Disclaimer: None of this is mine!!! Are you happy now? ARE YOU??? *poke lawyers*

A/N: Sorry for the late update, again. But I'd love to inform you some good news...*drum roll* I got 5A3B in my public exam! Isn't that great?! I am the only one to get 29 marks (A for 5, B for 4, C for 3 etc. The best 6 subjects are counted) out of 30 of all art students! YaY! I just have to say this, not to boast but to share my happiness with all of you, cause studying is the most important thing in my life until recently, which changed into writing~ :p

Also, I just read what I wrote two months ago (becoz I have bad memory and can't remember what was written) and omg my writing was so poor and there were so many mistakes. Small ones here and there... you are only too kind to not flame my grammar. I'd correct them once I've time, which I have little now coz I am admitted to college. Thousands of books to read and essays to write! So expect less frequent updates. I'd make them longer in compensation. Cheer up!

Ezmerelda: Sorry I can't write about the cooking thing yet! I am having so much fun writing clues I am not sure when I'd start to tie the loose ends up. Patience!

Kryptonite: How does I possibly logic out putting her in HIS bed instead of taking her to the hospital wing? Haha, I dunno. There will be some kind of explanation in this chapter, enjoy!

Teri: Good to know that you still like it!

Bullwinkle435: Thank you! Keep on reading!

Chocolate Pudding1: Yay I'm cute! *blushes* *listens*What? Oh, you mean the story? *de-blush* Thank you! I've tried very hard to make the way they interact natural and plausible. Hope you like this chapter as well!

Real-fan05: Thx! It's okay to make mistakes, my story is not perfect! So...*sips Sprite Ice* Great drink as well, have you got that in US or whatever place you reside? I've read somewhere that they only sell that in Canada (apparently wrong coz I'm drinking one here in Hong Kong), pity...*shrugs*

MoonFlowerLain: That overload stuff is so stupid! I hate that so much and congrats for getting over that! Obsessed with Sevvie too? Welcome to the club!

Tabii: Thank you! Here's more!

Cecily: What will happen next... even I dunno! Sevvie and Hermione are pulling me down the unknown road of plot... hope you like this chapter!

me: Fluff? Who says fluff? *looks left and right* I want FLUFF too! Tehehehehe... I have been asked to give and receiving many cherries lately... hmmm...

Lagaz: I wouldn't mind too, ohhh Sevvie... *drools* Great suggestions! I inserted some Neville and Ginny for you, hope you liked it! As for Ron... I'd think about it, thanks!

Dana Whelks: Good you don't think it is going too slow, I am afraid some of you might! I am throwing in too many clues, methinks...

Kelly: Here's more, thank you for the review!

Queen-Ditz: I am writing, I am writing! See? *show hand* Geez, my fingers are all thick with callous!! Haha, not really. Please read read read!

evilbon32: Don't get me wrong, I loved your long reviews! It's the best praise to a writer's work, writing detailed reviews. I am learning from you and writing longer reviews too. Don't hate Ron too much, for he'd have a bigger part in the story later, though I am not sure how yet. Please continue reading and giving me wonderful reviews!

Mel: Thanks for the review!

Thank you for everyone who read this and especially those who take the time to review! Now, get ready for more Sevvie/Hermy action!

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Severus turned his head to the left and stirred uncomfortably. With great reluctance he flipped his eyelids open, knowing it was no use to try and sleep some more. He sat up and ruffled his hair which got all greasy again over the night. Sighing, he looked at the curled up frame on his bed. Her fingers were pearly white from gripping his cloak's hem too tightly whole night. He stood up as his bones cracked, and made a note to himself never sleep in a badly-stuffed armchair again.

Carefully removing her fragile hand, he moved into the bathroom. Hermione didn't wake up from the rustling but slid further into the warm covers. However that didn't prevent the cheerful morning ray reaching her face. The sound of running water, soft as it was, disturbed the room. She moaned.

Severus stepped back into the bedroom and squinted slightly as he did. He had conveniently charmed a window on his dungeon bedroom wall, for contrary to common belief, he did love to be waked by a healthy shine of sun. Rubbing his hair with a towel, he adjusted his eyesight and walked to the bed. "Miss Granger?"

