Disclaimer: I am just a mere visitor in the sublime world constructed by the brilliant mind that is J.K Rowling. Anything that rings a bell is hers.

Chapter 72

Hermione's POV

I raced up the stairs, exams were two weeks away! If I can't remember to carry my textbooks to class, how on earth was I going to remember any of the notes in them? I pushed open the door and froze,

"What are you doing here?"

Nott quickly turned around, his green eyes wide in surprise. I raised my wand,

"Hermione! Wait! It's not what you think!"

"So you didn't sneak into our dormitory!"

I raised my wand, why was I even hesitating with him, "I did, but I only snuck in to get these." I didn't have to look twice to know what it was having confiscated about a hundred of them, skiving snackboxes. The twins may have left but their presence was still felt around the school with the amount of havoc that was left in their wake. It was as if the student body, staff and even Peeves took it upon themselves to torture Umbridge.

"Why are you putting that in Ky's drawer?"

"I'm not putting it in Kitten's drawer; I'm taking it out of Kitten's drawer. One of the members from the Inquisitorial Squad was instructed to put it in here, by Umbridge of course. She was going to come up and search Kitten's stuff later today, due to an anonymous tip she would be receiving. She's been trying to frame Kitten, make it seem like she's been distributing the snack boxes on the Weasley Twin's behalf."

"That insufferable woman! She really has no bounds!"

Nott shook his head, "You have no idea, you don't want to know about half the plans she suggests. They only don't come to fruition because nobody is willing to take that much of a risk for her."

"There must be someone we can tell! This isn't right, nor is it fair!" Why did I ever think that things were getting better, why did the thought even cross my mind! Dumbledore was gone! The DA was disbanded. Umbridge is headmistress. Harry's scar fluctuates between hurting him and opening him up to the mind of the most evil dark wizard in the world. Ky is on the verge of losing all her magic. And Ron…Ron…

"Hermione…Hermione are you okay?"

Nott looked at me as if I had dynamite strapped to my chest, oh Godric please do not let me be crying in front of him, I thought I was done with that infernal showers of weakness. I had a good long cry when Ky ran off to Harry…a good long illogical cry…because why was I even doing so in the first place. What warranted the tears? My best friend is making out with a random girl in deserted corridors in the dead of night. Most teenagers do so. Look at Harry and Ky, they have their own tower for that sort of thing. And Lavender and Parvarti take it in turns to sneak out for hours, coming back when I'm usually on a finishing touch of an essay…an essay…that's what I'm doing whilst he is out at night with his tongue down some whore's throat! And then he has the audacity to smile at me on my way up here as if he wasn't frolicking about like some two bit cad mere hours ago.

"Hermione?"

I snapped my eyes up at the loud voice…no he wasn't shouting…it was loud because of his closeness not the volume, yet I didn't step back. There was no discomfort at his blatant invasion of space, I watched as his long lips parted, undoubtedly to repeat my name in confusion yet again. It never came though, the hesitant Hermione that was stated three times prior, not because he never tried, but because he never could…nothing, not even the kiss itself surprised me as much as his taste, the taste of Theodore Nott that I thought would be as confusing as his personality was most indefinitely a taste of sweetness so pure it contrasted with his calculating eyes. Eyes which unprecedented looked down at me with expression so open and astounded that if I had not been having such a grand time tasting his very flavour I would have released him to laugh. Humour never found me though, but the dark did, as I closed my eyes and relished the feel of his smooth hands at my back which thrilled me from the core and excited every nerve ending that I was afraid I would physically shiver with excitement.

"Hermione." It was said with nought a tremor of confusion but like a sigh of contentment which seemed to switch my auditory sense on again. I heard footsteps and the sweetness evaporated, for a moment I observed the forever masked boy's expression of wide eyed wonder which disappeared with a blink of an eye. Nott quickly stuffed the sweets in his pocket, and hopped on his broom, he turned and for once he didn't say anything, not a snarky, witty or enraging word…and then he was gone.

"Hermione? Are you bunking potions as well!"

I jumped at Lavender's voice and turned around with a shock, I was late for potions! I grabbed my textbook and fled down the stairs, concentrating on each step and chalking up my speeding heart to the quick pace I was going at. What on earth just happened, no…no I can't think of it. No! I began reciting yesterday's potion essay in my head desperately trying to fight the images of what just happened from cropping up. Distract my mind I could do but my skin still burned in a way that frightened me. I was on the Charm's corridor when I heard a squeaky voice call for me,

"Miss Granger?"

I turned around and looked down in shock, taking deep breaths and trying to regain composure in front of Professor Flitwick, feeling as if he could tell what I had been up to by just looking at my face, or in his case my midriff, "Yes, Professor."

"I do hate to disturb you when you seem to be in quite the rush, but do you have any idea where Ky is."

"Ky? Well, she's with you…isn't she?"

"Well I've been expecting her for quite some time, did she say who she was practising with prior to myself."

