Disclaimer: It's not mine; I just like to mess with their world!

A/N: Thanks bunches everyone for the reviews- so many of you are still sticking with me and patiently (and not so patiently, lol) waiting for each instalment! So…as a treat, any flavour ice cream from Florean Fortescue's that you want! My personal fav is the caramel coffee swirl with chocolate sprinkles! Anyways, guess what? A few days ago I went for college orientation (it's the first time I've seen my school) for three days. I LOVE IT! My school- University of Maryland: Eastern Shore- is sooooo gorgeous, and I'm absolutely in love with it. That's a good thing seeing as I've paid to go there, lol. I hope to do a double major in psychology and teaching special education. Either that or psychology and teaching high school English, so…wish me luck, I need it lol!

A/N 2: Several people have commented on how the stars/asterisks weren't showing up, so I put links for the dresses in my profile, so you can go see them now! Also, this chapter dedicated to Purple Spotted Hedwig and MouthoftheSouth because I like your pen names! Now, as always, onto the story!

Take Time to Smell the Roses

Chapter Nineteen

"Good luck today Harry, you too Ron, Ginny," Hermione gave her friends each a hug.

"Thanks. I don't think we'll have too much trouble beating those nasty Slytherins, sorry Mione," Ron apologised as she shot him a look. "But we need to make sure we win so we can get those points. Slytherin's been in the lead ever since that bloody Zabini won that talent competition."

"Ron, he was really good, as much as you may dislike him," Ginny chided. "And don't swear."

"What? Are you some kind of Slytherin lover now or something?" Ron threw his hands up in disgust. "Who cares if he was good?! He's a Slytherin!"

"What's so wrong with Slytherins? I am married to one, in case you had forgotten," Hermione gave him a look.

"Don't tell me you actually like Snape, please Mione."

"He's my husband Ron, I live with him, of course I like him," Hermione laughed as he paled, and decided to tease him further. "We share the same bed for Merlin's sake."

"No no no, mental image," Ron groaned and covered his eyes. "Mione, I beg you, never say that again!"

"Come on you two, we've got a game to play," Harry shook his head in amusement, although he very much agreed with Ron's last statement.

"I'll be sitting with my husband," Hermione giggled as Ron groaned again. "But I'll see you guys in the common room after the game for the celebratory party."

"All right Mione," Harry kissed her on the cheek, as did Ron before they ran off with Ginny to join the rest of the team.

"Great job you guys!" Hermione congratulated the Gryffindor team that evening after dinner as she climbed into the Gryffindor common room where a party was already in full swing. Gryffindor had beaten Slytherin 230 to 40, much to Severus' displeasure. He had lost 10 galleons to Minerva, betting that Slytherin would win for once.

"Wasn't it?" Ron puffed his chest out with pride, but quickly let it all out when Lavender punched him in the stomach playfully.

"You're so full of yourself," Lavender leaned into his embrace as he placed a kiss on her temple.

"And that ego's big enough to inflate a hot air balloon," Hermione continued to smile, but felt something twinge as she watch the two lovebirds. Most people gave her a blank look. "It's a muggle thing."

"Oh," Ron said after a moment, glaring at Harry who was still laughing.

"Oy, Harry," Seamus called over the noise. "We're getting awfully low on the butterbeer, can you make another run?"

"You guys celebrate, I'll go get it for you," Hermione offered.

"I think I'll come with you Mione, get a break from all the testosterone that's rampant around here," Ginny laughed as she and Hermione headed back out, the boys yelling their thanks behind her.

"I agree completely."

"Oh, I just remembered I left one of my textbooks in the locker room!" Ginny exclaimed a few minutes later. "I need it for tomorrow. Do you think you can get the butterbeer by yourself?"

"Sure, just be careful, it's awfully dark tonight."

"I will, thanks!" Ginny waved as she ran off in the direction of the front hall.

Hermione made her way down to painting of a pear without any encounters with Peeves who lately had taken to tormenting her every chance he could, singing degrading songs and insinuating horrible things. Climbing in, Dobby was quick to supply her with two large boxes, magically lightened and expanded with handles added, containing about five dozen bottles of ice cold butterbeer. Gripping them firmly, one in each hand, she exited the kitchens and began making her way back to the common room.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here? A lonely Gryffindor bitch," Pansy Parkinson stepped out of the shadows at the top of a staircase a few corridors away, and situated rather close to the Slytherin hallways and her and Severus' quarters.

