A/N: Hey! I got reviews! You are finally listening to me! I still want more
though so keep them coming! I have the very last part written, but I have
to tie up some loose ends to get there. Sadly, this story is going to be
over soon, (! But, lucky for you, I have a sequel in mind. I don't know if
it'll work, but it might. Enough chitchat for now, I'll get to the writing!
We found my wand and got Jonnie properly secured. "So, what did you want to talk about?" "I wanted to let you know what was really going on in my head when I was going for you." "Okay, shoot." "I realized that if we went through with your brilliant plan, we would have felt really strange and not made it convincing enough. If you thought I was really trying to do something to you, you would scream for real and he wouldn't have any reason at all to think it was fake because it wouldn't be to you." "Good plan, but you scared the shit out of me!" "I'm sorry, but it worked." "What if you hadn't stunned him, what if he had said it just a second earlier than you? Where would I be? You would be out cold on the floor like you were and I would have to deal with him." "Well, that didn't happen. Everything turned out fine and no one got seriously hurt. We can't think about the what-ifs because they won't ever happen. Okay?" "Okay. I just don't think I could handle it if I was here alone," I said, my eyes filling with tears. I stared at the ceiling, trying to hide them. "It's okay, you're okay, I'm okay, we're okay." "I know, it's just, oh, I don't know." "What?" "Nothing," I said, wiping my eyes. There was no reason to cry so I made myself quit. "Alright, let's try and get out of here before he wakes up." "Yeah." We went up the stairs and down the hall I had gone through before. It took a few minutes, but we found a door out onto the street. It was a good thing Harry had been coming to Hogsmeade for five years, because I had no idea where we were. Harry just led the way. Then we started to walk by places I had seen before, Zonko's, Honeyduke's, and The Three Broomsticks. "Are we going to walk back to the castle?" I asked. I didn't know if I could make it. It wasn't that far, but I was totally drained and sore all over from the cruciatus curse. "We don't have to, if you don't want. It is just kind of difficult to get an alternative means of transportation with no money." "Oh, we can walk then. Hey, did you remember what house that was, where we left Jonnie?" "Yeah, 666 Leech Lane." "Great memory, we'll need to tell Dumbledore where he is as soon as we get back." "Yep." The walk back was uneventful, except for the fact that I could barely walk by the time we got to Hogwart's. Harry was almost carrying me when we reached the entrance hall and coming up to the stairs, he lifted me off the floor and walked up them with me in his arms. Harry walked with certainty towards Dumbledore's office. I thought that he had probably been there many times before. We reached a gargoyle statue and Harry asked to see the headmaster immediately. After a minute, the statue jumped aside and there was the spiral staircase up to the office. I could tell that Harry was getting tired so I told him I could manage the staircase. I lied. I somehow made it up to the office, but as soon as I started to put weight on my legs, my knees shook like crazy. I thought I would faint or fall; which ever came first. *~* "Ah, Miss James, Mr. Potter. Glad you're here, I trust you are both going to live if you don't get to the infirmary immediately?" "Yes, we'll be fine Professor," I said. I had my doubts about Kerry's condition, but she would be all right if she could sit down for a while. I had to carry her up the stairs. "Now, would you like to tell me the whole story and then tell Miss Granger and Mr. Weasely? Or would you like them to come here now?" "I think they should come here now, I don't really want to repeat this too many times, I don't know about Kerry, but that's what I think." "I agree," Kerry said in a shaky voice. She was pale and looked like she was in pain. I knew how excruciating the after effects of the cruciatus curse could be and felt sorry for her. "Alright, I'll send Fawkes." Soon after, Ron and Hermione came in, Fawkes following them. "We would have brought Ginny too, but we couldn't find her." "That's alright I guess, here I'll move over a chair and you two have these," I said, shifting position so I was next to Kerry and Ron was on my other side. Hermione was next to him. They looked different, I couldn't pick out what it was, but there was something new there. "Now that everyone's here, I'll let you two tell your story. I will try not to interrupt," Dumbledore said facing Kerry and me. I realized that I would have to tell most of it. Kerry looked like she was on the verge of passing out. I didn't remember the side effects being this severe, but maybe it was because I had been unconscious for a little while afterward. I didn't really remember that much. Maybe it was just affecting her more than it had me. "Mr. Potter?" I had been staring at Kerry while I was thinking. "Sorry