Forgive me, Hermione
Chapter 3!
By ~*Our Lady of the Flame*~

Hey! :) I'm back! Sorry it took so long; I just turned in my English term paper.

*lol* Actually, if I choose to stop writing, I can and will. Just to be a brat, I want a certain number of reviews before I write each chapter. Believe me, it's a small price to pay for the chills and delights of the upcoming chapters. :) Go ahead. Flame me. Gather a petition. But you can't stoooooooppppp meeeeeee...*hehehe*

Brief chapter preview: In this, Alex decides she's tired of waiting and planning and all sorts of evil little schemes. Now she wants to USE them. Watch out....you're going to either want to flame me, or kill Alex. There are basically two options. :P Ron and Hermione fans....I really hoped you enjoyed the last chapter....there won't be any more fluff for a while....well, at least, between THEM. :P *uh-oh*

Oh, wait. I forgot. You can't flame me. *hehe* I'm OF the flame. :P

Reviewers: Thanks for keeping me going! Remember: the more reviews, the faster the chapters will come! And as for the people who didn't like the second chapter as much, I know, and I'm sorry; I didn't either, so I lengthened it. I was in a hurry to post before I went to Atlanta to visit a friend for the Easter holidays, so when I got back, I was refreshed and ready to fix it, which I did. :) Anyway, I hope you like this third chapter.

Disclaimer: NO NO NO NO!!!! *I* am not J.K. Rowling. *YOU* are not J.K. Rowling. WHY DO WE HAVE TO SAY THIS??? UNLESS JKR IS A 14 YEAR OLD, THEN DON'T SUE ME!!! I ONLY OWN ALEX!

~!*!~

Chapter 3: Priori Shalleterium

Hermione staggered into the Dining Hall, her mascara starting to gather slightly around her eyes, her face drawn and pale. She bumped into Dean, muttered an apology, and grunted a good morning to Harry, who was thoroughly engrossed in his "Golden Snitch" Quidditch magazine. Sighing, she set her books down and sat beside him, leaving a space for Ron on her other side. She raised her eyebrows lazily and squinted over Harry's shoulder at a rather grim-looking Beater as he swung his club in a wide arc, sending a Bludger speeding out of the picture.

Harry closed it with a yawn, and poured himself some pumpkin juice. Then he put his arm around Hermione as she closed her eyes and leaned her head on his shoulder with exhaustion. Harry loved Hermione. Not the way RON loved her, but in a different way; almost like she was a little sister to him. He was very protective of her, just as Ron was of Ginny.

"Hi there, Hermi," he yawned, patting her shoulders. "Did you sleep a lot last night?" Hermione barely opened her eyes and grunted, which Harry assumed meant no. "Aw, I didn't either. I spent THREE HOURS dancing with Ginny last night. Where were you?"

"Trying to get some sleep, of course," she murmured, amused. "Isn't it a bit obvious that you and Ginny aren't so far apart as you think, Harry?" She grinned, opening one eye to see him blush. "You really should make a move towards her. You look so good together...." He raised one eyebrow and gave her a funny look.

"If you weren't my friend, Hermi....jeez.....me and Ginny....think of what Ron would say if I argued or fought with her..." Hermione grinned and tweaked his nose playfully before sitting up and pulling her bag into her lap. She unzipped it hurriedly, rummaging through the forest of contents for something. The more things she had to move, the more frantic her expression became.

"Hermione? What's wrong?" Asked Harry, leaning towards the bag with raised eyebrows. "Did you forget something?"

"I didn't FORGET anything," she said airily, waving her hand impatiently. "I KNOW I had it when I left the dormitory......so where did it go?" She stood and walked several times around their area, then, sighing, finally gave up. "It isn't there," she said dully, her eyes blank.

"WHAT isn't there?" Harry pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose a little. "I might've seen it, you know...."

Hermione laughed bitterly. "Don't be an idiot, Harry! I left my room nearly two minutes ago; how could you have seen it? But.....in case, with the benefit of the doubt, that you DID see it....." She clapped her hands to her forehead, "It was may Potions essay." He frowned thoughtfully, then his eyes widened.

