Battling Reality

Author's Note: I am merely borrowing JK Rowling's colors to paint my own image. Review if you wish, I know the plot has flaws and is completely cliche. If I have taken what is not rightly mine from your story and I have not realized it, I am truly sorry. See my disclaimer.

Chapter One: Cursed

"So you think he's touched in the head?" said Harry heatedly.
"No, I just think he's been very lonely for a long time," said Hermione simply.

Hermione Granger sat at the edge of her bed, feeling shaky. She was warned of this, yet she let it happen to herself. Of everything she couldn't control, she hated it when it was herself.

She slowly stepped down the hall, her chest shooting pains through her body. Oh god. What was wrong? Hermione thought over her options in her head, and only one came up. She had to reach Dumbledore. She didn't have much time.

"Ron." She pushed open the door to his bedroom in Grimmauld Place.

"Yeah?" the redhead looked up, grinning at his best friend, and his expression dampened at the look of shock on her face.

"Can I borrow Pig? I'll explain later." She tried to sound herself, and knew it hadn't worked. Hermione knew the second part was a lie, but there were times when even your closest friends couldn't know your secrets.

"Ok... Pig!" The little owl zoomed into her hand, and she tied the letter on his talon. She thrust open the window with one hand, and she let him loose into the night.

Please let him have found a solution, I don't have much control left.

Dumbledore sat at his desk, his head in his hands. At the end of term Poppy had come to him with the results of her tests on Hermione Granger. The curse was indeed a rare one, which drained a witch of her power, deteriorating her physically, and stealing her soul. It seemed Hermione had only suffered the more minor physical effects, until the urgent letter he recieved last night. Of course the Death Eater who cast the spell would have chosen that curse. Intelligence was valued, and Hermione had plenty. Her caring compassionate nature was something that the Death Eaters lacked, and stealing her soul and mind would provide them with information linked to Harry and how to best access his weaknesses and fears. By using her personality, and using Polyjuice potion, her identity would be successfully stolen, while the true Hermione lay dead. Had the curse hit right, she would have died immediatly, and he would have resumed her form as soon as the spell completed.

Of course, the curse was still in play, and it had come time that Dumbledore put forces into their positions. Any son of a Death Eater could steal a bit of her hair, and with that and the completion of the curse, Harry would be open to defeat. Not to mention the loss of the brightest witch of their time. This couldn't happen, and Dumbledore had a plan.

There was only one man that could possibly fit this elaborate idea. Severus Snape had defied the Dark Lord, lived in the safest possible location, was part of the Order, and happened to have the draughts it would take to keep Hermione alive long enough to break the curse, and fulfill Harry's prophecy. Dumbledore hoped this would work. It was life or death at stake.

Dumbledore tossed the powder in the fire, and prayed to all that was holding this mission together that this would work. Which wasn't much.

There was a rap at the door, and Hermione awoke with a start.

"Come in." She pulled the covers around her thin frame.

"Miss Granger." Professor Snape stood in the doorway. "Take this."

Hermione looked at him. How was she to explain to such a bitter man that she could not walk.

"Oh bloody..." he walked over and briskly handed it to her, and disappeared with a pop. Before Hermione could think, she was yanked by her navel and landed in a familiar circular room.

"Welcome, Hermione." Dumbledore conjured a chair in his usual fashion, and she looks around her. Snape is sitting in the chair next to her, his face carefully blank.

Thank goodness she sleeps in sweats. Otherwise that would have been a problem.

"Sir, I believe I know what this is about."

"We have a solution, at least for the time being." She nodded, and waited. She had a feeling this was bad, seeing who was here. It dawned on her slowly.

'Professor Snape has the strength to defy the Dark Lord. He has the talent to make you countless potions to battle this curse laid upon you, and he is loyal to the Order. He will, as he has agreed is his duty, defend you in any case, and in return I ask you consider his sacrifices for your cause, and give him the respect he deserves.

You will be staying in his quarters, for safety's sake. The Death Eaters have an approach to your situation I find most uncomforting. If they cannot use your talent, they will dispose of you. In this case, it is both. You cannot let yourself near any of his follower's children; therefore you will be taking your classes with an invisibility cloak. No one is to know of this, not even your friends. To the world, you are gone without a trace. The Order will cover for you, and as for Harry and Ron, you are simply in an unexplained absence. The Dark Lord knows better, but we will be making this game hard for him."

A pain not related to her curse shot through Hermione's chest. There is nothing worse than being invisible, when you know you are there.