A/N: I haven't updated in a while so I hope you guys are still around. In this chapter, Hermione finally makes the decision to begin the experiments. This is my shortest chapter so far. Sorry that not much happens in this one, but things will definitely happen in the next.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
There was a knock on the wall near the opening of the cubicle alerting Harry to the arrival of a newcomer. He finished the last line on his report before he looked up into the determined face of his red-haired best friend standing there with a yellow folder in hand.
"You're early," he commented, casting a quick glance at his watch that read 11:54. "But I can take lunch now if you'd like."
Ron nodded as he walked into the small space and placed a folder in Harry's hands. "That's not a problem, but I actually came to give you this."
Harry took it and started to skim its contents as Ron continued, "Burgess stopped me on my way to my desk this morning with this assignment for us. Said it should take one or two days tops."
Harry looked up into Ron's face, "But this is grunt work. We probably did something like this when we just started. Why can't he get one of the new recruits to do this?"
Ron shrugged. "Who knows how Burgess thinks? You know he hasn't particularly liked us since we came here. I wouldn't be surprised if he was just giving us this to keep us busy. It would be something he would find amusing."
Harry chuckled as he rose from his desk, putting the folder away into his desk drawer. "Isn't that the truth? Let's head out."
"...sitting under the tree before she fell over," a voice was saying on her right. Her mouth felt like cotton as she tried to understand what was happening around her. She was on something soft and it smelled like linen. How did she get to her room?
"I think she's waking up," another deeper voice said before she felt someone touch her hand. She flinched a bit though the movement was slower than she intended. "Hermione, can you hear me?" it asked.
She opened her mouth slowly but no sound came out. Her throat felt slightly sore and she began to cough. "Get Mum," the second voice said before she heard fading footsteps.
"Hermione, do you have any idea what happened to you?" the person holding her hand asked.
Something happened? "Head...hurts..." she rasped out.
"Hermione," a scared voice said before she felt a cool hand on her face. She resisted the urge to flinch as the person continued, "We were so worried."
"Did you bring a potion, Mum?" the deep voice asked.
"Oh," she said. "Yes, Charlie, help me get her to sit up to drink it."
Before Hermione knew it, she was pulled up under her arms and odd-tasting liquid was forced down her throat.
"Don't drown her, Ginny," a voice scolded as Hermione began to cough. As Hermione swallowed though, she could feel the pain in her head lessening.
"Feeling better, dear?" the voice asked.
Hermione just nodded and then asked, "How did I get here?"
"Ginny just got home when she heard you screaming outside. She immediately floo-called the shop since she couldn't get a hold on Mum. I left George and carried up to to your room. Mum came home a few minutes later," the deep voice said.
Hermione nodded slowly and said, "I was just reading when I felt a horrible stabbing sensation behind my eyes. I tried to get inside on my own but the pain got so bad I probably passed out."
There was a pause before Hermione heard shuffling to her right and something heavy was placed on her lap. "I went to visit Luna today and she gave me this book for you to read. Please Hermione, maybe this thing is getting worse."
Hermione turned her head towards her concerned friend's voice, fingering the edges of the book on her lap. She could feel the waves of worry coming from the other Weasleys around her as well. She knew they wanted her to get better just as much as she did. She knew they didn't want to see her in any pain, and doing nothing was doing just that.
She swallowed and turned her head down to her lap. "I'll read the book now and consider Luna's ideas," Hermione said softly, trying to calm the fear that was setting into her heart from the dangers that may happen. She had to give this a shot, right?
"Lovegood, please tell me that you can take me tomorrow. I can't stand working under Healer Headley," Draco said as he walked through the door of the blonde woman's colourfully decorated office. His job today consisted of walking behind and writing down everything she and the patient said during her analyses. He knew she could easily magick a quill to take her notes, but she wanted him to do it 'for his impeccable penmanship'. Old bat.
She looked up momentarily from the old tome in her hands and said, "I'll send the request up to the Healers' office. In the meantime, you can continue going through the books over there. I have a feeling we'll need them when we start the treatments within the next few days."
"Start?" Draco asked as he took a seat near to the pile he had been reading the day before. "Granger agreed?"
Lovegood just smiled and said, "Not yet, but I had a talk with Ginny today and I have a feeling that Ginny will be able to convince her. This is really important and we need her to agree to it. Ginny will be able to stress that to her."
Draco nodded. This was very important. They didn't know anything much about the dark magic but anything could be better than just sitting around.
They sat in silence, the two of them just reading their respective books and taking notes, when the small fireplace behind Luna's desk suddenly turned green. A head materialized within the flames. "Luna, Malfoy," the female head greeted.
Draco just nodded to the female Weasley while Luna smiled and asked, "What seems to be the problem, Ginny? You saw me not a few hours ago."
The girl bit her lip before saying, "We had an incident with Hermione a while ago. I fear it might be the thing in her eyes. I gave her the book like you said and she seemed willing to consider your treatments."
There was a pause as the head turned to the side beyond the fireplace and began muttering. Soon her head disappeared and was replaced with another. Draco gazed at the tired, glowing face of the bushy-haired witch. She looked scared and slightly defeated, but she still said clearly, "I've read the book, Luna. When can we begin?"