The Harry Potter universe and its characters are the sole property of J. K. Rowling. By using them below, I am in no way claiming ownership.

'Now, Miss Granger,' Professor McGonagall gestured for her to take the seat opposite the desk. She had been lucky to catch the Professor before she retired for the evening. Hermione now found herself back in the familiar office, with a pot of Earl Grey brewing on the hearth. 'What seems to be the problem?' Hermione adjusted her robes, suddenly feeling embarrassed.

'Ah, well, Professor, I've been having some problems with another student.' McGonagall sat down and reached for a sheet of parchment and her reading glasses. Hermione waited until she had assembled the necessary writing materials.

'Go on.' McGonagall encouraged, her quill at the ready.

'He broke into the girls dormitory earlier.' The Professor nodded, beginning to scribble down a report.

'Was it Potter or Weasley?' She asked. Hermione blinked.

'Neither, Professor. It was Draco Malfoy.' McGonagall looked up from the parchment and peered over her reading spectacles at her, curious. Hermione forced herself to hold the stare. The Professor sighed and removed her glasses with a frown, then folded her hands on her lap.

'Have you two had a lover's spat?' Her tone was almost hopeful and Hermione's brow furrowed in confusion.

'No, Professor...' McGonagall made a tsk noise and ripped the parchment in two.

'Miss Granger,' she stood up from behind her desk. 'I don't think you want to file this complaint.'

'But...' Hermione began to protest, but found herself obeying McGonagall's gestures to leave. The Professor herded the young witch towards the door, then opened it for her. Hermione paused at the threshold. 'Professor,' she insisted, 'he shouldn't possess magic capable of overcoming the dormitory wards. Aren't you going to investigate?' McGonagall shrugged, nonplussed. 'He was in my bed.'

McGonagall's expression became distant.

'Professor?' Hermione asked, breaking the teacher's daydream.

'In your bed?' McGonagall looked down at her. 'My dear, I should be so lucky.' With that comment, she gave Hermione a quick push out the door and closed it. Hermione stared at the office, amazed by her teacher's reaction.

'I suppose that only leaves one option,' she said aloud. With a new purpose, she turned on her heel and headed towards the dungeons.

'And why aren't you taking this up with the head of your own house?' Snape drawled, unhappy at being interrupted in his class prep for the next day. Hermione shivered under her robes, unsure whether it was due to the chill in the classroom or her chilly reception.

'I did...' She began to plead, but the Professor interrupted her.

'And why did Professor McGonagall not deal with this matter?'

'I don't know. But he's your student...'

'Hm,' Snape paused, pensive. His gaze lingered on Hermione, making her feel uncomfortable. 'Fine, the problem?'

'Draco Malfoy is overstepping a line.' Professor Snape rolled his eyes, diverting his attention back to the cauldron bubbling on the table. He picked up a handful of dried leaves and dropped them in, causing the colour to change from a dark green to a pale pink colour.

'I have already heard of his romantic gesture in the courtyard, Miss Granger. The students' love lives do not concern or interest me.'

'Professor, he broke into the Gryffindor dormitory. He was in my bed.'

'How do you know he was in your bed?' Snape narrowed his eyes.

'Because I found him there!' Hermione exhaled, fed up of not being taken seriously. 'The wards on our dormitories have been there for centuries, a fourth year shouldn't be able to overcome them. Something's not right.' Snape scowled at the contents of his cauldron.

'Once again, Miss Granger, the love lives of my students are not my concern. I am busy.' Clearly, she had been dismissed. She left the classroom, seething.

Draco's passage from the Wizarding Student Times to the Slytherin dormitories had been an exhausting one. On the walk past the potions classrooms, yet another strange encounter had occurred. It had culminated in a terrified Draco being chased all the way to the Slytherin common room by a ravenous bunch of Gryffindor girls. He had thought he recognised Katie Bell from the Gryffindor Quidditch team, but had been too pre-occupied with his escape to double-check. At least, in the safety of his common room, none of his fellow students had attempted to ravage him.

Until things were sorted out, he didn't have much of a choice but to sit in his chamber and curse Hermione.

His brooding over the situation was interrupted by a swift knock at the door. With a sigh, Draco pushed himself up from his desk and went to answer it. Professor Snape looked displeased, his arms folded over his dark robes. 'Mr Malfoy, I believe we need to have a word with one another.' Draco moved aside, letting the Professor into his room.

Snape now frowned at him from inside his chamber. Draco moved back to sit by his desk. 'What's this about?' he asked.

'Miss Granger has complained about your behaviour towards her. I suggest you... desist... in your affections.' Draco couldn't believe it.

'My behaviour towards her? Are you serious?'

'She told me that you were responsible for the incident in the great hall this morning, and that you broke into the Gryffindor dormitory this evening to hide in her bed.' Draco's mouth fell open.

'She's mental, Professor... I never did anything. I don't even know where the Gryffindor dormitory is.'

'You're saying you have no idea what she's talking about.' Draco nodded and leant forward in his chair,

'In fact, she's been harassing me. I don't know what she's done, but suddenly all the students I'm encountering want to jump my bones or something.' Now Snape was speechless. He sighed, tired of the whole affair, and the effort he'd had to expend coming down to the Slytherin dormitories. He moved to the door.

'Just don't harass her again, Mr. Malfoy, or I'll have to contact your father.' Snape paused in the doorway and glanced back at his student. 'You and I both know how he would feel about your... situation.'

Author's note: I feel now is the time to say, that while I've set this in fourth year (as the climax of the Triwizard tournament changes everything and I think ruins the chance for a fun relationship between D/H) I'm always picturing them as a bit older, more like 6th/7th years - otherwise it'd be a bit weird.