Hermione took in a deep breath before entering the class. She was running late, but at this point in time, she didn't really care. She walked in and took a seat in the back of the classroom. Snape looked up, but didn't say anything. He just nodded. Ron and Harry turned to see her walk in, but were shocked when she didn't sit by them. Here they were, saving a seat for her, hoping to talk more with her and she didn't even acknowledge their offer.
"Wow, something must be wrong for her to sit in the back of the classroom." Ron noted, while writing down the ingredients they were using for their shrinking potion. Snape had them work on it again, because of the disturbance that happened last time.
"That's even weirder." Harry said, looking up at Snape.
"What?"
"Snape. He didn't even say anything when she came in late." Ron nodded. How could have he been so stupid to not notice he didn't bother taking points off Gryffindor. He glanced over to the Slytherin's side of the classroom and saw that Draco and a few others were staring at Hermione. They looked like they were shocked from Snape's reaction. He glanced back at Hermione and she looked like she was about to cry. She just sat there, a site no one had ever seen before. She seemed deep in thought, and Ron wished he knew what was going on. He was drawn out of his wonderment by a nudge in the side. Harry looked at Ron, at Snape, then back to Ron. Snape had seen Ron twist all the way around in his chair and was shooting them a warning look. Ron lowered his head and went back to his work. The classroom seemed too quiet than it usually was. Especially since Snape wasn't acting like himself. When the bell rang, Snape dismissed the class, all except for Hermione. The class emptied out, looking at Hermione with curiosity.
"She came out of Snape's room this morning, like she spent the night or something." Draco whispered to Crabbe and Goyle as they walked passed Hermione. She just sat there. Ron and Harry, as usual, were the last to leave. They stopped by Hermione, she just looked at them.
"You want us to wait?" Hermione looked at Snape, he still had his head down, looking at his papers. She nodded.
"Yes. This shouldn't take long." They left the classroom and went into the hall, shutting the door behind them.
"Ms. Granger." Snape said softly, coming out from behind his desk and to where she was seated. She looked up at him, empathetically.
"You haven't told them yet, have you?"
"No, sir." Hermione started playing with a strand of hair.
"Has it hurt anymore?" Hermione nodded.
"Can't we reverse this? Isn't there someway to--"
"No." Snape said sharply, but softly.
"I need you to tell me about your visions."
"I can't remember them." Hermione put her head down. She didn't want to talk about it right now.
"I have to know. You have to tell me or I'm not going to be able to help you." Hermione looked at Snape. She was beginning to go dizzy again. Snape looked at Hermione and took a hold of her shoulder when he saw her face go pale.
"No, Granger, no. You have to stay with me, tell me what's going on."
"I'm getting dizzy." Hermione said, sliding off the chair to the floor. She felt like she was going to---it was too late, she passed out. Snape sat over her, holding onto her hand, waiting for her to come back.
***********************************
She stood there, in the presence of the tall dark figure she figured was Voldermort. He was talking to her. She didn't catch every word as she was blanking out every so often.
"Bring me the boy, bring him to me and you shall be rewarded." He hissed. All Hermione could do was nod. She didn't know how she was nodding because she was so tired and out of it, but she was nodding.
"Good…good." Mist started swirling around them, making it harder for Hermione to see the black figure.
"Bring him to me by Midnight in five weeks time." He ordered.
"Where should I bring him." Hermione spoke.
"Meet me at Hogsmead near old Turner street, you'll know where to find me." Hermione closed her eyes as she was thrown backwards. The fall seemed to last forever until she landed. Screaming, she opened her eyes.
"Shhhhh. Hermione! What happened?" She looked up at him, he starred back. She couldn't talk, half because she had a vision, and the other half because he called her Hermione. She quit screaming, but she wanted to cry. Snape held onto her hand and jumped when the door burst open behind them.
"Hermione!" Harry and Ron screamed, spotting her on the floor.
"Boy's please, be quiet. We don't need the whole community in here." Snape turned towards them. Ron and Harry stopped in their tracks.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Come help me." The boys rushed forward to help their Professor handle Hermione. Harry got one arm and put it around his shoulder, Ron, the other. Snape rushed over to his cabinet and pulled out a few bottles. Harry and Ron helped Hermione walk over to a chair.
"Oh, boy's, bring her in her. I believe she will be more comfortable." He made his way through a door in his classroom that they've never noticed before and helped her onto the couch. Harry saw a mark on Hermione's arm and quickly noticed what it was. He saw Ron spot it to and open his mouth to say something. He quickly nudged him, shaking his head. That's the last they needed right now was talk about the mark on her arm. Hermione looked sick. She was cold to the touch and her skin started to go paler and paler by the minuet.
"Professor?"
"Yes Potter?" He asked, keeping his focus on what he was mixing.
"How long has this been going on?" Harry had a lot of concern in his voice.
"A few days now. Haven't you noticed?" Ron stood there, starring at Hermione. There, on her arm, as plain as day was the dark mark. He couldn't believe it. How long had she been one?. So many questions were running through his mind at that moment that he couldn't ask.
"Move, boy." Snape ordered, pushing Ron aside and holding Hermione's head up so she could drink his concoction.
