The three of them were rather cold to each other for a few days. Then some interesting things started happening.

"I don't want to go to potions!" Ron was moaning to no one in particular.

"You have to go." Hermione said.

"Says who?" Ron snapped, glared at Hermione and turned away.

"The whole school! The whole school says you have to go Ron. OK!?" Hermione was so angry she tripped on a stair and sent her book bag crashing to the floor. It opened, and out spilled papers, ink, quills and several books. Quite a few of them were on Hebrew, Judaism and Jewish culture. Ron reached over to pick one up, but Hermione grabbed it and shoved it into her bag. "Let's just go." She said quietly as she moved past the laughing faces, her arms clasping her book bag to her chest.

Potions was as normal as potions could be. Currently there was only one missing from their class, and Draco chose to make snide comments about Rachel's absence.

"Looks like the mudblood is losing it without her yankee doodle friend." Draco said, calmly pouring out his powdered dragon fang into the vial.

Hermione was Neville's partner, and unfortunately, Hermione could never pull herself together with potions. She always seemed..well, spastic. All her other classes she was ok, turned everything in on time, did all her work, but in potions, she was just not well. This was the first time Harry or Ron hadn't been her partner, and neither one of them was surprised when the vial of powdered fang was dropped accidentally. Harry noticed Ron was flinching, and muttering.

"No Hermione. Not today. Please."

But it was too late. Hermione's caldron fell, due to her nerves and Neville's natural grace. It landed on the floor with an echoing bong and powdered dragon fang flew everywhere, landing in the eyes of Draco, Crabbe and Goyle. They began to scream in pain.

"Miss Granger, you obviously cannot conduct yourself in my class. Twenty five points from Gryffindor. Messrs. Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle, please go to the infirmary."

Hermione had her hands over her face, hiding the shame and the tears.

Madame Pomfrey was nearly at her wits end. The moaning of the three students was now unbearable, after all the treatments she had administered had failed. She had stepped out for a moment to take a break when the three Slytherin fifth-years came up. They were moaning as well, and fitfully rubbing their eyes, but at least they were walking. And conscious. Madame Pomfrey loosened her mask. "How may I help you gentlemen?"

The first one, Draco Malfoy stepped forward. "That bloody Gryffindor! Granger! She got powdered dragon fang in my eye! And his eye!" Draco pointed fervently. "And his! And it really bloody stings!"

Poppy could have kissed them. Finally! Something she could fix! Heal! Mend! "Stay right here. I don't want you coming in with all the sick students." It was only three, but since the disease was so mysterious, it was probably best that they stay outside. Tightening her mask, Poppy went inside to get the cure.

"Hermione, it's not the end of the world." Harry was looking deeply into Hermione's face, trying to get her to meet his gaze.

"I lost house points! Again! Why does it always happen to me?"

"It's nothing to worry about." Ron said, hovering over them nervously. "I mean, it's Snape! He hates everyone that isn't a Slytherin. You, me, Harry, Rachel..."

Hermione burst into tears.

"What's wrong?!" Ron hissed. "You need to stop that! We're still in class you know. Snape isn't going to be writing on the board forever."

Hermione was sputtering. Finally, she reached into her bag and pulled out a crumpled and wet piece of paper.

"These better be tears." He remarked sourly as he unfolded the letter. "Wait a minute! Hermione, this is Rachel's letter! It's her private stuff!"

Hermoine shook her head bitterly.

"Just read it." Harry said, patting her shoulder. "Out loud. I want to hear it too."

"Fine." Ron cleared his throat, and read, in a whisper

"Dear Rachel,

Sorry I haven't written for so long! Your father and I have been very busy with Jacques Lunaire the french minister. He has fallen ill with a mysterious disease, and your father and I have been trying to help him. It was quite odd really. One day he just fainted, and he didn't regain consciousness. He still functioned however, and appeared to be in a lot of pain. Your father and I tried many, many things, but nothing seemed to work. We considered writing you, but decided not to trouble you too much. We wanted you to focus more on your schoolwork then on some Frenchman you barely knew, though I think you did get to speak with him at that dinner party. Anyway, and unfortunately-" Ron dropped the letter.

"Did it just end?" Harry asked, as he picked it up.

Ron's face was as white as a sheet. He shook his head, and his mouth opened and closed soundlessly.

"You know, it sounds like that Frenchman had something like Rachel had. Do you think she caught it from him?" Harry pondered as he opened the letter.

Ron nodded, then closed his eyes and looked down at the floor.

"What's so-" Harry scanned the letter. His eyes stopped. "No. No no. That's not true. That isn't happening!" Harry ripped up the letter, balled up the pieces and burned them under his cauldron. He couldn't believe it. He wouldn't believe what those words had said. Jacques Lunaire hadn't died. He hadn't. He was alive and well, wasn't he? Rebecca Jacobson was just playing a joke! And Rachel wasn't going to die either.

A scream pierced their awkward silence. Everything was happening so fast. Why was it so fast? Now it was slow. A girl was falling in slow motion. Another girl...Lavender Brown, was screaming her head off. A long, high-pitched frightened scream. Professor Snape was turning around, the chalk falling from his hands.

They would find out later that the girl was named Teresa. They would find out later that she had talked to Rachel during halloween. They would find out later that Draco had liked her. They would find out many things later, but right now they were concerned with what was happening now.

Her body bounced off the stone floor a few times before everyone realised what was happening.

Lavender was still screaming, her voice unearthly and high. Harry was amazed she could still breathe. Ron was staring at that girl's red hair. He was fixated by it. It reminded him so much of his own. His sister. His brothers.

Hermione's mouth was open, but no words or noise were coming out. She was screaming inside her brain, and it was the most nerve racking scream she had ever experienced.

Snape finally got the gist of what had happened. Struggling to remain calm, he put a spell on her body to send it to the hospital wing. He didn't want to go with Teresa, because he was scared of what would happen if he left. He was, and most unfortunately for some of them, the student's last hope right now, and he would have to be strong and support them. And he would also have to shut that Gryffindor up.

Seamus clapped a hand over Lavender's mouth. More startled by the movement then by the action, her mouth closed as well, and Seamus retracted his hand. Then they all started staring at each other.

Teresa's body floated up the stairs. Had anyone actually been there, they would probably been quite frightened. But, no one was there, and her body floated peacefully away.

Madame Pomfrey was finishing up the last boy, and about to send them back down to class when the girl's body floated up to them.

"TERESA!" Draco cried, rushing out of Madame Pomfrey's grip.

"Stop it!" Madame Pomfrey held him still as she administered the rest of the cure. The other boys had already left back for class. She let go of the last boy as she went to tend to the girl.

Madame Pomfrey was rushing down the stairs. Her mask was half falling off her face and her bun was coming undone. She felt as though her word was tumbling down around her. She was a grown woman. She was supposed to help people! But she felt like an unraveling thread that was down to its last.

She arrived at the door to the dungeons shaky and sweaty. She had to stand outside for a few moments to catch her breath and work up enough courage to open the door.

"I have some unfortunate news for you all," she began, anxiously rubbing at her red face. "Draco Malfoy has taken ill."