own nothing.

Ten.

Hermione pulled Professor Smith outside to talk, so he wouldn't make a scene. "No, Professor, they're not my family. It would be rude to just to assume I would be staying as well."

"Are you staying with the Weasly's then?" He asked, hands in his pant pockets, because his outer coat was inside the house.

"No, I was just going to get a hotel, because with my step-mother going to pass soon, I will have to do paper work and such. Not much of the Christmas spirit in all of it." Hermione crossed her arms, she didn't like him yelling at her.

"I am supposed to watch you Ms. Granger. That is my job." Professor Smith paced, his anger flaring, how could she do this to him?

"I can take care of myself, just please worry about the extra weight you're going to put on with your sister's food Professor." Hermione, stepped towards him, trying to get him to stop pacing.

"You could stay here." Sarah Jane stated from the doorway, they both look over.

"See, problem solved."

"Just call what ever hotel you reserved and cancel Hermione. All though..." Sarah Jane looked down, biting her lip.

"All though what?" Professor Smith asked, worried now.

"We're short of rooms if you stay, you'd have to stay in the same room as John." Sarah Jane smiled shyly.

"Problem not solve." Hermione muttered, arms falling to her sides. "Look, I will just get a room at a hotel in town, visit everyday while you're here. So you can keep an eye on me."

"No, that's not going to work." Sarah Jane shook her head. "It's the Christmas season Hermione. You're going to have to stay here. I'm sorry." Sarah Jane opened the door, "Come on back inside."

Hermione huffed, and stormed inside the Professor and Sarah Jane following behind her smiling at their victory. They all sat in the living room: Luke, Clyde, Professor Smith, Hermione, and Sarah Jane bringing tea and hot coco for all of them. "So what do we want to talk about?"

"What can you tell me of my childhood?" Professor Smith asked.

"You do not remember your childhood?" Luke asked.

"Nope, I had an accident." John Smith replied, watching Hermione looking down at her tea, biting her lip. "You keep doing that, it makes me wonder if either you don't like your lips. Or you're a damn good lie detector."

"I don't know what that means." Hermione replied, not looking at him, her hands cupping her cup, to keep it from shaking.

"I see. Actually, what I really want to know is who is this Doctor? The one people who calling me?"

Sarah Jane stopped in mid sip only to look around. "Hermione." Hermione jumped, not realizing that in her shock, that she let her cup tip over on her lap, spilling hot liquid.

"I'm sorry, I'm such a klutz." Hermione grabbed the napkins, setting her cup on the trey and tried wiping her self off. "I didn't even realized that I did it. I'm so sorry Ms. Smith."

"It's okay Hermione, let's get you changed, your legs are soaking wet." Sarah Jane helped Hermione up and to the guest bedroom and bath to change. Luke and Clyde got towels and began cleaning the floor and chair. As the Professor looked confused, Hermione has been acting strange these last few days it was beginning to bug him.

After Christmas Eve supper, and they were getting ready for bed, Professor and Hermione stood and opposite sides of the queen size bed and stared at each other. "So how should we do this?" He asked.

"Well the basic concept of it Sir, is that we lay down in it and we fell asleep. I assume that it will not change."

"Don't be pert Ms. Granger. I know that is not Ideal, but this is what we got to deal with." He sighed, lifting the covers and sliding into the cold bed. He looked up at her and patted the bed. "Come on Ms. Granger, the bed doesn't bite." He looked thoughtful. "Though it is my belief that bed bugs do bite."

Hermione didn't move, she just stood there, staring at him. "Professor, this is wrong, on so many levels."

"For once Hermione Jane Granger. Stop thinking about others, and just come to bed before you freeze to death." He flipped the covers over and patted the mattress again. "Want to try this again?"

She gave a light growl of aggravation. "Fine." She crawled into bed, rubbing her legs together, trying to stay warm. She turned away, her back facing the Professor as she pulled the covers over her, turning off the lights.

"Hey Hermione?"

"Yes Professor?" Hermione asked, hugging her pillow for warmth.

"Tell me a story."

She turned to him in confusion, she could feel heat radiating off of him. "What kind of story professor?"

"Can you tell one about the Doctor." He propped himself on his elbow. "If it doesn't hurt?"

"Why would it hurt?"

"Because you're not a klutz Hermione, and you get afraid when your step-mother mentioned it. Just on story, it doesn't even have to be a great one, just a story." He laid back down on his back.

Hermione sighed, thinking of wether if she should even obliged him. But she decided for it, now just for which one? "All right. Just don't be judgmental."

"Promise."

"One time..."

"At band camp?"

She slapped his shoulder, "Do you want the damn story or not Professor?"

"Sorry, yes, please. Go on." He pleaded, rubbing where she hit him.

"One time, in a far off place, it was so bazaar, that I am afraid that you wouldn't comprehend it. So let's call it India."

"I wouldn't comprehend India?"

"Shut up." She glared at him, knowing that he couldn't see. "I was traveling with the Doctor, and I was heading back to where he said to meet. I could see him, and I pushed my way through the crowds of people. But someone else grabbed me. He saw and tried to chase after me, but he was cut off by the crowds."

Hermione took s a deep breath, giving herself a inner pep talk. "I was taken to a prostitution ring."

"Ms. Granger."

"He found me, I was drugged, my clothes were changed, it was almost like I was a different person. They had a lot of foreigners. I was just one of many. He entered as a customer, to try to find me, at first it was hard because they keep newer ones away from prying eyes. But he flashed money, and said he wanted something special."

The Professor grabbed her hand, and held it tight. "No other girl who came up to him was me, he told me later, they all looked the same, at first he couldn't tell the difference. But then I came, and I had to give him a lap dance or something. I don't even remember. But he said I was crying, I couldn't stop crying. And that he would remember those tears anywhere. He found me. He blew the place up, set the other girls free. And we ran away."

Hermione wiped her tears away with her other free hand, "I owe him everything Professor."

"It sounds like you loved him Ms. Granger." His voice hinted at jealousy.

"Loved?" Hermione laughed lightly. "Professor I was raised to hate the man, the Doctor was my father's worst enemy. But it is the curse when traveling with the Doctor all of his companions fall in love with him. I don't think I loved him."

"So you're saying others have chances?" He asked, the jealously gone.

"No," She muttered, already half asleep, "I am different from others Professor. I am much older then I look. What ever chances I had at a normal life went out the door when I met the Doctor."

"So the Doctor ruined it for you?" He asked.

"No, He shows us that the Earth is still small, and that we are still growing and if we can't get over him after he leaves us, that's our fault. I have to learn that. Because no one else has."

"I'm going to ask you again Hermione, before I lose you to sleep..." He moves his lips close to her ear, so he can whisper to her. "Are you in love with the Doctor"

Hermione sighed heavily in her sleep, "Yes,"