I thought about the question, justly distracted without any effort this time. Ky's practise schedule changed every day but ever since that practise session with McGonagall a few nights ago, it had slowed down a tidy bit. Even I admitted that her previous schedule was insane to keep up with. "I think she had solo practice, Harry, Ron and I had History of Magic this morning and Professor Snape had to leave the castle on business."

"Oh dear…it's never a good sign when Ky isn't where she is appointed to be is it?"

I nodded my head, "I'll check down in the dungeons Professor, she probably lost track of time." Easier done considering she didn't even have a watch. I ran down the stairs and made my way through the dungeons, it's best to see Snape first, he would know which room she is in. I opened the door and pushed through, pointedly looking at Snape and not at anyone else, especially averting my eyes to the front bench. Most of everyone had already set up their cauldrons.

"Miss Granger, you are late. Ten points from Gryffindor."

I ignored Snape and walked as close as I could to him, I could see Malfoy's ear prick up at the prospect of eavesdropping on our conversation and quickly looked away before my eyes wondered to the right of him…

"Have you lent Ky a room, Professor Snape? She's supposed to see Professor Flitwick now, and she's late."

His face remained passive, "Follow me Miss Granger."

I ignored Harry's hissed calls and followed Snape out of the classroom, things would run smoother if Harry and Snape are not in each others faces.

"We're probably just being horribly paranoid, right Professor?"

He didn't answer and I didn't really expect him to, he unlocked a classroom and walked in for a moment and walked out again when he deemed it empty. He carried out this ritual five times more,

"Professor, wouldn't you know the room that Ky has the key to."

"Bane doesn't have a key. She's supposed to be upstairs in your dorm, resting. I gave her strict instructions to do so last night. I suppose she took advantage of the fact that I was out of the castle for most of the morning and snuck in to use one of the classrooms."

He pushed open the door, and it didn't budge. He fiddled with the key for a bit, he let out a bored sigh, "It's locked from the inside. Step back Miss Granger."

I did so considering he wasn't exactly the type of person to speak twice, and I was right, just as I took the step backwards he blasted the door open. The room however was empty. I turned to walk back out, but Snape proceeded further. He leaned down, hoisting Ky's limp body in his hands with ease. I bit back a sob, my mind successfully wiped blank of the conundrum of the morning, at the empty expression on my best friends face.

"Well it's really not that surprising that she's exhausted herself completely! She's been training nonstop!"

"Wasn't that what you told her to do?"

I glared at Ron at a level disproportionate to his comment; this entire thing was his fault! I wouldn't have… "I didn't tell her to make herself sick. I knew there would be setbacks, nosebleeds and such but not collapsing out of sheer exhaustion! She's supposed to be on a break!"

"Well you know how well Ky does with instructions. Mione' just relax, you shouting about isn't going to help the situation."

Mione'! Mione'! I could feel my nails biting into my palms as I glared at Ron from across the hospital bed, "It's ever so easy for you to say, you don't really care about the OWL's!" If you did care you would spend your time studying, not suffocating yourself with Juliette Morian's gigantic chest!

"I do care about the OWL's. I do not however, obsess about it and confuse it with life and death. I'd honestly have Ky fail fifth year and live to tell the tale than stress so much about getting enough rest so she can be geared to study for the OWL's."

"How dare you! You're insinuating that I care more for Ky-"

'Will you two just SHUT UP!" I turned to Harry, in absolute shock. "Ky is lying in front of us unconscious for like the third time this year, can we please just…please just not talk about the OWL's or her losing her magic."

My temper was doused out by the pained look in Harry's eyes, Ron clapped him on the shoulder in apology and I ducked my head, ashamed. Of course I cared about Ky's health, but at the same time if she didn't pass these OWL's she'd fail fifth year! If she lost her magic…she'd have to leave…I can't have that, not when we could prevent it.

"Her…Her…Hermione." I looked up, Angelique and the rest of the girls we trained with were standing a few feet away, my eyes immediately found the red hair but I stubbornly blurred it out. "May w-w-wwe see Ky?"

"Of course! Come over. This is Harry by the way, and Ron." I gestured to each of them, Ron eyed them all lasciviously. Pervert. Is one not enough! Harry turned away from staring at Ky for a moment, nodding a greeting and turning back.

"Did she hurt her head badly when she fell?" The school was under the impression that Ky had had a bad flying injury. I turned to Padma, "No, she just needs some rest."

Juliette stepped forward, "I totally get where's she's coming from though, all the nerves of the exams had me hop on my broom at one this morning, just leave all that stress behind." Oh sure, that's how you de-stress, straddling a broom! What lies, well she's straddling something alright but it's no broom!

