Disclaimer: Anything in the HP world is mine!! I wish...*sigh* I am making a zillion when anyone reads this!! Yeah, thatz likely...*sigh again*

A/N: Another chapter! It was originally twice longer, but I figured I might as well put this up first! Chapter 5 will be out really soon coz I'm halfway through it already! Yay! And more updates means more REVIEWS!! *eye those who had got 1000 reviews jealously* Haha!! And to my dearest sweetest reviewers, I love ya! *Kiss and hug struggling reviewers* Thank you so much for the reviews, they are what I live on and why this story is still continuing!

To Fire Phoenix: Well I do think R/Hr is a cute pair, and I don't mean to make Ron too bad. It's just- oh the temptation of pairing Hermione and Sevvie is too great!! Mwahahahaha!!

To She-who-must-not-be-named: O 'coz it'd be cute, my God I have plenty planning and waiting for them, I wish I can finish this Hermione struggle thingie sooner, hehe! Btw, your new chapter is very cool!

To Geistesstorunghoffnungen: Thank you! Your review makes my day, yeah! Hope you like this chapter too!!

----------

There was no potions lesson the next two days, and Hermione couldn't be more grateful. She found herself thinking about Snape now and then- when she should be concentrating during lessons, when she should be poring over books in the library, when she was sitting with Ron and Harry in the Common Room- and she was desperate to put a stop to it. Not seeing him for days was more than welcome.

This is NOT right, Hermione thought indignantly one night in the Common Room, books and parchments scattered before her. She was caught daydreaming again by Harry and Ron, who wore worried looks and wouldn't stop questioning her( "You never daydream, Hermione, never. Is everything alright?") before she threaten to hex them and ask them, rather roughly, to leave her alone. They then left with troubled looks, and talked once they were sure they were out of Hermione's earshot.

Hmph, no doubt saying that I am losing it finally. Hermione thought bitterly, Funny, they are correct. I AM losing it. She shut her eyes wearily. A pale face immediately formed in her mind, a face that was so familiar now as it appeared every time she closed her eyes. The thick, always cocking brows; the large, though often narrowing, ink-black eyes; the thin, unyielding lips, sometimes sardonically curled. She snapped her eyes open. NO! Get OUT of my head! She started thinking about him a lot since last lesson, sometimes remembering the dream and his strong grip when he saved her the other day.

"Hey what cha doin'!?" chirped Lavender, walking over and unaware of the mental struggle Hermione was in. "Thought we'd do that Transfiguration essay together!"

Hermione stared at the too cheerful Lavender, who stared back defensively, "What."

Hermione shook her head, and said, "You went out with Dean again. Did he kiss you?"

Lavender could hardly suppress her glee, and went, "Wow, Herm, you should really take up Divination again." to which Hermione rolled her eyes and said, " It was hardly a prediction silly, it was written all over your face." Lavender playfully faked an anxious look and wiped her face vigorously. Hermione laughed and rolled her eyes again. Lavender sat down and looked at the many books and, to her surprise, empty parchments, that laid before Hermione.

"It's now, what, nine thirty already Herm, and-" Lavender pointed to the strolls, puzzled. "How come you haven't complete anything yet? I thought you'd have finished two essays already, to say the least."

Hermione frowned and slumped back into the plush, cherry-red velvet armchair. She massaged her temple tiredly and gave a long sigh. Lavender flicked her wand lightly and immediately all books and parchments were neatly piled. She then leaned back slightly, not saying a word, but her eyes were prompting Hermione to go on.

"O Lav you see, it is not that I don't want to work- I do want to, mind you- I just can't concentrate," Hermione said with a sigh. There was no point hiding it from Lavender, she would find out sooner or later. Boys, you see, are much simpler creatures. She of course had tried to be harsh in order to shut Lavender, as well as Ginny, from her more personal matters. That didn't work. Lavender was just not afraid of Hermione's sarcasm or snideness, and whenever she thought Hermione was not being honest, she would look at her disapprovingly, clucking her tongue like an adult would to a lying kid. Ginny would simply give her puppy eyes and if Hermione insisted on not telling her, tears would well. Both annoyed Hermione greatly who in the end, gave in.

Lavender cocked an eyebrow, but didn't say anything. Hermione shrugged," I dunno why. It's- nothing." Seeing her friend's face, she hastily changed the subject. "So, what about your date?"

Lavender glowed, "It was wonderful. You know what he did? He brought me up to the West Tower and we gazed at the stars. There had to be a million stars all twinkling at us and witnessed the kiss, I think I even saw a meteor," then, lowering her voice into a whisper," Last year when I looked into my crystal ball, it said that the man I am destined to will be really romantic. So do you think Dean is the one? He had to... it feels so right-"

"How do you tell that it feels right? That you really are in love with him?" interrupted Hermione, who was interested but confused.