"10 points from Slytherin for foul language," Hermione said quietly, steadying herself on the staircase where she was standing two or three steps from the top.

"Now that's not very nice," another Slytherin Millicent Bulstrode chimed, coming to stand by Pansy.

"Especially when it's the truth," Draco sneered elegantly, standing on Pansy's other side.

"Let me through and I won't report you to Professor Snape," Hermione tried to take a step up, but Millicent held her hands out, forcing her back to where she was.

"Now Mudblood, do you really think he'd believe you over us?" Draco smirked.

"After all, he's known us for years as his students. You were just a desperate last choice for him so he could avoid death. Do you think he actually cares about you?" Pansy stared at her.

"25 points from Slytherin for harassment," Hermione said, barely audible, not meeting Pansy's gaze.

"Oh my gosh, you do!" Pansy laughed, a cruel, heartless laugh. "If I was a Hufflepuff I'd say that was cute! But thankfully I'm not."

"Let…me…through," Hermione managed to say, barely restraining tears and anger, as she once again tried to take a step up.

"Don't be in such a hurry mudblood, we just want to talk," Millicent once again kept her from advancing.

"We can talk…about all the trouble you're going to be in if you don't move at once," Hermione met their mocking smirks, glaring. "50 points from Slytherin."

"Oh you can stop with the high and mighty Professor act, it's really getting quite annoying," Pansy pretended to yawn.

"Well maybe detention will be better, since you're all being assigned to an evening with Filch tomorrow!"

Hermione's voice rose with her last comment, and she determinedly took a step up. After pushing past Millicent, she attempted to start back once again to the Gryffindor common room. She didn't get more then a few feet before someone grabbed the back of her robes, swinging her around. She was violently thrown against the wall, and as she slipped down, she gave a scream of fright as one of the bottles of butterbeer was swung at her head. When it made contact, she was rendered unconscious and slid the rest of the way to the floor in a bleeding heap.

"I think we should get back to our rooms," Pansy sniffed in disdain and then turned to her companions. "I don't know about you but I'm tired."

"Sounds good to me," Draco agreed, and grabbing a bottle of butterbeer, headed back to the Slytherin dorms with the two girls.

"Stop Blaise," Ginny pulled back from his persistent lips with a slight moan. "Did you hear that?"

"Hear…what…love?" He placed soft kisses along her collarbone in between words.

"It sounded like a scream," she stood up regretfully and poked her head out of the door of the secret room they were in, only to see a body lying down the hall. "BLAISE!"

"Oh my god," Blaise blanched as he and Ginny ran to, and knelt by Hermione. Blood had almost completely coloured her hair a sickening red, and the coppery smell was almost overwhelming.

"Go get a professor!" Ginny struggled as she pulled off her robe and placed in around Hermione's head, careful not to jostle her. She sat there crying, hoping Blaise would hurry.

"Professor Snape!" Blaise pounded on the door not a minute after he had left Ginny. "Professor Snape, open up! It's an emergency!"

"What is it?" Professor Snape asked in obvious annoyance as he opened the door a moment later. He was still upset over the outcome of the quidditch game.

"It's your wife, she's been hurt badly, the corridor at the top of the stairs!" Blaise barely managed to say before Professor Snape was running through the hallway towards the staircase and then up it.

"Oh sir, she's lost some blood," Ginny sniffled as Snape fell to his knees by her.

"Run to the infirmary, tell Madame Pomphrey to be ready," Snape barked, and as Ginny ran to do as he told, he gently picked up Hermione, placing one arm under her legs and the other along her back, leaning her head to rest against his chest. Walking quickly, almost running, he soon arrived at the infirmary.

"Put her on a bed and then let me work," Madame Pomphrey said calmly.

"I-" Severus began after setting Hermione down, but was shoved out of the room, the door shut in his face.

