Chapter 2 - A Stranger in the Night
Hermione stared at herself in the mirror, taking note of her pale skin and the dark circles under her eyes. The dull pounding in her head remained constant. She closed her eyes against it telling herself that she would go to Madam Pomfrey for a headache cure after breakfast. She pushed her hair behind her ears and took out her wand muttering the spell that gave her face a rosy hue.
It had been days since Hermione had slept for more than two or three hours a night, not since the incident at the lake. She hadn't actually seen anything or anyone since that day, but her nights were filled with frightening dreams of Death Eaters and the Dark Mark and even sometimes Voldemort. While the players varied the themes were the same. Harry being kidnapped, Harry being tortured, Harry being killed.
She had taken to asking Harry every morning if his scar was hurting and jumped at the slightest noise.
Part of her, the logical thinking part of her, said that she was under too much stress because of the upcoming N.E.W.T.'s. But the other part, the emotional sleep-deprived part, was becoming steadily uneasy.
She gave herself one last look in the mirror and pulled her mass of hair into a messy ponytail and left her Head Girl's room to meet Harry and Ron.
Ron had been made Head Boy, but had elected to remain in the seventh year boys dormitory. Hermione had teased him at first saying that growing up with all those brothers had gotten him used to the constant company, but Ron had later confessed that he had not taken the solitary dorm because he didn't want Harry to feel left out. Besides, he had justified to her, things tended to happen in the dead of night, both exciting and serious, and he was damned if he was going to sit in his room like a good little boy while Harry had all the adventures.
"Come on, Hermione," Ron called. "We're going to be late for breakfast."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "I'm coming. It's not like you're going to die of starvation."
Harry looked at her in concern. "Are you feeling ok?"
"Yeah," she said off-handedly. She hadn't told either Ron or Harry about the nightmares she had been having or the constant headaches. She didn't want them to think she was losing it.
They started walking to the Great Hall. Ron and Harry chatted about the upcoming Quidditch game and Hermione was mentally reviewing her day's schedule when just as they turned the corner she saw a dark hooded figure walking toward them.
She didn't pause to think. She pushed Harry into the wall pulled out her wand and shot a spell at the figure. She went to cast a second spell when she felt someone wrap arms around her waist and tackle her to the ground.
"Get off me," she yelled.
"Hermione, have you lost your mind. What the hell were you thinking," said Ron who had her pinned with his full body weight to the floor.
"Ron, no. What are you doing? He's coming for Harry."
"Who!?!"
"The Death Eater!"
Harry knelt down next to Ron and Hermione. "Hermione, you're really scaring me now. You could have hurt those first years."
Hermione's heart was pounding in her chest and she was still trying to fight Ron off her, but she also had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach and a growing pain in her head.
"What is going on here," came the sharp voice of Professor McGonagall. "Mr. Weasley would you kindly get off Miss Granger."
Ron rolled off Hermione and he and Harry helped to pull her to her feet.
"What is the meaning of this?" Said Professor McGonagall indicating the wall where the spell Hermione cast had hit. Bits and pieces of the brick were lying on the floor and there was a substantial hole knocked out. Scared looking first years were huddled far from the damage, some with tiny fragments of rock dusting their hair.
Harry and Ron looked from McGonagall to Hermione and then back to McGonagall not sure how to respond.
Hermione couldn't think. She had obviously been seeing things again, but it had seemed so real to her. The pounding in her skull was growing and it was starting to drown out the surrounding sound. She brought her hands to her head pressing the sides, trying to think straight, but finding it impossible through the pain.
Her knees buckled and she would have hit the floor if Harry hadn't been so quick. He caught her around the waist as she went down. "Hermione," he said frantically. Her hands were still pressing into the sides of her head and she gave up trying to stand. She just wanted the pain to end.
Ron was by her side instantly trying to help Harry hold her. "What's the matter with her," he said in a panicked voice. Harry eyes shot from Hermione to Ron and then back to Hermione and Professor McGonagall was at their sides in a flash.
"Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley," she said sharply. "We must get her to hospital wing immediately.
"Oh," Hermione moaned, "please make it stop."
The pain he heard in Hermione's voice gave Harry the extra bit of adrenaline he needed to pick her up completely and settle her in his arms. "It's ok, I've got you." He murmured. Hermione's arms instinctively went round his neck and as more waves of pain assaulted her, her fingernails dug into his skin. Harry was barely aware of the pain. His only concern was getting her to the hospital wing.
