Chapter One: A Somewhat 'Normal' Day
The Gryffindor common room was cold. That was one of the things that he noticed that evening as he continued to throw the tiny dust covered item up into the air before catching it in his palm again. "I wonder what this is." He said as he repeated the action once more. He was sitting in front of the fireplace. His maroon pajamas were secured tightly under his Chudley Cannons comforter. He had placed the small item onto the common room floor. The soft orange glow of the fire cascaded over the small item swallowing the particles of dust amongst them. A sigh escaped his lips as he continued to stare at the item.
Bringing the small object that was now in his hand closer to his face he noticed a small glint of silver.
He had found the item in the corner of the room hidden amongst one of the many shelves of trinkets and gadgetry only a few hours prior at Weasleys Wizard Wheezes. Hogsmeade weekend was now over and the spring semester was just beginning the following Monday. How was he supposed to prank the Slytherins if he didn't know what this item was?
Pulling out his wand Ron conjured a small goblet of water and dropped the dusty item within. His blue eyes watched as the silver glistened profusely in the cup. It looked spherical he noted as he took the object out of the goblet. "Maybe, I could—"
"Ron…"
The red head turned to the direction of the voice. It was Harry. He was in his plaid green pajamas; his black hair still mop-like and his glasses askew. "Aren't you supposed to be in bed?"
Ron nodded. "I'll be up in a few."
He watched as Harry went back up the stairway to the dormitory.
"Yeah." He yawned to himself. "I definitely need to get some sleep."
Hermione knew something was going to go wrong the moment she looked at the smirk on Ron's freckled face that Monday morning in the Great Hall. She looked toward the Slytherin table in wonder. Malfoy was drinking from his goblet. 'That's not weird.' She thought to herself as she continued to look around the Hall. Everything seemed normal. But this funny feeling that edged up her spine was still present. Something was wrong. She just had to find it.
The day went by 'normally' for Harry. If that was what he could call it? The pain that he was now experiencing throughout his body was not common. In all honesty, he felt uncomfortable in his skin. 'Maybe it's the flu.' He contemplated as he continued to stare at the clock ticking away in the Potions lab. He was feeling light headed.
Clearly, the fumes were messing with his head. "What in the hell is going on?!" He muttered under his breath. There it was again…
That ache in his chest. 'Not now.' He looked back down at the cauldron. Something wasn't right. His legs were weak.
He was about to fall.
The feeling of something being wrong came to her again. And it was bad. Turning towards the front of the Potions lab Hermione noticed the swaying body of Harry.
"Sometimes, I hate being right." Hermione said as she cast a cushioning charm on the floor.
He woke up in the Hospital Wing.
"I am glad to see that you are awake Mr. Potter." Madam Pomfrey said. "It seems that you collapsed in Potions."
"Again." He said noting the scratchiness of his throat. 'This is the second time today. What the hell is wrong with me?'
"Yes." He heard her say. "I advise Mr. Potter that you try and get more sleep."
He nodded. "Ok."
The journey from the Hospital Wing to Gryffindor Tower was strenuous and the dizzy spell from earlier still has not gone away. He walked through the portrait with a steady pace hoping not to see his friends. 'Damn.' He sighed. Ron and Hermione were still awake. "Are you okay?" they asked simultaneously.
He nodded to them. He really didn't feel like explaining his worries to them so he answered. "I just need to get more sleep and I'll be fine by tomorrow morning."
"Ok Harry…" he heard Hermione say. "We'll see you tomorrow."
Oh how he wished for tomorrow to come little faster.