A/n: This is it! Oh, and a quick note, I am so so so sorry that the last few chapters have had no dividing marks, but I add those after I upload, and lately I've been really busy! I'll fix it soon, I promise! Well, here is the chapter, hope you like it!
Ciao!
Sanity of the insane
Chapter fourteen
Beneath the Surface…
Ginny rolled over in her sleep, her soft features contorted in fear and agony. Suddenly she was brought into wakefulness by something rousing at the foot of her bed. She sat up, wiping the sweat from her brow and looking cautiously at her self-moving blankets, feeling fear clench her innards relentlessly. She felt the scream building itself in her lungs when out popped a small black head with bright eyes.
Ginny sighed. "Lightning!" She grinned and reached to pick up the young Kneazle. "Where have you been?" The small kitten purred and rolled over to bat at her fingers with its forepaws. Ginny giggled and looked out of her window. The sky was tinged with pink and gold, and she knew that there wasn't enough time to go back to sleep for any length that wouldn't in the end make her more tired, so she threw back her covers and got out of her four poster bed.
The other girls in the dorm were still sleeping, and the floor was freezing. Ginny shivered and stepped into her slippers before making her way down the staircase to the common room. Not for the first time, she found the common room occupied in the dead of morning. She recognized the bushy brown hair of Hermione instantly as she walked over to sit next to her.
There was a vague, far off look on Hermione's face as Ginny looked at her, and somehow she didn't seem to realize that she wasn't alone anymore. Ever so carefully Ginny reached out and touched her shoulder. Hermione jumped and looked around.
"Oh, hi Ginny." Hermione's voice sounded tired and hollow, and there were dark circles under her eyes.
"Hi… Hermione… what's up? Why aren't you in bed? You look dead tired." Ginny said, unable to mask the concern in her voice.
Hermione yawned deeply. "I've tried and tried to sleep, but I just can't. So I've taken to sitting in here all night, just thinking."
"Maybe you should go to Madame Pomfrey, I'm sure that she can give you some sleeping potion." Ginny suggested.
"No. I've already checked. She said that she could find nothing wrong with me, and refused to give me any treatment. Besides, I'm sure it's just a minor thing, sleep deprivation is nothing big. I've been making energy concoctions for myself in the mornings and I'm doing fine."
"Hermione, that's not good for you. I remember when Percy got addicted to energy potions and he never slept. He just shook all the time and mumbled to himself. He seemed to be in a dark place, and I can't imagine seeing you go there."
"Well, I'm not like Percy, Ginny. I can control myself. Besides, I don't know what else to do. I've tried sleeping, it just doesn't work. I toss and turn all night, and then when I get up, I am more tired than when I started. The only solution is just to skip the bed process all together."
Ginny bit her lip. "Hermione, I know that you are very bright. But this is just lunacy. You've got to go to Dumbledore, or McGonagall or… somebody! I hate to see you like this. I started noticing a change in you, but I just thought it was my imagination. Hermione, I've heard of people going crazy from not having enough sleep!"
Hermione's eyes flashed. "Ginny, just lay off! You're not my mother! I can stay up if that's what I want! Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be off to go get ready for class." With that, Hermione stood and stormed out of the common room, leaving Ginny alone with her thoughts.
Ginny shook her head and stared into the fire. Hermione was changing, and she didn't know what to do about it, to tell the truth, it scared her. If the smart people were losing it, then what was to become of everyone else? Making a mental note to discuss it with Harry, Ginny pulled out her Divination book and a moon chart to do the bit of homework she'd been putting off.
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Hermione was in a fowl mood the entire morning. She found herself snapping at Ron for the most trivial things, and telling Harry off for asking her what the wand movements were for the incantation they were learning in charms. By the time that lunch break rolled around, she was a real wreck. Between her fatigue and her guilt for the way she'd acted all morning, she was falling to pieces and found herself in the second floor bathroom crying to Myrtle about her problems while she mixed up another energy powder she'd purchased in Diagon Alley over the summer.
"They just don't understand! I can't take all the stress from my class work and the terrible dreams that plague me, and my Mum is having a baby in a few months, and I'm an only child. I don't know what to think of that. What if my parents decide to love it more, since it's there for them to love while I'm away at school?" Hermione wailed as she measured out the water to put in the potion.