She rolled over and moved away from the voice. He kneeled down beside the bed and shook her gently. "Wake up, it's almost seven thirty."

"Mmmm." She turned again, opened her eyes and blearily looked into his. So it was not just a sweet dream; she indeed had slept in his chambers. She smiled weakly, inhaling the fresh scent of his.

"Miss Granger?" He inquired worriedly. Her face was even redder than last night, on which unfocused eyes blinked and a small smile appeared. She did not look much better than eight hours before.

"Hermione," she answered, her voice lower than a whisper. He leant closer to catch her words and frowned at them.

"What about you? How do you feel?"

"That's my name," she said happily, before coughing into the pillow. Now Severus was really perturbed. Without another word he bent down and picked her up in the same manner he did last night. She curled contently in his arms like she belonged there. He swept out of the rooms and in an even more hasty pace than usual, to the Hospital Wing.

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"Why was it you that bring her here?" Madam Pomfrey demanded as she busied herself with bottles of potions. "Drink this, dear." In a much warmer tone she instructed the Griffindor, who obliged and drank the same red potion Severus gave her earlier.

Severus thought about making up a story of how he discovered her fainted outside the library this morning, but decided against it. He opened his mouth and closed it. Nothing that qualifies as an excuse good enough for the Healer came to his mind. He opened his mouth again.

Poppy recorded the girl's temperature and made sure she was asleep before looking up at the Head of Slytherin. Pursing her lips, she shooed him out of the ward, drew curtains around the bed and followed him outside.

"Well?" She prompted impatiently.

"I- well," Severus shifted under the gaze of the woman. She could be very scary when it come to patients. "Last night she had a detention with me and she had fever, so I, eh, gave her some potions and let her sleep in my bed-"

"Two questions," Poppy showed two fingers in his face. "First, how dare you give a detention to a sick student? Second, what kind of potions did you give her?"

"I didn't know she was sick, she hadn't exactly tell me, you know," He retorted icily. "As for the potion, it is the same Temperature Remedy you gave her just now. May I remind you that half of your meds are brewed by me."

She angrily poked his chest while her nostrils flared up. "May I remind you that I am the resident Healer of this school, not you O Great Master of Potions, and why didn't you bring her to me when she was sick?"

"It was very late and I thought I'd better not bother you-"

"Since when is my infirmary closed at night? Don't you know that students have the annoying tendency to get really sick at three in the morning?" She glowered at his sheepish excuse. Severus folded his arms and shifted to another foot. It was bad enough to say a lame excuse and know it; it was worse when she pointed it out so candidly, like she thought he was the greatest dope in the universe. Frankly, he hadn't quite figured out why had he not bring the girl here immediately but let her slept in his rooms yet, but this he wasn't going to let this woman here know.

"What you did is just stupid Severus," the witch continued but removed her hand from him. "The girl has asthma and even a small flu- as futile as it may seem- can trigger a series of syndromes. She hadn't protect herself very well from the sudden change of weather, yes, but to serve a detention in that damp dungeon of yours every night... how many times have I told you to install a fireplace in your office-"

But he wasn't listening. He was very used to the Healer's nagging and tuned it out automatically. What interested him more was her mentioning of Granger's asthma. "Asthma? As in she couldn't breathe?"

Looking disgruntled being interrupted, she nodded rigidly. "That may very well happen if she continue to let her throat exposed to the cutting wind. She would also faint-"

"What?! I thought she faints because of instable emotional condition?!" He cried.

"She does," the Healer spoke swiftly. Then more sternly, "I want you to have a fireplace in that rat hole of yours, or have her detention elsewhere. You'd better not be responsible for her next stay 'ere, you hear me?"

Severus barely restrained himself from saluting and saying "Yes, Madam".

----------

He had two Eat-me-and-fall-dead-meals- and Granger-free days. It was not as if he couldn't put two and two together, but the rational part of his mind- yes he had released his conscience- refused to accept that a Griffindor, a clever one at that, would do something so stupid: to poison him by food not even the hungriest Basilisk would touch. Moreover, it's not like she hated him or something- if she did she was doing a pretty good job hiding it. She was always courteous around him, if not a bit of a chatterbox, and had constantly shown respect to him.

