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"What the hell are you playing at, Malfoy?" the redheaded menace hissed.

Looking down his nose, Draco retorted, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"I heard you, Ferret! Meeting up with Hermione after supper? Not if I have anything to say about it!" Ron backed Draco against the wall, rage in his eyes.

Fear flitted across Draco's face. "I'd like to see you try!" he spat before his world flashed white.

The weasel's fist flying at his face was the last thing he remembered when he woke up in the hospital wing later that evening.

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"I can't believe Dumbledore suspended him." Hermione spoke quietly in the Griffindor common room.

Harry looked at his friend. "Really? He knocked Malfoy out cold. I mean, it's hilarious, but I can see why the Headmaster was upset. I heard Madam Pomfry talking; he had a broken cheekbone, a dislocated jaw, and two of his perfect teeth were cracked," he sneered.

"It's not funny, Harry. Draco's lucky Pomfry got to him so quick."

Harry's eyebrow rose at his friend's comment. "So it's Draco, now?"

She quickly realized her mistake. "Harry, please don't."

"Ron said you and Malfoy were making plans to meet tonight. That's why he punched him." Harry looked at her questioningly.

"To study! We were going to study for Ancient Runes together!" she snapped at him. "What in Merlin's name is going on in this place? Even if I was dating him, which I'm not, what makes you two think you have some say in what I do? I'm so tired of having this conversation." Hermione huffed and stormed out of the common room, ignoring the stares of her classmates.

Harry frowned at the furious girl. He ran back to his room to grab his invisibility cloak; he was going to find out what was going on with her.

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Hermione swept through the castle, unsure of where she was going. She just needed to get away. Finding herself outside the hospital wing, she made up her mind.

Quietly, she slipped into the room where Draco was healing. Severus was asleep in the chair next to the boy. She smiled and stepped over to him. He looked so peaceful. Without thinking, she reached over and brushed a hair out of his face.

"You love him, don't you," a quiet voice spoke from the bed.

Hermione turned quickly and gaped at Draco. "Wha…what do you mean?" she stammered.

"It's written all over your face." He smiled weakly, glancing over to see dark eyes watching them.

Hermione stared at Draco for several seconds before she answered. "It's not like that." She looked down at the floor and spoke so quietly that he had to strain to hear her. "I care about him." Her eyes met Draco's and he could see the tears shining in them. "It's pathetic, isn't it? He'll never love me back," she whispered.

"I think you might be surprised," he said as she wiped her eyes and staggered out of the small room.

Draco looked at the man still sitting in the corner. "Well? Are you going to go after her?" he asked.

Severus glared, but he didn't move. "She's a child. She doesn't know what she's talking about."

Draco snapped at him, "Granger stopped being 'a child' when she lost her parents. Stop being stubborn and go find her!"

Damnit. When had the snotty, spoiled child of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy become so wise? Severus ignored the smirking boy as he swept from the room to find his witch.

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Harry had lost her on the third floor. After wandering around for 15 minutes, an idea occurred to him; how could he have been so stupid? "Accio map," he whispered.

A few minutes later, he snatched the parchment out of the air and quietly spoke, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." Harry flipped it open and focused on the third floor. She wasn't far; her dot was just past the door to the hospital wing and moving slowly. She must have come up here to see Draco, he thought angrily. How could she do that and then lie to them?

He walked quickly through the corridor, trying to catch up. Not seeing her, Harry pulled the map back out. She was behind him, how had he missed her? Turning around, he spotted Hermione sitting up against the wall, crying and hugging her knees. The snake must have dumped her. He nearly pulled off his cloak and went to comfort her, but the shadow exiting the hospital wing halted his movements.

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Severus found her right outside the door, crumpled on the floor. Frowning, he reached his hand down to her. "Get up, you silly girl."

Hermione jerked her head up and looked at the man in front of her. Taking his hand, she allowed herself to be pulled up from the floor. Not wanting to face him, Hermione wrapped her arms around him and pressed her face into his chest.

That wasn't quite what Severus had expected, but he reciprocated the hug, gently running his fingers through her hair. "You should make sure that I'm really asleep the next time you decide to discuss me in my presence," he whispered.

Shit. Hermione jumped back. "I…uhm..." she whimpered.

Severus wiped the tears drying on her face. Pulling her towards him, he pressed his lips to hers.

Hermione moaned softly and kissed him back, her heart racing as he moved, pressing her against the cold stone. She gasped when she felt his arousal pressing into her lower belly. Looking up, she spoke softly, "Severus, we need to discuss this."

Severus calmed his breathing and looked into her eyes. "Discuss what? That two consenting adults have found something special in the middle of this bloody war?" he whispered.

She eyed him suspiciously. "Something special?"

Leaning down, he kissed her nose. "Yes, you infuriating woman." He kissed her cheek. "Something special." He moved to her other cheek. "I love you." Severus finished and kissed her deeply.

Hermione wrapped her hands around his neck and lifted her legs, twisting them around his hips and pressing herself against his hardness.

Moaning into her mouth, he gripped her tightly and apparated them to his quarters.

"Bloody hell," Harry whispered into the empty corridor.

Hah! Lemons are forthcoming, but y'all will have to wait until chapter 14. Hope it was still to your liking!

-vashmil