FEVER

Chapter 2: The Awakening

A numbing coldness hit Harry as he dived into the biting waters. He was lost for a moment but quickly regained his bearings, pushing aside all thoughts about the cold. He took a deep breath and sank beneath the waters. The water and coldness combined threatened to render him unconscious but Harry forced himself to go on, opening his eyes to search for Hermione.

The waters were very dark and he could not see a single thing. He resurfaced and gasped out for light. A boy from the boat behind shouted out, his voice strained as he tried hard to ignore the happenings in the water. "Everyone raise their wands, say Lumos!"

"Lumos!"

The end of tens of wands erupted with blazing lights and everyone held it close to the waters. Harry dived back under and with the help of the dim lights, managed to see Hermione a few feet below him who was sinking rapidly, her backpack pulling her down.

Harry resurfaced to take another much needed gulp of air and went back under, now heading fast towards Hermione. He reached her and grabbed onto her robes. Tugging her up, he turned her around and pulled the heavy bag off her. It sank quickly out of sight.

Wasting no time, he dragged her unconscious form up to the surface of the water. Cries of relief sounded as Hagrid pulled Harry and Hermione up without effort into his boat.

"Harry! Are yer alright?" he asked anxiously.

Once out of the water, the wind blowing gently around them chilled Harry to the bone.

"I-I'm fine," he managed to get out.

Hagrid produced blankets and wrapped one around Harry. He slapped Hermione's cheek gently and then began pressing down on her chest.

"What happened?" he asked worriedly, shocked that such a thing had happened. Where was the blasted squid when it was needed? "Are yer sure yer are alright?"

Harry nodded. Hermione suddenly vomited a fairly large amount of water, coughing as Hagrid quickly bundled her in a thick blanket. "Yer alright, young lady?"

Hermione gave a gagging sound. "Y-yes, what just happened?"

"You fell into the water," Ron called from beside Hagrid's boat.

Hermione looked pained. "Where's t-that dratted t-toad?"

Neville produced an unconscious form of the fat toad. "It was floating on the surface," he said feebly.

"Harry got yer just in time," Hagrid said. "If not..." He shuddered. "Now everyone, let's move again, these two needs to get to the Infirmary at once."

As the boats began moving, Hermione threw herself at Harry. "Oh, Harry, thank you so much for rescuing me, I thought I was as good as dead."

"You are welcome," Harry said. He looked guiltily at the girl. "Although you might want to know your backpack is...uh...six feet underwater."

Hermione exploded into tears.

* * * * * * * * *

"WHAT ON EARTH HAPPENED?" Minerva yelled as all the students clambered into the school, all parting quickly to get out of the way of Hagrid who was carrying Harry and Hermione on each of his arms, both of them still shivering. They had protested against Hagrid's hold but Hagrid knew that if he let them both walk to the castle, they would probably take until morning to reach it with those shaky legs of theirs. Furthermore, chills were starting to set in and Hagrid didn't want any of them to break out into a fever.

Especially Harry. Sirius would kill him.

"A minor accident," he spluttered.

"H-Mr. Potter, are you alright?" Minerva asked trying not to show her concern. Harry had asked that they act like they did not know him rather than have them show favoritism and she had agreed. Harry was sensible enough to choose it and she was proud of him. Even if they made the fact known that Professor Black was Harry's Godfather but firmly not show favoritism, students will still talk and Minerva knew it will be hard for Harry to blend in.

Harry nodded. "I'm fine professor."

"Are you alright, Miss Granger?"

"Yes, professor." Hermione's teeth were chattering in cold.

"Get them to Madam Pomfrey, hurry," Minerva said. She gestured to the other students. "Follow me," she said distractedly, her eyes still on the jogging form of the half giant towards the Infirmary.

* * * * * * * * *

A mug of steaming hot chocolate in each of their hands, hugging a hot water bottle and wrapped up with thick woolen blankets, Harry and Hermione sat in their beds situated opposite each other.

"The sorting's probably over," Hermione said miserably.

Personally, Harry didn't mind at all. Going right in front of thousands of people and putting on that hat wasn't one of his dream moments. "I'm sure they'll sort you later. They can't kick you out."

"I hope not," Hermione said. "I'm feeling really depressed now. I mean, my first time stepping into Hogwarts wasn't what I expected."

"You can always go out later and pretend to see it for the first time," Harry suggested.

Hermione grunted.

"Done?" Poppy swept in. She, like Hagrid and Minerva merely threw a glance that conveyed her concern for him in secret.

Harry drank the remainder of the chocolate and handed the mug to Poppy. "Thank you."

"Welcome," Poppy smiled. She took the other empty mug from Hermione and set it on a table. "Now I want you to sleep early now. If you do not develop any fever of chills by morning, you can go."

