It Is the East and She Is the Sun

AN: So sorry this took me so long. I hate to do that to you guys. I have a lot of excuses, none of which I'll bore you with; but suffice it to say, Life Sucks! LOL Disclaimer: Not mine, never will be....shame...LOL Reviewers: angel: Thanks! LOL I'll try to be quicker with it this time. Siobahn: I'm glad you like it. JTBJAB: I'm glad you liked that. I thought it was amusing! Thanks! Sevenew: LOL I'm glad you like and I hope I don't dissapoint. Edya: Thank you! AnyuBoo: LOL It might be. I'm thinking that I won't be able to finish it in one more chapter. LOL We'll have to see. Glad you like it. curls: I'm glad you like it and thanks for the tips; but um...I have a beta. She's been with me since the beginning. She's busy tho with school and all, so don't blame her for my mistakes. Also I have am Imac computer and I don't have the benefit of a normal microsoft word spell and grammar check. I have to use Simpletext because our word program won't co-operate with me. Barbara: Glad you like it. I know I took a long time. I had to go and babysit and then I got sick. I know, blah blah. LOL firewall: Yeah, I'm done with the other one and I will be making this my next priority; but I had to go and babysit for a friend first. She and her husband are both in the army and have to go away a lot. Cristie: Yeah, I was thinking that four or five chapters isn't going to hack it, so I'll probably be lengthening it. Laura: I'm glad you like it and I hope I don't dissapoint. ancientgirl: I wouldn't abandon you guys. I just wanted to finish my other story. Now It's done and I will be able to update this more often. slytheringryffindor21: Glad you're enjoying. Sorry it took so long to get this up. caz: thanks. I like your name. LOL Bootilicious: Here you go! Chapter 4. Breaks It was a full two weeks longer before Hermione was even allowed to leave the hospital wing. Ron, Harry and Crookshanks visited her every day as did Professor Snape. Snape however, clearly not desiring another encounter with Ron and Harry always made sure that he knew where they were before coming to the hospital wing. Hermione kept quiet about his visits as well. She felt bad not telling Ron and Harry; but she also liked having a little something to herself. He would come every day and see how she was feeling and let her know what she was missing in lessons so she could catch up when she was feeling better. Harry and Ron were already telling her this of course; but she liked hearing it directly from Professor Snape. She was feeling stronger every day and after a week, no longer required Madam Pomfrey's assistance in getting to the loo. She was also able to hold down more than broth, delighting even in eating a little toast with a tiny bit of butter on it. When she was finally allowed back to Griffindor tower, she almost danced with joy...almost. She had to be carried part of the way after the walk proved to be too demanding. "Do not tell Madam Pomfrey!" She hissed at the boys as Harry hefted her into his arms. "If I have to endure another week in that insufferable hospital I shall go insane!" "Too late 'Mione, you're already there," replied Ron. Then he ducked the swat aimed at him and danced just out of her reach. "You just wait until I'm stronger Ronald Weasely!!" Hermione screeched, as Harry and Ron laughed. She was allowed back to her rooms and to meals and classes as long as someone was with her to make sure she arrived safely. Harry and Ron would be taking her to most of her classes; but they'd arranged with a few other students to take her to classes they weren't in together. The common room was full of people when they came in. Hermione had insisted that Harry put her down, as she wanted to go in on her own power. Lots of students got up to welcome her back from the infirmary. Neville and Ginny practically smothered her with affection upon seeing her. Ginny was rather miffed that she hadn't been allowed to see Hermione in the hospital wing; but was mollified when told that the only people allowed in were Ron,Harry, the headmaster, Snape and of course, Pomfrey. "Madam Pomfrey wouldn't let anyone else in because she didn't want me exhausting myself." She explained. Ginny nodded and said, "Well I didn't blame you, in any case." "I know you didn't Ginny." They smiled at each other with a sisterly love. Hermione was a relief to Ginny over the summer months when the only other female around was her mother, and Ginny was like the sibling that Hermione had never had. As the boys couldn't go into the girls dorms, Ginny helped Hermione up to her rooms and got all of her things for her. "Thanks Ginny. I really appreciate this." "It's no problem," Ginny replied. "I really missed you! I had to endure countless hours of quidditch talk and other horrid things while you were gone." "I thought you liked Quidditch?" "I love it; but if those two gits say another thing about it to me, I'm quitting the team!" Hermione laughed. "You'd better warn them. The thought of you off the team would put Harry into a coma." Ginny laughed. "I just bet it would." ~' Hermione was regaining the strength in her muscles quickly. She pushed herself further and further each day, and finally one chilly morning she was able to walk the entire way to Potions class without assistance and only the barest twinges of protest from her muscles. She turned to Harry and Ron, beaming. "I did it!" They smiled back at her indulgently, both happy at her achievement. Alone inside the classroom, the surly Potions Master smilled as well. ~' Later that night he was sipping at a glass of brandy in his office when there was a soft knock at the door. "Enter," he said lazily. Hermione slipped into his office quietly and shut the door behind her. "Good evening, sir." "Miss Granger, what in the blue blazes do you think you are doing?" Severus asked, his good mood evaporating swiftly. "I wanted to speak with you sir...." "Miss Granger, do you have any idea how dangerous it is for you in the dungeons alone?" He cut across her. "Yes." Her answer stumped him for a moment and he stood there gaping at her. After a few silent seconds he realized that his mouth was open and he snapped it shut. "Then why, Miss Granger, do I find you here in my office? I assume you came down here alone. You are too weak yet to be on your own." His voice was very soft; but full of anger. Hermione didn't care if he was angry or not. She'd expected him to be, so she wasn't at all fussed. "I can't stand it up there Professor. It's too noisy. I thought I'd be happy to get back to it; but I can't concentrate on my homework. Would you mind if I sat here with you for awhile?" Once again she'd rendered the snark master speechless. Wordlessly he conjured a tall table and a chair and gestured to them. "Make yourself comfortable Miss Granger, I was about to get started on some grading myself." Slightly surprised, Hermione moved to the table and seating hersef, removed her things from her bookbag and spread them out on the table. She, in fact, really didn't mind the tower; but she really wanted to spend some time with Professor Snape and she thought that it was a very good ploy. Severus berated himself for allowing the girl to manipulate him. He'd been able to tell that she was lying; but the reason for the lie was also plain to him. She liked him. She was only there to be in his presence, and that alone was the reason he let her stay. He didn't know what he was going to do. He felt affection for the girl, which surprised him in itself; but was there more feeling to it than that? He'd noticed her, it was sure; even more so since he'd found her in the hallway; but he wasn't sure what exactly he felt for her. He watched her as she settled down into the chair he'd provided and began to go over her homework. Sighing, he went to his desk and sat down. He wasn't sure what he was going to do about this new situation. Part of him wanted to throw her out and return to treating her like he hated the sight of her; but most of him wanted to allow her to stay and see where the situation led. He didn't think he'd be allowing this to conitnue in any case. AN: Once again, sorry it took me so long. Hope it was good enough to make up for it.