She sat on the infirmary bed as the mediwitch bustled about.

"Honestly… Can't keep the children in school… no control… someone could've died… could've lost an arm… and what were they thinking bringing Longbottom…" she mumbled to herself as she ran back and forth between patching students up and dishing out potions.

She finally made her way to Hermione, "Alright Miss Granger. Here's some Star Grass Salve. It should help. Take it, and if you still feel sore after dinner, I'll let you put it on again."

"Does that mean I can go?" she asked brightly and started to stand.

Madame Pomfrey put a hand on her shoulder, and guided her back down, "Not so fast. I'm still keeping you in here for observation. You have a nasty concussion, and shouldn't be worried about schooling right now."

"But- but- but my exam…" Hermione pouted.

"Professor Dumbledore has already taken care of it. Besides, you're the brightest witch of your age. There should be nothing to worry about. I'm sure the Ministry would be happy to let you take your last exam on a later date. Now, sit back, relax and put on the balm I gave you." She tried to help Hermione rub the ointment onto her shoulders, which she refused, and watched the girl's frame relax. "Don't fall asleep on me Miss Granger, or I'll have to force a potion down your throat."

"Yes, Madame Pomfrey," she sulked.

Hermione sat there for a while, trying to read, but finally gave up due to all the noise in the Hospital Wing. She huffed and rang her bell.

"What is it now Miss Granger?"

"May I go to sleep now?" she asked grumpily.

Pomfrey nodded and walked away.

Hermione laid there and tried to fall asleep. She couldn't though, no matter how hard she tried. Her feather tattoo on her shoulder was constantly itching, and she was feeling an overwhelming amount of anger and sadness that was foreign to her. As she laid there she thought back to the day she and Harry adopted each other as brother and sister.

They were in Moaning Myrtle's washroom when they did. It wasn't very sanitary, she knew, but where else were they supposed to do it? It's not like the common room gave much privacy.

"'Mione, we don't have to do this if you don't want to," Harry said worriedly.

She bit her lip, which was easy due to her rather large front teeth, or so she thought. "Harry, you need some kind of protection. You-know-who is back and rising. A war is coming."

"I'm well aware of that, Hermione. I've got my mum's protection, and as long as Dumbledore is here I'll be ok."

She scoffed, "Harry, I'm not saying Dumbledore isn't a great wizard, but how often have we been in danger under his care?"

"Yeah, but none of that was his fault."

"Harry!" She admonished, "That's not my point. The point is, not everybody is invincible and sometimes you need more than one backup plan. Okay?"

"Okay, Hermione. How do we do this?"

Hermione lifted her wrist and held it over a small goblet, "Make a straight slashing motion with your wand and say Secariterum."

She demonstrated, and slowly blood dribbled into the cup. When it was about a quarter full she flicked her wand again and muttered, "Episkey."

She sighed, "Your turn."

Harry did the same as her while Hermione crushed some herbs with mortar and pestle.

"What's that?" Harry asked.

"It's rosemary and lavender. They both have protection properties in them. And Professor Trelawney would be happy as well."

"Why would she be happy?"

"Because these also have astrological properties in them as well. Rosemary is associated with your zodiac sign, Leo, and lavender is associated with my zodiac sign, Virgo."

Harry thought about what Hermione had said, "Well that's interesting."

"Interesting indeed," She mumbled, distracted by trying to do the ritual exactly right.

"Alright, Harry, we're almost done. We need to toss the image we chose into the goblet after we've torn it apart. Do you have your copy of the image?"

Harry nodded, and they torn their identical copies apart, and tossed them into the goblet. There was a orange smoke that came forth, and smelled of the Hogwarts Express, where they first met.

"Okay, now all we have to do is the enchantment. It goes like this," she cleared her throat before she continued, "My name is Hermione Jean Granger, I'm a muggleborn witch, in my fifth year at Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and I solemnly pledge that I will protect Harry James Potter, my newly adoptive brother, to the best of my abilities." She paused and took a drink from the goblet. She shuddered and screeched. Her shoulder was burning and itching. She looked to Harry and motioned for him to do the same.

"My name is Harry James Potter, I'm a halfblood wizard, in my fifth year at Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and I solemnly pledge that I will protect Hermione Jean Granger, my newly adoptive sister, to the best of my abilities." He took a chug from the cup and gasped. She could tell by his face that he thought it was disgusting. A hiss of pain escaped through his teeth.

"Harry, I need you to check to see if it's there," Hermione said quietly. She lifted her shirt enough to reveal her left shoulder.

"It's there, Hermione. Is mine?"

Hermione lifted Harry's shirt and let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding. Gingerly she traced the image of a quill. "It is. That means the ritual worked. Now we're siblings, and with herbs and tattoo we'll be able to tell when one another is in danger. It's quite like the Dark Mark, but the tattoo itches, not burns."

Hermione was brought back to the present when she heard a bunch of hustle and bustle.

Pomfrey drew Hermione's curtains closed.

Dumbledore's voice carried over to her, "Minerva, we must get Severus in here quickly."