"You don't mean the eight foot long one that we only had last night and the early morning to work on?" She nodded glumly. He stood. "Hermione, Snape's going to kill you if you don't have that! Then he'll give you all this rubbish about disgracing Gryffindor about not having it; being a Prefect and all....."

She sighed again. "I KNOW, Harry! Why ELSE do you think I was looking for it? For FUN, so I look STUPID and ruin my reputation that I've spent nearly SIX YEARS building?" She hissed. He sat down again and forced her to look at him. She was flustered and impatient, Harry knew, because nowadays, Hermione almost NEVER yelled at or scolded him.

*Great,* he thought, groaning. *Well, she's my friend.....* "Where did you last have it?" He asked gently.

"Over in the Hall. I remember TOUCHING it, to make sure it was there, because we all know it would be SUCH a highlight in my day if I lost A STUPID POTIONS ESSAY...." Harry gave her a 'calm down' look and stood.

"I'm going to look for it," he said determinedly. "You don't have to look like an idiot. At least *I* won't; I'm not a Prefect....." She snapped out of her trance immediately.

"Oh, would you, Harry?" She begged, her eyes pleading. "I mean.....you don't have to.....it isn't YOUR essay, after all......."

He shrugged. "Save it, Herm. It's no big deal. I'll go look for it, OK?"

"THANK YOU!" She flung her arms around his neck gratefully. "Harry, you're the best!" He grinned when she released him.

"It's a good thing Ron didn't see that," he teased. "He'd have me on the ground in a massive noogie, begging for mercy......hugging his girlfriend." She knew he was only kidding; Ron knew they were only friends. After she mussed up his hair affectionately for that comment, he strode out into the Hall; it was nearly empty, except for a group of first year girls, who were talking and eyeing him shyly from their corner.

"Er...." He cleared his throat. "Have any of you seen an essay?" Some of them giggled nervously. "A Potions essay?" All of them shook their heads, except for one.

"I have," she said timidly. "It was really neatly written, too. About eight feet long, I expect. But the girl came back and picked it up."

Harry stared at her thoughtfully, running a hand through his hair. If Hermione had been teasing him......"What did she look like?" He asked finally. The girl looked at the floor.

"Ummmm...." She said uncertainly. "I think she was about your height......blonde hair, hazel eyes....hey, isn't she that American?"

Harry didn't need telling twice. He sprinted towards the entrance to the Gryffindor common room, calling, "Thanks!" behind his shoulder. Alex.....if Alex had stolen Hermione's Potions essay, that was a very, very bad sign. That means she would cause even MORE trouble than was expected. He sprinted right around the corner, then-

"Oomph!" He slammed right into someone, causing them to fall, and by the sound of it, it was a girl. Breathless, he stood and offered his hand to her. She stood also, and bent down to pick up her books. As she was reaching for her Book of Advanced Transfiguration, he reached for it at the same time. Their hands touched, and they drew them away quickly.

"Sorry," he muttered, gathering the rest of her books. "I didn't mean-"

"That's okay," she mumbled. "Hey, than-" but then she stopped, and Harry looked up....he became face-to-face with Alex!

"YOU!" They exclaimed at the same time, unreadable hatred showing in each other's eyes. They stood there for a while, glaring at each other. Then-

"I CAN'T BELIEVE I helped you!" Harry snarled. Alex bellowed fire back.

"Yeah?! WELL, I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU DID EITHER!!!" She snapped menacingly.

"YOU KNOW?!?!" roared Harry, putting a hand on one of her books. "I THINK THIS LOOKS BETTER WHERE IT WAS......" he threw it down, "...ON THE GROUND!!!!"

"YEAH?! MAYBE IT DOES!!!!!!!!!!" She screamed. "AND HOW ABOUT *THIS*......" she threw a second one down herself. "DOES THAT PLEASE THE FAMOUS HARRY POTTER?!?!"

"YEAH!!!" He bellowed, his face rigid. "AND MAYBE *THIS* WOULD PLEASE HIM EVEN MORE!!!!" He threw a third one down.

"OH?? AND WHILE WE'RE AT IT, LET'S THROW THE WHOLE DAMN THING DOWN!!!!" She shrieked, and they both seized the remainders of the stack and threw them down, one by one.

