So the reason I haven't updated recently is because I have been on music tour up in Canberra. I've had to read back through my story to try and remember the way I was going to go with this story.

Disclaimer: If I owned Harry Potter I wouldn't be at University at the moment, trying desperately not to fail and ruin my life.

Dedicated to: Two of my boys Alex and Dan. You are both over protective of me but I love you all the same.

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I looked at the girl sitting at the back of the class for probably the hundredth time since the beginning of the lesson. He noticed the oily hair, the black bags under her eyes and the way she didn't look anyone in the eye or raise her hand for a question and there was no way he could miss how sickly thin she had become, the robes looked about ten sizes too big for her. She seemed to have lost that shine and bright outlook on life which she had had when she was a first year. It confused him, to see her sitting at the back of the class with her head down and all the Gryffindor's either sending death glares at her or just ignoring her existence.

He watched her while she made the potion. Although she had always been perfect and concentrated 100 percent on the potion, it was different now. She seemed as though she was on automatic. Her face was blank and she just added ingredient after ingredient without seemingly paying attention to what she was doing. Something was definitely wrong with her and Severus was determined to find out what it was.

Severus saw the way Hermione Granger shuffled up to the desk, head down, to give in her completed potion for grading. As he took the potion from her, Severus noticed her flinch as their hands touched and her scurry away back to her desk.

Something has to have happened over the summer. There is no other explanation for the way she acts and her decreasing health. Surely Dumbledore has noticed this, and why aren't Potter and Weasley sticking to her like glue when she is obviously upset. Maybe she just had a falling out with them and can't handle it. But when I think back on it, she had gradually been getting thinner and thinner every year, and more withdrawn.

If only she knew. If only she knew the truth about her heritage and her family. Maybe, just maybe, she wouldn't be scared of me like everyone else, and could open up to me and tell me what is wrong. Shut up Severus. It isn't like she would even believe you if you told her. Don't be so ridiculous as to think she would accept you after everything you have put her through throughout the time she has known you.

Sighing, Severus looked back up at Hermione Granger, watching the way she made herself seem small and inconspicuous. He knew it would be ages before the real truth ever came out and that it would be a miracle for her to even believe it to be true but he still felt the need to talk to Albus after class about her look and behaviour before she wasted away into nothing. He would also keep a close tab on her just in case she was suicidal.

Seeing that class only had another 2 minutes to go, he barked, "Stop what you are doing. If it is not finished now it never will be so bring your completed potion up to the front and then leave." As the last student left, Severus quickly stood and stalked out of the classroom, making his way up to the Headmasters office.

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When is Malfoy going to hurry up and go to bed so that I can freely use the bathroom without my having to worry about him walking in? I could always put a silencing spell around the room and lock the door but knowing him he'll probably think up an excuse just to barge in and try to see me naked. Not that that's what he'll see, maybe some blood on the floor but that's about it. Maybe he'll then see that my blood isn't any different from his.

She was pulled out of her thoughts by the sound of two sets of footsteps coming through the portrait hole. Turning she saw the black hair and pug face of Pansy Parkinson clinging to Malfoy and making baby noises at him, which he didn't seem to mind. Her brown eyes met his grey ones and there was a sudden silence in the room. That it, until Parkinson broke it in her whiny voice.

"Drakey, just ignore her and come up to bed. She isn't worth valuable shagging time and anyway, she'll probably want to hear us so that she can satisfy herself because no one in their right mind would touch a filthy thing like her."

"You're wrong Pansy," he replied, still looking into Hermione's eyes. "People are willing to touch her but only for a quick shag. She doesn't get her reputation as more of a whore than you by being sweet and innocent. No, I've heard many rumours about her and the way she likes a man to please her, or a woman, whatever she can get."

Hermione could feel the tears coming to her eyes and she held them back so that they wouldn't see. She wasn't really hurt by the words or the rumours that Malfoy had spoken of. It was more to do with the fact that what he had said brought back memories of Brendan and she realised she had forgotten to write to him. He was going to be so angry when she next saw him.

She quickly got out of the room and then ran all the way to the owlery to send him a long, detailed letter, apologising for her forgetfulness and begging him to forgive her. She knew he wouldn't though, he never did, but she deserved it and deserved the punishment he gave her. Hopefully he wouldn't use the cane like last time. She shuddered, remembering the incident and quickened her pace.

--

He stormed past the gargoyle in front of the Head Masters office muttering to himself. To say that he was angry would be an understatement. He should have known that the fool of a Head Master would be oblivious to Hermione Grangers problems.

If it was Potter I had come to him to speak about, he would have been worried and concerned about the boy's well-being but no. I come to him about the so-called Gryffindor Princess and all he says is 'I'm sure she is just sad that she didn't do anything to help out in the war and jealous at all the fame Harry, Ron and Ginny are receiving. Nothing to worry about.' How badly I had wanted to just choke him right then and there. It wouldn't have been too hard but then I would've been sent to Azkaban and couldn't look after Hermione.

Severus continued muttering and wasn't paying attention to anything around him until he heard someone calling his name.

"Professor Snape, Professor Snape, come quickly." He looked up to see that annoying ghost, Moaning Myrtle, floating in front of him. "You have to follow me, she's hurt, and she might die, quickly." Without pausing to think who it might be, he followed the ghost into the abandoned girls' toilets. The sight he saw shocked him. There lying on the ground, covered and surrounded in blood was Hermione. He bent down and picked her, cradling her in his arms before setting off towards his room in a hurry.

"Please don't die," he murmured into her hair. "I don't know what I would do if I lost you and hadn't told you the truth. Keep breathing Hermione, we are almost there. I'll take care of you Hermione, my Hermione."

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okay, yes this is a Draco Hermione fic but I have to set up the story a bit before any of that can happen. Yes, this is another cliffy and one which I wasn't intending to write but did anyway. I've decided that I'm not going to right another chapter till I get at least 8 comments about this chapter because I still don't know if it is good enough to go on with.

So please please please comment!

Love Me xx