Ron pushed through the crowd of students that had assembled clearing a path for Professor McGonagall, Harry, and Hermione.
When they got to the hospital wing, Madam Pomfrey made them wait outside as she settled Hermione on a bed and forced some clear bitter liquid down her throat. Hermione wasn't even aware when she finally succumbed to unconsciousness.
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Hermione woke slowly. The pain that had been so overwhelming had receded back to the low dull ache she had begun to grow accustom to.
She turned her head slightly and saw Ron sleeping in a chair by her bed.
"You scared the hell out of us, you know," said Harry. Hermione turned her head the other way to see Harry smiling over her.
"How long have I been asleep?"
"Hours."
"What time is it?"
"After midnight."
"Midnight? Harry, I've been asleep over sixteen hours."
"That's right. Madam Pomfrey thought you should sleep. She removed that spell you used to cover the circles under your eyes. She said it looked like you hadn't slept for days. Hermione, why didn't you tell us something was wrong?"
"Have you and Ron been here all day?" She asked changing the subject.
"On and off."
"I'm surprised Madam Pomfrey let you."
"She couldn't have kept us out. And don't change the subject."
Hermione smiled softly. "I'm sorry. I didn't want you to worry."
Harry shook his head. "We were worried anyway. Hermione, did you really think Ron and I didn't know something was wrong? We're together all day, everyday."
"I know, I guess I just didn't want you to."
"Worry," Harry finished. "Yeah, you said that."
They laughed softly. "I'm sorry." Hermione repeated.
Harry sat on the edge of the bed. "I swear, the three of us do put a lot of time here in the hospital wing." Then he turned serious. "Hermione, what's been going on? What happened today?"
Hermione's face filled with anxiety. "I didn't hurt anyone did I?"
"No. But Filch was beyond upset at the mess." Said Harry grinning. Hermione smiled back.
"I don't know what came over me, but I saw something and I just reacted instinctually."
"What did you see? Was it him again?"
"No, at least I don't think so. Whoever or whatever it was, it was definitely a dark wizard."
"Hermione, nothing was there. Nothing that I could see anyway."
She nodded, "I kind of figured that out after Ron tackled me. But what about your scar, did it."
Harry shook his head, "Not a twinge."
Hermione set her jaw. "This is getting ridiculous. I have already seen someone or something twice at school and I can't sleep because I have dreams all night and the pounding in my head is making it practically impossible to do anything. Harry, something is going on. I am not just being delusional."
"I believe you, Hermione. But what?"
"I don't know."
They stared at each other and Harry reached out and took Hermione's hand. "Whatever is happening to you, we'll figure it out together." The whipped around at a loud snore behind them. Ron's mouth was hanging open and his head was thrown back. Harry and Hermione clapped their hands over their mouths trying to keep in their laughter. "And Ron can help too," finished Harry.
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The next morning Professor Dumbledore came to visit Hermione. She had her nose buried in one of her textbooks trying to keep up with what the rest of her class was doing. She had tried to get Madam Pomfrey to allow her to go back to class, but she had refused. None of the teacher's could determine why Hermione was hallucinating and were reluctant to let her return to her normal schedule until they did.
Hermione had had a restful night after Harry and she talked, but she thought that might have been due to Madam Pomfrey's potion for a dreamless sleep.
"Hermione?" Dumbledore approached her slowly.
She put her book down and sat up a bit straighter. "Yes, Professor?"
"How are you feeling?"
"Better."
"Really?" Dumbledore stared at her with his piercing eyes.
"Yes," she said hesitatingly. "I just, that is I wish. I wish I knew what was happening to me."
"About that. I believe I owe you an apology."
"An apology?"
"Yes, when you came to me last week I should have realized that something was wrong. I made the mistake of believing that you might have been a little tired and stressed by your heavy schedule. It is clear that is not the case."
"Please don't feel bad sir. I was beginning to believe it was stress too."
"I am inclined to believe that someone is causing these delusions rather than something."
"But who and why?"
"I'm afraid I can't answer either of those questions for certain. At least not yet." Dumbledore paused appearing to be in serious thought. "I am going to let you resume your schedule, but Hermione, I want you to come straight to me if you see anything else out of the ordinary."
"I will, sir."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Voldemort picked up the glass he had been drinking from and threw it across the room narrowly missing the back of Wormtail's head. He yelped and jumped to the side.
