A/N: Because I didn't update for a while until yesterday, here's another chapter! Anyways… I haven't done any Disclaimer's in a while… so…
Disclaimer: Yes. I don't own Harry Potter. I don't own anything you recognize at least. Don't rub it in.
Just keep in mind. I DO own this story.
Meeting Professor McGonagall
"Deathmare, Professor McGonagall! That's what my nightmare trauma is called. I'm going to die, Professor!" Hermione said, tears streaming down her face.
She was alone, and everyone else was discussing it in the Room of Requirements.
"Calm down, Ms. Granger. Tell me everything you know." Professor McGonagall said with a stern and steady voice, as she pushed her glasses up her nose.
"It was… in the library… A book called… Nightmares and Trauma… by someone… named Jay King… said I was… going to die." Hermione said in between sobs.
"Tell me what it said, Ms. Granger. Please, calm yourself so I can understand you clearly." Professor McGonagall said.
For some reason, her voice was of comfort to Hermione. Hermione breathed in and breathed out. Her tears stopped, and she could finally speak clearly again.
"There is a certain form of trauma that is shown- through nightmares. Terrible memories, being repeated in various ways- through nightmares. This is a very rare case, but when shown, it means that the victim is a person who has always carried a heavy burden, and has always been the center of attacks- physical, verbal, or spiritual. It means that this victim, has received his/her final blow. In other words, the victim will most likely die, in a matter of hours, days or years. No cure has been found for this. However, to warn the victim of this form of trauma, there are several symptoms. The first stage of this is just nightmares. The victim has nightmares about terrible memories, and they are slowly tortured by it. It slowly begins to destroy their soul. Once they are woken up, they can come back to their wits, and live on. The second stage of this is also nightmares, but they can not easily come back to this world. A bright light must be shined into their eyes for them to get out of the dreaming world. This is because the part of the dreaming world that the person is in is called the nightmare world. In nightmares, all is darkness. And so, the light helps pull them out, and lead them back to their world. The third stage is also one of the final ones. It means that the person's soul is halfway destroyed. When this happens, it usually means that they had something to remind them of what had happened earlier- the cause of the trauma. When the person is woken up, through a bright light, they must grasp for something they love, because that is what keeps their soul alive, and healthy. If they do not get this in 5 minutes, they will most likely die. This nightmare trauma is called 'deathmare'. Reasons being obvious. No person who has been the victim of deathmare, has survived up to record." Hermione recited with creepy accuracy.
"Have a biscuit, Ms. Granger." Professor McGonagall said calmly.
"No, I'm fine, thank you." Hermione said, wondering why her favourite professor would say something like this.
"No really, have a biscuit, while I contact this 'Jay King'." Professor McGonagall said.
"That's right! Jay King must know more about this!" Hermione said excitedly.
"He might, but we can not get our hopes up, Ms. Granger." Professor McGonagall said.
"Yes, I understand, Professor." Hermione said.
"And do have a biscuit." Professor McGonagall said curtly.
Meanwhile…
"What should we do…?" Harry asked.
"Well I'm going to contact my mother. My mother knows about 'deathmare', since her friend had it. I'm guessing… that her friend died." Draco said, depressed.
"We should also contact 'Jay King'. He's the one who wrote it, so he should know a lot about it." Ginny spoke up.
"That's true. We have to get as much as information as we can." Ron said.
"And if we can't find anything to help Hermione… we might as well just spend as much as time as we can with her." Luna said softly.
Everyone was silent. They were still very shocked that their friend was probably going to die.
"I'm going to Hermione to tell her about what we're going to do. And to comfort her. You guys strategize some more, okay?" Draco asked.
They all nodded, knowing that Draco and Hermione should have some time together. Alone.
Draco sighed, and he left the Room of Requirements. He sped away, to where Professor McGonagall was. Where Professor McGonagall was, Hermione was.
And finally, he arrived, and knocked.
"I'm busy, please don't bother me right now." Professor McGonagall said.
"It's Draco. I know Hermione is in there with you, I need to tell her something." Draco said.
"In that case, come in, Mr. Malfoy." Professor McGonagall said as she opened the door for him.
He saw Hermione, red eyed, sitting on a chair as she chewed on a biscuit.
"We're going to ask Jay Park about 'deathmare'." Draco said.
"Professor is already doing that." Hermione said.
"Expecto Patronum." Draco said, as he sent a message to the others, telling them that Professor McGonagall was already doing so.
His Patronus… was… not a ferret. It was a… bear…?
"A bear…?" Hermione asked.
