A/N: Whoa…hold the cattle ranch for a mo! Some explaining needs to be done by me! First off, I am so sorry again for this chapters delay, but I have the flu and have been sick for a few days now. I swear that I am sick! Florida is full of pollen all of the sudden, and sickness and allergies are everywhere! I escaped the flu for a while but I finally caught it…and it sucks! I nearly fainted the other day…but I have lived to tell the tale…lol. Now, let me talk about something that has been troubling me. A few of you have sent in reviews thinking that Hermione is pregnant! I don't know where that came from, but Hermione is still a virgin, and thusly SOOO not pregnant. I suppose her fatigue has made people think that, but it has to do with Amorea. Remember in chapter 17, that's called Amorea, where Voldemort gives Snape the Amorea poison in order to kill Hermione? It explains it there that Amorea drains one of their energy so that they die slowly. And in chapter 19, Hermione thinks she sees Snape pour something in her drink.

So there you have it folks…it's Amorea, not a bun-in-the-oven…lol. ; ) I hope you like the chapter! Muahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

"Hermione, you had better drink it. Don't give me that look young lady; you know you have to take it."

"Ginny, I feel fine without it." Hermione complained.

"Bollocks. I've seen you yawn about five times already. Drink up!" Ginny commanded.

Hermione looked at the vile in her hand and grimaced at the red potion that she had been taking for over a week now.

Ginny sighed and moved towards the brunette.

"It's either the potion or the hospital wing." Ginny said, placing a hand on Hermione's shoulder.

"I don't need either." Hermione protested. She felt a yawn rising up in her throat and she held it back by biting on her cheek. The pain made her more alert, but the feeling soon faded and she was left groggy once more.

"Hermione, you have to drink the Pepper Up potion. It's the only thing that keeps you awake." A worried look shone in Ginny's blue eyes that made Hermione look away. She knew she was scaring her friends, but there was nothing she could do. She was always so tired.

"What's happening to you Mione?" Ginny asked sadly. "There has got to be a reason for why you are so tired."

"I told you already Ginny, just as I've told everyone else. I don't know what's wrong with me." Hermione grumbled. She was extremely pissed with what was happening. She could handle being sick, but not knowing what was wrong with her drove her up the wall.

"Well, until you find out how to wake yourself up, you are going to drink the Pepper Up. Besides," Ginny added with a grin, "Tom wont let you open up any presents if you come stumbling down the stairs with your eyes half open."

Hermione smiled despite herself. It was finally Christmas morning and she was going to give Tom his Christmas present. Lord knows it took her forever to get, but she was persistent. She only hoped that he would like it and not be hurt by it.

"Alright Ginny," Hermione sighed in defeat. "You win."

Hermione plugged her nose and downed the red liquid in one tasteless gulp. The burning sensation in her throat caused her to cough and Ginny patted her back to try and help the hot liquid down.

"Ugh, they need to make a colder version." Hermione complained as she rubbed her burning throat.

"But I bet you feel much better now huh?" Ginny asked smugly.

"Alright Miss Know-it-all, lose that smug little sneer." Hermione laughed, finally able to breathe after the potion had settled in her stomach.

"Now that you're feeling better, we should go down to the Common Room. I bet the boys are already waiting by the tree." Ginny said as she pulled her maroon robe over her shoulders.

Hermione smiled and slipped her feet into her favorite pink slippers. Ginny giggled under her breath at the sight. Hermione's feet looked like they had been eaten by a furry pink monster.

"What's so funny?" Hermione asked, when she noticed Ginny giggling.

"N-nothing, I was just thinking about…about, socks." Ginny said, mentally slapping herself for coming up with such a lame lie.

"Socks…you're laughing about socks?" Hermione asked with a raised brow.

"Yes…yes I am." Ginny said, leading the way out of the empty girls' room.

Hermione rolled her eyes and smiled. Her friends were very entertaining.

As the girls walked out of the room, the sound of Christmas carols reached their ears.

"Hey, the girls are here!" Ron shouted out, stopping the other two boys from their singing.

"Happy Christmas!" Hermione and Ginny shouted out as they descended the stairs. The Common Room was full of decorations and lights, and the boys had enchanted the ceiling so that real snow fell down and disappeared before it hit the ground. The girls were in awe at how beautiful it all looked.

"Look at all of the presents!" Ron said happily. He gave Hermione and Ginny a quick hug before he rushed over to the large tree that was surrounded by beautifully wrapped gifts.