"Oww c'mon Hermione, how do you tell if you are in love with a guy? That's instincts!" Seeing that Hermione truly did not understand, Lavender sighed, "Well, everyone's different when they're in love. But there are some common features... for one thing, most think about their love all day. Some can't shut up about their dates, like Parvati, and some will blush in another's presence. Most will probably act strange, not like themselves anymore... hey, Herm, is there something you are not telling me?" She eyed Hermione suspiciously.

"N- no! Absolutely nothing!" Hermione squeaked, picked up her books and bailed, "Gotta take a bath, see you in a minute!"

----------

It had been a week since the intriguing conversation, but Hermione still couldn't figure out what had happened to her. What was certainly happening was that she was dreaming and thinking of Snape more and more often, even when she had her eyes opened and it was broad daylight the mental image was still there, as if it would materialize any second in front of her own eyes. This bothered her a lot, and her grades were slipping almost imperceptibly. She was horror-stricken, and spent, if that was possible, even more time in the library. However all she did was stare at the text. Oh someone help me I can't even rote a page! She would mentally slap herself, but a minute later she would drift off again.

This morning the Trio entered the Great Hall a little earlier, and resumed their usual seats. Hermione looked up at the High Table- this had became an annoying habit- and was not surprised to find that Snape was not there. He was never there, so why feel disappointed? We don't need an overgrown hawk scowling at us during breakfast anyway, that'd take away our appetite, she mused dryly, chewing on her fork, but this thought didn't stop her worrying in a fleet second, had he had any breakfast at all?

Harry and Ron exchanged a badgered look, watching their best friend chew on a fork and lost in her own trail of thoughts, when the Mail arrived. A brown envelop was dropped in front of Hermione, who sat up suddenly like she just woke up. Ignoring her friends' stare, she opened the envelop.

"Oh, it was from Mum and Dad," she smiled at her father's addressing her as 'Dear Little Pumpkin Pie'. She read on, nodding and chuckling now and then, and suddenly let out a cry of excitement. "Oh my God I can't believe Janica is getting married!"

"Who's getting married?" asked Harry.

"Janica is my favorite cousin! She was six years older than me- and I can't believe she is getting married so young- and Merlin, with a wizard!" Hermione exclaimed, pointing at the letter. "There is something more... 'Please ask your professors if it would be alright for you to attend the Wedding Party on 20th October, that is a Saturday.' Of course it would be okay! Janica's wedding, can't miss-" she stood up abruptly, "Gotta ask professor McGonagall now, see you in Potions!" With that she raced off before Harry and Ron could say anything.

----------

Hermione was in an excellent mood before stepping into the dungeons: she had just arranged with Professor McGonagall to go to Janica's Wedding Party on 20th October which turned out to be a Hogsmeade Weekend. She missed her parents and Janica badly, especially in these troubled times. But once she set foot in the chilly, moist dungeon, she could feel her cheerfulness slowly creeping away.

Snape was already in the dungeon, as well as her classmates. His brows knitted together when he saw her entrance, his intensely icy gaze boring into her. She stood stunned for a second, lost in his eyes, but then recomposed herself and hurried to her seat.

"You are late," said Snape matter-of-factly, "that's worth ten points from Griffindor."

Hermione bit on her lip but said nothing. She would normally at least try a "but...", but today she didn't feel like it. Talking back would only anger him further, so why bother? I really can't lose any more points. Swiftly she took out her quill and parchment, and started to take notes. Soon she was overwhelmed by Snape's lesson and forgot all about the points he took away.

"Can someone please conclude, what are the effects of dried quail liver in this particular potion?" Snape asked at the end of the lesson. Upon hearing a question Hermione's hand shot itself up before she could think twice, the least I need is him telling me I am an intolerable know-it-all! Snape as usual, ignored her hand and spotted a shivering Neville. "Perhaps you, Longbottom?" he drawled, and shot a disdainful eye at Hermione's still-up hand.

It was a very quick glance- maybe not intended to be noticed, even- but Hermione caught it anyway. She looked at Neville, who went pallid and was trembling visibly, and saw that he was staring at her hand uncertainly. She flushed, suddenly feeling very ashamed, and quietly put down her hand. She looked up again, but Snape was not paying any attention to her anymore.

"Dried, quail livers made it possible for leech, juice to mix perfectly with, cobra venom, when diced precisely." It was hard for Neville to answer Snape's question- especially with Snape towering and glaring at him- and he had to gulp twice before speaking up, but he managed it. The Griffindors gave him assuring smiles and thumb-ups, while the Slytherins, hoping to see him collapse, swore and glowered.

