For the first time this year, Hermione felt blessed. When she got to her room, all her roommates were fast asleep. Even Lavender was out cold which was quite the shock because she would be up writing in her diary until Hermione got back for the night.
As quietly as she could, she grabbed her sleeping clothes and went to the lavatory to change and get ready for bed. Her mind was still reeling with his words: "I love you."
"How in the bloody hell can he tell me that and not tell his girlfriend?" She cursed under her breath. She felt her eyes stinging again and slapped her hand down on the edge of the sink. CUT IT OUT! IT'S OBVIOUS HE'S NOT INTERESTED! GET OVER IT! Hermione screamed in her head. But no matter how many times she thought those words, his piercing green eyes washed them away. "I Love You."
"Damn him!" She growled angrily and she squeezed the toothpaste tube a bit too hard. She brought her toothbrush to her mouth and gagged involuntarily. Hermione looked at the amount of toothpaste that had covered the bristles, the handle, and quite a bit of the sink and she closed her eyes.
"Get a grip, Granger." She whispered. "He doesn't want to go beyond a platonic relationship. You were fine with this before, you can be again." She cleared away the excess toothpaste and went back to her nightly routine. I can deal with a platonic relationship, I can. She felt her courage building.
Of course he loves you, you idiot, you've been friends for five years. Another voice piped in.
I know. I know. She answered back.
Without another sound, she pulled her bushy hair into a ponytail and washed her face, using liberal amounts of cold water. She collected her things and crawled quietly into bed.
I'll apologize tomorrow. She promised herself.
But you have nothing to apologize for. The other voice told her.
She sighed inwardly. "I need to. I need to get past this. I don't want to lose him as a friend even if that's all ..." She choked back a sob. "Even if that's all I am to him." She finished quietly. Her eyelids felt heavier than they had ever been in her life and the emotional and physical stress finally wore her down.
"Harry? Harry, where are you?" Hermione called desperately down the abandoned street. "Harry, please answer me!"
There was an explosion a block away and she saw a cloud of smoke rise into the air followed by a high-pitched, cruel laugh.
"NO!" She screamed as she ran to the disturbance. "HARRY!"
She pulled open the gate to the derelict house's garden and ran into the overgrown jungle it had become. There was movement to her right and she spun around with a raised wand.
"STUPE-" She bellowed.
"HERMIONE! IT'S ME!" Harry stumbled forward and fell to his knees in front of her.
"HARRY!" She kneeled and pulled him into a hug. "Are you hurt? Where's Volde-"
"Run! You shouldn't be here, Hermione!" He gasped and pushed her back. "Get away before it's too late!"
"I'm not going to leave you, Harry!" She screamed back at him. "I don't want to lose you!"
"Hermione, you don't understand! You'll die! I don't want to lose you either! RUN!" Harry pushed her away with as much force as he could and she fell backwards. "RUN! NOW!" He turned over onto his back and raised his wand.
"Time to die, Potter! And don't worry, Hermione will go with you!" A high pitched voice came from a small copse of trees.
"GO HERMIONE! NOW!" Harry screamed. He looked at her passionately. "Don't make me banish you, love ..." He whispered to her. She could see the passion in his eyes, the glittering intensity of his gaze and she knew that he loved her beyond anything she could fathom.
"I love you." She cried and went for him but she seemed to slow down dramatically, as if she were submerged in molasses. Every second felt like a year and she watched in horror as a tall figure in black robes broke through the underbrush with a raised wand. A green glow could be seen at its tip.
"Goodbye, Potter! AVADA KEDAVRA!" The figure shouted as Hermione began to scream. There was a gust of wind and the hood was blown back revealing a maniacally laughing Ginny Weasley. Harry slumped over dead at her feet and she stalked menacingly towards Hermione. "You're next, mudblood!" She screeched. "I knew you wanted Harry and he almost went to you! I wasn't about to let someone else have him if I couldn't!"
"GINNY?!" Hermione's eyes went wide. "But, you loved him! Why? WHY?!" She didn't know if her tears were of anger or of grief or both but either way they were spilling down her cheeks as she shuffled away from the one who murdered her love.
"Ginny?" The girl let out another high-pitched, cruel laugh that distorted her face into someone unrecognizable. "She died a long time ago. And you thought your precious Harry had destroyed me in the chamber! That's bad comedy!"
Hermione looked at who she had thought was her friend and her confusion vanished. "Riddle?" She asked quietly.
"Got it in one! You are a clever witch, aren't you?" Ginny smiled at her maniacally. "I bet you know what my plans are by now as well, so without further ado ... AVADA KEDA-"
Hermione snapped awake at the insistent shaking of Lavender Brown.