Harry and Tom approached the girls and gave each of them a hug as well. Tom held onto Hermione after their hug and looked into her eyes.

"How are you feeling this morning?" He asked gently as he stroked her hair. Hermione knew he was asking out of concern, but he hid it well in his calm voice.

"Fine. I took the potion before I came down, so I feel great." Hermione reassured him.

She felt a terrible pang in her heart. She hated lying to him and to all of her friends. Hermione had been on the Pepper Up potion for about a week now and it had only worked for a few days. Now when she drank the potion, the burning sensation would only last for a few seconds before becoming ineffective. She was just as tired as she was before, and her energy had been slowly draining over the course of the week. It worried her like hell, but she was good at disguising her fatigue from the others.

"I wish you would let me take you to the Hospital Wing. I don't like it that you still have to take the potion." Tom told her.

"Tom, please. I'll be ok. I just have a lot on plate at the moment. I'm fine."

Tom looked at her skeptically. He could tell that she was hiding something, and it aggravated him.

"Are you two going to stand there and hold each other all morning, or are you going to come over here and open up some presents." Ron shouted out across the room.

Tom and Hermione smiled and headed over to where their friends were gathered around the tree.

Hermione was thankful for this distraction. She wasn't sure how long she could go while lying to Tom. He was sure to find out sooner or later that her condition had worsened.

"Alright Ron, since you are in such a hurry to open up the gifts, why don't you go first?" Harry suggested.

"What a brilliant idea Harry." Ron said as he plopped himself down beside the tree.

The others sat down as well and laughed at Ron's giddiness. He looked like a kid in a candy store.

"Here, open mine first." Harry said as he handed Ron a box that was wrapped in shiny gold paper.

"Thanks Harry!" Ron said excitedly. As soon as Harry handed him the present, he began to tear into it.

Harry sat down as well and watched Ron open his gift with a mischievous look on his face. The others, save for Ron, noticed this and looked at Harry questioningly before turning back to Ron.

The box had been shed from its shiny wrapping paper and was now being ripped open. An excited grin had lit up Ron's face the whole time, making him look like a five year old instead of the fifteen year old he was.

Once open, Ron peered inside and looked down at his present. The grin slowly slid from his face and was replaced by a look of confusion.

"Well, what is it?" Ginny asked curiously.

Ron looked up from his gift and stared at Harry before answering. Harry still had an impish grin on his face as he gazed at his friend.

"What's this all about Harry?" Ron asked.

Harry giggled a little bit but he didn't answer.

"Bloody hell Ron, what is it?" Ginny asked again, leaning over a bit to try and see into the package.

Ron stuck his hand inside and pulled out a small bottle that was filled with a shiny, pink colored liquid.

Hermione recognized it right away and started laughing. Ginny and Tom looked amused by this and their excitement grew even more.

"Well, I still don't know what it is." Ginny said.

"It's…a…a bottle of…grow-a-brain." Hermione said through peals of laughter.

Ginny and Tom started laughing as well. Ron sat there looking confused.

"Harry, why would you get me a bottle of grow-a-brain? I don't get it." Ron asked.

"That's why you needed it Ron. You'll be able to get things now." Harry said as his grin grew wider.

"Oh Harry, its perfect." Ginny laughed. "If only I had thought of it!"

Ron looked at his sister and sneered before looking back to his present.

"Well go ahead and drink it." Tom said.

"No…I think I'll save it for later." Ron mumbled.

"Oh Ron, stop looking so glum. It was only a joke." Harry said.

Ron perked up a bit and actually smiled. "I guess it will come in handy for my classes."

"There's a good chap." Harry smiled.

"Alright, someone hand me a present." Ginny said.

Harry plucked one of hers from under the tree and handed it to her. Tom and Hermione gathered their presents as well and soon the floor was littered with different colored wrappings.

It took the group about twenty minutes to finish with their presents because everyone took the time to stop and show off what they had gotten.

Ron fell back into his giddy state as he opened the rest of his gifts. He even squealed a little when he opened Hermione's and saw the box of wizard's fire works. He jumped up out of seat and gave Hermione a huge hug and a kiss on the cheek, but not before asking Tom if it was ok. Tom laughed and said that he didn't care, though watching Ron kiss Hermione, even if it was just a friendly peck, made him feel a little jealous. He knew he was just being ridiculous and he went back to opening his gifts.