"You have answered my question correctly, for a change," sneered Snape. "Five points to Griffindor for sparing me your stuttering."

It is not the best way to put it, but he had awarded Neville five points! Impossible! Hermione couldn't help but cast one last glance at her potions professor, then turned to leave the dungeon with her classmates. She walked over to Neville, and muttered, "I'm sorry."

----------

Hermione sat on her own bed, stroking Crookshanks who was purring loudly, but her mind was at somewhere else. She shook her head (this had also became a habit, much to her dismay, because this proved her always trying to get something- someone- out of her mind) and thought determinedly, mere meditation will not bring me anywhere, I need ACTION.

"What action, you don't even know what your problem is, for crying out loud-" A tiny irritating voice retorted at the back of her head.

Then FIND out the problem, for Merlin's sake, Hermione! Find it, trace it, tackle it! It is just another project, another question at hand, I can handle it! Hermione sat up and kicked Crookshanks accidentally. He hissed angrily, and leaped off the bed, but Hermione didn't care. A book, yes, a book. Books always have answers. She thought for a moment, then called, "Parvati!"

"Yes?" Parvati inquired idly.

"I am wondering, if, er, you could lend me some romance novels," Hermione asked. She had to know what she was going through and what to do. She doubted that there would be anything useful in the library on this subject, so all she could think of was Parvati's novels.

This got Parvati's attention. She lifted her eyes from her book, and gawked at Hermione, "What?"

"I asked can you lend me your novels," replied Hermione.

"Huh? Who?" Parvati asked stupidly, as if she couldn't quite make sense of Hermione's answer.

"Me, o 'course," answered Hermione, smiling sweetly.

"But- but why?"

"Because I'm bored. When? Now would be the perfect time, Parvati, if you don't mind." said Hermione, clearly losing her patience.

Parvati finally closed her mouth and threw away the book she was reading. She jumped off her bed, and pulled out an enormous carton, full of dusty novels, from under her bed. She pushed the carton arduously towards Hermione's bed. "Never- humph- never thought you'd read romance novels... I seem to recall you saying romance novels are... imprecise, impractical jestbooks?"

Hermione stared down at the entire cartonful of books, and replied absent-mindedly, "One should never quote another and use it against her... Say, how many novels have you got here?"

"Never counted, ninety something?" Parvati replied proudly. "Well, enjoy, you can return them anytime you want, I have read them all already."

----------

Hermione was almost afraid when she flipped open the first novel, she didn't really want an answer suddenly. What if it was what I am dreading? What if it was a crush again? She did had a crush before, but that didn't go well- she cringed at the painful memories- and a crush on Snape? Ewww. I could live without that, thank you.

But when she started to enter and became absorbed in the world of romance, she found that it was actually quite fascinating, the way people interact with each other. She found herself enjoying the read, and when not doing homework, she would be in her bed reading. What she thought would be a suffering was now her means of relaxation. After dinner she would rush through her homework, not even bothering to do 'extra research', and made her way to her bed and lay there reading about Jon and Jennifer and Lisa and Lewis till way past midnight.

Another nice thing about romance novels was that they nearly all have happy-endings. Welcome to the real world, where we just have to cope with the ironic fact that no one you like will EVER like you back. Tough, eh? Hermione relished the read so greatly, she didn't realize that she had taken refuge in the stories, evading her problems. Yes, she would still dream about Snape, and (rather embarrassedly) she admitted that she would sometimes fantasize herself and him in the stories. And okay, so I do watch out for him, and do laugh a little too jovially when he is there, but that's about it, nothing else. She was neither a millionaire with pretty blue eyes, nor was she a lost princess. She also doubted the very possibility that she would kiss him feverishly on a surfing board, or that they would ever dance in the rain. She would definitely not hug him in front of a gazillion people, and he would never paint I LOVE YOU on his dungeon walls and propose. So that settles, I DO NOT like Snape. Hermione concluded, putting down her sixty-eighth book, not knowing in the very near future a lesson would bring this naive statement to tatters and turn her world upside down.

----------

A/N: THATZ A CLIFFHANGER, YEA!! I am writing a CLIFFHANGER!! Thatz so coooool! I LOVE CLIFFHANGERS. *jump up and down*

Ahem, So what da ya think? Do you think I am doing it a lil bit too slow? Coz really I don't want to make them too OOC, so I am making this struggle thingie longer...but it'd still be OOC because if they're not out of character, or their right minds for that matter, they won't fall for each other!! So please be patient, I am going to the romantic parts soon!! Mwahahahaha...I experienced my first writer block in this chapter, sure I've got ideas but I didn't know how to put them down. I am suddenly painfully aware of my lack of vocabulary, and frankly I am not too satisfied with this chapter. Anyway, please please please REVIEW no matter you like it or not!!!