Authors Notes: Here's the second chapter. TADA! Thank you, thank you everyone who reviewed my first chapter! (Even though it sucks. ;) I am very, very upset that Sarah, my wonderful proofreader, couldn't read this story first. She's out of town, or something. ::Sigh:: Oh well. I guess my mess-ups will have to stay the way they are till she gets back! Enjoy!

This story is dedicated to Ai, one of my good friends. She encourages me to write, by saying I am good at it. ;) Thanks, woman. Go read her fantastic stories at "Hurt Pride", that's her Pen name. They are good!

Pancakes! Pancakes!

On with the story, I say!

==

No one told me,

I was going to find you

Unexpected,

What you did to me heart

When I lost hope,

You were there to remind me

This is the start.

==

Hermione's feet pounded against the wet ground as she ran through the gardens, dark colors flashing past her eyes as she made her escape. It was hard, of course, to get by Poppy, whom was in one of her 'moods'. Hermione had pushed herself flat against the wall and slid silently down the hall, then broke into a run at the large doors.

Ever since she had met that man- that wonderful, sexy, charming man- Poppy had kept a close eye on her. She had, also, been locked in her room for the remaining of the ball. It was terribly insane, and morally wrong. Why should she have to be punished, just because she met the man of her dreams? The man she was determined to get within her grasp, even if he was a servant. Who cares?

Her sister was going away, far away. So who cared about her being in love? The wedding was tomorrow, and then Hermione was going to be left alone, forever.

Her feet came to a halt, as those wide brown eyes snapped across the lake, searching for her sketchbook. The scene of the lake was dark and gloomy. Fog covered most of the water and trees, and clouds loomed overhead, warning those underneath of a rain shower that was yet to come.

Hurry, hurry! Hermione scolded mentally, as the sky towered above. She bent down and grasped the book with her fingers, before turning and bolted for the familiar shape of the Zeit Garden.

At that moment the skies opened up and pelted her with rain from above. A small gasp escaped her throat as she flung her arms over her head, trying to stop the rain from hitting her- which was useless. The drops of water kept coming; coating her skirts and making them stick to her legs like glue. Wisps of hair were plastered to her neck and forehead as she hiked up her skirts and ran faster.

Unfortunately she didn't see the rather large pile of water a few feet ahead of her, for when she stepped in it her foot twisted to the side and flew her legs out from underneath her. "AHH!" she screamed in pure agony. It hurt, oh it hurt.

Her bottom teeth came out to bit her lip, trying to hold back any further cries. She mustn't call attention to herself; she wasn't allowed to be out in the first place. Serves me right, I suppose, she thought to herself. Breaking my ankle is my punishment for being disrespectful.

She did not want to break the rules, she was totally against that. But, she needed her sketchbook! At the thought of the thing, she looked down at it. Great, she thought. Ruined.

Hermione slowly bent over her legs to take a look at her ankle. She couldn't, of course, tell if it was broken. Its not like she had seen many broken bones before- none, actually. Judging from the swelling and black and blue bruise, she made a guess.

Her fingers reached out and grabbed onto a tree limb, trying to pull herself up, but slipped again, and cried out. Wretched rain! she cursed the sky. She huffed in irritation and scraped the stray hairs out of her face. This is absolutely insane! With her arms braced beneath her, she pushed herself up, and was surprised when a shadow fell over her and strong hands went around her waist, pulling her up.

When pressure was applied to her ankle, she cried out again, making her mystery person flinch. Her hands flew to strong shoulders, holding herself upright, then lifted her injured leg off the ground.

When she tilted her head up, her eyes flew to her saviors, surprised to see intense green eyes clouded with concern. Oh my…, she thought. It is him. It is Harry! When the body attached to those eyes recognized her, a grin lit his face.

"Are you all right, miss?"

"O-oh, yes, thank you. It is just, well, my ankle." She blushed at her words. Why did I tell him? I am fine!

Right.

Hermione absolutely refused to receive help from a man. All they want from you is money and children. Well, she wasn't going to give any man the satisfaction of letting them reduce her to nothing.

Unless, they wanted to be punched, of course.

The corners of her lips twitched at her thoughts, as she gazed up at him.

His hands let go of her waist, and he bent down in front of her. With eyes the size of saucers she looked down at him, her hands on his shoulders to support herself. What was he doing!?

Gentle fingers grabbed hold of her leg (that was still in the air) and pushed it to the ground, applying pressure. Hermione screamed and dug her nails in his shoulder, jerking her leg back up.