Everyone got a lot of really thoughtful things. Each had received some type of candy and there were plenty of trinkets and gizmos and lots of joke items from Zonko's for Ron and Harry. Even Tom had gotten a few joke things, though, he had no idea when he would ever use them.

Hermione received lots of books, which was usual, but she was delighted with what she had gotten. The books that Harry had given her were all really expensive and Ron had gotten her the book she had been wanting for ages. He laughed when he saw how happy she became and told her not to get so excited over a book on House Elves.

Tom was surprised with how many presents he had received, or maybe that was because he had never really gotten a present before. Sure the workers in the orphanage would get each child one present on Christmas, but it wasn't a real gift. It wasn't given to them by their family or loved ones. Tom thought of them as empty gifts, something given because it had to be done.

He opened each one slowly and with a content smile spread across his face. He didn't rip open the wrappings like the others did, but he carefully tore the paper as slow as possible. The others were becoming a bit agitated with him for going so slow, but they let him enjoy the experience. Harry of all people knew what it felt like to finally receive a gift after a childhood without them.

The others had gotten him a lot of nice things. Books, candies, clothes, gadgets. You name he got it. He felt very lucky to have such wonderful friends, especially since none of them had to be his friend at all.

When the presents were all open, Harry, Ginny, and Ron decided to go on a hot cocoa hunt. Tom and Hermione stayed behind, however, and said goodbye to their friends as they made their way down to the Great Hall.

"You get your present now." Hermione said. Her smile was strained, but there none the less. She was constantly biting her cheek in order to keep herself awake.

"You get yours first." Tom said, as he pulled out a small package from inside his robe.

He placed the gift in Hermione's hand and planted a kiss on the top of her head as she smiled up at him.

"Go on, open it." Tom said.

Hermione smiled again as she began to unwrap the small package. Once the little box was shed of its green wrapping, Hermione opened it and pulled out the object that was inside. It was a small gold key.

"What does it open?" Hermione asked as she examined it more closely. There was nothing on it that gave its purpose away, but Hermione could tell that it must open something important.

"That is the second part of your present love, and one that you will receive later on tonight." Tom said. His mischievous grin only made Hermione more curious as to what the key opened.

"Aren't you just full of surprises love." Hermione said. It was getting harder for her to keep up her charade. Every second was agony and she wished she could just lie down and go to sleep. Despite all of her pain, however, her smile never wavered and she fought back every yawn that threatened to burst from her mouth.

"You're going to love it, but I wanted to make you wait a little; it's more fun this way." Tom smiled.

"Well then, maybe I should wait as well to give you your present." Hermione said while arching an elegant eyebrow.

Tom laughed. "It seems only fair, though now we both have to suffer all day from curiosity."

Hermione was suffering all right, but it wasn't from curiosity.

"Like you said, it's only fair." Hermione laughed.

"We had better go catch up with the others. Hot cocoa sounds like heaven right now." Tom said with a dreamy smile.

"Lead the way handsome." Hermione giggled.

Tom grinned and scooped her up in his arms, laughing at the surprised squeal she let out.

"A lady deserves to be carried on Christmas." Tom said.

Hermione smiled. She felt so relaxed in his arms that she failed in stifling a yawn. She paled and looked up into her boyfriend's now worried face.

Tom let her down gently and stared her. His frown made Hermione feel so guilty and nervous, and the added stress only made her more tired.

"Tom, it's not what you think." Hermione pleaded.

"What is it then?" Tom asked quietly.

He sounded so disappointed, and looked so hurt.

Hermione bit her lip and looked away from him, unable to come up with an excuse for yawning.

"You took the potion and yet you're still tired. How long has it been ineffective?" Tom asked, his voice still quiet.

"Tom, I…"

"How long Hermione?" Tom interrupted. He didn't yell but his raised voice made Hermione cringe.

"It only worked for three days." Hermione said, her eyes still avoiding his.

"Three days? THREE DAYS?" Tom shouted. "Hermione, you've been pretending to be better for a week now! Do you know how sick you are! Not even Pepper Up potion is giving you energy anymore! What the hell is wrong with you?"

Tom had never been so angry with her. How could she lie to him like that?

"Tom…I'm so sorry." Hermione sobbed. Tears were threatening to fall from her eyes as she looked back at him.

"I don't know w-what's happening to m-me." She cried. "I'm tired all t-the time, but I couldn't let you know. I didn't w-want you all to worry…"

Hermione's face paled to sickly white color and Tom reached out and grabbed her just before she crumpled onto the floor.

"Hermione, open your eyes love." Tom begged as he scooped her up into his arms once again.

