A/N: Here's the second chapter, as promised! Thank You to 'Samb1988' for the favourite! Much love to 'Lena2244' and 'sodasgirl1' for your comments! You'll find your answer here, Lena2244!

Trigger Warning: Mentions of substance abuse!

Guess who's about to find out about Hermione's condition?

Love,

Eldritch Ecstacy

Hermione

Hermione walked over to her dormitory, lost deep in thought. She'd known that taunting Malfoy could have been potentially dangerous, what with his aggressive nature, but she'd needed to hear it. To hear him say that he didn't do it out of his own violation. To hear him tell her that he wasn't as much of a monster as the Wizarding World made him out to be.

She didn't know why it mattered to her.

Just that it did.

And what was that envelope abou-

'Hermione?', came a groan from the doorway. Hermione turned away from the window to find Ginevra Weasley slumped against the doorframe, looking utterly bedraggled and clutching her head with one hand, the other entangled in the strap of her satchel, which looked like it had been dragged all the way there.

'Hermione?' she moaned. 'I have a fucking awful headache. I could really use some Pepper-Up Potion just about now' she muttered as she stumbled into the room with her eyes scrunched close.

Hermione eyed her with a slightly amused expression. 'I think a Sobriety Potion would be more effective. Just how much did you drink last night?' she mused, remembering the particularly raucous party the Gryffindors had had the previous night.

Ginny, who evidently seemed determined to ignore her last question, said 'Yes, well, I didn't think you'd have a Sobriety Potion on hand. Do you?' She turned a hopeful face towards Hermione as she flung her bag unceremoniously onto her bed.

Hermione shook her head with growing amusement, causing Ginny's hopeful expression to vanish. She groaned again and then turned away, saying, 'Well, I'll just take the Pepper-Up, then.'

Hermione's heart skipped a beat as she realized what Ginny was reaching for, and she rushed over and slammed the drawer shut seconds after Ginny had yanked it open. But not quickly enough. Not quickly enough for Ginny not to have seen the vast array of potions crammed in it.

'What was that?'

'Oh, nothing. I just remembered that the Pepper-Up's here, in my trunk' Hermione said in a voice that seemed shriller than usual, as she rummaged through her trunk. Pulling out a vial of the potion, she turned with jittery movements and offered it to Ginny, who made no effort to take it.

She stared at Hermione for a few moments and then pointed to her drawer and repeated,

'What was that?'

'They're just potions, Ginny. Here, take this before your headache gets worse-'

'-My headache be damned, Hermione, what's going on? Why do you have so many potions stashed in your drawer? Why would you-'

Ginny's eyes widened, and she sucked in a sharp breath as she reached for Hermione's shoulders, pushing her down on her bed and sitting down next to her.

'Hermione,' she said. 'You haven't- You're not- Oh, Merlin, do I need to call a Professor, Hermione? Or maybe Madam Pomphrey? Do you need help?'

'I- What? Ginny, what are you-'

'I get it, Hermione. I know every one has a coping mechanism, and-'

Hermione cut her off with an incredulous laugh. Oh, sweet Merlin, Ginny thought she had a substance abuse issue?!

A wave of relief spread through her as she grabbed Ginny's arm. 'Ginny,' she said, still giddy with relief, 'Ginny, I'm okay! I do not have a potions abuse problem. I'm fine, really'

Ginny's eyebrows relaxed a little, and now she merely looked confused.

'But then…what was-'

'Oh, you know, most of those potions are from when Harry, Ron and I were on the run. I just never found the time to clear them out' she said, lying through her teeth.

Ginny's expression cleared.

'Oh, good! Good, I thought-'

'I know what you thought, Gin. Don't worry, I'm fine'

Ginny smiled at her, got to her feet and then suddenly sat back down. Turning to Hermione with a half sheepish look, she said,' About that Pepper-Up Potion…'

Hermione grinned at her, the sounds of their laughter mingling in the air.

Hermione was busy running through numbers and calculations in her head as she walked briskly towards the Hospital Wing. She had just come from Headmistress McGonagall's office, where she had received the results of her latest checkup.

Her condition seemed to be fairly stable for now, but she was pretty sure Madam Pomphrey would want to increase the dosage of the Strengthening and Blood Purifying Potion. Oh, and that Potion she had formulated to help keep her airway comfortably wide. Merlin, the fumes from that potion were ghastly. Having to inhale more of those wasn't something she was looking forward to, not-

That was the last thought she had before she slammed into someone coming around the corner, sending them both sprawling to the floor. Bloody fucking hell, Malfoy was right. She really needed to stop running into people so much.

She got to her knees and started picking her stuff up, all the while stammering apologies to whomever she had knocked over. She saw a hand reach down and pick a few of her papers up, and she turned around to take them, a 'thank you' already on her lips.

And her heart sank.

Pansy Parkinson.

Staring at her diagnosis with an expression of shock and indignation.

'Parkinson?!' she squeaked in a shrill voice, getting to her feet and reaching for the papers, but Pansy, being taller than her, simply held them out of her reach and continued reading.

There was a short silence, but to Hermione, it felt like forever, as she stared helplessly at Pansy, who's eyebrows seemed to be climbing steadily upwards on her forehead.

Then, slowly, deliberately, Pansy lowered the reports and turned to look at her, her expression unreadable.

The lie slipped from Hermione without conscious thought.

'Oh, those aren't mine, they-' Pansy silenced her with a quelling glare and then, in a quiet and deliberate voice, she said, 'When, Granger? When were you planning on telling me?'

Hermione felt oddly defensive and guilty as she said 'Why would I tell you? It's not like we're friends, and I haven't even told Ginny and the others…' she trailed off, the brief flash of hurt in Pansy's eyes making her feel even worse.

She could feel her emotions swirling in her head, and it felt like something heavy had lodged itself in her throat.

'Okay, then' said Pansy, her expression once again unreadable, 'Why haven't you told your friends?'

'Because I don't want anyone mollycoddling me, or thinking less of me, or-'

'I don't think anyone could ever think less of you. If anything, your diagnosis and the fact that you're not letting it define you just proves how strong you really are.' Pansy's voice seemed to be filled with something strangely similar to respect.

That was all it took.

Just like that, Hermione burst into tears.

She slumped forward, sobbing, and Pansy extended her arms out as if she'd been waiting for it. She sunk to the ground with Hermione in her arms, running her hand through her hair just like her mother used to, and whispering things made illegible by Hermione's wailing.

Even after Hermione had quietened, they stayed like that throughout the night, neither of them speaking a word, and yet saying so, so much.