Their little spat was interrupted by laughter. They both looked up to see Ron leaning against the staircase, laughing so hard he was sinking down to the ground. "Dammit, you two are good!" He collapsed with laughter, wiping his blue eyes. Both of them stared, then Alex shoved something into Harry's hands.

"TAKE IT!" She hissed menacingly, glaring at him. He looked and saw it was Hermione's essay; he quickly rolled it up the way it was supposed to be and turned on his heel, storming off to the Dining Hall; scattering books along the way. He didn't realize Ron was behind him until he felt a hand on his shoulder and he spun.

"Hey, Harry....." Ron frowned, running a hand through his hair, "Why d'you hate Alex so much? What's she done to make you mad? I mean, not that she's the nicest girl in the world, but hey-"

"Everything," Harry muttered. "There's just SOMETHING there....something about her that really bothers me." He looked his friend squarely in the eyes. "What, you don't get that feeling?"

"No." He frowned confusedly, then shrugged. "Aw, what the hell, Harry; you two were funny, that's all I can say." He turned and walked towards the door, Harry at his heels. Hermione stood when they appeared and walked over to them. Harry presented her with the precious essay, and she gave him a smile and a hug of gratitude before Ron pulled her off to the side to whisper something in her ear. She frowned and nodded, her eyes thoughtful, before he released her. They walked towards the Gryffindor table and sat down, Hermione replacing her essay in her bag.

"So, Harry..." Ron passed her the pumpkin juice, and she poured it rather absent-mindedly, because she was looking at Harry, causing it to spill a little. "How did you find it? I looked all over for it before you did......"

"Alex had it," he replied quickly, not bothering to lower his voice. "She stole it," he added in triumph, as Alex walked past him on her way to her seat.

"Go to Hell," she whispered, before slamming her books down in a seat diagonally from Ron, throwing Harry a look of pure hatred.

"Same to you," he hissed back, white-hot anger showing in his green eyes before turning back to Hermione, who looked utterly astonished. She looked at Alex questioningly before shrugging and pulling her bowl to her. She frowned at its contents rather suspiciously before dipping her finger into the porridge, feeling around. Parvati Patil stared over at her.

"Hermione? What are you-?" But her words were cut off as Hermione pulled out a long, slippery, banded snake, looking at it curiously. Parvati screamed, as did many people along the table as it hissed angrily and snapped at her wrist, baring its fangs.

"Oh my-" gasped Ron, quickly snatching the snake from Hermione and throwing it to the ground. "Don't you touch that thing! Hermione, that's poisonous!"

The snake coiled up and prepared to strike, its ugly little triangular head trembling slightly. Its beady eyes saw Harry. It hesitated, then lunged.

"Agh!" shrieked Hermione, knocking the snake back, just before its fangs sank into Harry. Instead, it sunk its fangs into HER. She gasped in surprise and stood, clutching her hand. Enraged, the snake side-winded its way through many legs, hissing angrily. People screamed and stood on their chairs, while others ran blindly around the room, shrieking madly.

Dennis Creevey lunged forward, foolishly grabbing the snake behind the head. "I've got it! I've got it!" He yelled. Professor McGonagall rushed forward, her face white.

"CREEVEY!" She shrieked. "Put that THING down this instant, or-" Her voice was cut off as, with a loud, rattling hiss, the snake rose and began to widen....no, GROW. It was enlarging quickly.....it was the size of a pig......a dog.....a horse.....an ELEPHANT....

"Aieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!" shrieked Dennis, turning and attempting to make a getaway. The snake, which was now the size of a two-story house, saw the movement. Its tail twitched. It hissed. Then it threw out its tail, seizing Dennis, who was yelling fretfully as it lifted him into the air, surveying him disdainfully.

It was pandemonium. Harry caught a glimpse of Dumbledore raising his wand before people closed in all around him in a panic. He had to help Dennis.....but how could he SEE? He tried shoving people aside, but it was hopeless. And Hermione.....was she alright? He scanned the crowd for his friend, but she was nowhere in sight.