Lucius Malfoy approached him with his head inclined. "My Lord, is there anything I can do?"
Voldemort turned furious eyes on Lucius. "And what is it that you think you can do to help, Lucius. Since your unfortunate incarceration I am afraid you haven't been a great deal of help to me. Your respectable front that gave me access to both the Ministry and Hogwarts Board of Governor's no longer exists."
Lucius turned his head so the Dark Lord would not see the fury in his eyes.
"I need someone on the inside. Things are not progressing quickly enough and I am tired of waiting. I want Miss Granger suffering. I want Harry Potter to see what his presence costs those around him. That mudblood lover Dumbledore knows that it is I who am causing her delusions but he is keeping that information from them. I want my mark felt. I want Potter to know how far into his world I can go."
"I may have it in my power to pass that message along my Lord."
Voldemort turned cold eyes on Lucius, wordlessly pressing him to continue.
"My son attends Hogwarts. He is in the same year as Potter. Perhaps we could use him to pass along a message."
"Yes," said Voldemort shrewdly. "But that is not enough. I want to start removing some of Harry's support system. It might be time to tip off the Ministry that there is a dangerous witch at Hogwarts. They have been eager to regain some control at the school ever since Dumbledore went back a year and a half ago."
"An excellent idea, my Lord. I am sure Draco would be willing to testify to her destructive actions as of late."
"Yes, but it will have to be carefully timed. I do not want my hand detected by Fudge, just Potter."
"That shouldn't be too hard. Fudge is always more than eager to deny the existence of anything that would interrupt his afternoon cup of tea." Lucius laughed.
"A truer word has not been spoken."
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Ron and Harry were trying to finish their astronomy homework, while Hermione caught up with her work from Transfiguration, but they weren't getting very far. They kept glancing up at Hermione as if she might flip out at any moment. It wasn't actually that much of a stretch. She was getting increasingly annoyed at their continual looks of concern.
Finally frustration got the better of her and she snapped her book shut loudly. She was set to give them both a lecture, but she knew they were only concerned about her and decided she had better head to bed. She got up and began gathering her books.
"Are you going to bed?" Asked Ron.
"Yes," she replied tensely.
"Should I walk you up?" Asked Harry.
Hermione smiled. "Not unless you want to be pitched back down."
"No, I guess not."
"Goodnight guys."
"Night Hermione." They both called.
She made her way upstairs. She set her book down on her night table and changed into her dressing gown. She hadn't had a nightmare or a hallucination for weeks due in part to the potion that Madam Pomfrey gave her to take every night. The problem was it made her sluggish in the mornings. She was about to take her nightly dose when she remembered she had a Potions exam in the morning. She put the dose down and got into bed. It had been weeks, she justified to herself, and it will be fine.
Hermione was asleep almost before her head hit the pillow.
At some point during the night Hermione could feel a presence over her. Her eyes shot open and almost immediately someone was on top of her putting a hand over her mouth. She thrashed around a bit and tried to scream, but the hand cut off any sound. She kept trying to throw the person off her but whoever it was pressed on her harder cutting off her air supply.
She stopped moving and breathed deeply through her nose. "That's better," came a cold voice. "Don't struggle. I'm here to deliver a message from the Dark Lord."
Hermione tensed, knowing for certain that this was no dream or delusion. She could feel the weight of the person on top of her and their warm breath as he spoke inches from her face.
"The Dark Lord wishes you to know that it is he who is causing you to see the visions you have been seeing."
Hermione's brow creased and she tried to speak.
"You're wondering why, are you?" He waited and then pressed harder on her mouth cutting off all her oxygen. He was straddling her now and she was incapable of any movement, except for a slight nod of her head. "He wants you and Potter to know that even at Hogwarts he can still reach you. The Dark Lord is with you always. Even now he knows your very thoughts and he will not stop haunting your every waking and sleeping moments until he gets what he wants."
Hermione's eyes flashed with rage and she bucked wildly. The unexpected movement caused her assailant to lose his bearings and fall into her. She used his momentum against him and pushed with her legs, rolling off the bed with him. They scuffled wildly for several moments, but he had weight and height to his advantage and soon he pinned her to the floor again. He had his hands round her neck and was squeezing.
She tried to scream, but he was crushing her windpipe. Her hands were free and she pushed against his shoulders trying to free herself, but as the seconds ticked by she began to feel disoriented. Her last conscious thought was of Harry and Ron and then she knew no more.
