Hermione walked out of the hospital wing feeling a lot better. She hated when she was weak

and what she hated more was the fact that she had passed out and evidentially Malfoy had

carried her to the hospital. The good thing was that the nurse had said that no one else was there

when it happened. She had also given Hermione a big lecture on eating more. She said that it

was unhealthy. She had also asked if there was anything Hermione wanted to tell her. Guess the

answer. No.

The problem was that there were PLENTY of things she needed to talk about. Her life

was quickly spinning out of control and there was nothing she could do about it. But there was

nothing she could talk to any teacher about. Her friends didn't help much. Most of the time

Ginny was to busy drooling over Harry, which was REALLY annoying. Harry was to focused

on girls other than herself, and had no time for her, unless she suddenly became Cho Chang or a

broomstick, and neither seemed very likely. And Ron was mostly sticking to family stuff. Home

sweet home. Hermione found herself once again wishing she had this. It would be like her

dreams come true to live permanently in the Burrow. At least she would have someone who

loved her.

She started towards the Great hall before noticing the time. The ceremony would already

be over. That was okay, she wasn't that hungry. As soon as she thought that an image of the

nurse's angry face filled her vision. Okay so maybe she would eat later, but not now. She turned

and headed towards Gryffindor. But of course she remembered again that she had a new

common room. With Malfoy. Great. Hermione turned to go back down the stairs when she

heard someone shout her name. Her shoulders visibly tensed up.

'Perfect,' she thought 'Just what I need.'

She turned around, filled with dread and waited for Ron to catch up, but he wasn't alone.

Ginny and Harry followed. Hermione continued to walk, deciding not to talk to them. She

wasn't in the mood today, not now. Ron grabbed her shoulder turning her to face them. Almost

immediately his hand dropped in shock.

"Bloody hell, Hermione. What did you do to yourself?"

"What Ron means Hermione is that the school said you changed but, we didn't know it was THIS bad." Ginny said quickly.

"What do you mean bad? I like this change and I'm not changing back," Hermione said calmly although she was brimming on an angry outburst.

"Do you have ANY color in your wardrobe?"

"RON SHUT UP! YOU ARE MAKING IT WORSE!" Ginny said yelling at her brother.

"Well if we're going to fight about something that shouldn't be a problem at all, I'm leaving because I am tried and I still have to find my new common room. So if you'll excuse."

But Harry held her back. She turned on him angrily, wondering what he wanted now.

"Um... Hermione I was just wondering if you're okay, 'cause I heard that you fainted on the train and had to go to the hospital wing and then you weren't at dinner and---"

Hermione cut him off, "I'm FINE Harry."

"Draco didn't do anything to you did he? We just started school and already you're spending an awful lot of time with him."

"No, and well, we have to spend time together. I'm head girl ya know? And anyway, I've changed. I'm not who I used to be and it's time you saw that."

The words stung and she knew it but seeing a chance to escape she took it. Running she headed

to where she slightly remembered the Professors said the common room would be. Looking

back she saw Harry still standing there, looking like his best friend had just died.

In a way, she had.

Edited by,

Wine and vanilla, Drusilla W.L.Tonks-Snape