Shaking his head, Severus put down his quill and know that was all the grading he could do for the meantime. He stood up and stretched, not worried to be seen doing such an inelegant act. The dungeon was solitarily quiet tonight, as it was last night, and the night before that. How he hated his life to be disturbed- although Granger's not here, her presence was pervasively filling the chamber, her smile like an annoying bee, no matter how he swatted it just wouldn't leave him alone.

A large bang tore through his reverie suddenly, he snapped back and automatically put on his expressionless mask. It was a Slytherin seventh year.

"Evening Professor," the girl batted her long, albeit fake-looking eyelashes.

"Miss Acree?" Severus felt his ear itched upon the purring of the girl, and instinctively rubbed it with his right hand. "What do you want?"

"Want? Hmmm..." Acree raised one thin brow and smiled pointedly at him.

"Yes, what can I help you?" He would have hexed her out of the room already if not of her house. With great strength he suppressed the urge to point out that she did not even take NEWT potions.

"Well, I have no important business," she admitted in a seductive drawl, still batting her eyes madly.

"Is there something wrong with your eyes?" He wanted to know. "Anyway, if there aren't anything important-"

"Can't I just come and see you?" She pouted and Severus mourned for the many boys who were bound to fall for her because of that little gesture.

"No Miss Acree, I'd rather not be bothered," he replied coldly. "Now if you don't mi-"

"But I missed you," Acree took two steps forward until she was almost on him and placed her perfectly manicured hands on his chest.

That's it. Not only had she interrupted him twice, she had to touch him. Severus felt a dangerous rage bubbling inside him and through clenched jaws he hissed in a way he usually reserved just for Griffindors, "Twenty points from Slytherin and you've just earned yourself a detention. OUT!" The girl didn't hesitate and glided out, carefully concealing a smile- she had got what she came for.

Severus heaved heavily in the once again quiet dungeon, this job's killing him. Had to ask for a rise in salary first thing tomorrow, he decided, and swept back into the bedroom. The bed was tidily made, leaving no trace of its occupant two nights ago. A fire crackled in the fireplace. He stared into it pensively. For some reason unbeknownst to himself he was feeling restless, despite the peaceful atmosphere enveloping the room. Maybe it was time for a night walk.

Soundlessly he exited the dungeons and followed the routine he was so familiar with: first up to the Great Hall, then turned left to the Grand Staircase. Tonight he chose the East Wing, easily spotting two Griffindor third years. Then up the Owlery, where the only disruption to the silence was an occasional flutter of feathers as a late owl returned. The corridors were deserted as well, and he was about to return when he arrived the hallway leading to the Hospital Wing. Struggling, he walked towards the infirmary and smelt the same nauseating odor of various medicines and potions. Though his feet felt laden to him, his approach was thievishly noiseless. He was about to open the door when voices came out, and his hand stopped just in time on the cool brass doorknob.

"-tired of it-"

"-dear, you have to- good for- well-"

"-no-"

Severus thought he was about to worn out his ear by willing it so hard to listen. From the voices he knew it was Poppy and Granger talking. Very slowly he pushed open the door.

"No I am not taking another sip of that disgusting potion. I wanted to barf at the mere sight of it." It was Hermione's voice. She sounded tired, but not croaky as she did before. Her throat must be feeling better.

"This will be the last vial, I promise," Poppy's voice was mild and mother-like, as it always was when consoling a patient . "How can you get well if you don't take your medicine? Come on, child."

"You said it was the last vial three hours ago," Hermione said in a voice that made Severus wonder whether the flu had turned her into a spoiled kid. "Also, I am feeling pretty well now. I can even get back to my dorm."

"Take it and tomorrow you can go," Poppy bribed.

Severus slipped inside without the two noticing. He walked closer but was careful to hide in the dark corner. Only Hermione's bedside lamp was lighted up and from the shadows on the curtains drawn around her bed he saw that she had drank the potion.

"Ewww," she spat unceremoniously, grabbing a nearby towel and wiped her face.

"That's my girl," Poppy smiled fondly at the girl who had become a regular visitor of the Hospital Wing. "That's my lioness. Now off you get to Dreamland!"

"Is it true that I can leave tomorrow?" The younger girl asked anxiously. "I missed my lessons and friends."

"We'll see, we'll see."