"Will we get sorted tomorrow?" Hermione asked eagerly.

"Yes, Miss Granger."

The cold voice of Severus Snape made Harry and Hermione jump with surprise.

"Pleased to note that it was a toad that sent both of you here," he added. "The sorting shall be done in private at the Headmaster's office."

"Yes, sir," said Hermione soberly.

Poppy glanced at Severus and got the hint. Going to Hermione, she pulled the curtains around the cubicle. "Now off to bed with you, dear. You had a rough night."

"Night, Madam Pomfrey, Harry...professor."

"Night," Harry returned softly.

"Good night, call if you need anything," Poppy closed the last of the curtains and turned to Harry. "You too, Mr. Potter." She smiled at Severus then drew the curtains, letting Severus slip into the cubicle first.

After casting a silencing spell, Severus turned to Harry in concern. "Are you feeling okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," Harry said.

Severus felt his forehead, then sat down at the side of bed. "You scared everyone out of their wits. Next time, don't do that." Just when you have recovered. "Leave it to someone else."

Knowing it would be fruitless to tell the professor that Hermione would have drowned before someone else got to her, Harry simply nodded.

Severus sighed. "Sirius is coming soon, he wants you to sleep in his room tonight. He's very worried."

Harry looked horrified.

"Just kidding," Severus continued slyly. "He's just coming to scream at you now for jumping into those ice cold waters."

Harry groaned. "But - "

"Also joking," Severus cut in, looking extremely sly by now, clearly having fun.

Harry couldn't resist prodding his professor in slight annoyance. Severus laughed then got up and tucked Harry in. "Sleep for a while, Sirius will be down in a second. Dumbledore has some things he needs to iron out with him before he lets him go."

* * * * * * * * *

Harry awoke feeling extremely hot and sweaty. Opening his eyes, he found the source of the heat: a large ray of sunshine was shining directly on him. He quickly got out under the heavy covers and sighed happily when the warmth the blankets offered gradually disappeared.

Looking around, he saw Hermione who was still sleeping soundly, a hand beneath her brown locks. Poppy, owning an instinct like an alarm bell which alerted her to any single movement, poked her head in.

"How are you feeling? Any cold? Chills? Fever?"

Used to Poppy's style by now, Harry didn't bother to answer knowing that she would come and check for herself no matter what one claimed. After giving Harry a thorough check-up she straightened up, a pleased look on her face.

"Seems like you are as healthy as you can be," she announced. Then lowering her voice, she told him, "Your godfather came to see you last night, but you had already fallen asleep so he didn't wake you up. He was very worried, I got to tell you."

"Everyone seems to be," Harry muttered.

"And be grateful," said Poppy sternly.

"I am," Harry protested.

"I know you are, dear," Poppy turned towards Hermione, checking her temperature. She nodded in silent approval then glanced at the bewitched clock on the wall. "Dear me, it's already late."

Gently, she shook Hermione awake. "Morning, Miss Granger."

Hermione yawned and rubbed her eyes. "Morning, Madam Pomfrey." She sat up slightly to see Harry. "Morning, Harry."

Harry grinned back at her. "Morning."

"Get dressed, both of you," Poppy told them. "You have to go see the Headmaster to get sorted before going to the Great Hall for breakfast. Have to know which table you are going to sit at."

"I wonder what house Ron was sorted in," Hermione said.

"That's what I was thinking," Harry confessed.

"Well, you'll know soon enough," Poppy said. "Now off you go."

* * * * * * * * *

"Come in."

The gargoyle moved aside and Harry entered first, Hermione right behind him, nearly tripping.

"Good morning, professor," Harry said.

"M-Morning, professor," Hermione stammered nervously. Meeting the headmaster face to face was quite intimidating.

"Good morning!" Dumbledore said cheerfully. "I trust you both have rested well?"

"Yes, sir," said Harry and Hermione together.

"Well, then, let's get you sorted out," Dumbledore pulled an old patched up hat from a shelve and set it on the table. "Take a seat and put it on."

"You go first," Hermione prodded Harry. Although she had been dying for this moment, she was now panicking when it had finally arrived.

Harry looked at her. "You sure?"

"Yes, yes," Hermione looked flustered, torn between her nervousness and her Great Moment.

Harry did no further delay and walked to the hat, picking it up. It promptly opened its mouth and screeched, "LATE! LATE!"

Nearly dropping it, Harry held it gingerly by the pointed top, watching the open slit in the bottom deliver insults. Hermione had a look of interest and fear fighting for the throne on her face. Dumbledore reached over to the hat and smacked it. "Never mind it," he said. "Go on, Harry."

Harry set the hat onto his head, which enveloped his whole head.

