JKR's ideas, my plot.

I had to go back and fix this one. There was some issue with a dead computer and not typing what i thought i had. mjor kudos to velvet storm for catchng it!

Chapter Four: Sprouting Feelings

Ginny awoke groggily, still feeling as if she'd been hit over the head with a very large rock. She sat up, not knowing where she was. She saw that she was lying on top of a great bed with a green silk sheet over her. She tried to sit up, but felt sick, so she just propped herself against a pillow. She looked for someone to talk to, and spotted a tall figure hunched over a trunk. Snape? she thought groggily, I was in his office. . .potion of some kind. . . things were falling into her head, falling into place like a great puzzle. She coughed, trying to get her teacher's attention.

Snape whirled around, staring at Ginny, but then his face softened slightly. "I see you're awake," he said foolishly.

"Yes," Ginny said, still feeling dizzy. Snape pulled a vial off of his desk, gliding over to Ginny and handing it to her.

"Drink this," he said. "It is a broad-spectrum anti-toxin, so it should cause you to recover." He quickly turned, going back over to his desk, which was looking terribly messy again.

Ginny was feeling too ill to be skeptical, so she drank the vial's contents and instantly felt a bit more revived.

"It works slowly, so I'd suggest waiting here for a while." Snape said, still not looking up.

Ginny felt confused again. "Sir?" she asked tentatively, "why didn't you take me to the hospital wing?" she felt awkward asking, as he had most likely helped her a great deal, but then she realized that this was probably Snape's bed, which made her feel even more awkward.

Snape looked up at Ginny. "I didn't want to bother Madam Pomfrey at this hour," he said simply, "Besides she would have asked me for the anti-toxin, anyways, so I thought it easier for everyone to stay here." He resumed grading his papers, but Ginny couldn't help noticing that he had become a bit flustered.

"But, sir," she continued, feeling a bit more awake, "Madam Pomfrey is a very qualified healer. She would have such a potion in her stores. And," Ginny added, sitting up, "I know that she stays awake until at least one in the morning, and it can't be past eleven." She stood, glad to be out of Snape's bed; it was giving her very odd vibes.

Snape looked up slowly, putting his quill down. "Miss Weasely," he said, his voice deadly calm, "do you assume that I wanted to keep a student not of age or my house in my office at eleven at night?" He looked angry, and Ginny backed away from his desk.

"N-no, sir."

"It is just as well," Snape said, standing and walking to Ginny, "as that would be very," he took her shoulders in his strong hands, causing Ginny to shake like a leaf, "very improper, indeed." He leaned in, his face barely an inch away from Ginny's.

"Yes, sir," Ginny whispered, feeling oddly aroused by his commanding tone.

"Good," Snape said, his voice barely a whisper. He leaned in towards Ginny's ear, "We must not have anyone thinking that I want you here."

"No, sir," Ginny almost moaned as she felt his hot breath in her ear. He leaned in, far too closely, and brushed his ice-cold lips across Ginny's. The odd sensation made her shiver slightly, but she fell forward, wanting more.

Snape leaned back, looking into Ginny's eyes, suddenly letting her go. "Your detention is over, Miss Weasely," Snape said, motioning to the stone archway, his voice returning to its usual sarcastic tone. "The potion should have worked fully by now. If it has not, return tomorrow."

Ginny still felt as shaky as when she had awoken, but for completely different reasons. She nodded and walked back through the doorway, back into the Potions classroom. She looked over her shoulder. Snape was still staring at her, tracing a thin finger over his cheek. She turned and fled through the dungeons, stopping only when she was right outside of the Gryffindor Common Room. She caught her breath, smoothing her hair before she entered. She nodded at Colin, who quickly stood, putting his arm around her, trying to pull her to an empty armchair by the fire. Ginny shook him off by telling him that the detention had left her tired, and Ginny walked to her staircase as Colin looked dissapointed.

The warmth of her bed had never been so welcome to Ginny. After changing into a pair of pajama pants, Ginny slipped into her bed, her head buzzing. Why had Snape not sent me to the Hospital Wing? Is Snape attracted to me? Am I attracted to Snape? But I can't be. He's too wretched. But then, why not? He's not unnattractive. Ginny shook herself disgustedly. That's wrong! He could be my father!

Ginny tried to clear her mind of Snape's icy cold voice that sent shivers through her spine, his feline movements that made her itch, his. . .Ginny yawned, rolling over. She fell into yet another restless sleep, tossing as an unseen man wove in and out of her fears.