Draco sat outside of Snape's rooms with his back against the wall. He had been waiting for at least twenty minutes. He had gone down to the dungeons to apologize to Hermione for his actions, and although he knew it to be folly he felt the need to do it anyway. After all that was the first step to winning her heart over. He had been waiting for them to come back, believing them to be at breakfast, but, it seemed, they were elsewhere. 'Otherwise they'd be back by now,' He thought to himself. Slowly he stood up, admitting defeat. He would just have to come back later, or maybe he would catch her somewhere else. He started the ascent up the stairs and couldn't help but wonder aloud once again.

"Where the hell are they?"

"Who?"

"Ah!" Draco screamed as he slipped on a step and landed on his butt. He raised his gaze to meet that of the unknown person. To Draco's surprise it was not a person at all.

"Oh I'm so sorry. Did I scare you?" Sir Nicholas asked as he hovered over Malfoy's crumpled body. Draco leaned against his elbows, before speaking.

"Just a bit." He watched as Nearly Headless Nick's face turned slowly into a grimace when he recognized the boy. "Nice to see you Nicholas." The shock was clearly evident on the ghost's face, but being an aristocrat as he was, he quickly suppressed it.

"Is it really? I suppose I could say the same." Draco had to fight the smile that dared to creep onto his lips. It was slightly funny how many enemies he had made in his youth, and even funnier how many of them held grudges against him. He did get tired of explaining about why he had been such a dick though.

"How have you been Nicholas?"

"I've been dreadful actually." He stated clearly as he crossed his arms, "The monotony of life here has been taking its toll on me."

"Really." Draco was making his best attempt at pretending to be interested.

"Yes, and not just me. Some of the others (Draco assumed he meant the other ghosts) have felt the same way." He rambled on, "And, once again, my application for the Headless Hunt has been denied…" It went on in this fashion for some time, before Draco found it was time to excuse himself.

"I apologize Nicholas, but I really must be going."

"Oh, I'm so sorry my dear boy, yes, yes get along now. Nice talking with you."

"You too." As Draco was rounding the last flight of stairs he heard Nicholas calling after him. Draco couldn't help but roll his eyes before turning around.

"Yes Nicholas?"

"I'm sorry to impose a question like this, but the people you were looking for. Who might they be? I mean I just might be able to tell you where they are."

Hermione, and Severus could do nothing, but wait for the onslaught of accusations heading their way, in the form of a very angry Minerva McGonagall. There was no where to run, and certainly no where to hide. Severus did, for a split second, think about making an attempt at escape, but decided it was best to face this head on.

"Severus Snape, do explain yourself." Minerva shouted.

"Shh Minerva not so loud. You'll wake the other children." Madame Pomfrey whispered bravely. McGonagall only nodded, and Poppy sauntered off in another direction. Hermione was shocked at her transfiguration teacher's appearance. She looked absolutely disheveled. Her hair had been twisted up into its usual bun, but it looked as if it had been slept in. Pieces were sticking out haphazardly in every direction. Her robes had, obviously, just been thrown on, and her glasses were slightly askew upon the bridge of her nose. Her hands were in fists at her sides, and it looked as if her nails were digging into her palms painfully, but her anger would not allow her to feel such pain.

"Well!" Was all she managed to say in an angry whisper.

"Well what Minerva?" Severus answered still sitting on the bed. He held Hermione's hand, but in a spot where it could not be seen by McGonagall.

"Don't you dare." She answered leaning forward with her clenched fists behind her, "You know exactly what."

"I am afraid I don't and if there is one thing I have learned from women." He started, "That is that if they expect you of something, then you better figure out what that something is first before you go and start explaining. You may end up telling them something they don't know, and therefore getting yourself in more trouble." His nonchalant attitude was visibly getting on her nerves now, and still Hermione was shocked. Severus wasn't. If he had expected this kind of behavior from anyone, it was McGonagall.

"You were caught…"It seemed McGonagall was having trouble with the next word, but finally she managed to get it out, "kissing." As she said this she pointed her index finger back and forth between Hermione and Severus. He merely shook his head.