Angelique took the seat next to me, staring at Ky almost as intently as Harry was. Madam Pomfrey walked into the wing two minutes later, took one look at the sheer size of Ky's visitors and had everyone of us grab our bags and run out as she scolded us for disturbing her patient. Everyone of us, except Harry, he was the permanent exception to the rule. Ron said it was because he wouldn't care if Madam Pomfrey chewed his ear off, he'd always just remain by Ky's side, but I think it's because Madam Pomfrey would never chase him away because she like most of us, were aware that we watching a love like no other unfold right in front of eyes and she would play no part in the disruption of such a sight.

"Who's up for a study session? I've been having such a problem with Cheering charms, which is the height of irony considering what an awesome smile I have." I rolled my eyes at Lavender who demonstrated her 'awesome' smile for us. "Well, Hermione?"

Parvarti looked at me expectantly as well, oh I get it. It wasn't a study session, what they were hoping for was me tutoring them because they never pay attention in class! I sighed…I do retain information more proficiently when I teach it, something I found whilst helping Ky practice her magic. "Fine, but I can only spare an hour from my revision."

"Oh Hermione, you are the absolute best! It's really beyond me how you were not sorted into Ravenclaw!" I schooled my expression into a blank one before facing Juliette. I didn't realise this meant her as well!

"Well Mione' is much too brave to be a Claw Jules! She doesn't scream at the sight of a cute baby porcupine!"

"Cute! Baby! Those things they make us transfigure are rabid and huge, and you're one to talk considering you transform into a five year old girl at the sight of a spider no bigger than a bread crumb!"

I turned on my heel, "Actually I completely forgot, I've made plans to meet someone, we'd have to do this some other time."

I was down the corridor before any of the laughing people even comprehended. Julez! Julez! How long was that going on for? How dare he flirt so openly in front of me…not that I care, it's just…it's not appropriate. He's always mocking couples for being so overly affectionate in public and yet there he stands practically oozing honey and kind words at her! He might as well shove his tongue down her throat! His practically undressing her with his eyes! Oh I hated his hypocrisy! And that stupid goofy smirk on his face! Boys are such idiots, they turn into complete fools at the first sight of a pretty girl sparing them even a minuscule bit of attention! Pretty…she was really pretty wasn't she? With that bright red hair and light green eyes, and heart shaped face…and all her other below the chin aspects. I stared at my reflection in the mirror at the end of the sixth floor secret passage. Why did everything have to be so…brown and uninteresting? Bland. Where she was bright, I was bland…like unseasoned chicken next to her spaghetti bolognaise…

I shook my head and pushed the mirror, walking into the seventh floor chastising myself! What is getting into me! Who cares about my physical appearance, so what if I'm unattractive! Nobody get's remembered for being beautiful in this world, your achievements are eternal, unlike looks. And who cares if he…if boys don't like me, if they want brightness and exotic flavours, bland chicken is much healthier than spaghetti! Why do I even care! Its two weeks before OWL's! I can't care about boys! Not Ron! And not Nott! Nott? Why would Nott even come up…oh that's right? I felt my bottom lip in memory of this morning…Godric that really happened didn't it…I kissed him…no he was the one that came up to me…no but I kissed him!

"Hermione?" I looked up, my hand flying away from my lips and stared at the brown haired boy with wide eyes. His ever changing eyes glittered bright green, catching the light from the torch next to the Fat Lady's portrait.

"What are you doing here!" My voice came out seasoned with accusation as if he was breaking ten school ruled by standing on this corridor. The corner of his mouth cocked up fractionally as if something amusing was happening in front of him. Oh yes, laugh at Hermione, the plain fool! He probably had a good laugh with all his Snake friends about how he kissed the mudblood, how he pulled her off her high horse! Actually…no…why would he let anyone know how he sullied himself by laying his hands on me…Ahhh…now I see why he's here.

"Actually I'm here-"

"You don't need to tell me why you're here Nott! I wouldn't reveal what happened to anyone this morning, it's as much as an embarrassment to me than it is to you, believe me. The last thing I want is anyone finding out about that...so rest assured your dirty little secret is safe with me and I'm sure you will favour me with a likewise courtesy."

I stared at his nose for most of my rant, not wanting to look at his ridiculing eyes, I hated how it was so encrypted. It would frustrate me to even look at it, and I couldn't be frustrated. OWL's were in two weeks, Ky is in the hospital again and…well that's it, nothing else matters. Not Ron, not Nott.

"Look Nott, I have a ton of work I need to be getting to." I turned to the portrait and avoided looking at the Fat Lady's inquisitive eyes, she wasn't looking at me though, she was staring behind me. I turned, Nott still stood there, leaning against the opposite wall, "Really, what else do you want. A signed nondisclosure agreement!"

He cocked one dark eyebrow at me, his eyes dark in the shadow of the wall, "No. You made yourself perfectly clear. I'm waiting to see Potter, like I was doing for the ten minutes prior to your arrival."

I turned quickly around and muttered the password, utterly embarrassed. He wasn't even here to see me…I keep painting myself a fool again and again! I took the stairs two at a time and jumped onto my bed, ripping the drapes closed behind me. Brightest witch of the age…more like dumbest witch of the century!