Disclaimer: JKR owns everything. I own nothing.
WARNING This is the sequel to 'Hermione's Sleeping Problems', I suggest you read that first.
Hermione's Late Night Recovery
Hermione hurried down the hall towards the hospital wing. It was 7:59 and Madame Pomfrey and Professor Snape wouldn't be happy if she was late on the very first day. She increased her speed to a run. Luckily none of the prefects or professors saw her and ordered her to slow down.
As the clock began to chime she skidded into the infirmary and came to a quick stop by the door. Why did I waste my time rushing? I should have finished my book first. There isn't even anyone here yet! The ward room was empty and none of the beds were occupied.
"Madame Pomfrey?" Hermione called out. She was starting to get annoyed. She gave me a ridiculous bedtime and now she can't even be polite enough to keep the time she set for me! Hermione ran a hand across her hair. Gross! It's still greasy. If I'd known she was going to be late I would have brought a book!
Hermione pulled her Transfiguration textbook out of her book bag, took a seat on one of the chairs, and started the reading for the essay Professor McGonagall had assigned that day.
"Miss Granger?"
"Oh!" Hermione jumped. She hadn't heard the Professor's almost silent approach. "I didn't hear you."
"Come with me please." Professor Snape motioned her to follow him.
Hermione tucked her textbook back into her bag and followed her Professor to a bed at the end of the row that now had privacy curtains set up around it. She went in and sat down the bed as he instructed.
"Sir, where's Madame Pomfrey" Hermione asked curiously. She wasn't concerned about accepting Professor Snape's help, she was just interested in what went on in the school.
"She is dealing with an outbreak of food poisoning." Professor Snape moved around to the other side of the privacy curtain. "Please put on your pyjamas."
Hermione took her nightgown and jogging pants out of her school bag. She'd spent her breaks in the Library that day in order to figure out how to make an expandable pocket for her bag. It was worth it. Now I could carry just about anything in here. She slipped into the warm clothes and buttoned the front of the nightdress. "I'm finished Professor."
Severus came back around the curtain. He was carrying a small vial filled with a light blue liquid. "Here is your calming draft." He handed her the vial.
"Thank you sir." Hermione turned the glass in her hands marvelling over the way the light it hit. It made patterns on the where the glass was shaped. The potion sloshed around inside and was almost glowing when the light hit it.
"Drink it, don't play with it." Professor Snape glared at her. "You haven't got all the time in the world. Some of us have other things to do tonight."
"Yes sir." Hermione popped the cork of the vial and drained it. The potion didn't taste bad. It was slightly sweet and it warmed her body nicely when it hit her stomach. The happy, relaxed feeling spread throughout her body and she let out a long sigh.
"Very good Miss Granger. Just relax" Professor Snape took the vial out of her hand before the loose muscles relaxed too much and sent it smashing to the floor.
"Thanks sir. I try so hard." Hermione was feeling light-headed. It reminded her of the muggle pain drugs she'd taken when she had broken her leg. "Feels strange sir."
"It's al-right. Relax and the feeling will pass." Someone said. Hermione's eyes were drifting closed. He watched as the girl's body relaxed and her breathing evened. The steady rise and fall of her chest was relaxing and he found himself beginning to breathe in time with his student.
"Severus?" The quiet voice of Madame Pomfrey broke the silence and relaxation almost two hours later. "Severus?"
"Poppy." Snape walked out of the privacy curtain and joined Poppy in her office.
"Coffee Severus?"
"Please." He accepted the steaming mug and added chocolate sprinkles that he conjured from his wand. At her amused look he added, "Everything tastes better with chocolate."
"Of course Severus." She leaned back in her desk chair. "I'm going to need a total restock of stomach calming drafts, sleeping potions and vomiting elixir."
"No problem." Snape drained the last of his coffee. "Did you find out what was behind it?"
"Something of the Weasley twins. It shouldn't have been mixed with orange juice. I gave them a month of detention. Would you be able to occupy them for some of the time?" Poppy refilled her coffee cup and took a long swig before adding sugar.
"They can help me prepare potions." Severus stretched his shoulders. "I had no problems with Miss Granger. She's sleeping. You should send her back soon. Good night Poppy."
"Good night Severus." Madame Pomfrey followed him to the door. "Don't stay up all night Severus. Try to get some sleep."
Snape nodded. But with all the potions she needed he knew he would have no time to sleep that night. He left the hospital wing and quickly glided back to his potions lab.