"Yes. I know. It's so dreadful for the living!" Myrtle snapped. "You are such a selfish girl! I would give anything to have what you have." Hermione looked at the ghost with wide eyes, and then she just started bawling again. "Oh, I'm sorry. I know what it's like to go and cry in the bathroom between classes. I spent my whole life doing it. I just never thought that someone like you would have such a potion addiction." An amused look crossed her pale, translucent face.
"Addiction!" Hermione shrieked. "I do not have an addiction! You're just like everyone else, telling me what I have and what I don't and what to do. I make the decisions. I make the decision to drink this, not some foolish addiction! But what would you know; you're just moping, miserable, moaning Myrtle!" Hermione seethed as she downed the potion in two gulps, feeling its effects immediately with relief.
"Yes, I am moping, miserable moaning Myrtle. But you're Haggard, Horrible, Haughty Hermione, aren't you? I'm dead, and doomed to this bathroom. You're alive and you've damned yourself here." Myrtle seemed very pleased that she was upsetting her.
Hermione shrieked and threw her goblet at Myrtle, which of course just went through her and shattered on the wall behind her.
"There, there." Myrtle said sweetly. "Watch you're temper. Wouldn't want to lose it, oops! Too late for that isn't it? See you don't have control over anything. Not even you're temper."
"Shut up!" Hermione glared at her.
"Oh, and why would I do that?"
Hermione made an indistinct noise before picking up her books and stalking angrily out of the bathroom. In the corridor she glared at everyone who passed her, including Professor McGonagall, which she realized instantly was a mistake.
"Miss Granger!" McGonagall huffed. "In my office. Now!"
Hermione shook violently as she followed her head of house into her office. She had never in her entire life been in trouble for something she did all by herself, and she had no clue how the process went. However, to her great surprise, the professor had a soft look about her as she sat across from her at the large desk.
"Hermione, I've been watching you lately, and I must say that you are worrying me. I've checked your records, and your marks, while still the top, are at an all time low, and I've noticed that you don't look like you are feeling too well anymore. Do you have something that you wish to tell me?"
Hermione's thoughts raced. "N-no ma'am." She stammered.
"Are you sure? You just don't seem yourself anymore, and I'm not the only one that has noticed, everyone is seeing it. If you have some problem, you really need to address it." McGonagall looked at her over the rims of her square spectacles.
Hermione stretched her eyes into what she hoped was an innocent stare, and for the first time in history, Hermione Granger told a teacher a bald faced lie. "No Professor. I'm just fine. The work for sixth years is a bit harder than I expected, that's all. I'm really fine. My grades will shoot back up; I've just been really focused on my home life for the past week or so. My Mum is pregnant you know."
"Yes, it's in you're record. Well, Miss Granger, I see no point in making you late for your lessons if there is nothing you want to talk about. But when you are ready to talk, I'm here."
Hermione gulped. She wasn't really fooling anyone, but she decided to try to keep up the composure as though she were. "Well, if something comes to light that I think is worthy of conversation, I'm sure that there will be no problem for me to come to you. But until such a time occurs, I guess we'll just have to keep these personal visits to a minimum, they cut into my study time." Hermione smiled sweetly and stood to leave.
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Professor McGonagall watched one of the brightest students in Hogwarts' history walk out of her office with a piteous look on her withered face. There was something awful happening beneath the surface, but until someone came forward, below the surface is where it would stay. She began to shuffle papers to distract herself when there was a soft tap on her door.
"Come in." She said, looking up to see her visitor. In walked Ginny Weasley, Ron Weasley and Harry Potter. She smiled at them. It seemed as though someone may bring Hermione's problems to a bubbling boil that will force it to the top.
"Hello professor." Ginny said as she sat in one of the chairs arranged around the room.
"Hello Miss Weasley. Might I ask what brings this group into my office three minutes before lessons start?" She looked around at them all sternly.
"Sorry, we were eating." Ron put in lamely.
"I see. But that answers to the time, but why are you here?" She prompted curtly.
"You see, Professor. We're all here because we are frightened." Ginny said slowly.
"Why is that Ginny? Has someone threatened you?"
"No, it's not that. It's. Well, you may not believe this, but this is all about Hermione Granger." Ginny murmured uncomfortably.
"Miss Granger? How is that?"
Harry picked it up from there, as it was obvious that Ginny was having a problem getting it all out. "You see professor, Hermione hasn't been herself lately. I don't know if we are the only ones who have noticed, but we decided to bring it to light if we were…"
"Well, Mr. Potter, it was wise to come to me. I myself have noticed a change in Miss Granger as well; unfortunately, she doesn't seem willing to share anything with me, so unless you three know something that can help us get to the bottom of this, there is really not much I can do besides survey her." McGonagall looked around from one face to the next, searching them for clues.
