A/N: I am so sorry that there was no update last weekend. It was my anniversary so I took a week off. To make up for it, here is a chapter today and I will roll out two more this weekend. As always, please let me know what you think.

Hermione could not believe she did that. She threw herself on her bed and groaned into her pillow. He was just doing a nice thing for her. She didn't understand why she felt like this around him. This was the feared potions professor of Hogwarts, but she felt so safe when she was near him. She chalked it up to his being kind to her recently. Hermione sighed. Why did life seem so complicated right now? She needed to talk to someone. He thoughts immediately went to Draco. If anyone would be understanding of her feelings it would be him. Hermione stood from her bed and decided to find Draco. She sent her patronus to Draco requesting a meeting in the Room of Requirement in an hour. She decided a shower might clear her thoughts a little. As she cleaned the grime from her Hogsmeade trip from her body, her eyes fell on the scar on her arm. The awful word that would forever be on her body. Her mind drifted to Severus' reaction to her thoughts on this mark. He seemed so mad that she would even think the things that she did. Hermione began to wonder if Severus felt the same thing about his dark mark. Finishing up her shower, she made her way to the Room of Requirement. Draco was already there waiting for her.

"What do I owe the pleasure of this meeting, Granger?" Draco asked teasingly. His expression changed when he saw the conflicted look on her face. "Granger? What is it?" He was concerned now. If the Weasel had tried anything with her, he would be angry.

Hermione looked up at him. "I needed someone to talk to. I am very limited in people I can talk to. You were the first to come to mind."

Draco immediately conjured a couch and tea. "Of course. What's up?"

Hermione took a deep breath. "Its about Severus. He caught me during one of my post-war episodes and has offered to teach me occlumency."

"That's a good thing though, isn't it?" Draco asked. "Or is there more to it than that?"

"There is. While teaching me, he saw what happened between me and Bellatrix at Malfoy Manor. I may have gone hysterical. He was so adamant I stop calling myself a Mudblood. For some reason, he has been able to keep me grounded. Severus has been able to make me feel safe without even touching me and when he does touch me even just a touch on my hand it feels warm and in a strange way, comforting. Its just so confusing. Its like I have no control of my feelings around him. You must think I'm crazy. He's my teacher for crying out loud!" Hermione stopped and took a deep breath while looking up at Draco. He had a smirk on his face.

"Severus, eh? Since when did he become Severus to you?" He asked with a knowing look.

"He asked me to call him that when its just the two of us. Oh now I've done it." Hermione groaned.

"Don't worry your frizzy little head, Granger. I won't say anything. Besides, I was just teasing him the other day about gaining a new less-crazy Auntie." He replied.

Hermione had a look of horror on her face. "You didn't! Does he know about these feelings of mine? I can't look at him again if he does."

"Of course he doesn't. I just noticed that he also referred to you by your first name instead of Miss Granger. He did it as if he had always done it. He obviously has no idea of how you feel around him, and even if he did, he is the kind of person that assumes he's wrong and is undeserving of care and love. Its textbook, Hermione. I'm surprised you haven't noticed how he acts around you."

Hermione looked sheepish. "Well look who is becoming a detective. Harry said some of the same things to me the other day and I called him crazy. This whole situation is crazy. I will not act on feelings that I may have for a teacher. Its inappropriate. And the age difference alone could be looked on as inappropriate. He's just being nice to me because I'm going through a tough time. Any feelings can be dismissed as a fleeting crush. All girls get them and grow out of them."

Draco laughed. "Really, Granger? Who are you trying to convince? Me or yourself?" He stood and walked towards the door. "Just something to think about. Oh, and just for the record, I would not be opposed to calling you my Auntie 'Mione" He ducked out the door before being hit with whatever cruel hex Hermione had sent his way.

Hermione was seething as she walked down the corridors towards the doors of the school. She was going to her favorite tree by the lake to get some air. "That no good, conniving, trifling little ferret!" She ran into something warm and black. She looked up to see Snape standing there. "Oh, sorry, Sir. I should have been paying more attention."

Severus smirked. Hermione was getting tired of all the damn smirking from Slytherins. "What has you so riled up, Miss Granger?"

"Just something Malfoy said to me. I ought to strangle the little ferret for even suggesting—" She cut herself off when she remembered who she was talking to. "Never mind. He was just being annoying. As boys usually are."

"Whatever he said to you seems to have made you ready to commit murder." Snape began thinking of what Draco could have said to make Hermione this angry. He had to admit that it was nice to see a glimpse of the usual fiery spirit Hermione Granger possessed.

"Honestly its nothing. He was just teasing me about being an Aunt. I don't feel old enough to be considered an Aunt, ya know? Anyway, I'm going for a walk before dinner so I'll see you at dinner." Without a glance back, Hermione walked off so he could not see the blush burning on her face.

Snape stood there dumbfounded. It was no mere coincidence that the subject of Hermione being an Aunt would come up in two different conversations that Draco was a part of. Snape turned to stalk down the hallways looking for that no good conniving ferret to discover what he was playing at. It made him groan to think that Draco inherited his mother's fondness of matchmaking.