9. Collapse

Hermione didn't sleep well. In fact she hadn't slept well in a while, she didn't know how long, she'd lost track. 6 am couldn't come soon enough. When her alarm finally rang, she felt a painful surge of adrenaline followed by her heart pounding as though she had just finished a marathon. She sat up slowly to avoid the head rush. 'Ooh, too fast,' she thought. That had been happening a lot lately. She walked to the bathroom for the ritualistic weigh-in. 86 read the glowing red numerals. A small flame of joy flickered somewhere in her mind. She told Ginny she could drop more. What did the redhead know anyway? There was nothing wrong with her. Hermione walked to the shower and pulled the curtain.

Minutes later she was joined by Lavender and Parvati. They stepped to the scale.

"Hey! 125 Parvati! Holding steady!"

"Yup, me too. 124."

"You know, Parv, we probably should stop this. Look what's happened. We do it too. What if it happens to us?" Lavender sounded nervous.

Parvati sighed. "I don't care what he said. It's all our fault. We'll confess today after class." Their voices faded as they returned to the bedroom.

Hermione listened in with interest. She knew they were alluding to her. But what were they going to confess? That part puzzled her. She shrugged mentally and turned on the water. What was wrong with her today? She was so tired. Homework was piling up, but she couldn't keep up. Her mind was getting sluggish. 'Senioritis, probably,' she thought as she rubbed shampoo through her hair. 'I graduate in a few months. Never thought I'd see the day where I wanted homework to end.' She smiled ruefully.

Moving so slowly, she barely finished her shower in time to dress for class. Harry, Ron and Ginny would be waiting. Like always. Wanting her to follow them to the Great Hall and swallow poison. They just didn't understand.

As suspected, there they were in the common room when she emerged. Her bag was just too heavy to lift lately, so she had taken to carrying only what she needed for each class, returning to the dorm between classes to exchange books. Carrying her Charms homework and text, Hermione mustered a smile for her friends.

"Morning everyone. Gin, I owe you an apology. Sorry about the fight yesterday." She reached out and gave her friend a one armed hug.

"It's ok 'Mione. I still love you," Ginny answered with tears in her eyes. It had been a while since Hermione let anyone hug her. The feel of her was just as startling as the sight of her. Ginny had the distinct impression that she had left a hand print on Hermione's back.

"Ready for class?" Hermione asked.

"Class doesn't start for another half hour," Ron said carefully. "How about a little breakfast first?"

"Yeah, breakfast. C'mon guys," agreed Harry.

Hermione didn't answer, but followed her friends through the portrait hole. Halfway to the Great Hall, Hermione noticed she carried the wrong book.

"Crap. You guys go ahead. I brought my Charms stuff. I'll meet you in the Great Hall. I promise!" she added when she saw the look of apprehension on their faces.

"Ok. We'll see you in a few," said Harry with a note of worry in his voice. He couldn't shake the impression that something was not right. Nevertheless, he turned and walked with Ron and Ginny to breakfast.

oOoOoOo

Hermione climbed back through the portrait hall. She was just moving so slowly today! It was rather irritating! Glancing at her watch, she noted that she'd missed breakfast. Meh. It didn't matter. She still had just enough time to get to Transfiguration. She'd just say she couldn't find her book if anyone asked. Damn her heart. Why wouldn't it stop hurting? She'd have to take it a bit easy today. Just what she needed. To get sick now. N.E.W.T.'s were only 4 months away. She clutched the banister and made her way toward the class room.

oOoOoOo

Malfoy strutted out of the Great Hall, timing it just so. He would be late enough to make an entrance, but not enough to actually get detention. McGonagall would let him off for some reason. She had been lately. He supposed it was one of two things. 1) his father finally exerted enough power over her to make her realize you don't mess with a Malfoy, or 2) she was becoming senile. She was hardly a spring chicken that one.

Up ahead he saw Granger stumbling down the deserted hall. He smirked. Not one to pass up an opportunity, he called, "Hey! Mudblood!" Expecting her to turn and insult him back, he was hardly prepared for what happened. She started to turn, but ended up clutching her chest and falling to the floor.

"Granger? Granger? GRANGER!" He looked around, there was no one in sight. Kneeling down next to her, he sighed. What was wrong with her? He hadn't paid much attention lately, or ever really, but now he got an eyeful. He gasped. By the look of her, his wand weighed more than she did. Her once thick, bushy hair was now limp and thin. Her eyes were gaunt and sunken. He may be a Malfoy, but he was still human. He dropped his bag, and carefully picked her up.

"It's ok Granger, I'll get you to the hospital wing." He felt a bit stupid talking to her blank staring eyes, but it was better than nothing. He strode down the corridor toward Pomfrey's wing. Kicking the door open, he received a harsh reprimand from the Healer.

"Really Mr. Malfoy! I have ill students in here!" Her voice trailed off when she saw what he held.

"Oh dear child! Bring her over hear! Set her down, careful now Mr. Malfoy!" Madame Pomfrey bustled around trying to revive the unconscious girl to no avail. Malfoy felt useless standing there, but also felt he shouldn't leave just yet. Madame Pomfrey made no motion to banish him from the room, so he stayed. And for the first time, felt a new emotion toward someone other than himself: worry.

oOoOoOo

Harry glanced anxiously at the classroom door for what felt like the hundredth time. Class began 20 minutes ago and there was no sign of Hermione. Even with her mental and physical state, Hermione never skived off a class. Never. McGonagall seemed to notice too. Harry had seen her eyes flicker to the empty seat next to him more than once. A gnawing sensation in the pit of his stomach grew by the second. He shouldn't have let her go back to the dorm alone. Something was wrong. Terribly wrong.

oOoOoOo

Draco stood back, watching the scene unfold. Madame Pomfrey used a number of potions, spells, and finally muggle methods to awaken Hermione, yet the girl remained unconscious. He had never seen anything like it. Pomfrey had stripped away Hermione's robe to reveal clothes many sizes too big. His enemy was so thin he could count her ribs through her shirt.

"What can I do?" he finally asked.

"RUN. GET PROFESSORS DUMBLEDORE AND MCGONANGALL. NOW!" The urgency in her voice scared Draco to his core. Without a backwards glance, he flew out the door.

oOoOoOo

Worry and fear finally getting the best of him, Harry raised his hand. As if she read his mind, McGonagall nodded her head.

"Go, Mr. Potter."

"Thanks Professor!" Harry said gratefully and ran out the door.

His first instinct was to run to the seventh floor, to Gryffindor tower, but not 10 feet down the hall he spotted a bag, a book and a few strewn parchments. Skidding to a stop, he dropped to his knees. The book was definitely Hermione's. But the bag? He didn't recognize that one. Ripping open the straps, he grabbed the sheaf of papers stuffed near the top.

Draco Malfoy, Year 7, Transfiguration read the first essay.

Malfoy! What happened here? Harry knew he shouldn't have left her.

"'Mione.Where did he take you?" he muttered.

"To the hospital wing, I believe dear."

Harry jumped to his feet, his wand ready. "Who said that?"

"Look up dear." Harry looked to see a wizened old witch in the portrait opposite him. "He came down the corridor just as she fell over. He picked her up, and I believe I heard the words 'hospital..."

He began running before she could finish. "Thanks." Harry called over his shoulder.

'Oh Gods. 'Mione. I knew it. We were too late.'