Sorry it took a while to update. I'd like to thank my readers (though few). If you like the story, please review! I love reviews..i thrive off of reviews.future chapters may not come w/o reviews!!!!! *~ashleigh~*

It was time for Hermione's detention, and she slowly made her way to the classroom doors. The trip there didn't take long enough. She got to the door and knocked on it softly.

"You're late, Ms. Granger," growled Snape.

Hermione had a quizzical look on her face when she entered the room. How did he know it was her? And more importantly, she was only 3 minutes late!

"Sorry, Sir, I didn't realize that I couldn't be a second late," said Hermione in a smug voice. Where did she get all this new-found confidence?

"30 points from Gryffindor for defying a teacher. Now do I need to give you another detention?" questioned Snape.

"Of course not Sir, one night with you is all I could ask for," replied Hermione in a sarcastic dreamy sort of voice.

"Clean out all the cauldrons. No magic. If I have to hear one word, it will be the death of you," said Snape.

"Oh Merlin," whispered Hermione as she looked at the many cauldrons on the floor and on the tables. "This'll take all night."

Hermione grabbed a cloth, soap, and filled a bucket with warm water and began scrubbing the gross, dated potions that still stuck to the insides. Three hours later, Hermione was on her last cauldron, when all of a sudden she heard a gasp and a thump. She turned around and noticed Snape had collapsed. She walked over to him, and noticed a liquid dripping from the desk to the floor. She picked up a small phial that laid knocked over on the desk. It was Dissegratum Metallum. A metal disintegrator. She quickly bent down and looked for the place where it splashed on him. She noticed his wrist had a few drops applied to it. She slowly rolled up his sleeve and saw a gaping wound in his left wrist. She got up and retrieved a warm cloth to put over it until she could get Madame Pomfrey. She noticed the middle of his chest had a wet mark. That must've been why he passed out. She unbuttoned his robes and unbuttoned his shirt. She didn't have time to notice his well toned chest and stomach. A wound, larger than the one on his wrist was near his heart. It steadily grew larger, which meant the drop was a large one. She grabbed her wand and muttered a spell to freeze that certain area on his body, so the potion wouldn't eat through any further. She knew the spell wouldn't last long.

At that moment, Snape snapped his eyes opened and shot up his head. Hermione was bent down so low that when he lifted his head up, their lips met, but only for a moment. He passed out again. Hermione quickly recovered from her shock and muttered with her wand: Wengardium Leviosa. His body lifted up off the ground and she directed his body to the infirmary.

She ran as fast as she could through the corridors and up the stairs. She finally made it to the infirmary and shoved open the door.

"Madame Pomfrey, MADAME POMFREY!" screamed Hermoine.

At that moment Madame Pomfrey came out of her office and saw Snape on a bed and Hermione near tears.

"Ms. Granger! What happened?" inquired Madame Pomfrey.

"He spilled a bit of metal disintegrator on his chest and his wrist. I froze the places on him that the spell hit, so that the potion could not seep lower into his skin. The spell won't last long."

As she said that, Poppy ran into her supply closet and ran out with a bottle of silvery blue liquid.

"When I tell you to unfreeze his wounds, unfreeze them fast. This liquid will stabilize all unwanted potions that seep into the skin. It'll stop the disintegration of him."

Hermione stood ready, and as Poppy said "Now", she unfreezed his wounds and Poppy poured the liquid down his throat. In seconds, the potion stopped deteriorating the skin. Poppy did a simple spell to stop the bleeding, but it was harder to heal the wounds.

"I'm afraid this was a rather strong potion. The wounds will need to heal over time. He may not wake up for a few days," whispered Poppy gravely. "I will alert the Headmaster."

With that, Poppy left the infirmary, and Hermione was alone with a sleeping Snape. She didn't want to leave him, in fear something more might happen. She sat down in the chair next to his bed. ~This is my entire fault. If I wasn't such a bitch to him, he probably wouldn't have been so careless. He's never careless.~ thought Hermione. Hermione then picked up his hand and held it. She talked to him all night with words of encouragement and apology.

**NEXT MORNING**

"Hermione, Hermione dear wake up," whispered Poppy while gently shaking Hermione's shoulder.

"What? Where am I?" asked Hermione as she sat up. She had been asleep with her head on Snape's lap. How embarrassing.
"You're in the infirmary, Ms. Granger. I suggest you go up to the dorms and change for classes. It's six o'clock now," whispered Dumbledore.

"Oh, Merlin! I must've fallen asleep. I'm really sorry," apologized Hermione.

"No harm done, child. I realize you must've been worried," replied Poppy.

Hermione nodded and got up from her chair. She tried to leave, but realized she still had Snape's hand in hers. She blushed and gently placed his hand at his side and dashed out of the infirmary.