A/N: Be warned that this is rated R for a reason. If I could it would be NC-17. This is not your average happy go lucky fic. This fic is dark for a while before things get better.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
She felt it.
Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
Her eyes fluttered open a moment. At least she thought they did. But all she saw was darkness so she couldn't be quite sure.
Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
She moaned as if calling out. She raised her arm, surprised to find it weak but not from sleep. Trying not to think about it she brought her hand as best she could to her face. It was dark and it seemed she was shivering. Wiping her hand across her face she felt . . . dirty? How could that be? She tried sitting up but soft hands held her down.
She thought she heard whispers but soon the muffled words were pushed from her mind as the one constant made itself present once more.
Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
Was it minutes? Hours, even days later? Hermione didn't know. All she knew was that she was becoming more aware of her surroundings. Every time she opened her eyes it was darkness. Was she blind? No, she couldn't be. If she was she wouldn't have been able to see that flicker of light from the corner of her eye. Or was she imagining it?
"Her fever must be breaking." Came a hushed voice. Hermione reached out searching for the source. Someone clasped her hand and held it to their face. Whoever it was felt just as dirty as she was. She wanted to pull away but found she was finding comfort in the embrace.
It was cold and whoever was holding her hand was cold as well but together they were slowly warming each other up. But her consciousness didn't last long.
Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
Images came rushing to her in a flurry of dreams. They were so fast and nearly distorted beyond recognition. But slowly, ever so slowly, they came into focus. It was then that Hermione knew. They had lost.
A/N: This was the first chapter, aka prologue (But really was just a teaser!), in my new fic. Chapter one will be posted soon and I hope you all enjoy. As I stated earlier this fic is going to be on the darker side. I hope all of you who come across this stick through the darkness to the light on the other side. Until the next chapter, Artemis.