Harry sighed and stood up. "I fear it might be broken, miss. Or just twisted." He placed his hands over hers and removed them from his shoulders, then draped his arm around her for support. "You'll need to get that looked at as soon a possible, would you mind, if it was me?"

Hermione looked up at him as rain pelted down on their heads. "I-I suppose not."

He smiled at her, his grin making her knees (well, knee) weak. "All right, now. I am going to have to walk us to my room." At her nod, he continued. "You will need to put pressure on it, just for now. Can you walk?"

"Yes, I think so."

He removed his support from her shoulders and she wobbled, then fell. He chuckled down at her and kneeled. "Here, put your arms around my neck." She hesitated, but did as she was told. Her arms snaked around his neck, her fingers clasping together behind his head. He nodded, then put one arm around her back, and the other underneath her knees.

He hauled her up then started in the direction of his home. Hermione's cheeks were on fire with blush. This was improper! A lady should never be held like this by a man- especially a servant. It had just dawned on her, again, that he was a servant. Also, that she would be going to his house. She sincerely hoped today was worth is, for she wouldn't live past another one.

When they reached the door Harry asked, "Could you get that please?" He grinned cheekily down at her.

"What? Oh, yes." She reached down and turned the handle, then Harry hit it with his booted toe. He walked right in, his boots clomping on the wood floor.

Hermione's eyes widened to the size of a dinner plate. They almost bulged out of their sockets as she took it all in. On the far-left side there was a small bed, and a stand. On the right side there was a stool with a water basin perched upon it and a mirror just above. A razor and a small can took the only space on the bowl, where a towel was thrown casually across it. There was one window right smack dab in the middle. Oh dear, she thought. This is all?

Her head turned to look at Harry. His face was forward and she could only see the side of it. His jaw was set in a hard line, and his eyes blazed. Hermione had an itch to read out and run her hand along his jaw, but didn't, of course.

Harry strode over to the bed and twisted her around to gently lay her down on it. She sat up and dangled her legs over the side of the bed. He kneeled beside her and flicked his black hair out of his eyes. "Comfortable?"

"O-oh, yes. Thank you." She stuttered. God, am I stupid or what? Is that all I can say?

The next thing she knew he had straightened and moved to a door, which she hadn't seen at first, then disappeared behind it. It was odd, very odd, that he just left without word.

A loud crash and a bellowed "bloody hell!" drifted to Hermione's ears. She gasped and leaned forward, but Harry came strolling out, rubbing his head with a sheepish grin bestowed upon his mouth. In his hands was a big bowl with water filled to the rim. He put the bowl on the floor and held up something- Oh! A blanket! –that he was carrying over his shoulder. The blanket was opened with a snap and draped around her shoulders.

She smiled at him as he knelt in front of her. "This might hurt, miss. But, I am sorry…" With his fingers he held her heal, and gently slipped off her slipper. She gasped in pain and squeezed her eyes shut, so she didn't see his concerned, apologetic look.

He then slowly put her foot into the water and ran the wash cloth down the side of it, bumping over her ankle. Her body jerked and she screamed. Her hands came out and gripped his shoulders, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Shh… it's okay…" He cooed.

When he was done getting the dirt off her foot, he took it out of the bowl and patted it dry, being careful not to press to hard. Then he rested it gently on the floor and scooted the bowl over. Reaching into the pocket of his pants he pulled out a long piece of cotton, and wrapped it around her foot, this time pressing hard to make sure it didn't move. She cried out again, then bit her lip.

He tucked the last piece into the top and let go of her foot slowly. His head titled up to look at her, a smile playing across his lips. "There, now. That wasn't so bad, was it?"

She shook her head, her hair bouncing about on her shoulders. Harry gazed at her face for awhile before leaning up on his knees. The pads of his fingers gently ran across her cheek, wiping away the small drops of water that dripped from her eyes. She sniffed, and then smiled at him, her eyes getting a bid wider by the minute.

The gaze of his eyes traveled from her cheeks to her lips. She gulped, and he sighed. His body leaned forward and he whispered, "Hermione…" against her lips.

Closer…Closer…

"Hermione!"

They both jumped at the sudden voice.

"Where are you? You have better not be in here, child! HERMIONE! I saw your sketchbook outside!"

Poppy! It was Poppy. Oh, Poppy, no… Hermione cried in her head. Not again!

"Damn, what is wrong with that woman?" Harry sighed in frustration.

"Harry!? Harry, I am coming in!" The door handle turned a notch.

"Oh no," Hermione whispered frantically. "She can't see me in here!"

Harry looked around. "Under the bed," he whispered.