AN: Wow! An update already! I'm good… Sadly I don't think I can keep it up, because school started today, and I'm already loaded with homework, being an A-level student and all now…

Anyway, sorry that this is somewhat short, but I have to figure out exactly what is going to happen next before writing it. I've got some ideas, but if you have any, you're welcome to share. Oh… And to my reviewers, I almost forgot (NEVER, not a chance!) THANK you so much!

Ahtenis: yeah, maybe that'll teach him not to read anyone's mind without their permission…As if!

Princess-amelia: I will.

This brilliant dream: Glad you think my grammar's good, especially because English isn't my first language… Anyway, I'll keep in mind what you said, though I can't guarantee they won't be a little OOC, I mean, considering the pairings and all… But I'll keep it in mind.

Chapter 2.

Hermione walked quietly along the many corridors of the castle towards Gryffindor Tower, lost in thought. So now Snape knew about her dreams, and he knew that the man in the dream had been either himself or Sirius. She sighed deeply, this was not good. Hermione scolded herself for even having thought about who the mysterious man in her dreams could be. She should have stopped as soon as she knew he was a professor, she ought to have just forgotten all about it.

Her mind drifted back to what had happened in the potions classroom. If there was one thing Hermione hated it was being forced into something. And she hated Snape for doing to her. He was nothing but a greasy little git and she mentally slapped herself for even contemplating that he could be her dream man. But he was rather handsome though, and intelligent, and… She stopped abruptly in the middle of the hallway.

"No Hermione!" she said to herself sternly, "You would never dream about him! He's a mean old man and he hates you and despises you, there is absolutely no rational reason why you should dream about that man!" Satisfied she began walking again. But then a thought struck her. If she was not dreaming about Snape she had to be dreaming about Sirius. And that was just as bad, it could not be him, really… He was way too immature, she would never allow herself to, even subconsciously, fall for him. Hermione closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down before reaching the portrait of the fat lady.

"In Somnis," Hermione said tiredly and walked through the portrait hole. The common room was almost empty, so she supposed most students had already gone to dinner. She walked upstairs to the 7th year girls' dormitory and threw her school bag on her bed. Then she went to the bathroom and poured some cold water in her tired face and pulled her curly brown hair into a high pony tail, before making her way to the great hall.

She sat down at the Gryffindor table across from Harry and Ron and filled her plate with delicious food. She realised now that she was actually quite hungry.

"What did Snape do to you Mione?" asked Ron suddenly, concern evident in his voice.

"Oh, nothing," Hermione shook it off. She definitely did not desire telling neither Ron nor Harry about the mysterious dream that kept coming because she knew they would never understand. They hated Snape if any students did, and Sirius was Harry's godfather!

Ron looked at her.

"You're lying," he said simply.

"Hermione tell the truth please," Harry began, "He didn't hurt you did he? 'Cause I swear if he did…"

Hermione cut him off, "No Harry, he didn't hurt me, trust me. It's nothing…"

"It's just that you look quite shaken, as if he really scared you," Harry persisted.

"It's nothing, okay?" Hermione sighed, "Just drop it…" Both boys looked at her, then found it smartest to just do as she said, they did not want to anger her.

They all sat in silence for a while. Hermione glanced up at the staff table. Snape was looking directly at her and she had the feeling he had been doing that for a while. Her eyes wandered further coming to a rest on Sirius, whom was currently shooting a loathing glare towards Snape, obviously having caught him in staring at the young brunette at the end of the Gryffindor table.

"What the hell does that greasy bat think he's doing?" Ron's disgusted outburst made Hermione jump and turn her eyes away from the staff table. She looked at Ron questioningly.

"It's Snape!" he said indignantly, "He's watching you like some hungry predator about to strike!" Harry, who had been busy with his food, looked up as well, with a murderous glare in his normally calm emerald eyes.

"Hermione I don't know what happened in the dungeons today, 'cause you obviously won't tell us, but please if he ever does anything to hurt you or to make you feel uncomfortable, tell us. I promise I'll do mine to personally make is life a living hell," he said in a dangerously calm voice, and Hermione knew he meant every word of it.

