A/N: See this was faster. Thanx for everybody's great reviews. You really made my day!

Enjoy!!

Chapter 10:

Hermione had apperated back to her parents home as soon as she got out the gates. Landing in her room she fell to her bed to try and catch her breath.

'That was way to close', she thought. 'He almost caught me twice. Still, on the good side, I know I'm not pregnant. That's defiantly a relief.'

Getting up from her bed she went to her owl and wrote a letter to Ginny explaining what had happened. She sent it off and then went to get tidied up for dinner. As she brushed her hair she contemplated her position. She knew it was really childish to keep hiding from him like this. She was actually lucky he still gave a damn about her. Sighing, she headed for her bathroom. She figured a good soak in the tub would really help right now.

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Severus cursed all the way back to the castle. He quickly muttered an enervate spell at Flitwick as he passed. He knew he should probably apologize, but he didn't feel up to it at the moment.

"Sometimes I wonder why I still care." He growled to the empty hallway.

"Because you love her Severus and you know it." Dumbledore announced as he came around the corner. "True love will conquer all."

"I know Albus. I'm just so damn frustrated at this whole situation. I'm tired of chasing her." Severus sighed and sat down on one of the great stone steps leading away from the Great Hall.

"Then stop."

Dumbledore's words surprised Snape. He sat looking at him with his mouth hanging open. Fumbling for a few second's he finally found his voice. "S-stop? You're telling me to stop?"

Dumbledore smiled at him, "Only for the time being of course. I believe you have got the message out to her. She knows you love her and she is a strong young woman who will not go back on her word."

"Yes, I know." Severus grimaced. He stood up and shook Dumbledore's hand. "Thanks for the advice old chap."

"Anytime." Answered the older man as he left with a swish of his cloak, neither noticing the large black beetle standing unusually still on the large statue next to the door.

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Next morning Hermione was awoken by a shrill scream coming down the hall from her bedroom. Sitting up she stared as Ginny came bursting into her room waving a newspaper around in her hand.

"Hermione! Have you read the paper today? There's an article on you!" Ginny gasped, screaming and running had left her really out of breath.

"Me?" Hermione held out her hand, "I haven't even given an interview recently."

"Here, just read it." Ginny said, handing the paper to her.

And there right on the front page under a full blown picture of her was the article.

Hermione Granger too good for love?

By Rita Skeeter

Hermione Granger, Top in the St. Mungo's Healer training, receiver of the highest marks ever in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, also Head Girl during her time there, seems to enjoy playing fast and loose. We have from an excellent source that she is the estranged lover of our dear potions master, Severus Snape.

As shocking as this revelation is, according to our information the two of them apparently have had some disagreements and Ms. Granger has run off, apparently in hiding from her "beloved". We must speculate that maybe she was just trying to fulfill a secret schoolgirl desire, which I'm sure most girls can understand, to see what the mysterious professor would be like in bed. After her astonishing escapades with the Bulgarian Seeker, Victor Krum, and rumors of being Harry Potters girlfriend, as well as Ron Weasley's, it leaves us wondering if maybe she is what in the muggle world (where Ms. Granger comes from incidentally) is called a "player" or "gold digger".

Now we cannot be sure if this is the case but we sure can wonder.

Also, another note of interest, Ms. Granger has also at times threatened this writer with blackmail for printing stories of her and Potter (thought these threats no longer hold any worth). Seems she has something to hide, hmm?

Hermione threw the paper aside, infuriated that that woman dared to print such a thing about her. Hermione resolved to send her a cursed Howler later.

Picking up the paper Ginny asked "What does she mean that your threats hold no worth?"

"She went and got a her animagus license." Said Hermione disgustedly. "Come on; let's go work on that Howler. I know this really good curse that makes your head shrink and leaves you with an incurable migraine for weeks."

A/N: Yay! Evil Hermione! I know this chapter isn't very long but I was in a hurry to put it up, seeing as I promised to post sooner than last time. Chocolate dream cookies to all who review!!