Disclaimer: I solemnly swear that I do not own Harry Potter

Chapter 9

Hermoine woke up with a dreadful headache but as far as she could see her bruises were gone and she felt normal. A memory of the day before seemed to strike her and she sat up in bed quicker than what was healthy for her. Hermoine grabbed her head as the room started to spin, Madam Pomfrey who had just entered the wing after breakfast rushed to Hermoine who seemed to be falling out of bed in slow motion.

"Good heavens child! I gave you a very strong potion last night, you should not be able to sit up on your own at all!" She walked over to the young woman and pushed her down into bed.

"Thank you! What happened?" she didn't expect madam Pomfrey to know much more than she herself already knew but there was no harm in asking.

"Well from what I hear you had a busy night last night! I was hoping you would tell me a bit more of the action than Dumbledore did!" She looked expectantly at Hermoine.

The door seemed to fly open to admit a very angry looking Ron and an extremely relaxed Harry, both gave a try at smiling.

"So how did you sleep...? Better than us I suppose since Dumbledore insisted on giving us the longest lecture the magical world created and is refusing to let us go home." Harry said it so matter of fact that it took some time for Hermoine to realize what he had said.

"Why won't he let you leave...? I mean now that Vol..." Harry cut her of. "If you'll excuse us? We need to talk with Moine!" He looked at Madam Pomfrey who seemed to be trying to become inconspicuous and hear everything possible.

"Oh... well of course dear." She walked away so slowly that Harry had waited five minutes before talking again.

"Look Moine, for whatever reason Dumbledore has, he's not telling anyone about yesterday and he gave us another long lecture on keeping it secret!" He sat on a chair next to the bed. "Besides...it suits us just fine that we're at school since Ron and I have a surprise installed for everyone" He grinned slyly at this. Ron who was standing all this time at the end of the bed seemed to come awake and began to make conversation.

"So...Um...How are you feeling?" Hermoine smiled inwardly, she could see that Ron still liked her, he always was so shy around her when it came to serious things.

"I'm fine! I just have a headache from a medicine overdose!" Harry smiled encouragingly at her, after all Ron was his friend and he wouldn't have minded if the two ever got something going. 'Better than Snape anyway!' He did not dare say that aloud to anyone.

Snape was sitting in his room, reading, when there was a knock at the door and Albus Dumbledore strode in as casually as if it were his room.

"well I see that you are bearing up well after yesterdays experience!" He sat in the chair opposite from Snape and looked him straight in the eye.

"I believe you want something!" Snape was still not used to the mans behavior around him.

"Well...you could say that! I have reason to believe that Miss Granger will be feeling unwell after what happened and I would like you to check in on her." Snape noticed that Albus had the most irritating smile on his face.

"I believe that she is bearing up well in the Hospital wing with Poppy!" He resisted the urge to shout. 'What is the old fool thinking'

"Now Severus you know above all people that Lucius had had a way of getting to the core of young girls like miss Granger and you have handled such matters before. I see no other option!" Dumbledore had a stubborn set to his jaw and Snape knew long before the man started talking that he Severus Snape would end up doing whatever it was.

"Alright...!"

"Ah good. I shall expect you to pay her a visit then!"

"You're out of your mind Albus!" Severus was leaning back in his chair. "Why not just give it to me as an order in the first place instead of wasting my time."

"Ah...There is a simple answer to that my friend. It is simply because I enjoy it." He turned and strode out of the room just as casually as he had come in.

Hermoine sat in the hospital wing alone, madam Pomfrey had left to have lunch. A tray of food stood by her bedside table, but she didn't feel like eating. Hermoine had been acting weird the whole morning, when Ron and Harry had turned to leave about an hour ago, Harry had bent down to hug Hermoine as he always had but she was just as surprised to her own reaction as he was. She had stiffened the minute he touched her and refused to hug back, Harry had held her at arms length and looked at her. "Are you sure you're all right?" there was genuine concern etched on his face.

"I'm fine. Maybe I'm just tired." She had lied to him. The truth is that she was scared when his hands touched her, and now she sat alone in an empty room with that same fear.