"I know Harry, and thank you, but really there's nothing wrong…" Hermione lied.

"Then why is he staring at you like that?" Ron exploded. Hermione sighed exasperatedly and rolled her eyes.

"I don't know Ronald, how would I?" she said, knowing full well that this was also a lie. She looked up just in time to see Sirius excusing himself and remembered about her detention. She looked at her watch. She had ten minutes before it would start. She hurried to finish her dinner and excused herself to Harry and Ron.

"Where're you going?" Ron asked looking at her.

"I have detention with Sirius in five minutes, remember?" she sighed softly. Both boys nodded silently and went back to their food as Hermione hurried out of the great hall towards the defence against the dark arts class room. Sirius sat by his desk grading papers when she came in.

"Oh, hi Hermione," he said, looking up, "Have a seat, I want you to help me grade these." Hermione pulled up a chair and sat down at the other side of the desk and Sirius pushed over a small pile of first year essays.

"Yes, professor," Hermione said and started on the first one. She had not looked him in the eye one single time, she was too ashamed.

"You can just call me Sirius when we're alone, Hermione," Sirius said, looking up at her with a concerned look in his eyes. Hermione just nodded, saying nothing. They worked in silence for a while before Hermione heard Sirius' voice.

"A knut for your thoughts…" he said silently, still wearing that concerned expression. Hermione looked up, thinking fast. She could not tell him about the dream.

"Oh, I was just wandering how you could escape that veil and stuff…" she said hesitantly. Did he buy it? It had not been a complete lie, she had wondered about that a lot, but that was before that stupid dream had started haunting her nights. Sirius sighed.

"I don't know," he said, "I spoke to Dumbledore about it, he seems to think the veil is some kind of ancient magic keeping soul and body alive after they die. But he doesn't know why I was let out…"

"Hmm," Hermione wondered, "Maybe it's kinda like that muggle game we always played in PE, that I don't remember the name of…" she continued thoughtfully.

"What game?" Sirius sounded interested, "You see, you've met my mother, or her portrait at least, so you'll know I haven't had a lot to do with muggles, and therefore have absolutely no idea as to what you're talking about whatsoever. But I would like to know how I got out of there…" he chuckled.

"Well it's a game in which you throw around a soft ball, trying to hit the others. If you are hit you sit down and can't join the game before the one who shot you is shot…" Sirius looked at her, his eyes urging her on, "Maybe it's the same with the veil, if you're killed I mean, it keeps you alive until your murderer is dead. I killed Bellatrix Lestrange only minutes before Harry managed to kill Voldemort…" Hermione hesitated saying the last part, only Harry, Ron and Dumbledore knew, and she did not like talking about it.

"You killed Bellatrix?" Sirius asked, looking somewhere in between worried and impressed. Hermione just nodded silently, looking down. Sirius put a hand under her chin forcing her to look at him. His hand was cold and Hermione felt herself shiver, hoping he had not noticed she began to explain.

"Well, it was me or her…" she said sadly, "I didn't want to kill anyone, but well… It was war, and in war you're rarely asked what you want to do," she finished.

"Is that why you've been so absent lately?" Sirius asked, "Because you had to kill Bellatrix even though you didn't want to?" Hermione shook her head.

"No, I somehow managed to live with it…" she trailed off, "It never really haunted me, I don't know why, but I was totally cold, cynical almost… No, I guess most people would consider what's been on my mind lately much more trivial."

"What is it, then?" Sirius chuckled, "Boy problems?" A lump formed in Hermione's throat, as she realised exactly where the conversation was headed. She felt the heat rise in her cheeks as she wondered what to do.

"Well… I guess you could call it that…"Hermione said as nonchalantly as she could muster. Sirius smiled.

"Who's the lucky boy?" he asked. Hermione swallowed the lump that at once again formed in her throat.

"I'd rather not talk about it," she said silently. Sirius looked at her for a second or two before dismissing the subject. They worked in silence for a few more moments before Hermione got permission to leave.

AN: Okay… That's it for now. I hope I'll be back with a new chapter soon. Please remember to leave a review folks! I would love to continue this fic, but I won't if nobody reads it, and I won't know if people reads it if they don't review, so please, review!