Hermione sat up, propped against the pillows in her hospital bed. She was tired, but still she couldn't fall asleep.
There was a severely painful feeling in her legs because of the Skele-Gro Madame Pomfrey had given her which made her legs impossible to move even if she tried. Luckily, Madame Pomfrey taught her a useful spell in case she had to use the restroom. Now she knew how Harry had felt!
The fact that her legs had been boneless a few minutes ago scared the living daylights out of her. She hated not being able to hug her knees, something she did whenever she was alone and upset.
She hated Draco for doing this to her. She hated Viktor for ruining her life like this. But most of all, she hated Snape.
She knew that Snape was biased, but she'd had no idea of exactly how biased he was until this evening.
Dueling in the corridors was strictly forbidden; she'd expected Snape to punish Draco, but instead, he'd turned a blind eye on his favorite student and deducted points from Gryffindor. Teachers like Snape should be dragged out to the street and shot! Hermione thought angrily as thoughts of tonight's episode brought back memories of what had happened to her during Fourth Year when Draco had made her teeth grow three times their normal size. Even then, Snape had punished Harry and Ron, seemingly forgetting that Draco had been involved too!
As she fumed in anger, she made a silent vow to take revenge on both of them when she was able.
There was a sudden knock on her door. She frowned. Who could it be? Certainly not Harry or Ron or Ginny! They'd left fifteen minutes ago.
"Enter," she called softly. The door opened and Snape came inside.
Snape! What was he doing here? Just the last person she wanted to see!
Snape closed the door behind him and they looked at each other quietly.
"Miss Granger," he said awkwardly, starting to approach her and then stopping, as if he'd changed his mind. Perhaps he'd noticed that she was not properly dressed. Hermione was aware that she was wearing only a flimsy, lilac nightshirt and her bare legs were covered with a comfortable warm blanket. She was in no mood – or appearance – to receive visitors.
She was, at first, surprised, then confused, wondering why Snape was here. Was he visiting her? Absolutely impossible! Even the idea was ridiculous.
Snape began to pace the room as he showered her with questions about her health, her studies and her family. She answered them with cold civility; she had not forgotten her anger toward him.
She wished he would leave her alone – she had no desire to speak with him now. Or ever. Hell, why didn't he go and talk to Malfoy? At least there he would be welcome.
Despite her annoyance, she noticed that Snape seemed very agitated. Did he want to tell her some thing?
Hermione waited patiently, watching him walk back and forth, wishing that he would either tell her why he was here or get the hell out.
Her prayers were answered.
Snape stopped pacing, took a deep breath and turned to look Hermione in the eye, but looked at the floor instead, hoping to find something to stop the madness that was happening in his heart. Lust. Love, admiration. He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to maintain the last shreds of dignity and professionalism he could gather, but to no avail.
As he opened his eyes, there was a fiery light in them.
"I have struggled in vain," he exclaimed. "It won't do! My feelings refuse to be suppressed. I must let you know how much I…how much I love and admire you!"