A/N: Oh my beloved reviewers! You're all so good to me!

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READER: Thanks for your nice words! I agree that I like stories that can actually happen, considering I'm writing one, but as you can probably see, I also like a little fluff! But, yeah strict teachers can also be the ones that teach you a lot! Boy, don't I know =\ Anyway, I hope you like this next chapter and I'll try to read that story you gave me!

Amiella Rogue: All I know to say is that I'm very sorry for your friend. It must have been very hard for her to go through that, but sometimes just having a best friend there can make it all better. Again, I am truly sorry for what happened to your best friend. But, I'm glad you like the story and thank you for the nice review!

Syaoran Girl: LOL! Well, I'm glad you like my story that much! I don't think there will be and He/D fluff in there. Definately He/R! Woo hoo! But anyway, the story sucked you in didn't it? haha Well, keep reading!

Infinity: Hey! You can't get mad at me! I put your little Snape action in there! Well, actually you can get mad at me, but that's not the point! Okay, well sorry if this chapter doesn't...satisfy you. lol I hope you like it though!

Queen-Ditz: I'm glad you like the story so much! Ahhh we're so stupid! Go stupid people!

Shelleekitten: Haha short and sweet! Love it! Thanks!

Someone28: Sometimes weird things are cool! Take my best friend for example. But that's not the point, glad you like the story and thanks for the nice words!

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Hermione looked at Ron with teary eyes and thought about what he had just said to her. She looked up at Snape, who was looking down at her with an expressionless face, but somehow Hermione knew it meant danger. She looked over at Draco to see him, realizing what he had done, and over at Professor McGonnagal and Professor Dumbledore with concerned looks on their faces.

"Nothing's happening, Ron. I-I'm just tired from all this stress! But, I'll be okay. I think I just need a while to calm down. That's all." Hermione hadn't really meant to say what she had said. She had meant to say 'He's been molesting me! He needs to be put in St. Mungo's or Azkaban Prison!' but, her mouth hadn't made out those words. Everyone seemed to relax after she spoke, but she was doing all she could to keep from shaking and bursting into tears. No one spoke for a few minutes, then Hermione heard a low, silky voice behind her speak.

"Ms. Granger, why don't you come and help me with these papers and then you can go on with your friends." Snape said to her, putting a heavy hand on her shoulder. She nodded and turned away from all the faces, into the darkness of the dungeon. Her back was to the door when she got in and she could hear Snape closing it. Hermione watched him stand in front of her, his face completely unreadable again. She didn't know what was he was going to do, but never expected what he did.

Snape raised his hand and slapped Hermione right across the face.

Hard.

Hermione just stood there, too shocked to hurt. Her face started to burn and Snape watched as the cherry red rose to it. Hermione finally looked up and saw that Snape was in the exact same place. He rose his hand again, and Hermione flinched, not wanting the pain to come back. Instead of slapping her, he put his hand on her shoulder.

"Get out." Snape said. Hermione left quickly and didn't say anything. As soon as she got out of the Dungeon, she saw Draco Malfoy standing there, waiting for her. Hermione was wondering why he was there instead of her two best friends.

"McGonnagal told Harry and Ron to go back to the Common Room. She told me too, but I hid in the bathroom until they were gone." Draco said. Hermione smiled at him.

"Thanks."

Draco saw the red on her face and without thinking, he reached up and touched it, softly. Hermione flinched, but let his hand come. "Did he do this to you?" Draco asked, taking his hand away from her face. Hermione nodded. "Hermione, I'm sorry. I didn't realize what I was getting you into. I just thought that if I told Dumbledore then it would somehow all work out."

"It's okay, Draco. I thought the same thing, but then when Dumbledore confronted him, it was just so nerve-racking. The only thing I could think was what Snape would do to me if I said he was molesting me." she said. "I'm going back to the Common Room. I'm really tired." Draco nodded and they both turned to their Common Rooms.

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Ron and Harry sat in the Common Room waiting for Hermione to get back.

"We should have hid in the bathroom until Hermione got back." Ron said. Harry nodded.

"I don't know if I can believe Hermione." Harry said.

Ron turned towards him. "What do you mean?"

"Well, you know she's been acting weird lately. And, she has been rather anxious in Potions." he said.

"Harry, what are you saying?" Ron asked.

"I'm saying that Malfoy may be right." Harry didn't really want to tell Ron, but he knew he had to. Harry knew that Ron didn't want to believe it, and Harry didn't want to either. Instead of objecting, Ron sighed.

"I think you're right." Hermione came into the Common Room and saw Harry and Ron. They stood up and smiled at her. She gave them both a hug before they could say anything, and they hugged her back.

"You alright Hermione?" Ron asked. Hermione smiled at his care and nodded.

Harry saw that Ron and Hermione were going to have a moment, so he started to leave. "Well, I'll just be in the dorm, Ron. Hope you don't mind if I take a chocolate frog or two." Ron and Hermione smiled at him as he walked up the stairs. When he had gone, Ron grabbed Hermione's waist and pulled her towards him. He kissed her lightly on the lips and leaned her on the edge of the couch. Hermione couldn't move anywhere with Ron leaning against her, but she liked it. She held his neck and kissed him again. Ron pulled away and looked down.