"Hermione! Wake up!" She looked frightened. "Are you ok? You were screaming for Harry."
She looked around wildly in a state of panic. She was cold and felt very nauseous. Her stomach felt like there was a mass of worms wriggling around inside of her and she felt bile start to rise in her throat. Hermione quickly got out of bed and ran to the bathroom stopping in front of the toilet just in time.
She groaned quietly and laid on the cool stone the floor was composed of.
"Hermione?" Parvati asked quietly. She knelt next to her roommate and rubbed her back comfortingly. "Are you ok? Do you want us to take you to the hospital wing?"
She looked at her roommate and smiled appreciatively. "I-I'm fine" She croaked. She sniffed back a new wave of tears as she remembered the dream and immediately regretted it. She heaved whatever was left in her stomach into the toilet until all she could do was gasp and sputter. Tears were quickly sliding down her cheeks and her eyes were sore from the exertion of vomiting.
"That's a load of codswallop, Hermione." Parvati said sternly. "Oi, Lavender, get Hermione's robes and slippers, we're taking her to Madam Pomfrey!"
Hermione tried to say she was alright but she couldn't find her voice and decided to not fight with her roommates. They just care about me. She thought quietly. The dream was becoming fuzzy and all she could remember was Ginny's distorted face and Harry's body dead at her feet. It was just a dream ... She rationalized. Just a dream ...
Parvati helped her to her feet and Lavender helped her into her bathrobe. The three of them made their way through the deserted halls and soon entered the gleaming white walls of Madam Pomfrey's domain. Lavender went to her office while Parvati settled Hermione into a bed.
"What's wrong?" The concerned school nurse asked quietly as she made her way to Hermione's side.
"She had a nightmare and after we woke her up, she threw up in the toilet." Lavender replied quietly. She had Hermione's hand in hers and was patting it comfortingly.
"Miss Granger, I'm sorry to say this but you're burning up. How long have you been feeling like this?" The nurse asked her while she checked her temperature, eyes, and various other appendages.
Hermione tried to talk but it came out as a strained squeak. She cleared her throat and tried again but to no avail.
Madam Pomfrey nodded. "Laryngitis." She said simply. She pulled out her wand and waved it over Hermione four times. Shortly afterwards, a mirror image of her floated quietly above her, mimicking her movements. "Alright, let's see what we can find out." With her wand, the nurse began poking and prodding the floating Hermione and a few places radiated red. Madam Pomfrey made a clicking sound with her tongue and continued the examination.
"Is she going to be alright?" Parvati asked worriedly. Lavender squeezed Hermione's hand gently.
"Miss Granger, did you spend any time in the Mediterranean this summer?"
Hermione nodded.
"Near Greece?"
Hermione nodded again.
"Well, you've gotten yourself a nasty bacterial infection. I assume you drank some of the local water there?" The nurse asked quietly.
Hermione nodded slowly and tried to ask a question but her voice didn't come to her again.
"I thought so. There's a problem with the water in Crete right now and it looks like you drank some before it was purified again." Madam Pomfrey said quietly but smiled softly. "Luckily, the infection hasn't gone very far and I have a few potions that will clear this up, but you'll have to stay here a few days."
Hermione's eyes went wide. Lavender looked at her and sighed. "We have a big test in Advanced Charms tomorrow." She interpreted for her friend. "She doesn't want to miss it."
"I'm sure Professor Flitwick will be more than happy to administer it to her at a later date." Poppy said with a smile. She went to her medicine cabinet after dismissing the diagnostic version of Hermione and returned with a glass and two large bottles. "Now, this is going to taste bad, Miss Granger." She warned as she filled a glass. "But you need to drink one glass every four hours. Once we've finished this potion, we'll go to the second, which is every six hours afterwards."
Hermione grimaced when she drank the glass of slimy liquid and gagged for air afterwards. THAT IS VILE! She thought with a shudder. Madam Pomfrey handed her a glass of water with a smile.
"This should wash the slimy film away." She looked at Lavender and Parvati with a smile. "If you two will come with me, I'll give you notes for her Professors."
"Goodnight, Hermione." Lavender said with a sympathetic look. "I hope you feel better tomorrow."
"Yeah, Hermione, get better." Parvati said with a pat on her shoulder.
Hermione yawned sleepily and smiled at her two friends. She tried to thank them but her voice was still absent so she nodded and waved to them. The potion must have had a sleep element added because she could barely keep her eyes open. She watched her roommates leave with the nurse and dread began to grow in her stomach.
"Will you let Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley know that she'll be here for a few days?" Madam Pomfrey asked her roommates.
