Over the next few days, Hermione stayed in a perpetual state of drug induced happiness. The weekend had passed quickly. Harry and Ron weren't sure what was going on, but they weren't completely blind to Hermione's erratic behavior. They had invited her along on a Hogsmeade trip but Hermione's paranoia was settling in and making a home in her head and wasn't about to fall for such an obvious ploy to keep trap Hermione in a corner and take away everything near and dear to her – which only included Duplexplicis at the moment – under the pretext of "friends." Instead, Hermione stayed in her room most of the day. Her usually anal organizational habits were thrown out the window and she would lie amongst the empty cups and scrolls filled with scribbles on the floor with her arms spread while Duplexplicis spread throughout her body. Yes, she had attempted to sleep, but Duplexplicis was a friend with a cobweb of strings attached. Sleep was no longer an option, nor was an appetite, but as long as she had her magical blue powder, she didn't have to think and any negative thoughts eluded her. She opened an eye half heartedly, still feeling the initial surge of her morning dose. The noise from the hallways made it clear that the other students were doing their daily rounds of socializing before the first morning course. Hermione considered laying on the floor to avoid any kind of experience like the last time she decided to goto class while under the influence, but her insatiable crave for learning was trying its hardest to scream its protest through the heavy mist of the drug. She justified it in her mind; it had been a good hour since her last line and the effects weren't as overwhelming. She pushed the red ball of fur that was her familiar off her stomach and smiled at the slight surge of perfection that ran through her body when she stood up. Hermione sat in the desk of her Defense Against the Dark Arts, trying to appear normal as the classroom filled up with the other Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs. Her seat was in the front, as expected, at the end of a long table next to Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan. Professor Lupin made his entrance through a door in the side of the classroom which connected to his office. He looked lost in thought and brushed his fingers through his hair as he set a short stack of books on his desk. He looked up quickly, as if someone had called his name and looked around, finally laying eyes on Hermione. His facial expression dropped slightly though it was enough to be evident to her. Hermione readjusted herself in her seat, straightening her back. He knew, and she knew it. How did he know? She wasn't sure as of yet, but what did it matter. He knew and that was all that matters. He looked at her, his eyes trying to read hers and she looked down at her books quickly trying to avoid his eye contact. Before his staring attracted the attention of other classmates, he recomposed himself. "Morning" he greeted the classroom in his husky voice. "Today we're just going to uh," he paused and brushed his fingers through his sandy brown, grey speckled hair, "Everyone read the chapters I assigned last week on the curing properties of various plants when faced with the um," he took a sideways glance at Hermione, "Unforgiveables if treated immediately. Just read over that and Hermione, may I speak to you in my office for a second?" There were some looks and quiet whispers from the other students. Hermione could only concentrate on her vastly accelerated heart beat as she stood up and followed the Professor into his office. He sat down behind his desk, a carbon copy of the one in Snape's office so she figured they must come standard. She sat down in the dark red leather chair, as the Professor closed the door and began to pace slowly as if considering what to do. The office was bare with the exception of two large floor-to-ceiling book cases that were so full that extra books were piled on the floor in front of them. Her head was still clogged but it felt as if someone had attached a hook to the portion of her brain that could distinguish the reality from the drug and pulled it forward at mach speed letting it hit her with full force. Professor Lupin turned around and looked at her. "You came to my class on that horrid stuff and you thought I was stupid enough not to realize it, is that it?" Hermione shook her head no as her eyes watered. He walked over to where she sat and looked down on her. "How much did you take?" he demanded. She stared at him, unwilling to answer. "Damnit, Hermione. I can smell it on you!" he said louder than he obviously expected and lowered his voice, "You were clever enough to figure out my curse in the first place, then you should also know that it comes with a few benefits as well. I have hightened senses. I avoid the girls bathrooms for the pure fact that the smell of perfume is overwhelming enough to make me pass out, I can smell a person before I see them, I can even smell fear" he accentuated, "now what makes you think I can't smell the Duplexplicis on you? That horrid substance is leaking out of your pours as we speak." Hermione didn't say anything as a tear streaked down her cheek. "I told you before that I didn't think it was in your best interest to bring Dumbledore into this. I thought you would smarten up after you almost died from that shit, but it didn't stop you. What's going on?" "I didn't know what else to do" she sighed, "I couldn't sleep or eat or conectrate. My head hurt worse than you could ever imagine, my entire body would ache so badly I couldn't move out of my bed and I knew that it was the only thing that would cure it. I wanted to stop, I did. I just couldn't deal with the pain." Lupin paused in his pacing, "like withdrawals?" he asked with a curious look on his face. "I suppose" she sniffled. He sat down at his desk and looked at her in the eye, "And the Duplexplicis was causing it?" "I don't know anything else that would." His shoulders dropped slightly and he looked off to the side as he searched his mind. "But Duplexplicis isn't addictive, why..." he paused and then it looked as if a light bulb had gone off in his head. "He's giving it to you, isn't he? It's Snape.That's why you were down in the dungeons..." Hermione inhaled quickly and looked at him like a deer caught in the headlights of a car, stumbling over her words "n-no he's n-not. I, I mean-" Lupin slammed his fist against the desk. "God, how could I have been so dim?" he mumbled to himself and stood up quickly. "Look, just go lay down, I need to take care of something." He walked out of the door to the office and flicked his hand, "Class dismissed" he said as he left the classroom. Hermione stood in the doorway of the office as everyone else seemed a little shocked. They gave her sideway glances and mumbled amongst themselves as they gathered their books and cleared the classroom. It wasn't very often that a Professor excused a class early at Hogwart's. Meanwhile, Snape sat in his office with a cup of tea looking over a weekly potion's magazine, his long fingers tapping ever so lightly on the wood of his desk. He took a sip as he heard a harsh knock on the door. Severus Snape sighed as he pointed his wand at the door, allowing Lupin to come in.
"Ah, Lupin. Have a seat. I have your wolfbane's potion heating as we speak."
"I'm not here for that. I need to speak to you about Hermione Granger." He said sharply.
"I see." He said, leaning back in his chair and steepling his fingers seemingly unaffected. "What about her?"
"She came in my class on Duplexplicis this morning."
"Nasty stuff, that is."
"Then why are you giving it to her?"
Snape heightened his eyebrows, "That's quite an accusation, friend. I must admit I'm sorry for tarnishing your delusions of the girl, but I hardly think you should trust a word from her mouth, especially claims such as that. You know what Duplexplicis can do to one's mind."
"She didn't tell me, I figured it out myself, Severus."
A smirk grew on the side of his mouth, "Oh really? And what would make you think that I have anything to do with it?"
"I smelled the Duplexplicis on her and it was mixed with something else. I couldn't figure it out until I realized she has all the symptoms of being under Adixio. You know damn well youre one of the only people who could make it."
"Don't give me such credit, Lupin. It's not that difficult, any idiot with the ingredients and a cauldron could perfect it."
Lupin stood up from his seat, "Damnit Snape, I'm not in the mood to be playing these games with you. You've been giving it to her. Why? Why have you been giving it to her? What is in it for you?"
Snape remained calm and collected as he took a sip of his tea, "Lupin, I suggest you reevaluate all the trust you place in your students and the conclusions you come up with. Now, I'll have the wolfsbane ready by Wednesday. I'll see you then."
Lupin's face was red with anger, "I've seen you ruin one life, I'm not going to let you do it again."
"Good day, Professor" Snape responded calmly and resumed reading his magazine.
Professor Lupin knew his attempts were fruitless and stalked out of the room. After he was out of sight, Snape magiced his door closed and cursed to himself, trying to plan his defense.