Disclaimer: I bet you're thinking, 'Wow! You've invented such great characters!' Well, sorry, but they're not all mine. In fact, most of them aren't. Anyway, I hope you like the chapter!


.TWO.
-Hermione Granger-

"Hermione? Wake up, Hermione," I opened my eyes just a pinch to find Marnie staring down at me. I slowly sat up.

"What is it?" I mumbled. Even I, Hermione Granger, was not—and never will be—a morning person.

"Harry said he'd like to speak with you," Marnie said. Suddenly, I was wide-awake.

"About what?" I asked, rubbing the left over sleep from my eyes. I yawned. Marnie shrugged.

"He didn't say. He did say that it was important, though," Marnie said. I nodded and she crawled back into her own bed. I stretched slowly and then hopped through the curtains of my four-poster. What could he possibly want, I thought to myself. I gently ran a hand across my stomach, something I'd been doing a lot that past few days. I passed the door to our bathroom on my way to the door out and didn't give it a second thought. Just before I left the dorm, though, I spun around and ran back into the bathroom I had just passed.

"Oh, Merlin," I mumbled as any food left in my system made a very un-graceful exit through my mouth. I made it to the toilet just in time. For the next five or so minutes, I was left bent over the toilet. When I finally stood up, convinced that I was done, I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand and then washed my hands thoroughly. I groaned as I left the dorm and walked, bare-foot, down the stairs to the common room. I walked over to Harry, who was sitting in a chair, facing the fireplace.

"What is it, Harry?" I snapped. Harry looked up, surprised, probably at my tone-of-voice. I forced a weak smile to show him there was no offense intended.

"Erm, well, would you like to go down to the kitchens with me and have an early meal?" Harry asked. I peeked out the window—it was early, indeed. The sun had barely risen, and, for the first time, I noticed that nobody else was in the common room.

"Harry, I'm still in my nightgown," I informed him, my voice one of a perfect monotone. It was Harry's turn to shrug as his eyes ran the length of my white nightgown. I adjusted one of the spaghetti straps, which was falling down my shoulder.

"Nobody will see you," Harry said.

"Fine, Harry. I know you won't take no for an answer, anyway," I mumbled. He smiled and jumped up from his chair.

"I knew you'd say that, so I brought the Invisibility Cloak," Harry said, holding it up for us both to cover ourselves in. Just before I moved to get in, I felt the familiar taste of bile rising up through my throat.

"Hold that thought, Harry," I said, putting a hand over my mouth. I turned around and ran to the small garbage can that sat in the corner of the room, where I vomited for the second time that morning. I felt Harry's hand on my back, rubbing in gentle circles through my nightgown.

"Are you okay, 'Mione?" Harry asked. I nodded, looking at him through the corner of my eye. I wiped my mouth with a towel Harry handed me—where he got it, I don't know—and then we both rose from the ground, me with my hand gently on my stomach. "Are you sure you want to go to the kitchens? If you don't feel okay, you can stay. I'll get Ron to come with me."

"No, I'm fine, Harry. Let's go," I said. Harry looked at me skeptically and then wrapped the cloak around us.

The trip to the kitchens was one I new nearly by heart because Harry and Ron dragged me there so often, and it didn't take as long as most people would expect. When we got to the portrait, Harry tickled the pear, and then we climbed in. When we were standing straight up on the ground, the curious eyes of all the house-elves turned our way. It was then, of course, that I remembered we were invisible. I tugged the cloak off of us and it fell to the ground.

"Master Potter! Miss Granger!" We both looked down to find Dobby at our feet.

"Dobby, how many times have I asked you not to call me 'Master'? I'm not your master!" Harry said. I smiled.

"Good morning, Dobby," I said. He smiled up at me.

"What can Dobby get for you?" Dobby asked. I opened my mouth to speak, but Harry spoke before I could.

"Well, Dobby, if you don't mind, I'd like some toast and bacon," Harry said. Dobby nodded.

"And for you, Miss Granger?" Dobby asked. I frowned.

"I'd just like a glass of water, please," I said. He nodded and walked off.

"Aren't you hungry?" Harry asked. I looked over at him and nodded.

"Yes, I am, but there's a Muggle common sense law that states 'Don't eat for at least an hour after you vomit'," I said. He laughed and we both sat down on the floor in a corner. Seconds after we sat, Dobby brought Harry his food and me my water. "Thank you, Dobby."

"Yeah, thanks," Harry said, taking a bite of his toast.

"Marnie said you wanted to talk to me," I said. Harry looked up, nodded, and then resumed eating. "About what?" Harry looked up and stopped eating.

"Erm…well, Ron and I…we're having a party tonight—"

"A what? You can't have a party, Harry! Not at Hogwarts! Are you out of your mind?" I screeched, rising from the ground. Harry glared at me.

"As I was saying, we're having a party, and I was wondering if you'd like to come," Harry said. I glared back at him.