Harry nudged Ginny gently in the back and whispered something that McGonagall couldn't hear. Ginny nodded and looked up at the professor uneasily.
"You see, Professor," Ginny said uncertainly, "This morning, very early this morning, I woke up and went down to the common room. Hermione was in there, but it was like she was in some sort of a haze. When I said her name she jumped and looked at me as though she hadn't realized that there was anyone else in the room. She told me that she couldn't sleep lately and that she was taking some sort of energy potion, and that's when I got scared, because I remember when Percy crashed on them. When I told her that I was worried, she blew up."
"I see." McGonagall said tensely, "Now, this is all good and well, and I believe you, but what I really need you to do is get a sample of the potion that she is taking. That is very important. I can't go to her with this evidence unless there is some hard core proof, and one's word just isn't enough anymore."
"So what are you asking us to do?" Ron said thickly.
"Get a sample of the potion she is taking and bring it to me. I've noticed that she and you spend a lot of time together, so that shouldn't be a problem Mr. Weasley." Just then the bell sounded. "Now, I've got to get to my class, as do you three. Please do try to get the potion; it's the only way that we can help her." McGonagall picked up a briefcase and walked towards the door quickly, and the others followed suit in a thoughtful silence.
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Ron ran over the plan again in his head. He knew from his month of dating Hermione that it wouldn't work. She was smarter than he ever dreamed of being, and she would see right through his feeble plot, he only hoped that she would see his intent and cave. He ran a hand through his flame colored hair as he waited for her to come down to the common room for their date to the Halloween feast.
At long last he looked up and there she was. She looked just like always, and it confused him. She was normal and beautiful with her hair pinned back and her cheeks rosy. It made him think that they were all wrong about her, and she really was just having a hard week.
"Well, are you going to just stand there, or are you going to come greet me?" Hermione smiled at him and giggled.
"Oh, right." He walked over and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Wow, you look magnificent Hermione!" Ron said as he wrapped his arm around her waist.
She grinned modestly. "Thank you. You don't look to shabby yourself!" Her eyes sparkled.
Ron stared into her eyes, but after a moment, he realized that they weren't really focusing on him, but rather going in and out of focus, and her cheeks stayed a rosy pink, never changing. Then he realized that it was all an act put up by her to fool him. She was wearing make-up. With great sadness he realized that nothing had changed. He sucked in a deep breath, preparing himself for what he must do.
"How have you been, really?" He stared into her eyes, searching for the truth.
Hermione squirmed under his gaze, and smiled uneasily. "I'm fine. I was a bit off, but I'm better now. See?" She spun in a circle, holding her arms out. "I'm just fine!" She smiled at him. "Don't worry."
"Hermione…" Ron said uncertainly. "You're fine on the outside, but I want to know about the inside."
"Ron, I'm fine!" Hermione insisted, clutching his hand tightly.
"Well, if you're sure…" Ron looked at her, then glanced over to where Ginny sat watching them intently, and gave her the planned signal before he led Hermione out of the common room to the Great Hall.
Ginny put down the book that she had been pretending to read and crept up to the sixth year girl's dorm. It was thankfully empty when she pushed open the door. She walked straight to Hermione's bed, which was easy to identify because it was laden with books. Carefully she tugged at the lid of Hermione's trunk. It was locked, just as she had expected. She pulled out her wand and whispered 'Alohamora!' No avail. Searching her mind, she found a more powerful incantation. "Alohamotrous!" The lock popped open and she lifted the lid slowly, not wanting to disturb the contents within. There, on top was a case filled with brightly colored packets labeled 'Sloan's Sleepless Solution'. Ginny extracted one and stuffed it in her robes. Just as she re-locked the trunk, she heard the door opening. She jumped up, hoping with every fiber of her being that the person on the other side wasn't Hermione.
She visibly relaxed as Parvati rushed in, tugging at one of her oversized hoop earrings.
"Oh, Ginny? What are you doing in here?" Parvati said, a hint of suspicion laced in her voice.
"I was just looking for Hermione." Ginny quipped; hoping that Parvati would remain as clueless as ever. She needn't have worried.
"Well, I think I saw her leaving with your brother a minute ago." Parvati said absently as she opened her wardrobe to evaluate its contents, which she had probably already done several times that very night.