"Bloody hell news travels fast in this school." He said.

"Does it ever." Hermione answered in agreement. McGonagall looked up at her in awe.

"Y-you mean, you're actually agreeing with h-him." Again she pointed her wrinkly finger in Severus' direction, while looking at her star pupil. Or at least her ex-star pupil.

"Of course I am agreeing with him." Hermione wasn't sure where she had gotten her boldness, but she wasn't going to stop now. "It was just a innocent, regular kiss. It's not like anyone was dying." Again the shock was evident on McGonagall face.

"I-it was…consensual?"

"Of course it was," Severus shouted before Hermione could speak. He stood up as he continued talking. "What do you think I'm some pervert who is trying to take advantage of her?"

"W-well…yeah." McGonagall said nodding and Hermione had to hold back a laugh. Her expression was priceless, as was her last statement. She had actually just called Severus a perv, and Hermione had found it quite hilarious.

"How dare you." He said, "How dare you suspect me of something so-so preposterous."

"W-well, I," She started.

"I'd expect you to have some faith in me Minerva, and if not that then at least a little respect." Both Hermione and McGonagall watched as Severus paced back and forth within the confined space.

"Severus," Hermione whispered. She was still seated on the bed, but she had managed to sit herself up. "Severus," she said a little louder, but still he ignored her. It wasn't until she had said his name a third time that he had noticed her, but it may have been because she was trying to remove herself from the bed.

"Hermione, what do you think you're doing? Get back in that bed this instant."

"No Severus, I'm fine." She stated clearly as she tried to steady herself. He came up behind her and offered her the balance she needed, when he placed his hand gently on her back. "Professor." Hermione said with a sigh instantly catching McGonagall's attention. "I assure you everything here is alright, and that the kiss was consensual. I would expect you to understand that I am an adult now, and I am capable of making my own decisions. Now will you please allow Severus and I some time alone together. Obviously this little intrusion has given cause for great commotion, and I do believe he needs to be calmed down before we talk about anything else."

In her stunned silence all McGonagall could do was nod. It did take her quite awhile though. Slowly she turned on her heel and walked away. Severus helped Hermione climb back onto the bed, and then seated himself in his chair. He reached out and took Hermione's hand again. He knew, just as she did, that there were going to be questions. Not just about them, but about her condition. He was sure that by now everyone knew how sick Hermione was, and he knew that they owed it to Madame Pomfrey. How badly he wished to strangle her at the moment. He decided to count his blessings. Although it hadn't been fun having a run in with Minerva, it hadn't been all that bad either. He had definitely been involved in worse. There was no need to fret over a little argument. Especially when there were worse to come. Right now though, there were more important matters to be dealt with.

'First and foremost,' Severus thought, 'Where the hell is the nearest bathroom?'

When I re-read this chapter I almost fell asleep. It is so boring, but I needed it seeing how there are a few important details concerning Draco. I wanted to say something else, but I can't quite remember now. Oh well I'll think of it later. I just want to let you know if you're looking for a good book to read you should definitely pick up "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn." It's so good! Alrighty I'm out.

P.S. (Bonjour can be used as hello and goodbye, at least I thought it could. I don't know I never paid attention in French class. I took three years of it and the only thing I can say is the "Hail Mary," and "My name is Britney Sturm.")

This is Your Life Switchfoot
Yesterday is a wrinkle on your forehead
Yesterday is a promise that you've broken
Don't close your eyes
Don't close your eyes
This is your life
And today is all you've got now
And today is all you'll ever have
Don't close your eyes
Don't close your eyes…

chorus
This is your life
Are you who you wanna be?
This is your life
Are you who you wanna be?
This is your life
Is it everything you dreamed that it
Would be when the world was younger
And you had everything to l-l-lose…

Yesterday is a kid in the corner
Yesterday is dead and over
And…

chorus

Don't close your eyes
Don't close your eyes
Don't close your eyes
Don't close your eyes
This is your life
Are you who you wanna be
This is your life
Are you who you wanna be
Yeah…

chorus

And you had everything to lose…