Tick. Tock.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Harry nearly fell off the chair in his attempt to peel off the hat. His ears were ringing as he handed the hat over to Hermione who took it with shaking hands.

She sat down as well, and put it on. Expecting a call of 'Ravenclaw', Harry jumped with Hermione as another "GRYFFINDOR!" rang out again.

Hermione was nearly crying as she handed the hat back to Dumbledore.

"What's the matter, Miss Granger?" Dumbledore asked, a little concerned

"It's G-Gryf-findor!" Hermione wailed.

"Is it bad?" asked Harry.

"It's perfect!"

"Oh." Both Dumbledore and Harry exchanged a 'she-is-nuts' look.

"Well, then, Miss Granger, Mr. Potter," Albus said cheerfully. "Then lets head down to the Great Hall, I'm starving."

Hermione wiped her tears off her face hurriedly, grabbed Harry's hand, and said, "Good day, Professor."

Harry echoed her greeting then let her lead him down to the Great Hall.

"I hope Ron's in Gryffindor," panted Harry as they ran side by side towards the hall.

"I hope Neville's in Gryffindor, too," said Hermione.

"I hope Draco..."

"Is not in Gryffindor," they both finished together. They burst out laughing then entered hall. Although Harry had been in there before, he had never seen it at its full capacity and as he watched the throngs of laughing students as they talked and ate, he realized that he didn't even really know which table was which.

"Come on," said Hermione. But her voice was a bit less brighter.

"HARRY! HERMIONE!"

Both of they snapped their heads to the right side where Ron and Neville were standing up and waving forks at them. "OVER HERE!"

They half ran towards the table.

"Gryffindor," said Ron worriedly.

"Gryffindor," Harry grinned.

"YES!" Neville and Ron jumped up and down in glee. "Come on, let's eat!"

"You all right, both of you?" asked Neville who had hurriedly stuffed Trevor into his pocket when he saw Hermione.

"Yes, good as new. Where's Draco?" Hermione asked.

"Proud to be in Slytherin," Ron answered.

Draco had caught sight of them at the other end and gave them a mock salute, Crabbe and Goyle giving them a thumbs down.

"I knew it," said Hermione triumphantly.

"How?" asked Harry.

"Because he mentioned that he will die of shame if he didn't get sorted into Slytherin," answered Hermione helping herself to some apple pie. "And there was no one in the beds at the Hospital Wing today when I woke up."

"Where?" asked Ron.

"On the train," Hermione replied.

"Gosh, she was listening to that crap!" Ron said in utmost horror.

"Oh, shut up."

* * * * * * * * *

She had the gracefulness of a swan, her intelligence far surpassed any other creature in the waters, but her looks did her no justice. She looked at herself in the water, using the clear liquid to reflect herself. Her ears were too big, hair covered her body and her face had scales, peeling off as she aged every day. She gave an angry shake of her head and her dirty matted black hair sprayed water droplets over the rocks. She glanced up to the castle: Hogwarts.

She felt resentment building in her.

She was beautiful once, her long black hair as smooth as silk, soft as feathers. She had a unique look, almost oriental although she was a pure born British. She was tall, her body a perfect hourglass. She was sought after by most boys, she had the ability to turn heads at crowded areas.

Instead of choosing a better guy, she had chosen Tom Riddle. She thought he had been suitable for her, thought that he was a cool guy. So wrong was she that she felt that she could tear down the castle with her bare hands. She had followed Tom one day when he had entered the girls bathroom one night and made the sink turn, exposing the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets.

She thought he didn't know she was there, hiding in one of the cubicles but she was wrong. Unlike the boy she had known for the past year, he had tossed her against the wall, almost breaking her back and cast a foreign spell so evil and dark that she could not describe it.

He had taken her to the edge of the waters that surrounded the castle and tossed her into the sea, letting her body sink to the bottom. His magic was not strong enough at that time, and instead of killing her, it had turned her into a savage being. She was in a bewitched sleep for some time and it was not until yesterday that she had awakened, memories resurfacing. She didn't know how long had passed, but she knew she had to take her revenge towards Riddle. He must be still in school.

She narrowed her eyes. So many students...so many people. Which one was Riddle? How many days or years had passed? How old was he now, what year was he in? Maybe only a week had passed. Maybe.

She turned away from the castle, hatred continuing to bite at her. She slammed a hand angrily in the water, disturbing the calm waters and destroying the reflection momentarily. Then she remembered.

When she had awakened, she knew at once that her body had changed. A large boil-like lump was located at her stomach, pulsing with life. She hadn't known what that was and had tried to pry it off her body. She had only succeeded in puncturing it and black inky liquid had oozed out. She had watched as it spread throughout the waters, then something had swam out from behind the rock.