More waves of screams from the crowd. Harry fervently hoped that Dennis was okay. After all, he was only a third year.....he didn't have a chance! Someone in front of him moved, heading for the back door, and he caught a glimpse of Professors Lupin, Snape, McGonagall, and Dumbledore shooting spells at the snake, who didn't seem to want to let go of its catch. It was now squeezing Dennis, no doubt hoping to make a meal of him before he got away.

Harry heard a yelp and saw Colin, screaming with angry tears in his eyes as he desperately lunged at the snake again and again, which paid no heed. It seemed to be leering at him as his little brother slowly died from lack of air....

Harry froze. He had to DO something! All time seemed to freeze for a moment, Harry wondering wildly what spell to use next. Colin had always been a bit of an annoyance, but this? He certainly didn't deserve it.

TSEW! The crowd looked up to see a large streak of purple lightning cut across the ceiling, then strike the snake with a vengeance. It released its hold on Dennis, and Colin, with a cry of relief, pulled his brother out of reach. (No, he's not dead.)

SSSHHHHHWWWWWSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHH! The sea of heads turned to catch a glimpse of Hermione, who was using her hands....Harry fought to see clearly, thinking he was seeing things.......yes, her HANDS, to shoot balls of blue fire the size of houses at the snake, which was spitting in anger. Nearly blinded by rage, it lunged for Hermione, fangs outstretched. Harry gasped. He couldn't do anything; he was too far away!

TSEW! Ron jumped in front of her, shielding her from certain death. He fired with an utmost anger Harry had only seen once before. The look in his eyes was one of cold fury; it even scared Hermione. Suddenly, the snake seemed to freeze in midair, then, with a hiss of anger from the snake, Harry realized that Ron had permanently blinded it and bloodied the head, which was raining down on the crowd, much to the disgust of the students.

Thrashing around madly, the snake's tail whipped out, hitting Lavender and sending her flying against the wall. She hit it and sank to the ground, dazed. The tail flicked again, sending wave upon wave of students across the room. This had gone far enough. Harry, without thinking, pulled out his wand, and, to his surprise, about ten other people roared the spell in one bellow right along with him.

"PRIORI SHALLETERIUM!" The voices bellowed, as one. Harry felt chills running up and down his spine as a blinding flash of light erupted from the end of his wand. Similar blasts came from nine other places in the room. With the snake twisting desperately, ten wizards held their gaze as the snake slowly started to vanish.

As the snake was now just a mere mist, Harry looked quickly around the room, trying to see who the others were. Dumbledore....Lupin....McGonagall....Snape?

....himself......Ron......Cho......Flitwick......Sprout, and.....Hermione. *No surprises there, Herm.* he thought admiringly. With one final hiss that echoed around the room, the snake vanished. Sighs of relief came up from all over, then there was a mad dash for the injured people to take them to the hospital wing. Dumbledore cleared up the mess with a wave of his wand, his eyes weary.

Harry rushed over to Ron and Hermione, who had lowered their wands once the snake had vanished. Harry noticed that Hermione seemed very pale; she looked as if she would hurl at any moment. Then he remembered. She'd been bitten, trying to protect him. He ran to her.

"Hermione......are you okay?" He asked anxiously, seeing her expression. She nodded, but Ron shook his head angrily.

"The hell, you are. You got bitten by a snake," he scolded her. She shot him a slightly irritated look, but shook her head in denial.

"No, no," she insisted, although her skin was as white as a sheet. "It was only a small bite. Really, I'm fine, you two," she added quickly, seeing their scowls. "There's nothing wrong with me.....I'll be fine............" She rocked a little off balance and leaned against the wall. "Please," she whispered faintly; her voice was nearly inaudible, her eyes shut. "I'm fine....honestly, I am...."

"Yeah, you're fine!" Snapped Harry. "Dying, you are, and you say you're fine!" Hermione's eyes flew open, and she opened her mouth to give an angry retort, then closed it again and shut her eyes, sagging against the wall.

"Hermione?" Harry softened. "What's wrong?" She shook her head. There was silence for a while. "Just go," she whispered. Then, she sank to the ground, unconscious. Ron hurriedly swept her up into his arms and shot Harry a worried glance.

