Hermione watched through half-closed eyes as Professor Snape was carried in, billowing black Death Eaters robes still on his person. He was so pale he looked grey, almost as if he was dead.
"What happened?" McGonagall asked.
Dumbledore shrugged, "The hand of Lord Voldemort or his followers, I assume."
Madame Pomfrey nodded, "Yes, he's showing signs of the Cruciatus Curse. Including muscle spasms. His vitals are ok. His blood pressure is a little high, along with his heart rate, but considering the amount of adrenaline that was running in his veins, and the pain he is in, I didn't expect much else. I'll keep him overnight for observation, and if anything changes I'll let you know," she said as she turned to Professor Dumbledore.
Dumbledore nodded and turned, "What about the Granger girl? Will she be alright?"
She shut her eyes as everyone started making their way towards her.
"She'll be fine. She's got minor bruising, some cuts from the prophecies falling, and a minor concussion. I was about to give her a stronger potion for it before you walked in the door but it seems that her magic is already healing her. A weaker strength should get her back to normal."
Dumbledore chuckled, "Well my fine mediwitch, let us leave you so you can get back to work, and look after our staff and students."
A few moments later a felt a hand on her shoulder, "Hermione, dear, I have a couple of potions for you. One to get you feeling normal again, and to get rid of your concussion."
Hermione downed the two potions, "May I go now?"
"Give the potion about an hour, then you may leave."
The hour drug on and on. By the time she was finally let go her tattoo stopped itching. Hermione rushed to the Great Hall, where Harry was nowhere to be found. She ran up to Gryffindor Tower, where he still was nowhere to be found. The quidditch pitch was the last place she checked. There, flying around, trying to catch a little old golden snitch, was Harry James Potter.
"Harry!" Hermione shouted.
Harry came zooming towards her, almost hurtling into her, "What 'Mione?"
"We need to talk."
His face scrunched up, "No."
"Harry, we need to talk about the prophecy. I'll meet you in the common room. We can talk while you pack." She turned away, but stopped, and said, "And Harry? Don't forget to eat."
Before she knew it Harry was back into the air, where he was hurtling towards the ground after the snitch, so reminiscent of their first year at Hogwarts.
Hermione felt a pang in her chest. Things had been so much easier back then. They were able to enjoy magic more. Death wasn't clouding their doorstep everyday. The threat of Voldemort seemed so distant back then. She wished it was that way now.
She sighed and made her way back to the common room. She heard footsteps from behind her, and they were coming up fast. She pulled out her vine wood, and dragon heartstring wand as a reflex. She felt her magic pour into the wand, and the wand itself vibrating with energy against her soft, smooth palm.
Soon there were another set of footsteps behind her.
"Professor Dumbledore, what's happened?" She heard McGonagall's thick Scottish voice.
"It's Severus, Minerva. He's had a grand mal seizure. We need to get down to the Hospital Wing, and quickly."
Sets of orchid purple starred robes and evergreen robes went by in a blur, hats bobbing in step with their respective owners.
On an impulse Hermione Jean Granger, for the second time that year, decided to break the rules. She followed Dumbledore and McGonagall as close as she could without getting caught. The doors opened to the Hospital Wing; Hermione was thankful the mediwitch was turned with her back to the door, for she didn't even think to hide. The door began to swing closed, but Hermione left it open enough so she could see what was going on, and still be inconspicuous.
Snape had gone from grey, to greyer. What Hermione assumed was saliva was foaming at the top of his mouth. His body was convulsing, flailing in all different directions. His lips were as blue as the dress she had worn to the Yule Ball the year before. His black eyes, which usually showed distaste and anger stared blankly toward her. Before Hermione left she swore she heard a low growling coming from his throat.