sir," I said and then I recounted our story. Kerry would jump in every once in a while to add things I missed and when Jonathan had took her upstairs. I left out some of the more embarrassing details of how we got his attention. Dumbledore, Ron, and Hermione were the perfect audience. Gasping and looking sympathetic at just the right times. I finally got through it and answered all of Dumbledore's questions. Then I insisted that Kerry go to the hospital wing. Her symptoms hadn't gotten any better, if I didn't know better, I would have said they got worse, but they couldn't have. I was surprised at how worried I really was about her. Maybe I really did have deeper feelings for her than I thought, maybe not. I didn't know. I was so confused. There was also whatever was going on with Ron and Hermione because there was obviously something. And, where was Ginny? If Ron and Hermione couldn't find her, they obviously hadn't looked very hard or she was trying not to be found. Wherever she was, that was the least of my worries right now. *~* "I've missed you so much," she gasped. "I know, me too. I am so sorry." "Don't be sorry, just get over here." I moved closer to her and kissed her. She kissed back fiercely. I was so glad to have her back in my arms. She was beautiful. She was perfect. She was mine. She was Ginny Weasely. I couldn't help but think that my father would wring my neck if he were alive. I was lucky that he had died last year while serving his master. I had never loved my father and he had never loved me, so forgive me if I sound ungrateful. "You're brother is probably looking for you." "He can go to hell. He won't be looking for me, he'll be to busy with Hermione." "Him and Hermione?" I asked between kisses. "Yeah, since this morning. Great timing huh." "What do you mean? Oh, with Kerry and lover boy missing." "Yeah. Now shut up. You're wasting air." I followed her request and continued to kiss her. It felt so good to have her in my arms. Her ruby colored hair cascading down her back. It was soft and silky to the touch. I loved her hair. Looking into her dark chocolate eyes, they seemed to go on forever. *~* "Why didn't you get her here sooner?" Madam Pomfrey snapped, but she was used to Harry and his friends having serious health problems and not coming immediately to her. Most likely it had to do with some rule breaking or another. At least that was the usual case, that or something to do with Voldemort. In that case, the injured person would have to go see the headmaster first. Professor Dumbledore was a great complication according to her; he always kept students from getting the medical care needed. I thought that Kerry should have been here immediately myself, but I wanted to hear her story and I knew that Dumbledore would too. I noticed that Kerry was suffering from the side effects of the cruciatus curse, but she also seemed to be losing strength and magic. That was unusual, but she had all the signs. The fainting incident before the Yule Ball proved it for me. I hadn't told anyone yet. I wanted to do some research first. Madam Pomfrey would probably notice it too. I had only had one medical magic class so I wasn't an expert. "The headmaster wished to speak to her," I told her. "Ah, yes, well, Albus is always preventing proper medicinal care. She has suffered the cruciatus curse?" "Yes." "There is something else." "I think so." "Well, Miss Granger, you are the top student in my medical magic class, what do you think is wrong?" "I don't know for sure, but she seems to be losing magic. Maybe someone is channeling it. Maybe something as simple as chizpurfle bites, though I see no evidence of them." "Very good Miss Granger. I don't know if someone could be channeling it, but she may have come down with a case of the wizard flu. I don't think so, because she should be vomiting by now. Wasn't she in here before for something?" "Yes, she was here because she fainted a few days ago." "That is definitely a symptom of draining magic. If we can find what is taking it, we can stop it and she'll build it back up. My guess is that the cruciatus curse sped up her loss of power. I'll do some diagnostic spells and hopefully come up with something." "I was going to go to the library and do some research." "You do that, if you find anything significant, you come straight here and tell me." "Alright." "I think you may have a future in this Miss Granger." "Well, I don't know. I really do enjoy it. I'll be off to the library." I left the infirmary where I had accompanied Harry and Kerry, Ron having gone to look for Ginny again. Madam Pomfrey had immediately shooed Harry out, but since I was in her medical magic class, she had let me stay for a moment. I was seriously worried about Kerry, although I wasn't about to let Harry know it. I could tell that he really cared about her and I didn't want to worry him. Ron and I had filled him in on our relationship and he seemed genuinely happy for us. That was another sign that he liked someone else. Ron was worried about Ginny because of what had happened to Harry