NO! Don't ... tell ... Har ... ry ... She fell asleep without her friends knowing she didn't want to see the young man she loved.
Hermione heard someone talking from a far way off. She couldn't quite understand what was being said but the voice was familiar. Her eyes fluttered open to the blinding light of morning and as her vision cleared she saw Ron smiling at her from the side of the bed.
"Where's Harry?" She asked sleepily before she realized what she'd said. My voice is back!
"He's on his way." Ron replied absently. "He stopped by the library to pick up a book or two for you. How are you feeling?"
Hermione sighed. "I'm ok. Just a bit tired and ill."
Ron nodded quietly. "I guess that's why you were avoiding everyone then?" He asked as he looked into her eyes hopefully.
Hermione smiled softly but didn't say anything.
"Is there something else wrong?" He asked nervously.
"No, Ron." She lied. "Why are you so nervous?"
Ron's face went red and he cleared his throat. "W-well ... I was wondering, it being your birthday tomorrow and the first Hogsmeade trip is on Saturday ... I was ... well ... I was wondering if you'd want to go. To Hogsmeade ... with ... er ... with me." He looked to the floor with an embarrassed look and fidgeted in his chair.
Oh, no, not now Ron ... She cleared her throat. "We always go to Hogsmeade, Ron."
He looked at her with a sad look, smiled quickly to cover it up, and then looked seriously at her. "I mean together. Without Harry."
Hermione sighed inwardly at the mention of his name. "Can we talk about this when I feel better, Ron?" She looked at him pleadingly. "Madam Pomfrey says it'll only be a few days."
Ron stiffened a little but smiled. "Sure, Hermione." He said a little too quickly. "I'm going to go get some lunch before class. I'll come by later, ok?"
Hermione nodded. "Ok, Ron, I'll see you then." Without so much as a goodbye, Ron left the hospital wing with his head bowed and shoulders hunched.
Why this? Why now? Hermione buried her face in her hands and sighed loudly.
"Hey, are you feeling better?"
Her heart stopped and she looked up to see Harry's concerned face. Harry ... "Um ... hi." She said absently.
"Hi." He sat in the chair that Ron had been in previously then set some books on her bedside table. "Are you feeling better?" He reiterated.
Hermione pulled her eyes away from him and looked at her hands which were folded in her lap and cleared her throat. "Yeah, a little." She admitted. "J-just a little tired and nauseous is all ..."
Harry took her hand in his and her heart stopped again. He cupped her chin with his free hand and brought her surprised gaze in line with his own. She could feel her hands start to shake and a cold sweat bead on her brow.
"Hermione, about the other night ..." He started quietly.
NO! She screamed to herself and with a tremendous force of will pulled her hand from his and shrugged his hand from her chin. "Harry, don't." She said evenly.
He looked at her in surprise. "Hermione, why are you acting this way? You're my best friend, you've always been ..."
"That's right, Harry, I am your friend and I-I'm starting to feel uncomfortable with your closeness." WHAT AM I SAYING?! TAKE MY HAND AGAIN! TAKE HIS HAND! She sat still willing him to read her mind. He looked at his hands and sighed.
"I'm sorry, Hermione, I didn't think ..." It seemed as if a great weight was settling on his bowed shoulders. "Ginny told me." He said softly.
"What did she tell you, Harry?" Hermione's heart had taken off at a breakneck speed. Don't let it be what I think it is! She cried desperately to herself.
"S-She told me that you like Ron." He admitted with a sigh.
I DON'T! I LOVE YOU! YOU, HARRY! Her hand went to her mouth involuntarily and he flinched when he caught sight of the motion.
"It's ok if you didn't want me to know." He said with a pained look on his face. "It just caught me off guard. With the way you two fight with each other I didn't really think you felt that way about him."
She was speechless and could only shake her head slowly. "Harry ..."
He looked at her and smiled one of his fake smiles. "I guess that opposites really do attract, huh?" He cleared his throat and stood slowly. "If Ron makes you happy, Hermione, then I'm happy."
"Harry ... Harry, wait." She said quietly but he just smiled his fake smile again and took her hand reassuringly.
"I've got to get to class I'll see you later, ok?" He said a little too happily and left before she could say another word.
Oh, Harry ... She went to bury her face in her hands again but stopped. "He ... He took my hand?" She whispered and looked up quickly to the hospital wing's entrance with wide eyes.
Despite their words, neither one of her best friends returned after classes. Hermione was becoming more depressed by the minute and had long abandoned reading her textbooks. Even the solace of studying couldn't keep her mind off the reaction that Harry had with the news that she supposedly liked Ron. Ron was probably fuming because she didn't say yes right away and was avoiding her entirely.
