the charm she put around them and awakened Ron only after casting an obliviate on him from the last several minutes. She decided to let him keep the nasty comments he made about her in his memory and quickly created a scenario where she hexed him for his rudeness.

Snape left with Draco whom had watched the entire thing wondering if his godfather had killed the red head idiot.

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The Great Hall, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...

The rumors that Ron Weasley and Draco Malfoy had nearly come to blows over Hermione Granger had been circulating throughout the school. The gossip had reached the ears of the Staff as they sat at their table over looking the students in the great hall. Hermione had been greatly annoyed by the rumors and Ron's annoying behavior only served to bolster them. Snape's obsidian eyes flickered as he watched his witch wade through the controversy with dignity befitting a Gryffindor of her stature. Soon summer would be upon them and the sixth year of schooling would begin.

Remus Lupin's eyes flickered over toward Severus and then back to Hermione. The sheepish werewolf had been called in rather last minute to fill in for Professor Umbridge whom had taken a leave of absence following her expulsion from Hogwarts. He had been all too thrilled to get the call from Dumbledore that his presence was once again required at the school. Although he had been sad to inform the students that this was to be his final year as Defense Against The Dark Arts Professor. Sirius Black was becoming more restless since being released from Azkaban and impatient about news or results in the up coming war.

The sheepish werewolf turned his attention back to the students and occasionally Snape, whom had been his usual silent intimidating self, It was clear that these spoken rumors had been baseless, although non of the students knew how dangerously close to the truth they had been. For his part Albus Dumbledore had remained blissfully unaware of Snape's intimate relationship with the bushy haired witch.

He had just hoped they could all get through the final days of the term and get to the summer in relative peace. Or rather he hoped they could get through the rest of the school year without Severus or Draco killing anyone.

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The Common Room, Gryffindor Tower, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...

Harry had been reading in the common room when he noted Hermione burst in with her face as red as a beet and rage behind her amber eyes. She gathered her books rather quickly as she attempted to make her way toward detention. The green eyed wizard stopped his friend just as she was about to make her way out of the door.

"Mione wait." he said.

"What do you want Harry, I'm already late for detention." she said rather testily.

Harry noted that her amber eyes had been puffy.

"Mione have you been crying?" he asked softly not wishing to cause her further embarrassment.

"It's fine Harry." she said. "It's just some left over sentiment from that weasel faced prat Ron's horrid comments."

"I'm sorry." said the green eyed wizard feeling badly that his two best friends were fighting.

"Don't worry about it." replied Hermione. "It's not as if I actually wanted to be that insufferable pig's friend."

"Why are they making up all these stories about you and Draco?" asked Harry.

"Because he stays with Professor Snape and since I've been working on my project, Professor Snape make him exercise manners." replied the bushy haired witch. "Anyway I've got to go."

Harry nodded understanding that Ron had made a huge mess of things with her.

"Thanks for not believing the rumors Harry." she said kissing him plainly on the cheek before she departed.

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Snape's Office, Slytherin Dungeons, Hogwarts Castle...

The Potions Master could hardly concentrate on his paper work with his thoughts returning to Hermione. She had been so very upset by all the rumors going about about her and Draco, she had been absolutely livid with the new rumors going about depicting her to be some kind of whore because of Weasley's outburst. He had looked up to see the bushy haired witch had entered his office without his insisting that she come in. He quickly warded it as the door closed behind her and got up from his desk. She threw herself into his arms and he embraced her without a thought.

He could feel her warm moist tears against the fabric of his ebony clad coat.

"Shhhh." he said softly. "It's alright Hermione...I have you now witch."

She looked into the sympathetic obsidian eyes of her lover and he leaned down capturing her soft pink lips into a possessive kiss with his pale ones. It had not been broken when he kneeled down briefly and took the witch into his arms as he carried her over toward the secret door to his quarters. He continued to kiss her as he carried her down the winding staircase that lead to his quarters, never missing his footing nor having to shift her weight. He carried her off to his bedroom not wishing to disturb Draco.

"Make the pain go away Severus." Hermione pleaded with tears still running down her supple cheeks as she looked up at him from the center of his black four-poster bed.

"As you wish." he replied slipping between her slender thighs.

Once more his pale lips crashed into her soft pink ones. Draco had taken it upon himself to cast a silencing charm before they alerted the entire Slytherin house with all the shouting and grunting. He made his way back to his room feeling a bit envious of the silence charm working for the other Slytherins, his acute sense of hearing had done him little justice.