Poppy watched as the younger wizard walked quickly away from her. I wish he would take better care of himself. Or that he was still a student so I could keep an I on him like I've got on Miss Granger. She headed back inside the hospital wing to wake the sleeping girl.
"Miss Granger." Hermione slowly opened her eyes and sat up. The effects of the calming draft were weakened but she still felt very relaxed. "It's now 10 o'clock. Can you go back to your dormitory or would you like to spend the night here?"
Hermione yawned and looked at the mediwitch. "Can I go back to Gryffindor tower?" She asked.
"Of course. I'll get the floo ready. Just come to my office as soon as you're ready." She hurried to unlock her floo so the student could use it.
Hermione put her socks and shoes back on. She pulled her robes over her pyjamas and slung her book bag over a shoulder before making her way to the office. "I'm ready to leave Madame Pomfrey."
The woman smiled. "Good night. See you tomorrow night at 8 o'clock." She handed Hermione a handful of floo powder.
"Good night." Hermione stepped into the fire. "Gryffindor Common room!" The flames whirled around her and after the short journey she stepped out onto the rug in front of the fire.
The common room was almost empty. Two seventh years were doing their homework in a corner and there were three couples snogging in armchairs. None of them paid Hermione any attention. She climbed the staircase to the girls dormitory and crawled into bed, falling asleep almost instantly.
Hermione was very busy for the next few weeks. Her early bedtime left her barely any time to complete her homework, let alone read for fun. She started working every second of the day in order to have any time to herself. She had to go to the library almost every day because she could only take out three books.
I need more than three resources for one essay! How can they expect me to get anything done! The day before she'd had to finish an essay in the break before it was due. I'm not procrastinating. I just don't have time! There's got to be an alternative!
But Madame Pomfrey and Professor Snape had made it clear that her bedtime was not going to change any-time in the near future. They said I was recovering but it still wasn't enough to give me more time.
The next morning she woke up the second the alarm went off. It was early enough that Hermione could still feel the lingering effects of the calming draft. At least all of my homework is done. I can get straight to work.
She slipped out of the dormitory about fifteen minutes later. Her bag was packed and her clothes were neat. I can go to breakfast as soon as I'm finished in the library. I'd hate to see what Madame Pomfrey would do if I started missing meals.
At such an early hour the only person in the library was Madame Pince and she was busy with shelving in the restricted section. Hermione set her books down at her favourite table and started looking through the potions section.
It only took her ten minutes to find the book she was looking for. It was the smallest book on the shelf and the cover was bright red. This is it! Potions for Busy People. Hermione took the book back to her table and got out note taking materials.
The first potions were just adaptations on other potions. Quick brew Flu begone. Quick brew ward potion. The Quick Brew potions were useful for people under time constraints. But they weren't what Hermione was looking for. Here it is! Stimulant Potion. Hermione copied the page out with a quick charm she'd learned at the beginning of the year.
Time to go. She sent the book back to its shelf, gathered her supplies, and made her way to breakfast.
Meals were Hermione's least favourite part of school. She was too busy to make friends and most of the Gryffindors stayed away from her because all of the stress she was under made her snappy. They came to her for help with homework occasionally but there wasn't anyone who was her friend.
"Maybe she finally turned into one of the books she likes so much. She's just a nasty know-it-all." Ron Weasley was telling Harry Potter his theory about why Hermione was late to breakfast.
But Hermione had been about to sit down a few seats from him and heard every word he said. Tears came to her eyes and she glared at him before leaving the hall at a run.
Madame Pomfrey and Professor Snape watched this exchange from the Head table with interest.
"Something wrong?" Severus asked as quietly as he could when Hermione went running from the hall.
"Miss Granger's not eating breakfast again Severus. That's the fourth meal she's missed this week." Pomfrey complained before taking more coffee.
"I asked her about that. She told me that she just loses track of the time and when she realizes it's time to eat the meal's already past." Severus refilled his coffee cup for the fifth time.
"Another late night?" Poppy asked, raising an eyebrow at the amount of coffee he was drinking.
"Yes. I just lost track of the time. It won't-"
Professor McGonagall cut him off. "Wouldn't want Poppy to give you a bedtime too, would you Severus?" She smirked at him.
Severus glared at the two of them. "I think I'll go get my classroom ready. Enjoy breakfast." He got up and got away from interfering witches as quickly as he could.