"Harry, you can't have a party. And, even if you do have a party and I-I decide to come, could I…could I bring Marnie? She doesn't know anyone and I really think—"

"Yes, you can bring her."

"Fine, then."

"It's at eight in the Room of Requirement."

"You require that room way too much, Harry," I said. Just before I sat back down, my stomach began to feel uneasy. I gasped and turn around, where Dobby was holding out a garbage can as if he could read my thoughts. I gave him a small smile, grabbed it from him, and vomited. Again. I weakly handed him the garbage can after I was through and turned to Harry.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Harry asked, moving to stand up.

"No, sit. I'm okay. I'm going to go back up to the tower for some rest, though," I said.

"Okay, but take this," He said, holding his cloak up to me. I shook my head.

"No, it's yours. Besides, then you'll get caught," I said. He smiled.

"No, I won't. I know the secret passageways. You don't," Harry told me. I grunted and wrapped the cloak around my body.

"Good-bye, Harry," I said before walking quickly from the kitchen. I gently rested my hand on my stomach and walked. Just before I turned the corner to the stairs, I heard voices. I stopped and peeked around the corner. I gasped when I saw the much too familiar figure of Remus Lupin, speaking with Professor Snape. Both heads turned towards me and I pressed myself up against the wall, forgetting I was covered with the invisibility cloak. My heartbeat sped up at the sight of Remus, and my hand clenched at my stomach.

"There's obviously no one there. What were you telling me? I haven't got all morning," Snape said, his arms folded across his chest. Remus shook his head and walked towards me, staring straight into my eyes. I had the fleeting suspicion that he knew I was there. All he did was confirm it.

"I know you're there, Hermione. You'd better hide," Remus whispered, his face unbelievably close to mine. The look in Snape's eyes showed that he hadn't heard Remus, so I slowly, quietly, slipped past them and hid behind a statue. Remus was standing in front of Snape once more to finish their conversation. "It can wait, Severus. I'd like to speak with you tomorrow, if you don't mind."

"You're a foolish man, Lupin. Foolish," And with a swish of his robes, Snape was gone. I let out a burst of air I hadn't realized I was holding and removed the cloak. Remus was standing close to me, and my hands clutched the cloak so tightly I thought it might rip. His eyes darted down, studying my body, and then back up to my eyes. I blushed when I remembered I was only wearing my nightgown and glued my eyes to the floor beneath us.

"Hermione… " Remus began, but his voice trailed off and he gently lifted my chin up with two soft fingers. My heart was beating so fast I thought it might burst.

"Don't," I said. His blue-brown eyes washed over with hurt and he dropped his hand. My eyes fluttered closed, and my mind filled with confusion. "Remus, there's something I should tell you." I slowly opened my eyes to find Remus' face much closer than it had originally been and I blushed, casting my eyes down to the ground. He ever so softly brushed his thumb along my jaw line and I could almost feel the worried look on his face.

"What is it, Hermione?" He asked. He tilted my head up to his once again and grazed his thumb over my lips. His eyes were filled with an animalistic form of desire that I had seen only once before; and even then, it was only by candlelight. I gulped when his eyes shot down to my lips and then back up to my eyes. I could feel the all-to-familiar feeling of my eyes glazing over with tears.

"Never mind," I managed to choke out, "I should go."

"Hermione, you—" Remus began but I interrupted him with one loud sob. He looked down at me, his eyes filled with worry and even the slightest hint of fear. "Hermione, what is it? You can tell me."

"Remus, I-I really don't think…I really don't think I can…tell you," I stuttered, wiping a lone tear from my cheek. Remus grasped my hand when I dropped it. I gasped at his touch and looked up into his eyes, studying them, memorizing them. We both turned when we heard the faint sound of footsteps, coming probably from far away. Rather than take the chance, he turned back to me and knelt down to pick up the Invisibility Cloak. When he stood, he lightly brushed his fingers over my stomach and near my chest, causing a shudder to run quickly up my spine. He wrapped the cloak around my shoulders and gently leaned his forehead on mine.

"I love you, Hermione," Remus whispered, pulling the hood of the cloak up over my head. My only response was a nod just before he had my head covered. I blinked back blinding tears, but they still made seeing properly impossible. I stuck my hand out through the front of the cloak, waved, and ran up the stairs. I ran until I was at the right floor, where I climbed the last step in that set and turned the corner. I slowed my pace and removed the cloak, satisfied with the security of being near Gryffindor tower.

"Well, if it isn't little Miss mudblood." I spun around hurriedly only to come face to face with The repulsive maggot himself, Draco Malfoy.

"What do you want?" I spat, backing up when he stepped closer to me. I glared.

"Oh, nothing you'll willingly give me," He said, smirking as I found myself pressed up against the wall. He slowly ran his eyes over me, taking his sweet time, his smirk not wavering for a second.