"She KNEW the poison was going through her, Harry. Why is she so STUBBORN?" He demanded angrily, cradling her tenderly. "We could've been inside the hospital wing by now!" Harry agreed, staring at his friend, whose body seemed limp and lifeless. She'd saved him........she'd saved his life......he owed her.

"Let me take her," he pleaded, holding out his arms. "Please, Ron," he added, seeing his friend shake his head. "She saved my life. It's the least I can do. Please." Ron hesitated. Then, he gently handed Hermione to Harry, who was both startled and alarmed. She felt as if she weighed about 60 pounds! He was aware that 60 was a very dangerous weight level for a girl of 16. He had to take her there, fast! Just in case, Ron should come with him......

He didn't have to ask. Ron came wordlessly, now and then shooting helpless, worried glances in Hermione's direction. Harry's arms weren't tired......carrying Hermione was like carrying a bag of potato chips....she felt that light. As they rounded the corner to the hospital wing, many tired, weary faces turned in their direction.

They neared the group of people, and Colin turned to them gravely. "Madam Pomfrey's in a frenzy.....gone mad, like. She said something about Dark magic....not sure what it was, though. Is she going to be alright?" He looked at Hermione, his eyes widening.

"We hope," Harry told him. "She got-----bitten. Saving my life." Colin stared even more, then looked up at them.

"It's almost your turn, I think. Good luck with her.....hope she gets better," he added as the door open and a distinctly grumpy-looking Madam Pomfrey opened the door, though when she spotted Hermione, she looked more concerned than she did grumpy. The door closed behind the three.

"Miss Granger......what happened to her?" She asked, staring down at Hogwarts' star pupil, anxiousness and surprise showing in her usually cheerful expression.

"Bitten," said Ron dully. "She protected Harry, here." He nodded towards his friend, and the nurse's expression changed swiftly.

"Right this way, Weasley; Potter." She led them into what seemed to be a separate, private section of the wing that Harry had never been in before. She pointed to a large bed. "Put her there," she instructed briskly, turning and washing her hands off in the spelled water (never ran out or got dirty).

"Er......Madam Pomfrey?" Harry asked timidly, gently laying Hermione down on the bed and allowing Ron to draw the covers over her. His blue eyes were dulled as he brushed a lock of hair from her face. Madam Pomfrey turned to Harry, her eyes questioning. "What IS this place?"

She blinked, then opened a concealed apartment, drawing out a jar labeled, "Poison Antivenin", setting it on Hermione's bedside table. "It's a room I keep for the especially injured, or in need of the utmost care and attention. Hermione's condition clearly requires that." Ron stared down at Hermione's pale figure before turning his attention to Madam Pomfrey. "Now....." she went over to her patient and placed a hand on her forehead and tapping it with her wand three times. A strange symbol, that looked like a skull with a bleeding rose, appeared. Madam Pomfrey gave a long, low hiss of sympathy before banishing it and turning to the boys.

"Can you still save her?" Ron demanded, standing by Hermione's bedside. The school nurse gave him a stern look, then her face melted into a smile.

"Mr. Weasley, I have worked at Hogwarts for exactly twenty-five years. I've seen injuries twice as serious as this, including some from your own fathers." Harry swallowed hard at the mention of his parent. "I've had students so mangled, they were close to death." Her eyes seemed far off as she struggled to remember all the patients she'd had. "And there hasn't been a single one I haven't been able to heal yet. Does that reassure you?" Ron blinked, then nodded.

"Alright," he sighed. "But can I say good-by to her? She's-she's my girlfriend, after all," he said hastily. Madam Pomfrey smiled at him.

"Then I approve of your taste in girlfriends. But only a second." The smile vanished to be replaced with an austere look. "We can't let the poison go any further into her system than it already has, or we won't have time to heal her before-" her gaze fell, and Ron shuddered, then nodded as Madam Pomfrey closed the door, then opened it again, to drag Harry out of the room.