and Kerry. I figured she was off with some boy. I hoped, for her sake, it was Malfoy. She still really liked him and I could tell that he was regretting his breakup with her. I got to the library and went to my usual table in the corner. I set my bag down and went looking for the book I wanted. *~* "Do you know what's wrong?" I heard someone say as I was drifting out of the fog I had been in. I didn't remember anything at first. When had I gotten white sheets and flannel pajamas? Then I remembered coming back to Hogwart's. I didn't recall much after that, but figured that I had been taken to the hospital wing. "No I do not, Mr. Potter, now, would you please be so kind as to leave me to my work?" "I want to know what is the matter with Kerry. I know that there is something more serious than just the after effects of the curse. I think you know, why won't you tell me?" "Because, you are a student and I do not have to tell students what is wrong with my patients, I don't even know what is wrong exactly with her. If you are dying for information, go ask Hermione, do not pester me." They were talking about me. What was wrong with me? If Madame Pomfrey doesn't know, then it must be serious, I thought. I thought that it was just the curse. What else could it be? I struggled to sit up and tell Harry to wait. I wanted him to be there and to help me find out what was wrong with me. Why should he ask Hermione? Was she doing research? If she was in the school library, I was glad. From what I had heard about her, she probably knew how to organize that library better than Madame Pince did. I tried to lift my head and open my eyes. I got dizzy and my vision clouded over again. I fought to remain conscious. Madame Pomfrey heard me struggling with the blankets that felt like shackles, pinning me to the bed. "No, no, no. Miss James, stay still. You need to preserve your strength." "What's wrong with me? Why am I here? Why couldn't you tell Harry what the problem was? I want Harry to know. Where did he go? Where's Hermione? And Ron? And Ginny?" "Shhh, calm down. If you lie down and drink this, I'll go find Harry for you. If you go to sleep, he can come and visit." I took the potion from her hands. It smelled like a stronger version of my father's Deepest Sleep potion. I knew that she probably wouldn't get Harry, but drank the potion anyway. I felt the relief of complete and total nothing. I slipped into the soundest sleep I had ever known and didn't remember my head hitting the pillow. *~* "Hermione?" "Yes?" I answered distractedly. I was busy doing some research on Kerry's mysterious illness and didn't want any disturbance. Even from Harry. "I was just at the hospital wing and, as usual, Madame Pomfrey wouldn't tell me anything. She said I should go ask you what you thought. So, here I am." "I don't really know what the problem is," I told him, feeling guilty; it was only partly a lie. I had my suspicions, but nothing for sure. I finally looked up at him. His green eyes looked stormy and he was worried. That just made me feel worse for lying. "You know something." How could I forget that he could read my eyes as easily as I could read his? "I don't know anything." "Fine, you have an idea." "I might, but I want to talk to Madame Pomfrey before I jump to any conclusions." "Hermione, you never jump to any conclusions, tell me what you think is wrong." "But, I don't know for sure, I could be wrong." "Is it really that bad?" "What? Why would you say that?" "Because you're trying to keep it from me. Just tell me Hermione, I need to know." "You really care for her, don't you?" "That isn't what we were talking about." "But you do, right?" "No, yes, I don't know. Maybe I do, just tell me what's wrong with her." "Alright, I will." "Thank you Hermione." "I think, but I might be wrong, so don't think that this is the only option. The good news is if we've caught it in time, it should be pretty easy to fix. The bad news is if we didn't, she could die from it." "Just tell me what it is. Don't sugar coat it." "Okay, I think that someone is using her as a source. A source is someone who is providing magic for another person, in Kerry's case, unwillingly. In most occurrences of this throughout history, the source is a female and the receiver is a male trying to gain power. To make a person your source, you have to spend time with them. You have to have a certain type of magic, like when donating blood. If the two don't have the same type, it won't work. The receiver has to have something personal of the source, and they then have to perform a very complicated spell to finish it. At least, that's the most common way it is done. In my book, it says there is an alternative. It takes much more magic, although it doesn't involve contact or personal effects. It still requires that you have the same type of magic, but that isn't that difficult. In this version, the receiver just has to offer up all of their magic for a moment while saying the spell, and then, to keep up with their source, most give a necklace or hair clip or bracelet. For most