"Go away, Malfoy," I said, trying to push past him. He turned out to be a lot stronger than he looked and he pushed me back up against the wall.

"Make me," He said, his face merely centimeters from mine. It was my turn to smirk, and I did. I subtly reached into the large pocket of my nightgown, expecting my fingers to brush up against my trusty wand.

"Blast!" I squeaked, searching frantically for the silly piece of wood.

"Looking for this?" Malfoy asked, holding up my wand. I lunged forward at him, but he successfully dodged me. I landed flat on my stomach with a loud groan. Malfoy chuckled and I only watched as he walked away, tossing my wand over his shoulder. I weakly pushed myself up from the ground and grabbed the Invisibility cloak. I hung it over one arm as I walked to the portrait.

"Password?" The Fat Lady asked me. I glared up at her.

"Rosebush," I snapped and she swung open to let me in. I climbed in and nearly ran up to the dorm, where I threw myself onto my bed. "Why me?" I buried my head under my pillow and forced my eyes closed. I refused to cry about such a trivial matter.

"Hermione? Are you awake? It's time to get ready for breakfast," Parvati's voice whispered over to me. I grunted in response. I heard Parvati's footsteps as she walked away. "Marnie, you too. Time to get up."

"Five more minutes, Grampy," Marnie mumbled, accompanied by a small groan.

"Marnie, I'm not Dumbledore. It's me, Parvati," Parvati told her. I smiled to myself, despite of the current situation. I removed the pillow from above my head and sat up, slowly. Just as I stood up from my bed, my eyes opened wide in horror and I looked around frantically for a garbage can. There wasn't a single one in sight, so I made a beeline towards the bathroom. Only a few feet away from the door, I realized I couldn't hold it in any longer. I found myself doubled over in agony as I threw up anything and everything in my system. There were three equal gasps, one from each of my roommates.

"Merlin, Hermione! Are you alright?" Lavender shrieked, running over to me and carefully avoiding the thick, green-ish liquid. She rested a hand on my back as I vomited more.

"We should take her to the hospital wing," Parvati offered. My eyes widened once again and I shook my head crazily.

"No! I'm fine!" I said. They might have believed me if I didn't vomit right after the words left my mouth.

"Let's take her. Marnie, do you know that one lightening charm?" Parvati asked Marnie, who climbed out of her bed, wand in hand. She nodded and pointed her wand at me.

"Relevo," Marnie muttered. An odd feeling ran through my body, and I felt a lot like a feather. Lavender and Parvati cheered for a minute before Lavender turned to me, pointing her wand at me.

"Mobilicorpus," She said. I gasped as I floated up into the air and then Lavender jogged the whole way to the hospital wing, where she floated me over to a bed. She flicked her wand. "Be right back." She disappeared behind a curtain and I heard hushed voices, presumably those of Lavender and Madam Pomfrey.

"My, my, Hermione! I haven't seen you here in quite a while! That's wonderful! Now, Lavender, if you don't mind…" Madam Pomfrey waved Lavender from the wing and closed the huge double doors behind her. When she returned to me, she had a sympathetic look in her eyes. "Now, Hermione, could you please tell me your symptoms?" I nervously looked down at my feet, which were still bare.

"Um, well, I've been throwing up all morning and yesterday morning, too—"

"Mmm-hmm…morning sickness…"

"And I've had this odd craving for a Candied Beetle. You know, those ones from Honeyduke's? And, well, that's it."

"…Cravings…Okay, well, I'll need to run a quick test on you. Let me run and get it!" Madam Pomfrey said, bustling away. When I heard the door to her office open, I wiped a small bead of sweat from my forehead that I hoped she hadn't seen and slipped out of the bed. I silently made my way out of the hospital wing and then I ran all the way up to Gryffindor tower for the second time that day. I stopped at the portrait, panting for breath.

"Rosebush," I wheezed. The Fat Lady smiled down at me and swung herself open and I clambered in.

"Hermione! I was just about to go look for you," Harry said, looking at me worriedly.

"I'm fine. I just, um, went down to the library," I lied. Harry smiled.

"Oh, alright. How about a game of Wizard Chess?" Harry asked. I raised an eyebrow.

"Harry, you know I'm miserable at chess," I told him. He nodded and gently shoved me down into a chair.

"That makes it all the better for me to play with you. Good practice," Harry said, smiling. With that, he collapsed into the chair across the table from mine.


Responses:
maranora – Thanks ;). But Marnie's parents, nor her, were/are Muggles. I did change that part of the dialogue a bit. It was misleading; I did make it seem like they were Muggles, even though they're not. Go back and read it—the changed way—and tell me if that sounds better, kay?
SeeStar – Thanks a bunch, lol. I'll try to make her as real as possible. Sometimes I make my characters fake and I don't even realize it, so if I do, please tell me!
uncertainmemory – Thanks, Callie. lol.