The giant squid! She had clambered desperately to get out of its way but as it reached towards the tainted area of the waters, it suddenly sank, spiraling down the the bottom of the sea, seemingly weakened and unconscious. She had frowned and swam down towards it, gingerly prodding it with a hairy foot. Then it suddenly started bleeding. A few water fairies had dove into sight at once heading for the animal but then minutes later fell down in a deep faint. Or were they dead? Immediately she knew. She had a weapon.

She would release whatever it was into the sea when the first years were crossing the waters. She would find a way to taint them with this...disease. Then they, like the squid to the fairies, would pass it to the whole school and eventually kill off Riddle. She smiled in sadistic pleasure. It didn't occur to her that she would be killing off innocent people. Now there was a problem. In what time of the year was it?

When will the next batch of first years be crossing? She had frowned, then dove back underwater to think. Water had became her second home, it helped calm her down. Then she had slept, waking up suddenly by the sound of chattering children. She smiled. God was at her side, he was helping her. She had only waited for a day and her chance had already come.

She slid out into the waters, towards the dark shapes floating on the surface.

""I hope that whatever class we go to first will..."

A large object suddenly hurtled into the water accompanied by a loud scream. She jumped back, startled then realized that it was a girl. She grinned. Was this a sign from above that her revenge was aided by unseen hands? She jabbed at the lump on her stomach and immediately the black liquid spread towards the struggling girl. She quickly swam out of sight and hid behind a clump of rocks watching as the students on the boats screamed for the girl.

The girl struggled, she had a large backpack which limited her movements. She watched as the liquid surrounded the girl but she gave to signs that she had gotten whatever it carried. The black cloud slowly dispersed and that was when a boy dove in to save her. She watched, with clammy hands as they both got lifted aboard by someone.

She gave a snarl. Did it work? Maybe it only worked on animals, not human beings. Whatever it was, she had to find another revenge plan. As she started to move away, she caught sight of the girl's bag that got ditched by the boy who was trying to save her. With slight hesitation, she grabbed the pack then pulled it with her, back to her hiding place.

* * * * * * * * *

Replies from reviews to:

Mornie Utulie Mornie Alantie, SiriusWolf, FroBoy, ginnyweasly-fan, centaur219, Loopy Luna Lovegood, Dark Feline Huntress, Lori, SeekerGirl17, tati1, Fire Tempest, ERMonkey Queen of Insanity, lyss33, athenakitty, I-Like-Chickens -- Thank you for your encouraging words!
Kikyogirl021989 -- Thank you! I hope you continue liking them :)
Child of the New Dawn -- I like your name! I keep forgetting to tell you that, now I remember! Anyway, thanks for your review! Sure he saves Hermy, I can't do anything without her! g
Invisible Child -- Yay! And another and another and another!
Wytil -- Oops. I think I just killed of the Hogwarts Water Rescue Squid...
Ash of Mine -- Oh no no, I'm not gonna make Draco entirely the bad guy. I mean, I...but...I....OKAY FINE! I like Draco too. (That's hard to admit, I had been fighting with my friends having the Harry-Draco ping pong match since 2002 and don't let them hear me saying that I like him...or I'll be teased until eternity having rooted so much for Harry) I think he's sort of going to be a half mean, half nice person. Not entirely good friends with the Gryffindor team, but not an enemy either. Well, let's see where that pans out later. Thanks for your review!
Starlight Dreams -- Will be happily writing! Or typing.
EmeraldKatsEye -- Hey! That's a thought.... (Re: "...our new celebrity")
Lady Foeseeker -- No pressure at all! In fact I love the pressure...
MikiBaby -- Argh! Don't destroy my vision of "utmost bravery...Harry!"! *grumbles* Now it has changed to "rash foolishness....Harry!". No, no. Definitely bravery. I think. What am I rambling about?
Wiccan PussyKat -- Haha! Well, majority overrules. *Looks at 'Cactus the Cat' and starts giggling* Definitely a cute one, though! Of course color wouldn't be a major factor to a black kitten named Cactus. I mean, we certainly have no green cats around, right? Oh, right right! Thank you for pointing that out, the "unintelligible" thing. The spelling really challenged my sponge-head, kinda missed the 'un'! Edited it :) And the 'mom' thing too. Sorry, don't leave in neither America nor England so...uhm...kinda mixed up :) Haha! Sea-going Hermione! That's cute! Ooh, by the way where did I leave out an apostrophe in the 'its'? Reading everything seems to be a tire. I hate reading through my own fics. Don't ask me why.

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| |Okay, this is a hand with it's index finger pointing to the "Review" button if you
| |cannot figure it out. Inspired by the thumbs up glaivurgrl did for me in WTCT :)
| |You are a genius, glaivurgrl! Loved it so much *beam*
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