wizards, the shock of that can kill them, though some can withstand the moment of complete weakness. Most don't try for the fear of the side effects. Once the spell is complete, the source will usually faint from the shock of power leaving their body, then the whole thing is long and drawn out, until the source is worn out and can no longer perform the simplest of spells." "And you think that someone did that to Kerry?" "Yes I do, and I think that the cruciatus curse sped up the process. Someone started stealing her power before the Yule Ball and now that she has such a small amount of power left, it shouldn't be too long before she doesn't have any. You remember I said that the shock of being completely powerless could kill a wizard or witch? Well, the same can happen to a victim." "You think it's that serious?" "I do, but I have to run it all by Madame Pomfrey first. I think we caught it in time, so all we have to do is sever the tie between the receiver and his source. Meaning, we have to find whatever he gave to her and destroy it. That might kill the receiver as well." "What do you think the tie is?" "Well, I don't know. Has she been wearing any new jewelry lately? She might have been picking at it or holding it a lot lately. Deep down she knows that the token is what is causing her to feel tired and weaker all the time. She just doesn't think about that because the token is charmed." "I can't think of anything. You say it started the night of the Yule Ball?" "Yeah." "Maybe, something she was wearing that night?" "I remember she had a really pretty snowflake necklace. It was sparkly, but it was really small. You could just tell that it was a snowflake. Maybe that's it." "You know? I think you're right because I saw her playing with a little diamond like pendant, it was small and I didn't get a good look at it. It could've been a snowflake." "We better get to Madame Pomfrey so we can find out if that necklace is the token. By the way, have you seen Ginny lately?" "Actually, no, I haven't seen her since yesterday. Wow, was it only yesterday? It seems like an eternity since we were kidnapped. What time is it?" "It's almost 9:00 at night Harry. I am getting tired and we aren't really supposed to be out this late. I don't think anyone cares though." "Yeah, let's get to the hospital wing." *~* "Oh god it's late." "So?" "I have to go. I'm sorry Draco." "Don't be sorry, just stay here." "I can't, I want to, but I can't." "Why?" "I have to get back to Hermione and Harry and Ron. They'll start to worry and then they'll get suspicious." "You care about what they think because?" "Because, they're my friends. Anyway, Alanna will know what's going on anyway, and you know how she can get if she's left out of something." "Actually no I don't, but why does it matter? I want you to stay with me. It feels so good to have you back." "I know, I am so happy, but I really do have to go." "A goodnight kiss then?' "I thought we already had a lot of those." "We did, but this will be the last for the night, and it will make you wish you stayed." "Really?" "Yes Ginny." "Then let's see what you've got." He leaned in towards me and touched his lips softly to mine. He started to kiss me more passionately and then moved his tongue to touch mine. I shivered while he broke it off. "What did you think?" "I thought that I want to stay, but I can't. I will see you tomorrow." "I guess I'll just have to wait then." "Goodnight Draco." *~* "I'm glad that you came straight to me when you found this. I had thought of it, but the evidence wasn't there for the common kind. What do you think is the token, because I'm sure that you have an idea." "We think that there might be a necklace she is wearing," Hermione said. "Actually, there was a necklace. It is policy that I remove all jewelry, but she wouldn't let go of it so I left it on. It looked like a diamond, almost like a snowflake." "That's the one. Let's see if we can get it off while she is sleeping." "Okay. She might start to wake up because she only got a small gulp of the potion. I think that we should let Harry get it because she was asking for him earlier." "Alright," I said, walking towards the bed Kerry was lying on. I moved close to her neck and looked for the clasp on the necklace. Her hand moved up and grabbed a silvery chain. I had to coax it from her hand and then find the clasp. I finally got it off and Kerry started to fidget in her sleep. I gave the necklace to Madame Pomfrey. She said a spell over it and there was a sharp pop, like someone was apparating into the infirmary. "That worked well, she should be up and about in a day or so and I will want to keep her here another day to make sure that she has most of her strength back." "Now the only question is who the receiver was," I said. They both looked at me like I was a total idiot. Then Hermione explained as if she were trying to teach a small child something. "Harry, the token can be used to find the receiver. We just have to put a tracking spell on it." "Yes, but I will let Professor Dumbledore do that, he is immensely more talented at tracking than I. You two may go give this to him, Miss Granger you can explain what her ailment was." Hermione took the necklace back and we left to go to Dumbledore's office.
