“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 I rarely saw her, and when she did appear she was quite withdrawn.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.”
Severus studied her, and Hermione wondered what her expression betrayed.
“Don't interpret that as loyalty,” he said after a moment.
“I don't,” she said, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. “I realise that it's not meaningful yet. It's not any kind of leverage. But I'm hopeful that if I'm careful, eventually I may be able to capitalise on it. Emotionally — he's vulnerable. There's no one he can trust. I don't think he has anyone who cares about him at all. I think with time, he won't be able to stop himself from feeling like he needs me. He mentioned that because of the runes, when he wants things now — it's harder to dissuade himself. I think — I might be able to use that eventually.”
Severus' mouth twitched, the suspicion faded from his eyes but his expression tensed. “In that case, if you manage to succeed you're as likely to destroy the Order as save it. I hope you realise by now how dangerous he is. If you superseded whatever his current ambition is in that manner—“
Severus paused for a moment. “If the Dark Lord could not leash him, I would not advise deluding yourself into thinking you can master him.”
Hermione jerked slightly and she stared into the cold fireplace, tensing until her legs trembled while she struggled not to snap. Anger flared through her like an explosion.