Hermione stared at herself in the mirror, taking note of her pale skin and the dark circles under her eyes. The dull pounding in her head remained constant. She closed her eyes against it telling herself that she would go to Madam Pomfrey for a headache cure after breakfast. She pushed her hair behind her ears and took out her wand muttering the spell that gave her face a rosy hue.
It had been days since Hermione had slept for more than two or three hours a night, not since the incident at the lake. She hadn't actually seen anything or anyone since that day, but her nights were filled with frightening dreams of Death Eaters and the Dark Mark and even sometimes Voldemort. While the players varied the themes were the same. Harry being kidnapped, Harry being tortured, Harry being killed.
She had taken to asking Harry every morning if his scar was hurting and jumped at the slightest noise.
Part of her, the logical thinking part of her, said that she was under too much stress because of the upcoming N.E.W.T.'s. But the other part, the emotional sleep-deprived part, was becoming steadily uneasy.
She gave herself one last look in the mirror and pulled her mass of hair into a messy ponytail and left her Head Girl's room to meet Harry and Ron.
Ron had been made Head Boy, but had elected to remain in the seventh year boys dormitory. Hermione had teased him at first saying that growing up with all those brothers had gotten him used to the constant company, but Ron had later confessed that he had not taken the solitary dorm because he didn't want Harry to feel left out. Besides, he had justified to her, things tended to happen in the dead of night, both exciting and serious, and he was damned if he was going to sit in his room like a good little boy while Harry had all the adventures.
"Come on, Hermione," Ron called. "We're going to be late for breakfast."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "I'm coming. It's not like you're going to die of starvation."
Harry looked at her in concern. "Are you feeling ok?"
"Yeah," she said off-handedly. She hadn't told either Ron or Harry about the nightmares she had been having or the constant headaches. She didn't want them to think she was losing it.
They started walking to the Great Hall. Ron and Harry chatted about the upcoming Quidditch game and Hermione was mentally reviewing her day's schedule when just as they turned the corner she saw a dark hooded figure walking toward them.
She didn't pause to think. She pushed Harry into the wall pulled out her wand and shot a spell at the figure. She went to cast a second spell when she felt someone wrap arms around her waist and tackle her to the ground.
"Get off me," she yelled.
"Hermione, have you lost your mind. What the hell were you thinking," said Ron who had her pinned with his full body weight to the floor.
"Ron, no. What are you doing? He's coming for Harry."
"Who!?!"
"The Death Eater!"
Harry knelt down next to Ron and Hermione. "Hermione, you're really scaring me now. You could have hurt those first years."
Hermione's heart was pounding in her chest and she was still trying to fight Ron off her, but she also had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach and a growing pain in her head.
"What is going on here," came the sharp voice of Professor McGonagall. "Mr. Weasley would you kindly get off Miss Granger."
Ron rolled off Hermione and he and Harry helped to pull her to her feet.
"What is the meaning of this?" Said Professor McGonagall indicating the wall where the spell Hermione cast had hit. Bits and pieces of the brick were lying on the floor and there was a substantial hole knocked out. Scared looking first years were huddled far from the damage, some with tiny fragments of rock dusting their hair.
Harry and Ron looked from McGonagall to Hermione and then back to McGonagall not sure how to respond.
Hermione couldn't think. She had obviously been seeing things again, but it had seemed so real to her. The pounding in her skull was growing and it was starting to drown out the surrounding sound. She brought her hands to her head pressing the sides, trying to think straight, but finding it impossible through the pain.
Her knees buckled and she would have hit the floor if Harry hadn't been so quick. He caught her around the waist as she went down. "Hermione," he said frantically. Her hands were still pressing into the sides of her head and she gave up trying to stand. She just wanted the pain to end.
Ron was by her side instantly trying to help Harry hold her. "What's the matter with her," he said in a panicked voice. Harry eyes shot from Hermione to Ron and then back to Hermione and Professor McGonagall was at their sides in a flash.
"Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley," she said sharply. "We must get her to hospital wing immediately.
"Oh," Hermione moaned, "please make it stop."
The pain he heard in Hermione's voice gave Harry the extra bit of adrenaline he needed to pick her up completely and settle her in his arms. "It's ok, I've got you." He murmured. Hermione's arms instinctively went round his neck and as more waves of pain assaulted her, her fingernails dug into his skin. Harry was barely aware of the pain. His only concern was getting her to the hospital wing.