We found my wand and got Jonnie properly secured. "So, what did you want to talk about?" "I wanted to let you know what was really going on in my head when I was going for you." "Okay, shoot." "I realized that if we went through with your brilliant plan, we would have felt really strange and not made it convincing enough. If you thought I was really trying to do something to you, you would scream for real and he wouldn't have any reason at all to think it was fake because it wouldn't be to you." "Good plan, but you scared the shit out of me!" "I'm sorry, but it worked." "What if you hadn't stunned him, what if he had said it just a second earlier than you? Where would I be? You would be out cold on the floor like you were and I would have to deal with him." "Well, that didn't happen. Everything turned out fine and no one got seriously hurt. We can't think about the what-ifs because they won't ever happen. Okay?" "Okay. I just don't think I could handle it if I was here alone," I said, my eyes filling with tears. I stared at the ceiling, trying to hide them. "It's okay, you're okay, I'm okay, we're okay." "I know, it's just, oh, I don't know." "What?" "Nothing," I said, wiping my eyes. There was no reason to cry so I made myself quit. "Alright, let's try and get out of here before he wakes up." "Yeah." We went up the stairs and down the hall I had gone through before. It took a few minutes, but we found a door out onto the street. It was a good thing Harry had been coming to Hogsmeade for five years, because I had no idea where we were. Harry just led the way. Then we started to walk by places I had seen before, Zonko's, Honeyduke's, and The Three Broomsticks. "Are we going to walk back to the castle?" I asked. I didn't know if I could make it. It wasn't that far, but I was totally drained and sore all over from the cruciatus curse. "We don't have to, if you don't want. It is just kind of difficult to get an alternative means of transportation with no money." "Oh, we can walk then. Hey, did you remember what house that was, where we left Jonnie?" "Yeah, 666 Leech Lane." "Great memory, we'll need to tell Dumbledore where he is as soon as we get back." "Yep." The walk back was uneventful, except for the fact that I could barely walk by the time we got to Hogwart's. Harry was almost carrying me when we reached the entrance hall and coming up to the stairs, he lifted me off the floor and walked up them with me in his arms. Harry walked with certainty towards Dumbledore's office. I thought that he had probably been there many times before. We reached a gargoyle statue and Harry asked to see the headmaster immediately. After a minute, the statue jumped aside and there was the spiral staircase up to the office. I could tell that Harry was getting tired so I told him I could manage the staircase. I lied. I somehow made it up to the office, but as soon as I started to put weight on my legs, my knees shook like crazy. I thought I would faint or fall; which ever came first. *~* "Ah, Miss James, Mr. Potter. Glad you're here, I trust you are both going to live if you don't get to the infirmary immediately?" "Yes, we'll be fine Professor," I said. I had my doubts about Kerry's condition, but she would be all right if she could sit down for a while. I had to carry her up the stairs. "Now, would you like to tell me the whole story and then tell Miss Granger and Mr. Weasely? Or would you like them to come here now?" "I think they should come here now, I don't really want to repeat this too many times, I don't know about Kerry, but that's what I think." "I agree," Kerry said in a shaky voice. She was pale and looked like she was in pain. I knew how excruciating the after effects of the cruciatus curse could be and felt sorry for her. "Alright, I'll send Fawkes." Soon after, Ron and Hermione came in, Fawkes following them. "We would have brought Ginny too, but we couldn't find her." "That's alright I guess, here I'll move over a chair and you two have these," I said, shifting position so I was next to Kerry and Ron was on my other side. Hermione was next to him. They looked different, I couldn't pick out what it was, but there was something new there. "Now that everyone's here, I'll let you two tell your story. I will try not to interrupt," Dumbledore said facing Kerry and me. I realized that I would have to tell most of it. Kerry looked like she was on the verge of passing out. I didn't remember the side effects being this severe, but maybe it was because I had been unconscious for a little while afterward. I didn't really remember that much. Maybe it was just affecting her more than it had me. "Mr. Potter?" I had been staring at Kerry while I was thinking. "Sorry sir," I said and then I recounted our story. Kerry would jump in every once in a while to add things I missed and when Jonathan had took her upstairs. I left out some of the more