Spider spent the rest of the school day feeling more than just under the weather; nothing seemed to enliven her, even with Dora and Esterella's best effects to cheer their best mate up. The moonshine hue of her skin was no paler but become sallow, almost waxy, the twinkle in her eyes had completely disappeared even overlooking all of this, Spider still asserted the expression of a midnight sky with a looming storm. Being furious at Lucius Malfoy wasn't exactly making her feel any better, how had he the nerve, 'silly little thing'!? She'd show him, and to think she liked him. Well the problem was she still did, he possessed an animal magnetism that was irresistible, and the worst was that it'd even more apparent when he became angry. Just thinking about him pissed her off. As soon as the last period was over she burst out of the room, practically taking flight down the corridor, robes billowed behind her as the whole world spun in a mirage of colour. Rain was now thrashing down, the sound filled her, and wind blew through the castle archways and hit her cheeks like stones. A shadow cast itself across her path; it was Mr Malfoy, both stopping almost in shock of their meeting. Vision blurred she could still see his almost apologetic face, instead of waiting to hear what he might say Spider instead gave what could only be described as glare of pure revulsion as if she were holding back from spitting on him. Instead this was just a regurgitation of what she really felt; she carried on her way to the Ravenclaw common room her pacing quickening in order that he could not catch up with her, not even looking back she felt a pang of distress, but after all what would 'Mr-Pureblood-too-good-for-anyone-else-except-his-excellent-platinum-blonde-self-Malfoy' care.

Climbing the spiral staircase to reach her dormitory almost killed her, barely even conscious she tore off her uniform dumping it onto the floor, rifling through her chest of drawers she found the first pyjama type clothes she could find and crawled pathetically into bed. She lay for what could've been minutes or hours for all she knew, drifting in and out sleep her throat became desert dry, head surged with electricity, the pain soon became unbearable. Eyes squeezed tight, she could barely breathe, the agony was excruciating there was a constant pounding scream in her ear as Spider tumbled into a blacked-out state.

Shrieks of terror filled the room; Dora was crouched down by Spider's bed looking terrified, as Esterella went dashing down the stairs. Pandora was moving the sheets off her friend's bed, picking up the fluffy kitten she rested it on her own bed, returning to Spider she tried her best to get through to her.

"Spider, Spider what's wrong? Can you hear me? Esterella's gone to fetch Flitwick, you need help."

There was no reply as Spider tossed from side to side muttering as she shook violently. Putting a hand to her friend's forehead she immediately recoiled away at the scorching heat that was her burning head. Rummaging through her bag she found a bottle of pumpkin juice, pressing it to her lips Spider took a forced swallow, hoping that this might help her friend. To her terror Spider didn't look any better if anything she winced more, and then came a sudden scream from the suffering witch as she violently retched, Dora thought she might be sick any minute so she brought Spider up holding her hair back. Hoping she might be able to accompany her to the toilet she soon found the girl could barely stand up without collapsing, whipping out her wand she set a quick locomoter charm, it wouldn't last long but hopefully with a helping hand she'd be able to get Spider down the stairs and to the nearest bathroom. After a slow, awkward plod down the stairs they reached the dull quiet of the common room. Still barely awake Spider slumped in a chair. Dora's backed turned for a second when she returned to her friend she found her fainted on the floor, eyes rolled backed in her head, back arched right back it was like a scene in a nightmare.

The door burst opened and a streak of bright light filled the room, a tiny wizard came running in looking panic stricken.

"Professor Flitwick! I didn't know what to do I brought her down here but I think she's having a fit!"

"Don't worry my dear" said their head of house looking contradictorily worried "Miss Bonnet fetched me, I came immediately and I've sent her to get Professor Malfoy, once he's seen to her he will take her to Madame Pomfrey to give her aftercare in the hospital wing."

He was bent over her trying his best to use any charm he could to relieve the obvious pain she was in but nothing was helping much and he was looking more and more concerned. There was an echoing of someone hurtling up the steps and within seconds Lucius raced in through the open door, Flitwick flew out of the way as Lucius pounced on Spider who had begun writhing on the floor again. "Bloody hell Professor!" came a exasperated out of breath voice "I could barely keep up." Esterella sat down on the arm of the chair with Dora.

"WHAT HAVE YOU GIVEN HER!?" boomed Lucius' husky voice

"Nothing! She was coughing so I gave her some Pumpkin juice but it made it worse." Came the timid witch's voice, she reacted to the furious look of her teacher "She'd been drinking it all day, it was in her bag! I didn't know she'd choke on it."

"CHOKE! SHE DID MORE THAN CHOKE!"

"Lucius! Talk to my students with respect if you please." Snapped the concerned charms master

Lucius lifted her in his sturdy arms as he said with gritted teeth "She's been poisoned, probably by whatever was in that Pumpkin juice, so if you don't mind!" By the end of his sentence he was almost halfway down the stairs, leaving the three stood looking terrified and several other Ravenclaws hovering unsure of what was happening.

Running as he clutched precious cargo they reached his private rooms within minutes. He set her down on the black silk of his bed; the jostled run had made her more aware of her surroundings however the world was still blurred. The sensation of the luxurious sheets covered her, the coolness of the room hit against her burning body, suddenly the edge of a glass bottle touched her lip and a thick liquid surged down the back of her throat. An ice cold cloth swathed her forehead and a tingling awareness enveloped her body as she was thrown in full consciousness, head throbbing and heart beating like a hummingbird.

Carefully she opened her eyes to see her Potions master gazing down at her; she gave a cheeky grin despite feeling dreadful. "So are you going to apologise for being so rude earlier yet?"

He raised an eyebrow and stated a plain "No."

"Good, if you stopped being rude you wouldn't be half as attractive, as you've just proved."

"Wait a minute young lady!" he went on but was stopped by Spider's mischievous reply

"SShhhh, I'm trying to rest."

Turning over she went to side facing the other way, Lucius didn't move, instead he stayed watching her, the little nightdress that she'd thrown on early that night fitted perfectly. It hugged to her curves and rested barely covering her modesty, her black curls fell angelically on the pillow. Ignorant to the way he looked her, something else caught her eye, on top of his bed side table on the corner was a small spider orchid, the very same that she'd left all those nights ago. Still in pain the thought of this delicate flower made her smile and she drifted quietly into a peaceful sleep.