AN: So I am the most terrible person in the world! I know, I know. It has been ages since I have last updated. But fear not, for it is now spring break! And hopefully you will hear from me more often than not :)

Disclaimer: JRK owns.

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Chapter 10: Caught in Hysteria

The following morning was a hurried affair. A day jam-packed with potions and charms was no fun, no fun at all. My sincere plans to do homework following my little meet with Harry were doomed from the very start. Subsequent to parting ways later that night, only idle daydreaming and googly-eyed ness were found to follow. It was terrible. Simply terrible.

After swallowing an entire boiled egg in simply three bites, I made a beeline for the library. My motivation to finish my homework was so Granger-like, it was almost disgusting.

Speaking of Granger…not as soon as I had fully set a foot into the doorway did I notice her conspicuous presence. Hands on hips and a freshly polished shoe evenly tapping the wooden floor beneath, the ever-famous geeky bookworm, Hermione Granger did not look so pleased. Only a few feet away sat a rather fearful looking Ronald Weasley, his face flushed to match his unruly hair.

I snickered at the sight, but only too soon it seemed, for just as the vile gesture slipped through my curled lips, I found myself eye-to-eye with the bushy-haired Gryffindor in question. Her eyes were aglow, furious, as I met her stare with an even glare of my own. Friend of Harry Potter or not, no mudblood dared to look at me so.

She whipped back to face her friend as I passed. I smirked, one ear perfectly trained on their private conversation as I walked past.

"Ronald!" Granger fumed in a harsh whisper, attempting to regain the redhead's attention.

"I swear! I didn't see him," he pleaded. "You were there when we were together last, at dinner last night!" Weasley defended, his ears now bright red.

I purposely sat down at a table not too far from where they sat, just within earshot. My brow crinkled in confusion, as I idly flipped through my charms book, the chapter titles blurring together in confusion.

Was it Harry they were talking about? I had been so busy this morning; I hadn't even bothered glancing over to the Gryffindor table to seek him out. He must have been there, where else could he have been?

"I don't understand how he could not have been in the boys' dormitory this morning! If he's not at the pitch, and wasn't in the Great Hall, then where else could he be?" Granger seethed, her quick words slicing through the air.

Weasley sighed, anxiously running a hand through his thoroughly tangled hair. "I don't know Hermione, I really don't," he mumbled in defeat.

Hermione sighed, uncharacteristically flopping down in the seat across from Weasley.

"What if something's happened?" she whispered, "should we ask Dumbledore?" she questioned softly.

I could feel my heart thud unevenly within me. Harry hadn't mentioned having any other plans last night after meeting me. From what I knew, he too had headed back to his room to sleep following our brief visit.

I stared blankly at my unfinished Charms homework, slamming my book back shut. It was useless; I was too jittery and anxious now to get anything done at this point. It would be a failed assignment on my part; I had lost my focus long ago.

My thoughts were interrupted as Weasley finally spoke up. "I guess so," he mumbled quietly. "You don't think…you know...that V-Voldemort had anything to do with this, do ya?" he asked helplessly.

My heart almost launched out of my throat at the very thought. Granger looked almost fearful now, her eyes red in what seemed to be either anger or pure distress. Hastily throwing her things back into her bag, she grabbed hold of Weasley's arm, hastily dragging him out of the library after her.

I sat still, finally cradling my head in my hands as I tried to wrack my brain for any clues. I was going blank. I had no idea where Harry could possibly be despite having seen him so recently, even more recently than Granger and Weasley themselves.

I wished silently to be their shadows, trailing behind them to Dumbledore's office as they rushed past. I had to know where he was. What could possibly have happened in such little time?

Around me I noticed that students were beginning to pack up, milling about busily as the hour approached. I absently stood up as if in a trance, making my way silently to Charms, unfinished homework in hand.

Sitting down beside Draco, I didn't even bother to acknowledge him. My head was clouded in misery and despair. I glanced to the side to notice the trio's bench empty. In the past I would have been thrilled at such a spectacle, but now the sight made me feel uneasy, practically nauseous.

I sighed, trying my best to plaster on an apathetic expression. I could already sense Malfoy's gaze on me, silently questioning my every mannerism. I was so frustrated I just wanted to slap him. I groaned inwardly, this wasn't his fault, I just wished to channel my anguish elsewhere, but I was forced to wade in my own self-misery; this was no place to vent.

"Tsk Parkinson," Malfoy finally spoke, motioning to my incomplete homework assignment. "It'll do you no good to skive off on assignments like this."

I simple chose to glare at him as he snatched it up and headed to the front of the classroom to hand our papers in. It was now Malfoy's turn to notice the golden trio's conspicuous absence.

He snickered quietly, slipping easily back into his seat. "Now that's a sight," he quipped, his eyebrow raised. "It's interesting that they're all missing," he pried his eyes observing their empty bench as if seeking out hidden clues. "Who knew Gryffindor's preferred their threesomes this early in the morning."

My face twisted into a scowl as I glared at Malfoy. "That's sick and you know it," I scolded irritably, crossing my arms in front of me.

Malfoy chuckled. "What's put your knickers into a twist this morning?" he whispered leaning closer to me.

I continued to look ahead glaring evenly. "Someone leave you…unsatisfied?" he teased devilishly.

I felt chills run down my back, as the words slipped out of his mouth. Malfoy always had an uncanny ability to say the things you least wanted to be known or even thought of, without any sense of warrant.

I held my glare, playing idly with my quill as Flitwick flitted about at the front of the classroom. Squeezing my eyes shut, I felt Malfoy's words echo uneasily in my mind. I tried in vain to tune out the professor's monotonous drone and seek reason in my mind. I groaned, it was hopeless.

Malfoy was still peering at me questioningly, his amused face now serious.

Placing the back of his cool hand on my forehead, his own crinkled in confusion. "You're working up a fever Pansy," he murmured.

I lifted a hand to my cheek softly, it burned gently under my touch and I realized I was feeling even more anxious now than usual, my emotions running on overdrive.

"What's the matter, Parkinson?" Draco asked again, noting my continued silence. I shook my head absently. But no sooner had I done so, Draco's hand quickly shot up in the air, interrupting Flitwick's lecture mid-word.

Before I knew it, I was practically being carted off towards the hospital wing. I mumbled vague nothings in confusion, trying to insist my way out of going to the dreaded infirmary. I had no time to sit idly in bed, being drugged my sleep inducing potions and fever preventing potions alike.

Scuffing my new shoe as I dragged myself into the hospital wing behind Draco I was met by a horrid sight. Granger and Weasley sat stone-still on either side of a cot further down the hospital wing. His raven hair was impossible to miss in any state. Within mere seconds his eyes locked onto mine and I could feel myself crumble from within.

Bloodied and bruised, he lay, practically immobilized by both his cot and his injuries alike. I had never seen anything so terrible before, so gruesome.

How could this be? Who could possibly have done this? I could even feel Draco flinch from beside me, his hand still securely holding onto mine.

I stiffly sat down, as Draco pushed me towards a cot, Harry's eyes watching me all the while. I gazed back, noticing the corner of his mouth tug softly, as if attempting to smile.

I gasped as my throat contracted uneasily, it was simply too much to bear. I felt my self burying my face into Draco's robes as I let out a furious sob. Pressing my face even deeper into his stronghold, I tried in vain to muffle my cries. But before I knew it, all hell had broken lose and the tears came.

Little did I know at the time, that Harry's afflicter and my consoler were one and the same.

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AN: Sorry for the cliffie! But please review :)