Hermione's cheek puffed up as she pouted at the vague answer. "I hate being sick, hate this stupid flu, hate having asthma, hate having to take meds four times a day-"

"That's essential Hermione, remember to take the clear potion in the morning-"

"-and bring the green one with me during the day. Drink once after each meal and before bed. Do not take any muggle pills." Finished Hermione, sighing. "Can't someone just invent a potion so to cure it once and for all?"

"You can, in fact," Severus stepped into the light. Both witches seemed startled to hear another voice. They stopped talking and looked around for the source of interruption.

Poppy came back to herself quicker, "Is there anything I can help, Severus?"

He didn't reply before glancing at Hermione, who cracked a big pure smile at him that seemed to light her face and the entire room up and greedily took in his towering form beside her bed. She couldn't believe how much she had missed him, these two days had been like years. But as quickly as the smile had come she remembered the childish behavior she just acted, the gray plain robes she was in, and the totally unmatched old scarf draping foolishly around her neck. She slid beneath the blanket.

"I am here to give you more of this," he reached into his robes and pulled out a tiny flask, which just happened to be there handily, and he was grateful for an excuse. The Healer took over the flask delightfully and vacated saying she had to store this properly. The room fell quiet as the door 'click'ed behind the witch.

He didn't know what to do, probably leave. He should not have been here in the first place, he thought, and opened his mouth when Hermione beat him to it.

"Don't go." She pleaded. He sighed in defeat inwardly and summoned a chair nearby. Neither talked for a moment, their ears filled only by each other's breathing and in Severus' case, an odd ringing. He was troubled by the bright smile that appeared on the girl's face when he first entered her sight. Since when had she smiled like that when she saw him? She looked genuinely happy to see him. How very absurd, he mused.

"Miss Granger-" he started.

"Hermione," she interjected sweetly.

"What?"

"That's my name. Hermione," she repeated patiently like to a little boy.

"Don't use that tone with me," He warned dangerously, feeling his temper rising. "I know that's your name, but what has it to do with anything?"

"Well, I just thought it's shorter and nicer than 'Miss Granger'," she shrugged like it was the most obvious thing in the world, which in a way was, but he was not going to admit that. It just wasn't like him to call students by their first names, except a few Slytherins.

"Never mind. As I am saying about the potion that can cure your asthma, Miss Granger-"

"Hermione."

He gave her one of his famous glares. Her face was innocent but unafraid. In fact her small smile was still intact. "When's this pointless joke going to stop?"

"Depends on your adopting speed, sir. But seeing that I had started two days ago and still you haven't call me by my given name, this may last for a while," She almost burst out laughing at his expression.

Two days ago? So she remembered what she said two days ago? He thought she was just sick and delirious. Can someone remember what he had said when he was delirious? Unlikely.

"How do you rememb-" he began but at that point Poppy was back and shouted at him ("Why are you still here? How's she s'pose to rest if you are here bothering her?") and he had no choice but leave. Hermione's face fell behind the Healer's back and he caught the look. As he swept down the stairways he recalled what she said in the form of an announcement two days ago.

I like you.

He groaned as he settled into a comfy armchair beside the fire. There was a lot to ponder and little sleep tonight, this he was sure.

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Madam Pomfrey kept her promise and let her go the next morning, much to Hermione's relief, for she feared her body and brain may rot from resting too long. She pulled her hair into a loose ponytail so her face looked bigger and healthier. The school robes felt good on her body, and as she loaded her bag with books she could feel energy pumping into her limbs as well. She was ready to go.

She had no Potions today, but she contented herself by thinking about the detention later. The lessons went by smoothly, save for the Care of Magical Creatures which giant moths were what they were studying today. Nothing, not even the passion for knowledge and love for Hagrid would make her go anywhere near those hideous creatures.

It was a relief to her that she was in no way behind anyone. Her professors praised her work as usual, and she received many points for answering questions correctly. All in all, it should be a pleasant day. There's only one thing to complain about: everyone was treating her like a glass doll, again. In spite of her effort to look lively, her classmates and friends insisted that she had got circles under her eyes. They walked her to classes, monitored her eating, and asked how she was feeling every five seconds.