"What's wrong?" Hermione asked. Ron looked at her with concern and fear on his face. He didn't want to ask her what he knew he had to. "Come on Ron, what is it?"

"Hermione, what have you been doing with Professor Snape for the past few nights?" asked Ron. Hermione looked down, unable to answer. She wanted to tell him and for a minute she thought about it, but she couldn't. Snape would kill her! Ron lifted her chin up and kissed her lightly on the lips. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, but if you do, tell me the truth."

All Hermione did was look back into Ron's eyes. She couldn't lie to him. Not when he was the only boy that she had ever truly liked. Not when he was the only boy that ever truly liked her. Not when he was looking in her eyes like that...

"Ron, I- I can't. I can't tell you, and I can't lie to you. I just want to tell you that I love you and-" Hermione couldn't finish. Ron had sealed her mouth with a kiss.

When they pulled a part, Ron smiled at her. "I love you too."

"I'm going to bed." Hermione said, gently pushing Ron off and turning to the stairs. Ron watched her as she ran up the steps and sighed. 'Why didn't you make you tell her? Something bad could be happening to her!' a voice in the back of his head said.

'He didn't want to make her mad! Besides, she's his girlfriend, he can trust her.' said another voice.

Ron shook his head and turned towards his own stairs. It was never a good sign when the voices in his head started talking to him.

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The next day was Sunday, as Sunday usually comes after Saturday. Anyway, Hermione woke up and went to the Great Hall. She was surprised to see Snape wasn't there, so she relaxed and sat down by her friends. They immediately stopped talking when they saw her, and she knew they were talking about her.

"Hey you two." Hermione said. She grabbed a bagel and took a bite out of it. Ron put his arm around her and Harry was looking at her. Hermione put her bagel down. "What?"

"Hermione, we've been trying to get you to tell us what's wrong and you keep avoiding us." Ron said.

"Yeah, and if you think we're going to give up you're wrong. We love you, but we're tired of this. You either tell us, or we'll make you." said Harry.

Hermione was shocked. She knew her friends were just being, well, her friends, but she never thought they'd ever said something like that to her. Everything was changing in her life, and not for the better. She couldn't take it. Suddenly, Hermione broke into tears and no matter what she did, she couldn't stop. Ron and Harry helped her up, led her out of the Great Hall, and out on the grass.

Once she had calmed down a bit, she looked up at them.

"Hermione..." Ron said, putting a hand on her arm.

She shook off his hand, and Ron looked at her with disbelief.

"I'm sorry Ron, but I, just, I can't do this." said Hermione.

"Do what Hermione?" asked Harry.

"I can't tell you. And if you two were really my friends, you would understand." Hermione said, wiping her face.

"But Hermione, the only reason we want to know is because we care about you." Ron said.

"Ron's right. We don't want you to get hurt. You know that." Harry agreed.

"That may be true, but you have no right to just say that if I don't tell you something you want to know, then you'll make me. I mean, how do you think that made me feel? It made me feel like I couldn't make my own decisions. It made me feel like I am just a girl. It made me feel like my two best friends don't care about what I want to do." Hermione stood up, her voice rising.

"Hermione..." Ron started.

"No Ron! Don't Hermione me! Yes, okay! There is something wrong! I admit it! There is something wrong! But, that doesn't mean I have to tell you two!" with that, she ran inside and down the corridors without stopping, until-

"OOF!" Until Hermione ran straight into Professor Snape. She looked up, realizing who it was, and groaned.

"What? I'm the one who got the most damage." Snape said, grinning. He had apparently been holding a donut and when Hermione ran into him, well, it wasn't exactly a donut anymore. It was all over Snape's robes! (A/N: What is it with me and food this chapter? I must be hungry...)

Hermione gasped. "Omigosh! Professor Snape I am SO sorry! I wasn't looking where I was going and I-"

"Ms. Granger! It's alright!" Professor Snape said. He took out his wand and waved it, causing all of the gooey donut to come right off his shirt and back into his hand, which Hermione didn't think he had meant to do. Snape looked at the donut with displeasure and threw it in the trash can. "Ms. Granger, you look like you've been crying. What's wrong?"

Hermione just looked at him. 'What's going on? I thought he was mad at me...And why does he care what's wrong? He's acting...normal. Like he used to.'

"Uh, no-nothing. I just had a fight with my friends." Hermione responded.

"Well, I'm sorry. Nothing I can do right?" asked Snape.

"I don't think so." said Hermione.

"Good. I wouldn't have wanted to anyway." he said, grinning. Hermione smiled, still unsure about him.

She thought she better leave before something...happened. "Well, I'll be going then. I've got some homework that needs to be finished." Hermione turned and left without letting Snape say anything.

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A/N: Love it? Hate it? And yes, I'm leading up to something and I DO know what it is! So anyway, I loved all your reviews! You guys are so sweet! Mwah! lol And sorry for the late update...my granddad came over, had to spend time with him, yeah you get the point. Anyway, I'll try to update soon!