I"M SORRY!
I know I took WAY too long to update. I pinched myself already, on behalf of all of you. (ow!)
Thank you Alex! =)

As Hermione awoke, the memories of the night before came flooding back to her. She smiled to herself and hugged Crookshanks, who gave a grumpy meow and leapt off the bed. As the curtain around her bed shifted, a splash of red caught her eye on her bedside table. She reached over. It was a rose, attached to a single sheet of folded parchment.

Can you meet me in the North Tower at 10? There's a secret room behind the portrait of the wizard in space. The password is milky way.
I had a wonderful time last night.

- K

"Ooh is that a love note, Hermione?" called a voice from across the dormitory. Parvati was sitting on her bed, looking with interest at the rose Hermione still clutched in her hand. "I guess you and McLaggen had a good time last night?"

"Yes, we did," said Hermione, lying through her teeth. "He just sent a note saying he can't wait to see me again. But I don't think we'll be going out again anytime soon."

"What?" In a trice Parvati had bounded across the room and was sitting next to her. "But you just said you had a good time with him! And McLaggen is really good looking!"

"Well, you see," she began, trying desperately to think of an excuse Parvati would believe. "Er...I can't let him think I want to see him again. Then he'd lose interest in me. It's how boys think. They enjoy having to chase after us. So I can't seem too eager, can I?" She gave an inner sigh of relief as she watched Parvati's scandalized expression fade into one of awe. That was close.

The corridors were almost deserted that morning, due to the majority of the student population sleeping in late from the night before. Hermione managed to reach the North Tower without bumping into anyone else, including Peeves and Argus Filch. She climbed through the portrait hole and noticed, with a slight disappointment, that the room was empty. Was she too early?

"Hermione," said a voice behind her. She turned around, unable to hide the smile that had appeared on her face at the sound of his voice.

"Hi. I thought I arrived too early."

"You did," he said, flashing her a surprisingly mischievous grin. "It's only 9 o'clock."

"I..." She was horrified. Merlin's pants! An entire hour earlier than I was supposed to be here? He probably thinks I'm loopy! I should have... Wait a minute. Why is he here?

"So why are you here then?" she said, raising an eyebrow. He laughed. "Maybe it's the same reason."

She took a seat on a nearby armchair. "So...about last night..." she began tentatively.

He sobered instantly. Taking a seat across from her, he took a deep breath.

"I really did have a wonderful time last night, Hermione. You made me feel things I never would have believed in."

She could tell that he wasn't finished. "But?"

He sighed, his expression pained. "I have Dumbledore's trust, and I cannot betray that. He knew how all the students' parents felt after the incident with Lupin, yet he still gave me this opportunity. I will always be indebted to him."

She sighed. She should have expected it.

"Then with you," he continued, "I don't think anyone would be too pleased if they discovered we were seeing each other. You're a brilliant student, Hermione. Possibly the most promising student Hogwarts has ever seen. I don't want to do anything to jeopardize that. I'm sure Professor McGonagall would have my head."

She couldn't help but smile at the thought. "I'm sure she would."

He took her hands gently in his. "So are you alright with this?" he said, searching her expression carefully.

She sighed again. His fingers felt so warm around hers. So right. Yet she knew what he was saying made sense. It couldn't work. They couldn't work.

"I understand," she said, softly. She pulled herself up from the armchair and moved across the room to stare absently out of the window. "We both agree to act as though nothing happened between us." She turned around, smiling. "Friends?"

He returned her smile, looking relieved. "Friends. Well, as friendly as any teacher and student can get."

She glanced at her watch. "I think it's time for me to get back to the common room and see if Ginny is up. Goodbye...Professor. I'll see you in class."

He grinned. "Goodbye Ms. Granger."

As she climbed out of the portrait hole, she heard the faint sound of pages rustling. Glancing around, she realized with alarm that Lavender was sitting at a table near the window, a pile of parchment and her Charms textbook balanced in front of her.

"Hermione!" said Lavender, looking surprised. "I had no idea that anyone would be up here this early. And what's that room behind you?" she added, peering curiously at the half-open portrait.

"Er..." With surprising speed, Hermione managed to slam the portrait shut. "It's nothing. Just an empty old room I stumbled across this morning. So what are you doing up here?"

Lavender cast one more curious glance at the portrait, then shrugged and picked up her quill. "I'm trying to do my Charms homework."

"But...we don't have any Charms homework." And even if we did, there's no way you would spend your Saturday morning doing it, Hermione added mentally.

"I know," replied Lavender, busily leafing through the textbook. "But I want to show Professor Novak that I'm just as good a student as" she looked briefly up at Hermione," anybody else. I just wish I'd listened more in Flitwick's classes. There's so much I have to learn!"

"You're learning Charms to impress him?" She wasn't sure whether to laugh or not. Kai had certainly made an impact on the female population. Lavender doing unnecessary studying on a Saturday morning?

"Yes," Lavender gave a dreamy sigh and shut her textbook. "Isn't he gorgeous?"

"I..." Can he hear us? "I...er...I don't know. I suppose." She felt uncomfortable. What if he could hear them? Dhampir senses were much sharper than the average wizard's.

"Wait a minute, Hermione!" Lavender jumped up suddenly, startling her. "I've just thought of a brilliant idea! You could help me learn Charms!"

No. No I can't. "Me?" Lavender nodded at her excitedly. "I don't know... I mean, I have so much work to do on my own and-"

"Fine." Lavender sniffed, taking her seat again. "I'll just do it on my own. Or I could ask someone else to help me. Maybe a seventh year or a teacher or..." She gasped and jumped back up. "I'll ask Professor Novak to help me! It's a perfect idea!" She had an ecstatic expression on her face, unconsciously messing up her stack of parchment as she jumped up and down.

Hermione was horrified. With a huge effort, she made an attempt to clear her thoughts. No, Hermione, she told herself. She's his student too. She has every right to ask him for help. And besides, there's nothing going on between you and him anyway. Still, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy at the thought of Lavender and her outrageous flirting. Taking a deep breath, she made up her mind. I hope I know what I'm doing.

"Ka- I mean, Professor Novak has enough to do as it is. And you'd have to go through McGonagall and Dumbledore to apply for Remedial Charms classes, and then they would have to look at all of your Charms grades... It would be a lot of hassle. Do you really want go through all of that trouble?"

Lavender looked like she had just been given a year's worth of detention. "I suppose not..."

"I'll help you."

Lavender's expression became immediately ecstatic once more. "You will? Oh thank you so much, Hermione! When do we start?"

"Right now if you like. Let's go down to the library, or the common room." Anywhere else.

Lavender snatched everything off the desk and headed out of the room, still beaming. With a sigh, and one quick glance toward the portrait, Hermione followed.

Please don't say he heard that.

Until we meet again! ^_^