"Thanks." Ginny said, quickly exiting the dorm, breathing a sigh of relief.
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Harry looked up as Ginny slipped into the seat beside him at the Gryffindor Table in the Great hall. She gave him a quick thumbs up sign and a grin. He knew this to mean that she had been successful in getting the potion information from Hermione's dorm. He smiled back at her.
Ron glanced at her quickly, and relaxed. It worked, and Hermione hadn't caught on. That alone was enough to prove that she was really losing her edge, and that something was wrong. He turned as the candles dimmed and Dumbledore stood to give his annual Halloween speech.
"Good evening!" The headmaster's voice boomed over the students. "It is nice to see most of us gathered in one place in a unity, and for no better reason than to enjoy great food and company in celebration of Ol' Hallows Eve…"
Something that Dumbledore said sparked a thought in Harry, and he scanned the Slytherin table. Just as he suspected, three were missing. Dumbledore must have known something, or he wouldn't have laid such an emphasis on certain words. Soundlessly, Harry nudged Ginny, but she was already looking at the Slytherin table as well. She glanced up at Harry, who nodded and ever so quietly, they snuck out of the great hall, and away from the much-anticipated feast. (A/n: snuck is not a word. That, I didn't know. I mean, I always say things like 'I snuck out last night'. Or something. Maybe I'm spelling it wrong, or maybe it should be sneaked… oh well, I'm from the south and down here, we say things like y'all, c'mon, and snuck, so it's staying! He he!)
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"What did you say the password was again?" Emily hissed at Draco as they climbed the Grand Staircase to the seventh floor.
"Like I've said a million times, this morning it was 'crape myrtle', but like I've also said a million times, they keep changing it." He rolled his eyes.
"You better hope that for your sake, they didn't today."
Draco gritted his teeth, so as not to say anything. He would wait, in good time he would get back at the little brat, but that time wasn't there yet. He would have to bear with her for now; she'd get what was coming to her.
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A/n: So, what do you think of Hermione the addict? Lol, Ironically, I wrote that on an all nighter with lots of caffeine involved. Don't harass me for it, as it could totally happen. I mean, Ginny got possessed in book two. Hope you guys liked it! Here's my words to you all:
Sleepyhead: Oh, that is the worst! I am totally open to questions and suggestions, because I know that my mind works in very confusing patterns that I get, but others may find weird! Fluff will happen, don't worry. I'm romatically challenged, but I'm working on that! Well, now you see Hermie's problems… ick. And Creevey will be revealed in time! Thanks for your review!
Luna Lovegood 2: Hehe, I absolutely love Ginny (and lily) they are my all time favorites, and so fun to work with! And thanks for telling me that you think I've got her all right! Hehe! Well, sorry about the line thing, this one is better! gives Luna a cookie for having to put up with such aggravation
Hplovesme: Hey, what's wrong with fat people? Hehe, j/k! Hehe, Well, I'm really glad that you liked the chappie! Come again!
OHsnap: Sorry, I've gotten a lot of flack for the alfie thing, and to be honest, I don't know what I was thinking. But I lost my twin sister when I was five, and its taken me ten years to be able to realize what's happened, so maybe ron is also in some sort of denial faze, you know, don't talk about it, and it's not real. I'm really glad you like my story, and I hope you continue to!
Fleury: Dude, like totally! Hehe! Well, Hermione is being fixed, or will be soon. Have no fear!
And I could just KISS you! (though I am not bisexual… :\) You're reaction to Miss Lilylist was one to rival my own. And at first I was so so mad, and I was going to email her (since she expressly said that she wouldn't drop in and see it again) but now, I'm just going to let it roll on by, because its only ONE bad review, and hey, all the rest are good, and if she wants to be ignorant, that's her problem! Hehe (yes, I actually have anger management classes… or used to, I am a graduate, woo hoo!) Anyways, thanks for you're support, and the brownies! They were great!
Irishchick799: Huh? Well, I totally made up the alfie thing, I swear I didn't steal it from anyone else, or didn't get some inside info or anything, I just needed something to work with, and later, when I'm in a rut, I'll pull him back out of the box… so to speak. Sorry if I've confused you in any way… Hope you keep reading!
Well, guys, I'm outta time, but thanks for reviewing, and PLEASE keep doing so, remember I have a goal to meet! I love you guys so so so much, and you'll never understand it until you have a story and reviewers of your own! (gosh, I sound like my mother on the subject of children, but hey, in a way this story is my baby!)
Well, lots of love!
Aimee