"I am fine!" She cried exasperatedly in the end when Ginny asked her the same question for the five-billionth time, but regretted when the other girl looked hurt. Neville placed a comforting arm around his girl before looking at Hermione accusingly, "She's just being nice."

"Sorry," she whispered sheepishly. Neville nodded coldly, very uncharacteristic of him, and helped Ginny up. The couple walked out of the Hall, leaving Hermione there feeling very bad.

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Neville and Ginny strode along the corridors lined with suits of armors. Suddenly Neville stopped and turned to Ginny. Her cheeks reddened as he looked into her eyes, silently asking.

"You don't need to say that back there," she said serenely, touching his arm and looking back at the boy whom she had called a boyfriend for over a month now. She smiled remembering his stuttering speech at the beginning of the school year. How much he had changed since then- taller, bolder, tougher- for her, she understood. He would never have said that to Hermione, or stood up to Ron for that matter, before.

"I can't stand seeing someone hurt you," he replied, blushing. Still very much the shy boy inside, he sometimes wondered what good had he done that some high-powers up there granted him this understanding girl. A breeze passed by, shaking the torches. Ginny looked even prettier in the flickering light, he thought, and pushed a strand of red hair across her forehead. How much she had changed since his second- her first- year. The timid little girl that once followed Harry around had slowly grown into herself.

"I know," was all that she said. Shivering, she leant closer to his warm body. It was not exactly muscular, but she loved the security that it gave her.

Neville placed a hand around her shoulder and held her awkwardly, feeling and marveling at her small frame against his chest. How he loved the peacefulness when she was near, a feeling so strange to him since childhood. He was not blessed, he used to think, with his parents and next-to-none magic. But now, he was contented. Still holding her, he promised, "I'd apologize tomorrow morning."

She didn't look up or nod. He would understand.

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Hermione was not in her best mood as she dragged herself down to the dungeons, angry at Neville for making she feel bad, angry at herself for hurting Ginny, angry at everything. She kicked open the wooden door ungraciously and unloaded her books onto a desk with a loud 'thud'. Fuming, she sat down and though she didn't want to admit it, she was hoping for Severus' consolation. A simple 'what's wrong' would do, she thought.

"Who are you?" A silky purr reached her ears instead. She snapped up and discovered a girl in short green robes checking her from hair to toe. Her temper flared up immediately.

"Hermione Granger," she replied with a coldness that would make Severus proud of her. "And you?"

"Are you just any Granger, or the Granger?" The girl demanded with the same chillness as Hermione. "As in the Granger aka Harry Potter's number two sidekick, resident Griffindor know-it-all and Cute-wanna-be?"

"You missed out prefect," she replied with authority, standing taller so that her badge shone in the light. She had now recognized the other girl as the one who tried to make chocolate for her Severus. Dangerous sparks sizzled between them, and both reached for their wands.

Before either of them could say the simplest incarnation, Severus stepped out from the supply closet and snarled, "What's all that racket? Shut up and get to work!"

When he turned and entered another lab which students were forbidden to enter, Hermione stuck out her tongue at the other girl who ground her teeth and started to make an angry remark when Severus' voice boomed from the other room again, "Go scrub the floor without magic, and fetch me some Jojoba oil, would you?"

Hermione began to move toward the supply closet when a strong hand pushed her. She wheeled and stumbled, powerless on the floor, only to see Acree took the jar of oil and walked over to the lab. A surge of jealousy washed over her as the evil (in her opinion) witch stopped briefly before entering and sneered, "Go scrub the floor, Griffindor." The door then closed tightly to Hermione.

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The door clicked. Severus looked up from the ancient book with a frown attached on his brows. They furrowed deeper when he saw who came in.

"Here's the oil, sir." Putting the jar down, Acree walked over to him.

He had assumed that Granger would be the one who come in and assist him. He placed a finger on the text but he was not really reading. "Where is Granger?" He said finally.

"Oh, her?" She snorted, but covered it with a laugh, and her body shook exaggeratedly, making her blonde hair billow. "She was out there scrubbing the floor as you instructed, sir." She said this like it was a great joke. He frowned and returned to the book.

She moved closer, taking his silence as an approval, and bent lower to read the text herself. It was a difficult Latin book, and after a while she stood back up uninterestedly, and nibbled on her nails.

