Thanks for the great reviews, I'll try to update as much as possible coz it's my vacations and I have lots of time.

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Hermione strolled to Herbology, musing on Professor Vector's words.

The final bell rang, and Hermione still had to cross half the school to the greenhouses, she broke into a run.

"You're late, Ms Granger" said Professor Sprout as Hermione dashed into class.

"Sorry, Professor...I was-I was in the...library, yes, I was in the library and lost track of time." panted Hermione.

"I'll let you of this time, go to your table please."

"Thank-you, Professor, it-it won't happen again..." Hermione walked to her table by Ron and Harry, they stared at her, and she turned pink.

"Liar" whispered Ron out of the side of his mouth, Hermione tossed her head.

Professor Sprout addressed the class and told them of their task: "You will don your gloves and trim the leaves of the Venomous Tentacula, they will be dried later and used as a cure for the Uncommon Cold. Please be careful not to let them touch your bare skin as the result is...not very nice." she grimaced.

Ignoring her fellow students, Hermione started to meticulously trim her plant, she started at the bottom and worked her way up. She was near the top when she heard a yelp of pain from Ron; he held his arm out in front of him.

His upturned sleeve had allowed the plant to brush against him, his skin had turned a nasty shade of green with sickly yellow spots growing rapidly on it, they swelled up and dribbled out orange, sticky pus. Hermione and Harry backed away.

Professor Sprout hurried over, drawn by the commotion surrounding the table, she grasped her wand and muttered a spell, the ugly boils stopped growing but the disgusting infection was still there. "Oh dear, you'll have to the Hospital Wing for that, Miss Granger, would you kindly accompany him?"

Hermione nodded and followed Ron out of the door; she walked next to him as the hurried upstairs, after a tense silence, "Thanks for coming with me..." Ron murmured through clenched teeth.

"Ummm...no problem."

"...and I also wanted to apologize for giving you a hard time yesterday..."

"That's ok" Hermione answered cheerfully, "its between friends...." Her expression became concerned as Ron grunted in pain, "Does I hurt a lot?"

"Only when I breathe..."

Hermione laughed and Ron joined her.

They made it to the Hospital Wing, where Madam Pomfrey examined Ron, "That's a severe rash, I'm afraid that you'll have to stay here tonight, Mr. Weasley."

Hermione consoled him, helped him into bed and offered to bring in work that he'd miss, his expression was so comically tragic that she burst out laughing again, "Ok, no work, but what'll you do to past the time?"

"Oh, my fan club will be here soon, then I won't be lacking in entertainment..."

"You wish!" retorted Hermione.

Ron faked a stunned expression, "You don't believe me? I'm hurt and shocked by your lack of faith in me..."

"Too bad," she rejoined, "I have to get back to class now, me and Harry will come up to see you later..."

"Hermione..." Ron said melodramatically, "I'm...I'm not sure-sure that you'll find me alive when you come back, please...say some wise last words to me...'

"Ok... Get well soon, Sir Lionheart..." and surprising herself, she kissed Ron softly on the cheek and hurried outside without a backward glance.

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Umm, this isn't the greatest chapter, if you have any ideas, please tell me and tell me what you think too...