Ron pushed through the crowd of students that had assembled clearing a path for Professor McGonagall, Harry, and Hermione.
When they got to the hospital wing, Madam Pomfrey made them wait outside as she settled Hermione on a bed and forced some clear bitter liquid down her throat. Hermione wasn't even aware when she finally succumbed to unconsciousness.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hermione woke slowly. The pain that had been so overwhelming had receded back to the low dull ache she had begun to grow accustom to.
She turned her head slightly and saw Ron sleeping in a chair by her bed.
"You scared the hell out of us, you know," said Harry. Hermione turned her head the other way to see Harry smiling over her.
"How long have I been asleep?"
"Hours."
"What time is it?"
"After midnight."
"Midnight? Harry, I've been asleep over sixteen hours."
"That's right. Madam Pomfrey thought you should sleep. She removed that spell you used to cover the circles under your eyes. She said it looked like you hadn't slept for days. Hermione, why didn't you tell us something was wrong?"
"Have you and Ron been here all day?" She asked changing the subject.
"On and off."
"I'm surprised Madam Pomfrey let you."
"She couldn't have kept us out. And don't change the subject."
Hermione smiled softly. "I'm sorry. I didn't want you to worry."
Harry shook his head. "We were worried anyway. Hermione, did you really think Ron and I didn't know something was wrong? We're together all day, everyday."
"I know, I guess I just didn't want you to."
"Worry," Harry finished. "Yeah, you said that."
They laughed softly. "I'm sorry." Hermione repeated.
Harry sat on the edge of the bed. "I swear, the three of us do put a lot of time here in the hospital wing." Then he turned serious. "Hermione, what's been going on? What happened today?"
Hermione's face filled with anxiety. "I didn't hurt anyone did I?"
"No. But Filch was beyond upset at the mess." Said Harry grinning. Hermione smiled back.
"I don't know what came over me, but I saw something and I just reacted instinctually."
"What did you see? Was it him again?"
"No, at least I don't think so. Whoever or whatever it was, it was definitely a dark wizard."
"Hermione, nothing was there. Nothing that I could see anyway."
She nodded, "I kind of figured that out after Ron tackled me. But what about your scar, did it."
Harry shook his head, "Not a twinge."
Hermione set her jaw. "This is getting ridiculous. I have already seen someone or something twice at school and I can't sleep because I have dreams all night and the pounding in my head is making it practically impossible to do anything. Harry, something is going on. I am not just being delusional."
"I believe you, Hermione. But what?"
"I don't know."
They stared at each other and Harry reached out and took Hermione's hand. "Whatever is happening to you, we'll figure it out together." The whipped around at a loud snore behind them. Ron's mouth was hanging open and his head was thrown back. Harry and Hermione clapped their hands over their mouths trying to keep in their laughter. "And Ron can help too," finished Harry.
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The next morning Professor Dumbledore came to visit Hermione. She had her nose buried in one of her textbooks trying to keep up with what the rest of her class was doing. She had tried to get Madam Pomfrey to allow her to go back to class, but she had refused. None of the teacher's could determine why Hermione was hallucinating and were reluctant to let her return to her normal schedule until they did.
Hermione had had a restful night after Harry and she talked, but she thought that might have been due to Madam Pomfrey's potion for a dreamless sleep.
"Hermione?" Dumbledore approached her slowly.
She put her book down and sat up a bit straighter. "Yes, Professor?"
"How are you feeling?"
"Better."
"Really?" Dumbledore stared at her with his piercing eyes.
"Yes," she said hesitatingly. "I just, that is I wish. I wish I knew what was happening to me."
"About that. I believe I owe you an apology."
"An apology?"
"Yes, when you came to me last week I should have realized that something was wrong. I made the mistake of believing that you might have been a little tired and stressed by your heavy schedule. It is clear that is not the case."
"Please don't feel bad sir. I was beginning to believe it was stress too."
"I am inclined to believe that someone is causing these delusions rather than something."
"But who and why?"
"I'm afraid I can't answer either of those questions for certain. At least not yet." Dumbledore paused appearing to be in serious thought. "I am going to let you resume your schedule, but Hermione, I want you to come straight to me if you see anything else out of the ordinary."
"I will, sir."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Voldemort picked up the glass he had been drinking from and threw it across the room narrowly missing the back of Wormtail's head. He yelped and jumped to the side.
