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- "You lied to me!" -

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  Professor Snape has always been imposing, but this time was different. He was desperate. This was a desperation that I couldn't understand. After all, it wasn't his life on the line, it was mine. He didn't say a thing as we walked further and further away from Professor Slughorn's office. Away from the party, and away from Hermione. He was livid, his jaw was clenched, and his eye twitched at any sudden movement of mine, almost like he couldn't stand to be associated with me. His irritation reminded me of my father.

  My father's irritation in my second year when I embarrassed him by falling off my broomstick in a quidditch match, punishing me by not allowing me to come home for Christmas. My father's irriation when he learned that I was still meddling with Potter, making his business with The Dark Lord even more suspiscious. The more I thought about it, the more I realized how poor of a father I had gotten.

  Potter, who has grown up without parents, has truer role models than I. Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, and, as much as it filled my mouth with sour distaste, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. They had always told him to "be brave" and "be patient" while I was just told to not boast by a boasting man. Potter was told when he failed that he was strong, while I was punished. Deep down, I knew that was the real reason I hated Potter so much. He had guts and support, while I had none. Potter has someone to pull him out of the water when he drowns, I am just told to swim.

  My father never cared for his son, just his legacy that would be carried through me. My only family who has ever loved me in the slightest has been my mother, but her decisions were just as closely monitored by my father as mine were. His claws are deep inside of me, twisting my mind into the direction he wants. That is why I don't feel shame when I bully Potter, that is why I feel guilt when I kiss Granger. It is my father molding my gullible heart to his image.

  What if I hadn't been cruel to Potter, if I never cared about something as petty as blood status? Would we have been friends, close buddies even? Would they approve of me for Granger? No, I could've never been their friends, I am too much of a coward like my father. I only care about self-preservation, nothing more. When it comes down to it, I run from horrors, while they stand against. That is what makes me a Slytherin, and Granger a Gryffindor.

  She cares for me against all odds because she knows it's the right thing to do. She sheds her coat to warm me because that's what honorable people do. I only care for her because I am too selfish to let her go.

  My mind flashed back to Professor Snape's looming figure, and to my surprise, he shoved me hard in the chest, pushing the air out of my lungs. I feel the wall of the corridor slam up against my back, and as I am regaining my breath, he sticks himself into my face.

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  "I swore to protect you, I made the Unbreakable Vow," he hissed in my face.

  Is that why my mother told me to go to the professor if I needed help? Did Professor Snape make the Unbreakable Vow to her, to protect me? That infuriated me. My parents never believed in me. The one time I get the chance to do something of value, they have to take the honor away.

  "I don't need protection," I responded in the same demeanor, trying not to appear weak in front of the man that reminded me so much of my father, "I was chosen for this, out of all others, me." The Dark Lord had chosen me. Even if it was to punish my father, I knew that I am the only student in this entire wretched school that would be able to do his bidding.

  "I have offered my guidance, but you repeatedly refuse it. She has grown attached to you boy, and I won't allow it. If you fail, it won't be just your life in danger. It will be mine.... and hers," he snarled. "Don't you think The Dark Lord knows about your little romance with Granger?"

  My eyes widened, of course I didn't. If I had known, I wouldn't be wasting my evenings sneaking off with her, further ridiculing my parents. I could only imagine what they were thinking, their son with a mudblood. Not only that, he is letting himself be distracted by her instead of focusing on his crucial task.

  "She is being tracked boy, look," Professor Snape thrust a copied file into my hand. On it was a photo of Granger from the year before reading a book and smiling to someone nearby. She looked so innocent and beautiful. As I read the text underneath her image, however, my heart stopped beating.

  It was a commission form from the Ministry of Magic. The form listed all of her information. Where she was born, her physical features, and even her school house. Most unsettling of all, was the specific information. "Suspected member of the Order of the Phoenix," and "Last seen in the company of one, Draco Malfoy."

  "Sir, how does this- this parchment know this?"

  "The Ministry has eyes at Hogwarts Draco, I thought you knew"

  I continued reading the document, horrified at the impossibilities of what it knew. There was a large stamp on the document that read, TRACKED, in huge red letters.

  "She's not of age," I whispered, understanding, "That's how they are tracking her."

  "The Dark Lord has a task for you Draco, don't let Granger distract you," he said, then he walked away, leaving me alone with her copied file.

  The last thing on her form was the most heartbreaking. "Very High Risk". They were already watching her. They were watching her to see if she was a threat, and once that was decided, it would mean a death sentence. I have been worsening that for her. Making her affiliated with a Death Eater, making her more of a target. I slumped against the wall.

  Once she found out about me, she would notify Potter and Weasley, and now that I am aware of it, the Order of the Phoenix as well. I cursed myself under my breath. How could I have been so short-sighted and selfish. The Ministry is basically run by Death Eaters these days and they track underage witches and wizards. I knew this. How could I have overlooked such a major detail?

  I had been clouded by my infatuation with Granger. She caused me to be unable to see the other side of the tunnel. I thought that I could steal precious moments with her before it was too late, but I hadn't realized that my time had already passed. If I had stayed away from her, everything would have worked more smoothly. If I had yelled at her and shut her out on the first day of term instead of letting her in, I wouldn't have to live with the utter pain of knowing I haven't just endangered my own life, but hers as well.

  My haze of self-loathing was interrupted by the last voice that I would want to have overheard my conversation.

  "Draco!" Hermione exclaimed, tears running down her face, streaking her makeup under her wet eyes, "You lied to me!" She took off down the hallway. I got up, planning on following her, but I decided better of it. I can't let her associate herself with me anymore than she already did. I sat back down, unable to feel a thing, just trapped in my spiraling head for minutes, then I realized...

  ...What if she figured it out?