When the door finally closed, Ron kneeled by her bed. "I wish I could say, 'Get well soon', but I don't know how soon that'll be," he whispered. "I need you, Hermione. Please," he pleaded, "please don't leave me hanging in the dark like this." He grasped her hand for a few seconds, wishing the poison would disappear somehow, and she would wake up and be all well again. His eyes closed mournfully, then, to his surprise, he felt a slight squeezing of his hand. Was it just his imagination, or had Hermione heard him.....deep down inside? He waited, but there was nothing more. Knowing he was wasting her life and feeling furious with himself, he bent and kissed her one last time; tenderly, on the lips, but quickly.

"Please come back to me, Hermione," he whispered, turning towards the door. Madam Pomfrey rushed in, motioning for them to leave. After the door closed yet again, Harry turned to leave. He'd only gone a few paces when he stopped and turned around. Ron was still standing there, a look of dismay on his handsome face.

"Ron?" he whispered, turning to his friend, though he, too looked worried. "Are you OK?" Ron looked slightly embarrassed. Harry himself felt worried, asking the question.

"Yeah," Ron finally said. "I'm just.....just worried."

"Yeah, me too," said Harry softly. There was a silence. "Are you coming?"

Ron looked at the floor. "No thanks," he whispered finally. "Not right now. Just....just go on. I'll catch you up later, OK?" Harry nodded and exited the hospital, while Ron stood, as though transfixed. His eyes narrowed. Something was calling him...beckoning. Something was definitely wrong......and he had to see what it was.

As if in a daze, he waited until Harry had rounded the corner and the hall was empty, and quietly slipped out, avoiding loud steps so as to not be discovered. He quietly opened to cellar door, closed it, and lit his wand. Something around here didn't belong.....yes, there was something extremely odd about this place.........and it was coming from one of those doors.

Ron didn't stop to ponder on this. He was in the wing of the old and unused classrooms, some of which probably hadn't been opened for centuries. He stifled a sneeze at the dust and cobwebs hanging around. Checking for the right door handle, he peered around, raising his wand so that the light fell upon each one. He also caught other things he didn't particularly care to see.

*Spiders. Gross.* He thought in disgust, smashing a rather large one with his shoe. *Now.....which one looks like someone's been in it?* He backed away from where he was standing, trying to see if there were more doors around. He bumped into something and gasped in surprise, turning to face a line of doors he hadn't noticed before. Walking along the hall, he studied every rust-covered handle; every cobweb-covered door.

But one of the door's cobwebs was broken, all along the top and sides. Some of the dust was also brushed off from the handle, as if it had been touched recently. Frowning, he knelt for a closer look.

Suddenly, an eerie blue light poured out from under the door. Ron's eyes narrowed, and he stood back. The door opened, creaking, by itself, and he shone his light all around the room before stepping inside. He jumped as it closed behind him......except for this time, it was soundless. He shuddered. The thing he was looking for was in here....but what was it? There was a howl of wind, and the light at his wand tip went out completely.

"Oh, MAN!" he hissed, trying to make it come back on. "Lumos! LUMOS! Come ON!" he hissed, then, all of a sudden, stopped. The hairs rose on the back of his neck, and he turned. A pair of glowing green eyes were watching him soundlessly from the corner by the door. They stared, face to face. Ron tried vainly to see who, or WHAT it was, but there was no sound, no warning, no nothing....just the eyes....as darkness seemed to engulf him, twisting around his limbs, holding him prisoner. He couldn't move.

"What IS this?" he hissed as he fell to the ground, struggling. "Who ARE you?"

"You'll soon find out," an eerie, chilling voice answered. "You are mine now, Ron Weasley; mine....now and forever!" There was another cold wind, and this one had light. It revealed a ghostly figure in tattered, flowing white with glowing, ruthless eyes.

The wind roared in his ears, and, from all over the room, came the sounds of screaming. Wailing. Writhing....the cries of the doomed souls. Then, he realized it.

"Alex?" He whispered, before everything went black.

~!*!~

A/N: YES!!! CLIFFHANGER!!!! EEEHEHEHEHEHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Aren't I evil? And here's something even MORE evil: I want at least 70 reviews before I write the next one!!! The next chapter will come only then.

~!*!~

This isn't totally romance anymore, is it? Mwehehehehehahahahaha! The evilness has just begun....you have been warned! :P Don't worry......remember my summary.....UNTIL something happens....*hehe* You'll just have to find out, won't you? REVIEW!!!!!!