A/N: Sorry for going MIA for forever, but I found this file on my computer from before my life got all screwed up. I will probably make it a multi-chaptered fic, depending on how much support I get for it, but this is all I have right now. I have to find the story in my memory and remember what my plot line was-it must have been good to pull me out of my writing depression like that...

(aka please review! Thanks so much!)

Thanks to my wonderful beta Rising From The Flames for such a great job!

Out of the Blue:

I walked out of Herbology and stared longingly across the grounds to the lake, wishing I could go for a quick swim before my next class. If only it would warm up. Ronald Weasley pushed roughly past me, and I thought I heard someone sobbing quietly. I ran after the sound until I found Hermione Granger sitting by a fountain, crying her heart out.

"Hey, what's wrong?" I asked softly, going up beside her. She jumped, and I cursed my American accent. This was why I never spoke here!

She wiped angrily at her eyes. "It's Ronald."

"Of course it is. Guys are jerks. He'll grow up, you'll see." I said, trying to console her.

She looked at me strangely. "I haven't seen you around before."

"My name is Rose. I'm in Gryffindor, too, but I'm a fourth-year." I explained.

"Oh. I'm sorry, now you're late." she said mournfully as the bell rang.

"It's worth it." I hugged her. "Don't let that idiot get to you." I smiled. "If you ever need someone to talk to, or maybe someone to 'talk' some sense into him, I'm here."

To my relief, she smiled back. "What do you have now?"

"Double Potions. I have to run."

Her eyes widened. "I'm so sorry!"

"It's okay, Hermione. I'm pretty good at it, so Snape doesn't hate me as much. I stay quiet and do my work, and he doesn't pick on me. It's a four-year-old agreement, sort of. I'll be fine, you'll see. But I'm guessing you better run, too. See you at dinner?"

"Sure." she replied, hugging me again before running off.

RSRSRS

I ran as fast as I could, which, modesty aside, is pretty damn fast. I was still late, but not by as much as it could have been. I took a deep breath and fixed my hair before slipping silently inside. Lucky me, his back was to the door, and I ducked into my usual seat in the farthest corner possible. He turned and I swear he looked right at me! I continued to focus on the potion we were brewing for the lesson, ignoring the familiar heat rushing through my body.

Last year, I went to the Dueling Club out of pure curiosity, thinking it would be interesting to see if the tales about Lockhart were really true, expecting to fall for him like so many others if they were, and prepared to accept that fate. I was not prepared to fall for another teacher. Snape had calmly one-upped and thoroughly humiliated his colleague, as though he and I were of the same opinion of the pompous bastard, except he actually did something about it. And I found myself noticing him, my teacher, more than was necessary, more than was healthy.

I was and am well aware that if anything happened and anyone found out, not only would I get thrown out of school, my one last home, but that he could very well lose his job. I would not, could not risk that.

It was entirely out of the blue, and now it was not only a crush, but an extremely unhealthy obsession. Bad for both of us. Completely out of the blue.

SSSSSS

I turned as she slipped silently in, and realized my semi-intelligent little red-haired, rosy-cheeked lioness had grown. She was taller, still slender, but with a noticeably smaller waist and flared hips. It was hard to tell with her robes fastened, but the rest of her was so developed I had no doubt that her chest had done the same. She sat quickly and quietly in her usual chair and set to work. I took a few laps around the room, checking on the others before stopping right behind her.

"Lateness does not go unexcused in my class, not even for one with such a clean record as you." I breathed in her ear.

She jumped. "I know." she murmured.

I raised an eyebrow. "No excuses? No 'But it was his fault' or any other pathetic protest of innocence?"

She turned to face me. "Would you believe me if I told you my reason? Not likely. We both know I was the one who was late, and nothing else matters."

It took me a second to process the fact that she would willingly accept whatever fair punishment I assigned her. Never had anyone so calmly confronted me about my unfairness, perhaps not outright, but she had subtly hinted at it, preserving my dignity and reputation while at the same time letting me know that she disapproved greatly. Never had any student I had ever heard of willingly accepted a punishment like this.

Not only was she a smart Gryffindor, she was unique in so many other ways. At a mere fourteen years, she was more mature than most adults I knew, including Albus.

"Since Madam Pomfrey is running low on certain medicinal potions, you will report to my office at seven tonight to assist me in brewing them. And do not be late again, or it will be worse."

She merely nodded, meeting my gaze for a moment before returning to her work. Her amber eyes were so clear and honest that I knew she would be there.