Hermione moaned in pain and snuggled closer to his chest as he carried her out of the Common Room.

"I can't Tom. I'm too tired." Hermione said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"That's ok love, just stay awake for me. Keep talking. What hurts?" Tom asked urgently as he sped off down the hallway with Hermione in his arms.

"I'm just so tired. I can't…s-stay…awake." Hermione mumbled.

"I know your tired love, but you have to stay awake. I'm taking you to the Hospital Wing. You'll feel better in no time." Tom said gently. He couldn't hide the worry in his voice however.

"You don't sound too confident." Hermione said, while managing a sleepy smile.

"You're going to be fine." Tom reassured her.

"If…y-you say…so." Hermione said, just as another yawn escaped her lips. Tom quickened his pace.

He reached the second floor and kicked open the doors to the infirmary. Madame Pomfrey rushed out of her office and ran up to Tom who was just as pale as the girl he was carrying.

"Good Lord Tom, what's happened?" Madame Pomfrey asked as she ushered Tom over to a bed where he carefully laid Hermione down upon.

"She's been sick for over a week now. We don't know what's wrong with her, but her energy seems to be draining and she's tired all the time. I would have brought her here sooner, but she was pretending to feel better." Tom said hastily.

"Has she been taking any potions?" Poppy asked, as she began to examine Hermione. The brunette looked close to death. Her skin was milky white and felt as cold as ice, and her breathing was shallow and slow.

"I have been giving her Pepper Up for energy, but it stopped working after three days. I…I didn't know." Tom said quietly.

"Mr. Riddle, Hermione is very ill. She's dying, but very slowly." Poppy said after examining her.

Tom felt like someone had just punched him in the gut. He could actually feel the blood draining from his face as she stared down at Hermione's weak and dying form.

"T-there must be something…there's got to be a cure…"

"I'm sure there is Tom, but I don't know what is wrong with her. I need the Headmaster and Severus here quickly. Go down to the Great Hall as fast as you can and…"

"No! I'm not leaving her!" Tom shouted.

"Mr. Riddle, Hermione is dying and I need Albus and Severus…"

"Send someone else." Tom said firmly. He kneeled down next to the bed and took Hermione's hand in his.

"I'm right here love." He whispered in her ear. "I'm not going to leave you." He kissed her cheek and looked back at Madame Pomfrey. She was telling one of the portraits to fetch Albus and Severus in the Great Hall and to do it quickly. The man in the painting nodded and disappeared into the picture.

"Mr. Riddle, keep talking to Hermione to keep her conscience. I have to gather some potions that may be able to give her some energy."

Tom nodded and looked back at Hermione. Her eyelids were fluttering and Tom squeezed her hand a little to let her know that he was there.

"Hermione, can you open your eyes?" Tom asked gently.

Hermione opened them as far as they would go and smiled when she saw Tom sitting next to her.

"Tom…I'm sorry."

"It's ok love. You were just being a proud Gryffindor."

Hermione giggled but it quickly subsided.

"I'm so scared Tom. What's happening to me?"

Tom's eyes filled with tears but he held them back with that last bit of strength he had.

"Dumbledore and Snape are on their way and Madame Pomfrey is getting potions that will help you. You're going to be…"

"Fine…so you told me." Hermione said weakly. Her eyes closed again as another yawn slipped past her pale lips.

Just then, Dumbledore and Severus burst into the room, followed closely by Harry, Ron, and Ginny.

Madame Pomfrey came out of her office with three bottles of potions and set them down next to Hermione's bed.

"She's dying Albus. I don't know what the cause of it is." Poppy told him.

"Dying! What do you mean she's dying?" Ginny asked in alarm.

"Tom, what happened?" Dumbledore asked as he leaned over Hermione to examine her more closely.

"She has been tired for some time now, like her energy is draining. I have been giving her Pepper Up potion for about a week, but it doesn't work on her anymore."

Ginny groaned and sank down onto the floor next to Tom.

"I should have known that she was lying." She said as a tear slid down her cheek.

"It's not your fault Ginny." Tom told her. "She was lying to all of us."

"What the hell was she thinking?" Ron asked furiously. "How could she let herself get like this?"

"Ron, calm down. You know how Hermione is." Harry told him. "She's stubborn but she's strong. She'll pull through…she has to."

Severus, who had been quietly studying Hermione's weak state, looked over to Tom and the others. They all seemed on the verge of tears as they gazed at their dying friend, and Tom looked liked he was going to fall to pieces at any moment.