Staring at the door for a moment in shock, he moved till his back hit the wall. Sliding down into a sitting position, he dropped his head into his hands, his elbows propped on his knees. A single tear began the long journey down his face that was pale with fright at the moment. Soon though, and slowly, a few others began to make the journey, ending with a soft landing on his satin-clad legs. In his haste, he hadn't even grabbed a cloak to throw over his black satin night pants and black t-shirt that clung slightly to his thin frame. A moment later though, a soft cloak was being settled around his shoulders. Without looking up, he nodded his thanks to Blaise. He had forgotten they were there, and didn't want them to see him upset. Especially when he wasn't used to being upset himself. However, she seemed to bring out a protective nature that he had, and seeing her lying there scared him. Not knowing how badly she was hurt, or whether she would live or not is what scared him. In that first split second he saw her lying there, he realised that he might possibly love her, and that he didn't want to lose her before he could find out.

"Professor?" Ginny said hesitantly as she sat down next to him. "She's going to be okay."

Severus didn't say anything, but Ginny hadn't expected an answer. Tentatively, she reached a small hand over, and began to gently rub his back, trying to comfort him. He tensed at the contact at first, but Ginny soon felt him begin to relax.

"100 points to each of you, for helping my wife," he said quietly, still not lifting his head up. However he soon shot up when the door opened and Madame Pomphrey came out.

"How is she?" Severus said in soft tones, yet you would have to be completely deaf and dumb not to hear the strong undertones of fear and concern laced throughout the words.

"She's lost a fair amount of blood, and had some small glass fragments in her scalp. Also along with a concussion, she's sure to have one humdinger of a headache for a while," Madame Pomphrey told them. Ginny gasped and immediately turned to Blaise who wrapped his arms around her trembling frame.

"May I see her?" Severus asked as he ran a hand over his face. The other was in a fist against the wall, bracing him.

"Of course, but only you," she smiled at him, and moved aside for him to enter the room. "You two had best be getting back to your dorms. And Miss Weasley, be sure to let Messrs Potter and Weasley that they'll be able to see her in the morning."

The two nodded, and Madame Pomphrey closed the door. Knowing she was still upset, Blaise easily swept Ginny into his arms and carried her back to the Gryffindor portrait entrance before heading back to his own room.

"Now Severus, you can talk to her if you like and hold her hand and such, but she most likely won't wake for a day or two," Madame Pomphrey informed him, and with another smile, went into her office.

Severus stared after her for a moment before directing his gaze back to his wife. His eyes roamed over her face, memorising every line, curve, and freckle. Gently he reached out and took her rather small hand in his, rubbing his thumb over the smooth skin. Watching her breathing deeply, he unconsciously matched his breaths with hers. Inside, he felt his heart clench in anger whenever his mind strayed to the thought that someone had done this to her. He also felt in clench in something he didn't exactly know, but from all he had heard of it, thought to possibly be love.

"I don't know if I can love you Hermione, but I think I'm willing to take that risk," he smiled slightly before settling back in his chair for a long night.

A/N: Okay, please don't hate me for hurting her! Although it was actually Pansy, Millicent, and Draco who hurt her, so hate them instead. Okie dokie, let's see, in case you didn't see in the beginning, Blaise Zabini won the talent show. Also, I know this chapter was kind of a whole mix of stuff: Humour in the beginning, some violence/drama, and then romance between Blaise and Ginny (who are a secret couple in case you didn't pick that up- note the sarcasm lol) and then in the end some sadness/romance between Snape and Hermione, although most of it is on Snape's part. The reason I added this part in is because it made Snape realise his feelings more for Hermione. She kinda thinks she's beginning to love him, but she's kinda fighting it and not admitting it to herself. Snape had it there inside, and was starting to realise that some of his feelings for her (especially at times like when she sang at the talent show, or when she took care of his when he was sick) were more then just the deep friendship ones that they have. This just totally brings to the surface how he's feeling- possibly love, but he's not exactly sure. Which is why I thought his last line was cute, cause it shows that he wants too, but since he doesn't even really know what love is, he doesn't really know if he can. Anyhow, next chapter will have some Slytherin (namely Pansy, Millicent, and Draco) bashing, so be forewarned! As always, review if you want, it's cool if you don't!