Chapter 4 – Sleeping

When Harry, Ron and Ginny finally found Hermione in the library, it became apparent why she hadn't met them earlier – she had fallen asleep! Her head was resting peacefully on her arms, which were now folded over the massive book she had been reading. For a moment, they all forgot the urgency of their visit and Ron was so relieved to see her lying there, he couldn't help chuckling at the amusing sight.

"She finally found one that bores her!" he said grinning as he walked closer to where she was sitting.

"Hermione" he said gently, touching her shoulder "Hermione, wake up!"

She stirred and mumbled something.

"Hermione!" Ron said again, trying not to yell too loudly – he didn't want to alert the librarian. He shook her gently.

"Ron" she said sleepily, as she opened her eyes. She suddenly became aware of all three of them staring at her "what's going on?"

Ron was too overwhelmed to speak – he simply enveloped her in a gigantic hug and refused to let her go until finally she pulled free and looked up at him, a questioning look plastered all over her face.

"Ron – what the…" she said

"I'm just so glad you're here!" he said, smiling at her

"In the library?" she looked even more puzzled

"No – here, at Hogwarts" he continued smiling at her

Hermione looked at Harry and raised her eyebrows, hoping he could clarify Ron's strange behaviour.

"Hermione – I had a vision" he said quickly "about you"

"A vision? Like your dreams?" she asked curiously

"Yes – but this was different to a dream. I have this feeling that it really happened, or is going to happen" he said "the only weird part is that, well, you're still here"

He sat down at the table and continued "in my vision, I saw you…" he hesitated "…with Voldermort. He had you locked up somewhere. And when the vision was over, I just had this intense feeling that you were gone"

"That is strange Harry" Hermione looked thoughtful for a second "And you still feel that way? Even though I'm sitting here in front of you?" she inquired

"Well, no actually" Harry said, astonished "now that you mention it, the feeling's gone!"

"This is really weird" Hermione said apprehensively "I don't like it at all!"

"Me either!" said Harry "I swear Hermione, I honestly thought you were gone – it felt so real…"

"Well, just be glad she isn't!" Ron said happily "All that worrying for nothing!"

"I don't think we should just forget this Ron" Harry warned "Visions are never a good thing – it could be a warning or something. We should speak to Dumbledore"

"Yeah, when he actually decides to pitch up" Ron said scathingly "he's always gone when we need him, isn't he!"

"Ron!" Hermione reprimanded "Dumbledore's never let us down before! Although I have to say, I don't like that he's not here…"

"Wait a minute" Ginny broke in suddenly "why were you asleep?"

Hermione looked at her oddly "what do you mean why?"

"She's got a point" Ron said, looking at Hermione "Since when does reading put you to sleep!"

"I don't know, I guess I'm just tired…"

"What were you reading?" Ginny asked

"Ginny, what are you getting at?" Hermione interrupted

"It just seems awfully strange to me – Harry has this weird vision of you disappearing and at the same time, you're falling asleep over…"

"The Dark Arts & How To Perform Them!" Harry exclaimed, reading the title off the top of the page.

Ginny gasped.

"What!" cried Hermione "I wasn't…" - they were all staring at her accusingly – "you know I would never…"

"Well then how do you explain it?" Harry questioned

"I - can't" she said wistfully "the last thing I remember is opening my Herbology book…"

"Hermione – give me the book…" Ron said calmly

She handed it to him hesitantly.

"Look" Ron exclaimed, turning the book over to show them "Herbology for Seventh Years: Volume 2"

"What! Someone must've…" Hermione stopped - What exactly had happened? Why couldn't she remember?

"Someone must've switched the cover of your Herbology book with this one" Ginny answered "But who?"

"I think I have an idea" Harry said. There was only one person who really hated Hermione –

"Malfoy" Ron said aggrieved

"Oh my word!" Ginny called out abruptly "I know what's happening! Oh, why didn't I see it before? No wonder it's all so familiar!"

"Ginny?" Harry asked puzzled

"Remember in second year when Tom Riddle possessed me through that stupid diary?"

Hermione gasped "No! – it can't be happening…"

"Wait – you think Voldermort's trying to possess Hermione?" Ron asked sceptically

"It all makes sense!" Ginny continued "she doesn't remember how or why she fell asleep, she doesn't remember anything! That's exactly what happened to me…"

"But that doesn't explain my vision…" Harry interrupted

"Well, no, but we just have to figure out what it means…"

"This is just great" Hermione said sarcastically, starting to panic "so I could just turn psycho at any minute? And what does he want me for anyway? How can I help him…"

"He still doesn't know about the Prophecy – maybe he's trying to use you as a spy…" Harry replied

"Maybe – or maybe this is just Malfoy trying to play a stupid prank on me!" Hermione said crossly

"Hermione" Ron said comfortingly "don't stress – all you have to do is not read any more books from now on!" and then he realised how absurd the thought was – Hermione… not reading books!

Hermione glared at him "Ronald – we're in the middle of our final exams – and you want me to STOP READING BOOKS!" she was starting to yell.

"What is going on here?" It was the librarian "all four of you having been talking on the tops of your voices – people are trying to study in here!" she said harshly "now – out… out you go – if you can't be quiet…"

She shooed all four of them out the door "Okay, we're going" Ron muttered. He looked cautiously over at Hermione who was stomping her way down the passage, not at all impressed at the thought of being possessed. Harry and Ginny were walking ahead, holding hands, so Ron seized the opportunity.

"Hermione" he ventured "look, I know you're upset about this…"

"Of course I'm upset!" she interrupted "wouldn't you be upset!"

"Yes" he replied timidly "but I can help take your mind off it…"

She looked at him curiously.

"Well, I still need to go over my Divination studies for my exam on Tuesday" he said, looking for the right words "And I was planning to go up to the Astronomy tower tonight to get some revision done – it's a really good night for it – and I was thinking you could join me? I know you dropped Divination back in Third but you could keep me company, and you wouldn't have to worry about this whole thing…"

"But Ron, what about Herbology tomorrow? I still need to get my revision done"

"Well, how about this – you help me out, join me up on the Astronomy tower tonight, and I'll spend half my time going over Herbology with you…" he said persuasively

Hermione thought about it for a second – it was a tempting offer – studying by starlight…

"Okay Ron Weasley – you've talked me into it!" she said, grinning up at him.

"Brilliant!" he beamed "I'll see you later – there's something I need to go organise now…"

"Right – so what time should I meet you later then?"

"Uh – say ten o'clock?" he replied "Oh and Hermione…"

"Yeah?"

"No reading!" he grinned at her as he started off down the hall.

She rolled her eyes. Typical Ron! He would think this is a joke! No reading – how am I going to get through my exams? Wait - what does he have to go organise now? Mmm…

"Hermione" Harry called to her "C'mon, we're gonna go send an owl to the Order…"

"But Harry, is it safe?"

"Don't worry – I won't give any details – I'll just say that we need to speak to them urgently…"

"Yeah, I would say me being possessed by Voldermort is pretty urgent!" she said emphatically

"Exactly!" said Harry, looking concerned "so let's get going then…" he gestured

"Don't worry" said Ginny, linking arms with Hermione as they walked, "The Order will know what to do…"