embarrassing details of how we got his attention. Dumbledore, Ron, and Hermione were the perfect audience. Gasping and looking sympathetic at just the right times. I finally got through it and answered all of Dumbledore's questions. Then I insisted that Kerry go to the hospital wing. Her symptoms hadn't gotten any better, if I didn't know better, I would have said they got worse, but they couldn't have. I was surprised at how worried I really was about her. Maybe I really did have deeper feelings for her than I thought, maybe not. I didn't know. I was so confused. There was also whatever was going on with Ron and Hermione because there was obviously something. And, where was Ginny? If Ron and Hermione couldn't find her, they obviously hadn't looked very hard or she was trying not to be found. Wherever she was, that was the least of my worries right now. *~* "I've missed you so much," she gasped. "I know, me too. I am so sorry." "Don't be sorry, just get over here." I moved closer to her and kissed her. She kissed back fiercely. I was so glad to have her back in my arms. She was beautiful. She was perfect. She was mine. She was Ginny Weasely. I couldn't help but think that my father would wring my neck if he were alive. I was lucky that he had died last year while serving his master. I had never loved my father and he had never loved me, so forgive me if I sound ungrateful. "You're brother is probably looking for you." "He can go to hell. He won't be looking for me, he'll be to busy with Hermione." "Him and Hermione?" I asked between kisses. "Yeah, since this morning. Great timing huh." "What do you mean? Oh, with Kerry and lover boy missing." "Yeah. Now shut up. You're wasting air." I followed her request and continued to kiss her. It felt so good to have her in my arms. Her ruby colored hair cascading down her back. It was soft and silky to the touch. I loved her hair. Looking into her dark chocolate eyes, they seemed to go on forever. *~* "Why didn't you get her here sooner?" Madam Pomfrey snapped, but she was used to Harry and his friends having serious health problems and not coming immediately to her. Most likely it had to do with some rule breaking or another. At least that was the usual case, that or something to do with Voldemort. In that case, the injured person would have to go see the headmaster first. Professor Dumbledore was a great complication according to her; he always kept students from getting the medical care needed. I thought that Kerry should have been here immediately myself, but I wanted to hear her story and I knew that Dumbledore would too. I noticed that Kerry was suffering from the side effects of the cruciatus curse, but she also seemed to be losing strength and magic. That was unusual, but she had all the signs. The fainting incident before the Yule Ball proved it for me. I hadn't told anyone yet. I wanted to do some research first. Madam Pomfrey would probably notice it too. I had only had one medical magic class so I wasn't an expert. "The headmaster wished to speak to her," I told her. "Ah, yes, well, Albus is always preventing proper medicinal care. She has suffered the cruciatus curse?" "Yes." "There is something else." "I think so." "Well, Miss Granger, you are the top student in my medical magic class, what do you think is wrong?" "I don't know for sure, but she seems to be losing magic. Maybe someone is channeling it. Maybe something as simple as chizpurfle bites, though I see no evidence of them." "Very good Miss Granger. I don't know if someone could be channeling it, but she may have come down with a case of the wizard flu. I don't think so, because she should be vomiting by now. Wasn't she in here before for something?" "Yes, she was here because she fainted a few days ago." "That is definitely a symptom of draining magic. If we can find what is taking it, we can stop it and she'll build it back up. My guess is that the cruciatus curse sped up her loss of power. I'll do some diagnostic spells and hopefully come up with something." "I was going to go to the library and do some research." "You do that, if you find anything significant, you come straight here and tell me." "Alright." "I think you may have a future in this Miss Granger." "Well, I don't know. I really do enjoy it. I'll be off to the library." I left the infirmary where I had accompanied Harry and Kerry, Ron having gone to look for Ginny again. Madam Pomfrey had immediately shooed Harry out, but since I was in her medical magic class, she had let me stay for a moment. I was seriously worried about Kerry, although I wasn't about to let Harry know it. I could tell that he really cared about her and I didn't want to worry him. Ron and I had filled him in on our relationship and he seemed genuinely happy for us. That was another sign that he liked someone else. Ron was worried about Ginny because of what had happened to Harry and Kerry. I figured she was off with some boy. I hoped, for her sake, it was Malfoy. She still really liked him and I could tell that he was regretting his breakup with her. I got to the