Severus was reading the same paragraph for the third time but there were still things he didn't understand. But he decided to start the potion anyway. Unaware of Acree standing just next to him, he looked up and almost bumped into the girl.

"What are you doing? Get to that side of the table!" He hissed, feeling his last nerve was ground under the high heels of this girl here. She pouted again but obliged. He started to measure the caterpillars.

Acree stood there and enjoyed herself. She had always loved challenges, and grew tired of the plain boys who would jump from the Astronomy Tower if she told them to. Snape was different. He was so cold and irritable that she found him immensely sexy. I have always like 'bad' boys, she thought, as she licked her lips temptingly. However he was paying her no attention. She scowled and turned her gaze to the various ingredients lining on the bench.

"Ohhh what's this?" She asked, pointing at some rainbow-colored powder.

"Something expensive. Don't touch it," he warned without looking at her. She wondered was there any other emotion this man could feel. But that's why she lusted after him. Tearing her eyes from the head of her house, she continued to play with the ingredients. There's a flask of translucent pink potion and she dipped a finger in it, only to be burnt painfully. She let out a small yelp.

"What now." He couldn't believe her, a Slytherin, could be so annoying. Granger would never have bothered him while working on a potion- in fact, she would probably be even more engrossed than he did. Acree hid her finger which was swollen with angry boils behind her back, and shook her head. He eyed her suspiciously. "If there's nothing go dilute this." He handed her a jar of yellowish goo.

"What's this?" She carefully took it.

"Dragon phlegm, don't-" It was too late, her grip had loosen in shock. Severus dived down and caught it just before it crashed on the stone floor.

"Ewww! Eww eww ewwewweww!!!" She was washing her hand when he stood up. He closed his eyes wearily and took a deep breath, the urge to hex her into oblivion came back. When he felt calm enough to open his eyes again, he ordered her to dice the frog livers instead. She didn't look much relieved.

For the second time of the night he wished Granger was helping him instead of Acree, for she would surely marveled at the jar of phlegm rather than drop it. Thinking of her, his legs moved automatically to the door.

"Professor!!"

"What?" It was really not a good idea to turn so fast, because he could hear the cracking of the bones in his neck. Merlin, can the night get any worse?

One should never think that because turned out it can. Acree had chopped the livers into star shapes.

"Ain't they cute?" She looked at the plate of livers proudly. It had taken her a lot of work, but it was worth it.

He rubbed his face with a hand. Had he offended some unknown divine power? If no, why would he be damned by this imbecile here? Suddenly she let out a shriek and the plate of 'cute' frog livers fell with a clash. She jumped around scratching her back, screaming, "Something's got me! Something's got me!"

"A hundred points from Slytherin, and- Get- LOST!" He exploded. She sobbed but didn't stop jumping. He took her by the collar, marched out of the dungeon and threw her out into the dark corridor, then with a loud 'pang' closed the door, locking her wails and swearing outside. He felt very relieved and scolded himself for not doing this earlier.

He then swept back to the bushy-head kneeling on the floor. "You did it," He said it as a statement.

"Did what, sir?" Carefully averting his piercing gaze Hermione twisted the wet towel in the bucket, feeling very like Cinderella.

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She glared at the closed wooden door disbelievingly. They had left her in this dank dungeon, alone with nothing but a bucket and two towels. When the door refused to budge under her fiery glare, she sighed and started to scrub the stone floor.

Ten minutes later she couldn't stand any longer. The water was freezing without being magically warmed, and her curiosity was beginning to kill her like it would a cat. She crept closer to the door and peered through the keyhole. The vision was limited but it was better than none. She almost broke her wand in anger when Acree stood next to Severus, but was even more bitter when he didn't tell her off, so bitter that she slumped back against the door and didn't see him snarling at Acree.

She scrubbed three more inches miserably before looking back into the keyhole. Why she bothered she did not understand, as it was very painful to see them having a good time- from her point of view they were- and she was alone in this dark dungeon scraping dirt. She felt some kind of ferocious satisfaction as the Slytherin witch hurt herself by touching undiluted Hippocamus' egg yolk, but it was depressing to see her being able to get hold of dragon phlegm. How she would loved to work alongside with him in his private laboratory, seeing every rare ingredients and experimenting their properties.