The door creaked open and Hermoine sat up, she was frightened and didn't know what to do. Severus Snape walked in through the door, his manner was confident and he walked over to the bed with a flowing grace that Hermoine always loved but took no notice of now.

As Severus approached the bed he noticed the signs immediately. She had a distant look in her eyes as if they were unfocused and he could see the goosebumps on her skin, she was frightened.

"I have heard that your condition is improving miss Granger! May I ask why it is that you sit there staring into space when you could be doing something useful like studying?" No point in being all sympathetic was there, besides Snape could already see that sympathy would be no good here.

There was no surprise on Hermoine's face, in fact her eyes seemed dead and hollow.

"I wanted to thank you for finding me! I never go the chance last night!" Snape hid a scowl, her voice held no emotion. 'How is it those stupid idiots she calls friends didn't notice the change in her?"

"I was doing what was necessary and I don't believe that you have to thank me! I would prefer it however miss Granger that in future you answer my questions when I ask them and avoid changing the topic!" His voice was as usual icy cold. Hermoine sighed, for a minute she had thought that perhaps he had come to see her because he was worried, but by his manner she could tell that he would rather be doing something else.

"Tired miss Granger?" Hermoine noticed the mocking tone. "Well then I believe that you know how most of us feel and not take advantage of the fact that you are allowed to stay in bed!"

"I didn't choose to stay in bed Professor and I certainly didn't plan to take advantage of any situation what so ever!" She was getting tired of his scolding, all she wanted was to be left alone.

'What on earth is the matter with her?' Snape was totally puzzled, by now she should have been ablaze with fury but instead she just sat there and answered him back as casually as if talking about the weather.

"Miss Granger, I suggest that you remember your manners before I am forced to knock them into you. Your foolishness in running of alone to follow Malfoy was your own doing and you have no one to blame but yourself for your own stupidity!" He hadn't wanted to bring that up but he needed to let her get her emotions out.

"What...! I didn't think that letting Malfoy escape was a good idea that is ALL! And I couldn't find anyone to help me! Do you think that I don't regret going down there alone! Do you think that I find pleasure in knowing that HE almost RAPED ME!!!!!" She was almost standing and was facing him squarely, tears were running down her cheeks freely.

Snape covered the distance that was separating them in one step, and he didn't know how it happened but he was soon sitting on the bed with Hermoine wrapped up in his arms crying her heart out.

Snape closed the door silently behind him. He had held Hermoine in his arms until her crying subsided and she had fallen asleep in his arms. He could still feel her soft skin on his hands and her sent clung to him, his robes were still damp.

As he turned to walk down the hall he was stopped when..........................

"I'm guessing she'll be OK then?" Harry was leaning against the wall and he was facing Snape his eyes searching as if testing him. Snape had his hand in his pocket and resisted the urge to kill Potter then and there.

"What do you want Potter?" His voice did not mask the anger raging through him.

"I was sort of gonna ask you the same thing since you seem to be interested in my friend!" Harry was so calm it irritated Snape even more.

"Well Potter I suggest that you keep your nose out of my business!"

"It is my business Snape. Moine is a close friend of mine or are you so busy drooling over her that you did not notice this."

Snape approached Harry, who started to back away for once realizing how dangerous Snape was.

"Listen to me Potter!" Snape was moving slowly but to Harry it seemed that he was covering the distance between them faster than he could make it. " f it wasn't for Dumbledore treating you like a long lost son I would have killed you by now and make no mistake that if you ever interfere with me again even Dumbledore wont stop me!"

"I don't think threatening me will help you Snape..." Harry didn't know where his courage or stupidity was coming from but he wished that he could stop himself.

"You have no idea what a threat is Potter. What I'm giving you now is a warning, Stay out of my business!"

Snape turned and walked away, he felt that he was going to lose control if he didn't now.

He heard Potter shouting after him. "She's not only your problem you know....!"

Chapter Nine!!! Big hugs to all my faithful reviewer  See you in the next chapter...