Hermione was burning to tell Harry and Ron what had happened in Snape's office. She fairly ran back to Gryffindor Tower, but as she reached the portrait, she remembered Snape's commission. Snape would make her life hell if he found out she had told them, and he would find out. Besides, she had promised and it was not her secret to share.

Composing herself, Hermione climbed through the portrait hole. As she knew they would be, Harry and Ron were waiting for her.

"Oi! Hermione!" Ron's voice was quite distinct.

"You're back early," commented Harry. "Didn't Snape have anything for you to do?"

"Oh, I just had to correct the papers I spilled the potion on. They were just third years, so it wasn't hard," Hermione gritted her teeth as she lied to her best friends.

"Hermione, we're not letting you meet with Malevich alone. I don't care if he's insane, I don't trust him." Harry could be a little protective sometimes.

Remembering what Snape had said, Hermione replied, "Well, since it's a little cold outside, I'm going to see if he is willing to stay inside tomorrow night, but if you have to, use the Invisibility Cloak and don't make any noise. I still can take care of myself."

Malevich, as it turned out, was not willing to stay inside. Persuading Hermione with tales of the glories of a cold winter night beneath a clear sky filled with bright stars, he promised that Hermione she would not be sorry she had gone.

As they wandered down to the lake, Hermione began to let down her defenses. The night truly was beautiful, lulling her into a dream-like state. She barely even noticed when Malevich pulled her into a tight embrace and whispered, "You're beautiful Hermione," before he kissed her.

Harry and Ron, who of course had been following under the Invisibility Cloak, were startled. Ron lunged forward, but Harry, recovering his senses pulled Ron back. "He hasn't done anything wrong," he hissed. "She has to keep up the pretense. Until he tries to hurt her we do nothing." Glaring darkly at Malevich, Ron subsided.

Hermione was shocked when he kissed her. She had been kissed before, but this was nothing that she had ever experienced. He tasted powerful, full of life, but at the same time bitter. He kissed her hard, pressing himself up against her.

"I am sorry that you are not pureblood, Hermione. We could have been great." Malevich raised his wand.

Before Harry or Ron could do anything, Hermione had whipped out her wand and said simply but powerfully, "Expelliarmus."

Malevich's wand flew far away, and then Hermione Stunned Malevic, knocking him to the ground, where he remained, motionless. She then walked over to the body and twisted the ankle hard.

Saying Locomotor Malevich, Hermione got the body back to the castle and into the hospital wing, where she explained to Madam Pomfrey that they had been down at the lake when Malevich and slipped and twisted his ankle. Hermione had thought it was best to stun him to prevent him from feeling any more pain.

"Ennervate," said Madam Pomfrey. Malevich opened his eyes, grabbed at his ankle in pain and looked at Hermione. He knew what she had done, and yet she hadn't turned him in. He paused for a second and then looked at Hermione. She understood that he would leave her alone, for good or ill.

"Miss Granger, what do I have to do to make you understand? Hermione was in Snape's detention once again. "What in Merlin's name possessed you to go down to the lake? I told you to stay in the castle."

"He insisted on it, sir. I couldn't have done anything without making him angry."

Snape paced behind his desk for a few moments before turning back to her. "Well it would have been better than what happened by the lake. You could have been killed."

"Sir? How do you know what happened?" Hermione looked up, confused.

Snape stood with his back to her, unresponsive. Slowly he turned around. He seemed to be struggling for the right words. Finally he gave a sigh and looked her directly in the eye. "In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. Miss Granger—Hermione, you must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you."