She slid back onto the floor, leaning against the heavy door, and buried her face into her knees, wanting to cry but no tears would come. She did not know what she had expected from him, but certainly not leaving her alone in a dungeon while he himself worked with another girl in the next. This was by far the cruelest detention she had received, apart from the one with Umbridge. She had thought she was special to him, the way he let her sleep in his bed a couple of days ago. But once again she had misunderstood, it was only too clear that she was no more special to him than Acree was. He treated them in the same manner, but by some strange reason she felt unfair.

He was actually quite nice, at least civil to me when we were alone. She said in her mind, asking silently for an answer.

It came after a while. Well, he did have a reputation to maintain.

So he left me because I am a Griffindor, let her in because she's a Slytherin?

The voice kept quiet, couldn't come up with an explanation anymore. She started to rub the floor again, quickly and roughly, ignoring the numbness in her fingers. The stones beneath her grew colder and she shivered. She rubbed some more before throwing the towel away, and spied into the small hole again, though her soul protested this act of self-torture.

She watched for a few minutes and wondered why hadn't he lose his patience yet.

He would have if it was I who fooled around. Sourly she mused. I wonder when will he explode? Without knowing what she was doing, she picked up her wand and pointed at Acree. It was extremely difficult to aim but she carefully measured and whispered the curse, one commonly used by the Weasley twins.

"Fleaous Appandos."

----------

"I know a curse when I saw one," he said and scowled at her red hands, remembering Poppy's warning. "Come in."

Hermione dropped the rag piece of cloth back into the bucket and followed him. To her surprise they went into his bed chambers, not his lab. He sat into an armchair beside the fire and motioned her to do the same. She leant back and stared into the fireplace, unsure of what to say.

He watched pensively as she looked away. She had saved him, to say the truth, for half of his brain cells would be dead by the end of the detention with Acree, but he did not want to praise her for a prank. He cleared his throat.

"That is a curse Potter and Black often use," he said silkily and startled himself. This was not what he had planned to say.

She turned to him bewildered. He had never speak to her like this, let alone about his past. Sitting straighter, she said, "It is widely used by many students, like the Weasley twins. They keep giving me a hard time." She chuckled lowly at this.

"I've no doubt," he arched an eyebrow and Hermione gasped inwardly. "They've lost a lot of points for Griffindor, for which I should thank them. We'd not have won the House Cup if not for them."

She pursed her lips and looked away again. Griffindor. Slytherin. Is it really so important to him?

"What happened between you and Weasley?" He asked abruptly, but as soon as the question left his lips he wished it hadn't. She paled visibly.

"Well," she took a deep breath and forced herself to smile. It looked more like a grimace to Severus. "I- well."

He very much wanted to prompt, 'well, what?' but knew better. He folded his arms and looked straight at the girl, as though to read her mind. She shifted before his scrutinizing eyes.

"I- eh, well, there is someone that I liked, but it is not Ron," she lowered her eyelids, attempting to hide her emotions. "He took it very hard, and-"

When she looked up again, he almost wanted to refuse the feelings so plain, so blatant in those chocolate orbs. It was so different from those in Acree's, but so similar at the same time.

"I- I need to go professor. Good night." She stood up suddenly and fled his presence. He knew. He knew.

He did not stop her but remained in the seat, rubbing his temples.

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He knew. He knew. He knew.

All she could think of was these two words. It was like a curse, a curse she couldn't quite make out. She bathed and changed with a blank look on her face.

He knew.

What could she do now? He had discovered her secret. Though she had agreed to act according to her heart, she had never foresee this to happen. How could she face him?

Should I give up? She flinched at the question that popped out of nowhere. She had not doubted what she has been doing for almost two months now, but the question was so practical she could not just ignore it.

Crookshanks cuddled near her chest, purring like asking a question.

"I don't know, Crookshanks, I don't know," she confessed, hugging the ginger cat closer.

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A/N: Anyone who would like an update email please leave your email address. To know more about me, add me in ICQ :170558813! *mutters* not that no one wants to...*shrugs* And my weblog: www.xanga.com/zanthia

Please as well review my other story, which I had updated just yesterday. Storyid: 1424029

REVIEW and you'd receive a kiss from Neville, c'mon, you know you want one *grins*