"It's… because the urge to protect the people I love… is like a mother bear trying to protect its cub." Draco said, blushing.
"Aw… that's kind of cute, Draco." Hermione said, smirking.
"Anyways, I'm going to contact my mother… to find out more about… deathmare. Her friend had it, right? That's why… she knew how to deal with your situation." Draco said, as he sat down beside her.
"I remember. That's a good idea." Hermione said, smiling at him.
"It's good to see you smile again." Draco said, sighing inwardly in relief.
"It's good to feel myself smile as well." Hermione said.
Draco smiled, as he reached for Hermione's hand.
And so they sat together like that, holding hands.
Hermione paced inside Professor McGonagall's office. Professor McGonagall had said that she had contacted Jay King. She had also said to gather everyone and meet her at her office. Hermione had then quickly sent Patronuses to everyone, and she was now waiting for them to arrive.
Professor McGonagall had said that she would tell her everything when everyone came.
The first to arrive was of course, Draco.
"What happened? Did he say anything? Did you learn anything new? How-"
"I'm right now waiting for everyone. And Professor McGonagall said to wait until everyone came." Hermione said, a faint trace of hope in her voice.
And right after, arrived Ginny.
Before she could say anything, Hermione spoke. "Professor McGonagall said to wait until everyone came. So we don't know anything yet."
"Why is she making us wait?" Ginny asked impatiently.
"Well I would too, if I was her. Most likely, it's bad news. That's why she wants to break it to everyone at once, lessening the impact. Telling it over and over again is like someone punching you each time, as the news dawns in. It's probably for my sake. Also, if it's a long story she has to tell, then it'd be easier just telling everyone at once." Hermione explained patiently.
"What happened?" Harry's worried voice came.
"We don't know yet. We have to wait." Hermione said in a toneless voice. As time was passing, she was losing more hope.
"Hermione!" Luna said, as she ran over to her to give her a hug.
"We don't know anything yet." Hermione said with a muffled voice into Luna's shoulder, not bothering to hug her back.
"That's a shame." Blaise said sadly.
"Is everyone here yet?" Professor McGonagall asked, walking into the office.
"No, Ron isn't here yet." Pansy said.
"I am now." Ron said as he rushed in, breathing heavily.
"Sit down, children." Professor McGonagall said curtly, as she nodded towards the couches she had just summoned.
Everyone sat down.
Draco took Hermione's hand in his.
"Unfortunately, we have some bad news." Professor McGonagall pushed her glasses up her nose.
Hermione closed her eyes, waiting for the worst to come at her.
"I contacted him. But, he didn't exactly get the message. You see, he passed away a year ago." Professor McGonagall said.
It hit Hermione like a rushing train. She felt Draco's hand tightening around her, and she put her head on his shoulder for support.
Ron groaned.
"Draco, did you receive word from your mother yet?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"Yes. She asked if we were allowed to meet her, it's apparently a very long story." Draco said.
"Of course. That shall be arranged. Who will go with you, Ms. Granger?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"Well I'm going, obviously." Draco said.
"I want to be with her when she hears about it." Ginny said.
"Me too." Luna said.
"Same." Blaise said.
"Yeah, me too." Ron said.
"But we can't all go." Harry said.
"Well I need to go! I'm one of her best friends!" Ron said.
"I have every right to go! I was with her each time this happened." Ginny said, voice rising.
"Well, I should go!" Ron said, voice raising to the same level as his sister.
"No, I should!" Ginny shouted at him.
"ENOUGH!" Professor McGonagall shouted.
Everyone flinched.
"Ms. Granger, Mr. Malfoy and Ms. Weasley shall accompany you. Does that sound alright to you all?" Professor McGonagall said sharply.
Even if she asked, everyone knew that they had no choice for the answer.
"Yes." They said obediently.
"I shall write to your mother, and we shall arrange the date. For now, concentrate on your studies." Professor McGonagall said.
They all left her office.
"What was she thinking, telling us to concentrate on our studies at a time like this?" Ron asked bitterly.
"No, she's right. Even if I die, you guys should still focus on your studies. It's going to decide your future after all." Hermione said.
"I don't bloody want a future without you, Hermione!" Draco burst out.
"Amen." Ginny said.
"Well you have a little future with me. Be happy about that at least." Hermione said.
"I am. I am really grateful about that. But… I just want to live every day with you." Draco said.
"I do too." Hermione said quietly.
"We all do." Ginny said.
A/N: Hope you liked. Don't worry, you must all know that Hermione will never die. She's the star of the show anyways.