Hermione held her head in her hands, trying hard to focus on her astronomy homework, but all the stars on her charts were blurring in her vision. She was having recurring migraines lately and it affected her focus.
"Hey, Mione!" Ginny cleared part of her table in the library and took a seat.
"Hey Gin," Hermione greeted her, clearly exhausted. "Studying for your O.W.L.s?"
"Of course not! They're ages away, not until the end of term! I'm helping Colin. He wants to develop his pictures magically, he has a muggle camera, ya know?"
Hermione chuckled. It seemed that no one took their exams quite as seriously as she did. Although she was glad for the sixth year break, she made a mental note to start making outlines for her N.E.W.T.s.
"Hey guys!" Colin raced over. Hermione sighed in exasperation. There was no way she would be able to focus now. She began packing her things to move back to the common room. At this rate she'd be finishing up her homework with Harry and Ron. Something that had never before happened. "Where ya going Hermione?" The boy frowned.
She ran her fingers through her hair and replied, "I'm pretty beat. I think I'm just going to make my way back to the dormitories. Make sure you two get back before curfew!"
Ginny rolled her eyes at the older girl, good-naturedly. "Don't worry about us."
"When we get back we can show you the pictures I took of the ball!" Hermione froze. "And they'll be magical, maybe they'll unmask!"
"That's wonderful Colin," Hermione managed to stutter. She swung her bag off the table and onto her shoulder and turned her back on the younger students, her mind racing. She had tried very hard to bury that night in the back of her mind. She had been doing recently. The first week or so after the ball she kept hoping he might try and contact her, of course he didn't know her anymore than she knew him, but the school owls were clever birds… she had even entertained the idea of sending him a letter first. Her nerves won out however, and soon her mountain of schoolwork pushed the mystery man out of her mind. Of course, she chided herself; she would remember the moment forever. It was her first time after all, but there was no reason to dwell on it with the circumstances as they were.
She trudged up the staircase that led to the seventh floor, her feet feeling like lead. It was only seven, she shouldn't be so tired. Sighing, she entered the common area. She saw Harry and Ron sitting on the floor by the fireplace scribbling furiously at four feet of parchment. She plopped down next to them, looking over their writing as she did so and let out a snort of derision.
"What… colorful essays, you two."
Harry smiled brightly. "We figured Professor Trelawney would like them especially. Look," He gestured to his longest paragraph. "Here is where I explain that if I make it to age twenty-four I'll go to Azkaban for strangling my son that I sired with my squib mistress because I was under the impression he was being possessed by dark forces."
"Good one mate! Wish I thought of that! All I got is how I'm probably going to commit suicide after working as my father's assistant in the misuse of muggle artifacts office for twenty years."
"Ouch, Ron." Hermione said, smiling despite herself at their silliness. She unpacked her school things and laid them out around her. "On another note, I'm totally glad I'm not in Divination anymore."
"Don't know why, can't you see how much fun we're having?" Ron elbowed her playfully and she rolled her eyes at him.
"Well unlike some, I don't take classes because I think they'll be 'fun' or 'easy to pass.' I take them because I want to learn something, thank you very much." She nodded matter-of-factly and Harry rested a hand on his heart, doing his best hurt expression.
"Now Hermione, your accusations wound me." Ron laughed at the two of them.
"Can we get to work now!" She snapped, rubbing her temple. The boys looked at each other confused by the sudden mood-swing.
"You alright?"
"Yes. I'm fine. It's just been a stressful day and I'm tired. I'd like to finish this homework tonight."
"You mean the homework that's not due til next week?" Ron asked grinning. Hermione glared at him and set to work.
The next day Hermione felt as though all her classes dragged by. For once she too fell asleep in Professor Binns History of Magic class, and although she was ashamed of herself for it, she didn't bother apologizing and rushed out for lunch with the rest of the class; falling behind everyone else in their mad dash while her feet dragged.
"Miss Granger, may I have a word?" Ptofessor McGonagall broke her from her mindless trudging. She straightened up immediately.
"Yes professor?"
The older woman looked concerned and not at all as her strict, normal, self. "Your essay for my class today, I read it and well… it's not up to your usual standards." Hermione blinked at her, her head still felt a bit foggy. "I was just wondering if you were feeling all right dear, and if maybe you need to go see Madam Pomfrey. Your concentration has been off as well I've noticed…"
"I really haven't been feeling well lately, perhaps I should go see her… I've just been so busy, I didn't want to fall behind…"
"Well I suggest you go there now." She said, looking a little more stern.
"Of course, professor." Hermione turned around and trudged along in the direction of the hospital wing. She vaguely entertained the notion of grabbing a bite to eat to take with her but thought better of it. She didn't want to miss her Arithmancy lesson after lunch.
Hermione entered the hospital wing to find Madam Pomfrey dealing with a sick Neville Longbottom. When she saw Hermione she indicated for her to take a seat and wait. While she waited Hermione looked over the wing, she was still considering what career she might persue once she was finished with her education at Hogwarts and most often she dwelled upon medi-wizardry.
"Miss Granger what seems to be the problem?" Madam Pomfrey had made her way over.
"I've just been getting these chronic headaches, and they wear me down."
"Well there has been a bug going around." She walked to her stores and came back with a mint-green colored potion. "Take this as needed for the headaches, but don't exceed three times a day dear. Now, if you'll excuse me." She walked back to her patient's bedside. Hermione stuffed the potion in her bag after taking a swig and made her way back to the Great Hall. She hoped she could grab a bite to eat.
On her way she passed a few students leaving. They seemed to stare at her but she paid them no mind. She kept her head down and continued walking until –
"Watch where you're going you filthy mudblood!" startled, Hermione looked up to realize she had literally bumped into Draco Malfoy. He looked angry, his eyes glinting coldly at her and she was bewildered by his ferociousness. He was always nasty, but now he looked downright murderous. He looked at her for a moment, spat at her feet, and stormed off.
"Ugh!" Hermione exclaimed. She could not believe the nerve of him! She had half a mind to hurl a hex at his back but knew better than to break the schools rule.
She shook her head and entered the dining hall, her mouth set in a hard line. She could tell everyone was looking at her and she was becoming increasingly furious. What on Earth was going on today? She could see Harry and Ron coming toward her and before she could take two more steps they grabbed her under her arms and steered her out.
"Would someone mind telling me exactly what's going on today?!" she shouted at them, she began rubbing her head as she could feel her headache coming back.
"You went to that ball with Malfoy last month!" Harry dug his elbow into his friends rib.
"Way to be sensitive about it Ron!"
Hermione became very pale. "How do you know that? I don't even know that…"
"Colin and Ginny found out how to magically develop their pictures and in the one he took of you two… well, you guys unmasked. Even your pictures selves were disgusted." Harry supplied.
Hermione's head was reeling and she had to sit down on the stair behind her. She had sex with Draco Malfoy. She gave him her virginity. She promptly vomited onto the floor.