What was so special about this Mudblood? How could she be so important to Tom when he was destined for such greatness?

"Amorea…"

The sound of his own voice took him from his musings and brought him back to the present. He wasn't even sure if he had said that at all, until he noticed every person in the room, save for Hermione, staring at him.

"It's Amorea." He said again. What the hell was he doing? Why was he telling them?

"Of course," Dumbledore said quietly. "It's the only thing that would cause these symptoms."

"What's Amorea?" Harry asked.

"It's a poison." Tom said. "I should have known…bit it's so rare…"

"A…poison?" Ginny asked fearfully.

Tom nodded. He suddenly looked very ill, like he was going to be sick all over himself at any moment. This did not instill much confidence in the other teens.

"What's the cure then?" Ron said hesitantly.

Tom shook his head as if to say 'no', and a pale green tint colored his cheeks.

"Albus," Poppy said quietly, "I don't know the cure for Amorea. It is very rare and it doesn't stop until the person is dead."

"I know Poppy." Dumbledore said calmly. "Let's hope that Miss Granger's strength holds out long enough for us to find some kind of remedy for the poison."

"H-how long does she have?" Harry asked quietly.

"Maybe a few days…if she's lucky.:" Snape said dully.

"And how in the bloody hell did she come across this Amorea poison?" Ron asked.

"Not how Ron…who." Harry told him. "Someone poisoned her."

"Who?" Ron asked urgently.

"We don't know who Ron." Harry said.

"Because if we did that person wouldn't be breathing right now." Tom snapped hatefully.

"Enough Tom." Dumbledore said sternly. "Right now we need to focus on healing Miss Granger rather than avenging her."

"Right, the avenging part will come later." Ron mumbled to himself.

"Stand back, all of you." Poppy said hurriedly. "I need to give Miss Granger these potions. They might be able to give her some strength."

"Severus, I need you to come to my office. I have several books that may give us some answers." Severus nodded and Dumbledore turned to the four teens who all looked sick with worry. "I need all of you to do some research in the library. I give you permission to use the Restricted Section. There may be something in there that has to do with Amorea."

"But sir, I thought you said there was no cure?" Ginny asked.

"We said we don't know of a cure, but that doesn't mean there isn't one." Snape said. "Amorea is a very uncommon poison which is why so little is known about it."

"Then we'll find everything we can." Harry said. He and Ron both stood and helped Ginny up onto her feet. Tom, however, stayed seated next to Hermione's bed, his hand still holding tightly onto hers. The potions that Poppy had poured down her throat seemed to put some color back into her cheeks, but her eyes had not opened and Tom knew that she was fast asleep.

"Tom, we can't do this without you." Harry said gently.

Tom knew he had to go, but he didn't want to leave Hermione alone.

"She'll be ok for now Tom. You're needed elsewhere." Dumbledore told him.

Tom nodded and stood up next to the others. He placed a small kiss on Hermione's lips before the group hurried out of the Hospital Wing and towards the library.

"Come Severus, Miss Granger doesn't have much time." Dumbledore said. "Take care of her Poppy."

"Of course Albus. The poor dear…so sick on Christmas." Poppy said while shaking her head sadly.

Snape cast one last look at Hermione's sleeping form before he followed Dumbledore out of the Hospital Wing.

"We need to contact Hermione's parents." Dumbledore stated, as the two men headed for his office.

"Headmaster, what if we can find no cure?" Snape asked.

"We have to Severus. I feel that this may have something to do with Voldemort, and if that is so then that means he is desperate. He knows he's losing Tom to us…to her."

The two wizards fell silent after that as they quickly made their way to Dumbledore's office.

Snape knew that one person would know a cure for Amorea, but going to the Dark Lord was out of the question. It was he after all who gave Severus the assignment to poison the girl in the first place.

Snape hoped that Voldemort would never find out that it was he who told Dumbledore and the others about the Amorea. He wouldn't live to see a new day if he did…

The End

A/N: Just kidding! That was so not the end! I just thought that it would be fun to play a joke on you guys…so um, don't throw anything at me…ok? ; ). I hope you liked the chapter! The next one is where we find out what Tom and Hermione got each other for Christmas ; ). And Harry will discover something as well!

So sorry again for all of the delays! I hate getting sick just as much as I hate school, so when both of them get mixed together…well, lets just say it's a very bad thing for me.

The next chapter is called Discoveries. See you all then! Muah!