Sorry that I'm not updating. I still don't have a laptop. Hopefully this time next week I'll be purchasing a new one. I really hate not being able to type my chapters up right away! Writing them out is so slow! Oh well, enjoy this next chapter and I hope to get more writing done soon!

I don't own Harry Potter!

It doesn't matter… Hermione thought to herself, as she hurried out of the dungeons the next morning. It doesn't matter that I didn't tell him about my self esteem issues concerning my looks. It's not all that important. Besides, he's so much older than me. He can't comprehend the mental barriers of a young woman. Hell, he couldn't understand his own emotions so he brewed them away!

She was lucky that she was able to make it to the Great Hall without any of the Slytherins recognizing her. Before going in for breakfast, she slipped into a broom closet and used her wand to remove the green from her robes, replacing them with the scarlet colors of her House. Though Severus had been sure that she would have been safe, Hermione had been unwilling to risk such a thing. Draco Malfoy alone would have been sure to harrass her until the entire school knew that she was sneaking from the dungeons first thing in the morning.

Straightening herself out, she opened the closet and stepped out, knocking into the blonde haired boy. He dropped his books and sneered at her. "Granger! Having a snog with someone in the closet before breakfast, eh?" As usual, he was flanked by his usual cronies and Crabbe didn't waste time in yanking open the door.

When he grunted that no one was there, Malfoy laughed harder, getting the attention of passing students. "Would you look at that? Granger's got to snog herself now to get her kicks in! What's the matter? No one would agree to join you?"

A small crowd was starting to form around Hermione and her cheeks were burning with a light pink hue. She kept repeating the same phrases in her head, over and over again, trying to block out his pointless taunts. He's just being a git. He's just being a git. Don't rise… don't get angry.

"It's a shame you didn't ask Weasley. I'm sure he'd give his last knut to bed you." Snickers went around the people gathered, which was mostly comprised of Slytherins.

"Shove off, Malfoy." Her voice was low as she tried to push past them. Like butter, she cut her way through the people, deciding that she'd rather just head back to her dormitory in light of his teasing. But the Slytherin was persistant.

After instructing Goyle to carry his books, Malfoy set off after her. "What's the matter? Not hungry for breakfast? No, I guess not. You must take care to make sure your arse doesn't get any bigger!"

He followed her through two corridors and three flights of stairs before Hermione heard a chilling voice sound behind her. She stopped dead in her tracks and looked back to see Severus intercepting Malfoy from one of the empty classrooms.

"Mr. Malfoy… You've come quite a way from the dungeons."

"Professor," he answered coolly, only a slight sneer on his lips. "We were simply escorting Granger back to her dormitory. For her safety, of course."

"Safety from what, Draco? There is nothing in the castle that Ms. Granger cannot handle properly on her own. I daresay, she should be escorting you back to the dungeons."

Hermione's face grew darker as she saw Malfoy visibly sink a few inches. "Professor?"

"You heard me, Draco. There's no need to strut around the corridors. You're no better than most in here. Learn your place."

Crabbe and Goyle looked more dumbfounded than usual and Hermione moved to the right a little, to get a better look at Severus' face. It looked the same as it usually did when he was surveying a Gryffindor, not speaking to a member of his own House.

"You owe Ms. Granger an apology. I heard everything you said. Apologize or detention with Mr. Filch."

Malfoy looked like Snape had slapped him. His mouth hung open in shock and he seemed unable to form words properly.

"Professor Snape…" Hermione came forward quietly. "It really isn't needed. Really."

The Potions Master looked down at her with a look in his eyes that made Draco shuffle his feet in an uncomfortable manner. The movement made Severus blink and he whispered to the boys "Go. Get to class. Stay out of Gryffindor's wing." They didn't move. "Go!" he yelled, and they moved to walk away, muttering about his odd behavior.

She waited until they were out of earshot. "You shouldn't have done that. You know his connections. They'll be talking."

"No matter. He'll learn at some point that he isn't royalty."

"Maybe but that lesson doesn't need to come in defense of me!"

His smile was soft. "Aren't you late for class?"

"Does it matter?" Her tone was exasperated and she shrugged. "You could just write me an excusal note."

"Do you need one?" A piece of parchment appeared in front of him without any inclination from him.

"No!" She tried to snatch it and it disappeared, but she fell off balance and he caught her, raising her chin to his and kissing her passionately.

For a second, she was lost in the kiss but the moment was short lived when she heard someone clear their throat. Judging by the quality of the sound, Hermione thought it was Dumbledore but when she turned, Ron's eyes were the size of dinner plates.

Harry had a look of disgust on his face. He pulled his wand out and took aim for Severus.