library and went to my usual table in the corner. I set my bag down and went looking for the book I wanted. *~* "Do you know what's wrong?" I heard someone say as I was drifting out of the fog I had been in. I didn't remember anything at first. When had I gotten white sheets and flannel pajamas? Then I remembered coming back to Hogwart's. I didn't recall much after that, but figured that I had been taken to the hospital wing. "No I do not, Mr. Potter, now, would you please be so kind as to leave me to my work?" "I want to know what is the matter with Kerry. I know that there is something more serious than just the after effects of the curse. I think you know, why won't you tell me?" "Because, you are a student and I do not have to tell students what is wrong with my patients, I don't even know what is wrong exactly with her. If you are dying for information, go ask Hermione, do not pester me." They were talking about me. What was wrong with me? If Madame Pomfrey doesn't know, then it must be serious, I thought. I thought that it was just the curse. What else could it be? I struggled to sit up and tell Harry to wait. I wanted him to be there and to help me find out what was wrong with me. Why should he ask Hermione? Was she doing research? If she was in the school library, I was glad. From what I had heard about her, she probably knew how to organize that library better than Madame Pince did. I tried to lift my head and open my eyes. I got dizzy and my vision clouded over again. I fought to remain conscious. Madame Pomfrey heard me struggling with the blankets that felt like shackles, pinning me to the bed. "No, no, no. Miss James, stay still. You need to preserve your strength." "What's wrong with me? Why am I here? Why couldn't you tell Harry what the problem was? I want Harry to know. Where did he go? Where's Hermione? And Ron? And Ginny?" "Shhh, calm down. If you lie down and drink this, I'll go find Harry for you. If you go to sleep, he can come and visit." I took the potion from her hands. It smelled like a stronger version of my father's Deepest Sleep potion. I knew that she probably wouldn't get Harry, but drank the potion anyway. I felt the relief of complete and total nothing. I slipped into the soundest sleep I had ever known and didn't remember my head hitting the pillow. *~* "Hermione?" "Yes?" I answered distractedly. I was busy doing some research on Kerry's mysterious illness and didn't want any disturbance. Even from Harry. "I was just at the hospital wing and, as usual, Madame Pomfrey wouldn't tell me anything. She said I should go ask you what you thought. So, here I am." "I don't really know what the problem is," I told him, feeling guilty; it was only partly a lie. I had my suspicions, but nothing for sure. I finally looked up at him. His green eyes looked stormy and he was worried. That just made me feel worse for lying. "You know something." How could I forget that he could read my eyes as easily as I could read his? "I don't know anything." "Fine, you have an idea." "I might, but I want to talk to Madame Pomfrey before I jump to any conclusions." "Hermione, you never jump to any conclusions, tell me what you think is wrong." "But, I don't know for sure, I could be wrong." "Is it really that bad?" "What? Why would you say that?" "Because you're trying to keep it from me. Just tell me Hermione, I need to know." "You really care for her, don't you?" "That isn't what we were talking about." "But you do, right?" "No, yes, I don't know. Maybe I do, just tell me what's wrong with her." "Alright, I will." "Thank you Hermione." "I think, but I might be wrong, so don't think that this is the only option. The good news is if we've caught it in time, it should be pretty easy to fix. The bad news is if we didn't, she could die from it." "Just tell me what it is. Don't sugar coat it." "Okay, I think that someone is using her as a source. A source is someone who is providing magic for another person, in Kerry's case, unwillingly. In most occurrences of this throughout history, the source is a female and the receiver is a male trying to gain power. To make a person your source, you have to spend time with them. You have to have a certain type of magic, like when donating blood. If the two don't have the same type, it won't work. The receiver has to have something personal of the source, and they then have to perform a very complicated spell to finish it. At least, that's the most common way it is done. In my book, it says there is an alternative. It takes much more magic, although it doesn't involve contact or personal effects. It still requires that you have the same type of magic, but that isn't that difficult. In this version, the receiver just has to offer up all of their magic for a moment while saying the spell, and then, to keep up with their source, most give a necklace or hair clip or bracelet. For most wizards, the shock of that can kill them, though some can withstand the moment of complete weakness. Most don't try for the fear of the side effects. Once the spell is complete, the source