Lucius Malfoy approached him with his head inclined. "My Lord, is there anything I can do?"
Voldemort turned furious eyes on Lucius. "And what is it that you think you can do to help, Lucius. Since your unfortunate incarceration I am afraid you haven't been a great deal of help to me. Your respectable front that gave me access to both the Ministry and Hogwarts Board of Governor's no longer exists."
Lucius turned his head so the Dark Lord would not see the fury in his eyes.
"I need someone on the inside. Things are not progressing quickly enough and I am tired of waiting. I want Miss Granger suffering. I want Harry Potter to see what his presence costs those around him. That mudblood lover Dumbledore knows that it is I who am causing her delusions but he is keeping that information from them. I want my mark felt. I want Potter to know how far into his world I can go."
"I may have it in my power to pass that message along my Lord."
Voldemort turned cold eyes on Lucius, wordlessly pressing him to continue.
"My son attends Hogwarts. He is in the same year as Potter. Perhaps we could use him to pass along a message."
"Yes," said Voldemort shrewdly. "But that is not enough. I want to start removing some of Harry's support system. It might be time to tip off the Ministry that there is a dangerous witch at Hogwarts. They have been eager to regain some control at the school ever since Dumbledore went back a year and a half ago."
"An excellent idea, my Lord. I am sure Draco would be willing to testify to her destructive actions as of late."
"Yes, but it will have to be carefully timed. I do not want my hand detected by Fudge, just Potter."
"That shouldn't be too hard. Fudge is always more than eager to deny the existence of anything that would interrupt his afternoon cup of tea." Lucius laughed.
"A truer word has not been spoken."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ron and Harry were trying to finish their astronomy homework, while Hermione caught up with her work from Transfiguration, but they weren't getting very far. They kept glancing up at Hermione as if she might flip out at any moment. It wasn't actually that much of a stretch. She was getting increasingly annoyed at their continual looks of concern.
Finally frustration got the better of her and she snapped her book shut loudly. She was set to give them both a lecture, but she knew they were only concerned about her and decided she had better head to bed. She got up and began gathering her books.
"Are you going to bed?" Asked Ron.
"Yes," she replied tensely.
"Should I walk you up?" Asked Harry.
Hermione smiled. "Not unless you want to be pitched back down."
"No, I guess not."
"Goodnight guys."
"Night Hermione." They both called.
She made her way upstairs. She set her book down on her night table and changed into her dressing gown. She hadn't had a nightmare or a hallucination for weeks due in part to the potion that Madam Pomfrey gave her to take every night. The problem was it made her sluggish in the mornings. She was about to take her nightly dose when she remembered she had a Potions exam in the morning. She put the dose down and got into bed. It had been weeks, she justified to herself, and it will be fine.
Hermione was asleep almost before her head hit the pillow.
At some point during the night Hermione could feel a presence over her. Her eyes shot open and almost immediately someone was on top of her putting a hand over her mouth. She thrashed around a bit and tried to scream, but the hand cut off any sound. She kept trying to throw the person off her but whoever it was pressed on her harder cutting off her air supply.
She stopped moving and breathed deeply through her nose. "That's better," came a cold voice. "Don't struggle. I'm here to deliver a message from the Dark Lord."
Hermione tensed, knowing for certain that this was no dream or delusion. She could feel the weight of the person on top of her and their warm breath as he spoke inches from her face.
"The Dark Lord wishes you to know that it is he who is causing you to see the visions you have been seeing."
Hermione's brow creased and she tried to speak.
"You're wondering why, are you?" He waited and then pressed harder on her mouth cutting off all her oxygen. He was straddling her now and she was incapable of any movement, except for a slight nod of her head. "He wants you and Potter to know that even at Hogwarts he can still reach you. The Dark Lord is with you always. Even now he knows your very thoughts and he will not stop haunting your every waking and sleeping moments until he gets what he wants."
Hermione's eyes flashed with rage and she bucked wildly. The unexpected movement caused her assailant to lose his bearings and fall into her. She used his momentum against him and pushed with her legs, rolling off the bed with him. They scuffled wildly for several moments, but he had weight and height to his advantage and soon he pinned her to the floor again. He had his hands round her neck and was squeezing.
She tried to scream, but he was crushing her windpipe. Her hands were free and she pushed against his shoulders trying to free herself, but as the seconds ticked by she began to feel disoriented. Her last conscious thought was of Harry and Ron and then she knew no more.