Why can't I just tell him how I feel? She sighed to herself through a new batch of tears.
Why do you keep thinking about it? Your grades are going to suffer if you don't get back to studying. That irritating voice in her head replied.
I wasn't talking to you!
Too bad, I'm not going anywhere and if you don't quit overanalyzing this, you'll go insane.
Hermione sighed and rolled over at the insistence of the nurse.
"Time for your next dose." She said with a motherly tone and handed her a glass of pink liquid. "It won't be long now. Don't worry, you'll be able to spend more time with Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley tomorrow."
Hermione drank the potion quickly and handed the glass back with a groan. She took the offered glass of water and quickly downed that as well. "Thank you." She said quietly and rolled back to her side.
She felt Madam Pomfrey's hand land comfortingly on her arm. "Don't worry, he'll come around eventually." She whispered to Hermione's surprise. She looked up at the nurse but Madam Pomfrey had already left for her office.
Hermione sighed quietly. "It's probably as likely as me marrying Malfoy." She groaned.
"I don't think that'll happen anytime soon, mudblood." Malfoy sneered from the other side of the curtain.
"Sod off, Malfoy!" Hermione growled angrily. "What are you doing here anyway?"
"If you can listen in on conversations, I can listen in on people talking to themselves. Why I'm here is none of your concern." He retorted. "Anyway, I'm surprised that you and Saint Potter haven't hooked up yet." He laughed after a moment. "Wait, the clueless duo of your group don't know that you like him ... Just think what would happen if this bit of news somehow landed in their hands ..."
Hermione blanched. "Malfoy, if you speak one word of this you'll regret that you were ever born!" She spat angrily.
"Hey! Get off of me!" Malfoy yelled angrily.
"What have you been saying to her, Malfoy!" Harry's angry voice came from Malfoy's side of the curtain.
"I was just telling her ..." Hermione could almost hear his sneer. "That I wouldn't ever marry the likes of a filthy mudbl-" Malfoy was cut off by a sickening thud. "Agh! You brode my dose!"
"What's the meaning of this, Mr. Potter?!" Madam Pomfrey shouted as she walked over to them. "Mr. Malfoy, let me see that. Oh, tut tut, It's broken. Don't worry we'll have that fixed up in a moment. Come with me. You, Mr. Potter, OUT!"
"But I just came to ..." Harry stuttered.
"Leave her assignments at my desk and leave!" She said sternly. "You are not to come back unless you are injured! Now GO!"
Hermione heard Harry mutter something about ferrets under his breath and he stuck his head through the curtains quickly. "Sorry, Hermione, I had a detention with Snape. I'll find another way to visit."
"MR. POTTER!"
Harry blanched and waved quickly. "See you later ..." And he was gone.
Harry, why'd you have to go and do that for? Hermione sighed in frustration.
Because he protects the ones he loves. The irritating voice echoed in reply.
Ok, I'm getting really irritated with you, now shut up! Harry only sees me as his friend. She reasoned back.
Oh, is that why he tries to protect you? Or how about all the little touches and glances? Or could it be why he was so upset with the news about you and Ron?
I don't like Ron that way! She seethed angrily. She realized she was gripping the sheets so tightly that her knuckles were white.
"Ahem. Hermione, are you feeling better?" Ron's voice startled her.
"Ron? Yeah, I'm doing better." She lied. Well, not really a lie, I'm better physically, right?
"Ok, well, Harry told me what happened with that git Malfoy. I thought I'd come up to see if you were ok." Ron said quietly from behind the curtain. "You'll be out tomorrow?" He asked nervously.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Ron, you don't have to stand out there."
"It's ok, Hermione, I'm heading back in a minute. So you'll be cleared to go tomorrow?" He asked again.
Hermione sighed. "Yes, Ron, I'll be out tomorrow morning if Madam Pomfrey says it's ok."
"Ok. Well, sleep well, Hermione. I'll see you for breakfast tomorrow." Ron turned and left before Hermione had a chance to say anything else.
She rolled back onto her side and yawned sleepily. Why? Why does this have to happen now? It would be so much better if I weren't stuck here.
And where else would you go? The library? Your dorm room?
I SAID SHUT UP! She rolled her eyes and recited her Arithmancy tables in an effort to keep her mind busy but Harry's head sticking through the curtains kept creeping back to the forefront of her thoughts and she found herself trying desperately to push the ensuing daydreams from her mind.
This is too hard. I can't do this! I have to get past this! And tomorrow is the Hogsmeade trip ... She yawned again and this time she was too tired to continue. Within a few minutes she was asleep.