Hermione fled to the girls bathroom on the first floor. It was always empty and quiet in the morning. Why, oh why do I have to be so thin skinned? His comments hurt me so much! She started blubbering again and locked herself in one of the stalls. I still have to go to class! Potions!
She set off quickly to the dungeons. There was still time to get there and secure her usual seat before any of the other students arrived. A group of Slytherins on their way up passed her and she scuttled into an empty room to avoid them.
Hermione took a seat at one of the desks in the dusty, quiet room. It's so peaceful in here. I could brew the stimulant potion in here! She hurriedly pulled out the paper of instructions. This seems quite simple. Everything should be in my potions kit. I'll brew it at lunch. It will counter act the calming draft.
With the peace of mind her new plan brought her, Hermione made her way into the dungeons and merged into the mess of Gryffindors. No one even noticed I was missing. Glad to know I'm suppose to be a member of their house. Maybe one day we'll be able to realize that someone other than our best friend exists. She glared at Ron and Harry who were happily talking in a corner before talking her normal seat in the front.
The second the class was over and Professor Snape had turned his back on the class Hermione shrunk her cauldron and made her way back to the empty classroom. I'm glad I've got a break before lunch today. It makes everything so much easier.
She conjured a jar of blue witch fire and sat it under the cauldron. It's not the ideal fire, but it should work. Hermione looked over the list of ingredients one last time and started preparing the things she would need.
The potion was easy to brew compared to some of the things she'd had to brew in class. At least in here I don't have to worry about Neville blowing up his cauldron or my partner screwing up the entire potion. Hermione worked diligently and was able to finish the potion and clean everything up just before the end of lunch.
Oh No! I misses another meal. Oh well. I'm planning on breaking almost all the rules Madame Pomfrey set out for me. What's one more? Hermione smiled and placed the bottled potion into the expandable pocket in her bag after wrapping it in her pyjamas. Now it won't make noise and break. She pulled her bag on and ran all the way to Transfiguration.
That night Hermione took the calming draft the mediwitch gave her and let the relaxed feeling overwhelm her.
"I'll wake you when it's time to leave." Madame Pomfrey left the privacy curtain. She had a lot of work to do that night. The Ravenclaw Quidditch team had been playing in falling snow for the past four hours and most of them were starting to develop bad colds and hypothermia.
Hermione snuggled into the warm blankets and let herself fall asleep. The calming draft wasn't a potion that you could build up a resistance to but as she took it the dosage was adjusted so that it didn't overwhelm her as much.
"Wake up. Miss Granger." Madame Pomfrey shook the girl lightly. "It's time to go to your dormitory."
Hermione sat up and looked groggily at the woman above her. "Thanks." She made her way into the office and floo'd back to the Gryffindor common room. It was empty, with the storm and a Quidditch match on the weekend everyone had taken advantage of the situation and was in the dormitories where it was warmer.
The second the floo stopped roaring she opened her bag and took out the bottle of potion. At first moving was difficult but the calming draft was losing it power over her and Hermione took a long drink of the stimulant potion.
Immediately energy surged through her body. Hermione fell onto the armchair behind her. Her heart was pounding and she could feel blood rush to her head. She sprung up. This is amazing! I could run next to the Hogwarts Express and not fall behind!
Hermione hurried to her dormitory and took out all her books. There is no way I'll be able to sleep tonight! She set a work station up at the largest table and tackled her homework.
With the stimulant staying up all night was no problem. Hermione read and studied for the entire night. As the sun rose her racing heart began to slow as the potion started to wear off. Oh no! I've got to go to classes now! Hermione took the bottle and drank some more. She felt the effects immediately. Much better.
For the next week Hermione did nothing but use the stimulant potion. She didn't eat or sleep. I'm just not hungry or tired. The potion made her very thirsty and she drank enormous amounts of water. By the time she'd been taking the potion for a week her body was starting to show signs of stress. Her eyes were sunken and had dark rings around them. Her movement was still very fast, thanks to the potion, but Hermione had started twitching and sometimes as the potion wore off she'd have tiny seizures.
As she bent over the pop quiz in Potions, Hermione didn't notice the Professor watching her. When he took the paper from her he noticed that she was breathing quickly and her hands kept twitching against the table.
Professor Snape made his way to the front of the class and glared at the students in front of him. "Class dismissed. Miss Granger stay behind."
No! Hermione froze. She'd been about to leave the classroom and run to the wash room between classes. I need more potion. Right now! I hope he'll make this quick. She hurried back to the front of the classroom. "Yes Professor?"
TBC...