will usually faint from the shock of power leaving their body, then the whole thing is long and drawn out, until the source is worn out and can no longer perform the simplest of spells." "And you think that someone did that to Kerry?" "Yes I do, and I think that the cruciatus curse sped up the process. Someone started stealing her power before the Yule Ball and now that she has such a small amount of power left, it shouldn't be too long before she doesn't have any. You remember I said that the shock of being completely powerless could kill a wizard or witch? Well, the same can happen to a victim." "You think it's that serious?" "I do, but I have to run it all by Madame Pomfrey first. I think we caught it in time, so all we have to do is sever the tie between the receiver and his source. Meaning, we have to find whatever he gave to her and destroy it. That might kill the receiver as well." "What do you think the tie is?" "Well, I don't know. Has she been wearing any new jewelry lately? She might have been picking at it or holding it a lot lately. Deep down she knows that the token is what is causing her to feel tired and weaker all the time. She just doesn't think about that because the token is charmed." "I can't think of anything. You say it started the night of the Yule Ball?" "Yeah." "Maybe, something she was wearing that night?" "I remember she had a really pretty snowflake necklace. It was sparkly, but it was really small. You could just tell that it was a snowflake. Maybe that's it." "You know? I think you're right because I saw her playing with a little diamond like pendant, it was small and I didn't get a good look at it. It could've been a snowflake." "We better get to Madame Pomfrey so we can find out if that necklace is the token. By the way, have you seen Ginny lately?" "Actually, no, I haven't seen her since yesterday. Wow, was it only yesterday? It seems like an eternity since we were kidnapped. What time is it?" "It's almost 9:00 at night Harry. I am getting tired and we aren't really supposed to be out this late. I don't think anyone cares though." "Yeah, let's get to the hospital wing." *~* "Oh god it's late." "So?" "I have to go. I'm sorry Draco." "Don't be sorry, just stay here." "I can't, I want to, but I can't." "Why?" "I have to get back to Hermione and Harry and Ron. They'll start to worry and then they'll get suspicious." "You care about what they think because?" "Because, they're my friends. Anyway, Alanna will know what's going on anyway, and you know how she can get if she's left out of something." "Actually no I don't, but why does it matter? I want you to stay with me. It feels so good to have you back." "I know, I am so happy, but I really do have to go." "A goodnight kiss then?' "I thought we already had a lot of those." "We did, but this will be the last for the night, and it will make you wish you stayed." "Really?" "Yes Ginny." "Then let's see what you've got." He leaned in towards me and touched his lips softly to mine. He started to kiss me more passionately and then moved his tongue to touch mine. I shivered while he broke it off. "What did you think?" "I thought that I want to stay, but I can't. I will see you tomorrow." "I guess I'll just have to wait then." "Goodnight Draco." *~* "I'm glad that you came straight to me when you found this. I had thought of it, but the evidence wasn't there for the common kind. What do you think is the token, because I'm sure that you have an idea." "We think that there might be a necklace she is wearing," Hermione said. "Actually, there was a necklace. It is policy that I remove all jewelry, but she wouldn't let go of it so I left it on. It looked like a diamond, almost like a snowflake." "That's the one. Let's see if we can get it off while she is sleeping." "Okay. She might start to wake up because she only got a small gulp of the potion. I think that we should let Harry get it because she was asking for him earlier." "Alright," I said, walking towards the bed Kerry was lying on. I moved close to her neck and looked for the clasp on the necklace. Her hand moved up and grabbed a silvery chain. I had to coax it from her hand and then find the clasp. I finally got it off and Kerry started to fidget in her sleep. I gave the necklace to Madame Pomfrey. She said a spell over it and there was a sharp pop, like someone was apparating into the infirmary. "That worked well, she should be up and about in a day or so and I will want to keep her here another day to make sure that she has most of her strength back." "Now the only question is who the receiver was," I said. They both looked at me like I was a total idiot. Then Hermione explained as if she were trying to teach a small child something. "Harry, the token can be used to find the receiver. We just have to put a tracking spell on it." "Yes, but I will let Professor Dumbledore do that, he is immensely more talented at tracking than I. You two may go give this to him, Miss Granger you can explain what her ailment was." Hermione took the necklace back and we left to go to Dumbledore's office.