After two days, Harry, Draco and Ginny were feeling even more put out then ever.
"Ginny, I told you, I'm not sick." Hermione insisted all the way to the Hospital Wing that Sunday morning right after breakfast.
"You promised."
"Well..."
"Hermione!"
Hermione held her hand up. She started swaying a little and her hands flew to her temples and massaged them.
"Another migraine?" asked Ginny
Hermione nodded.
"That's why you need to go to Madam Pomphrey." Said Ginny patiently
"No... need."
"Ok," Ginny said, knowing this was useless. An idea popped into her head. "Only if you keep the portrait locked in your dormitory for the rest of today."
"You, of all people, also think the portrait is cursed." exclaimed Hermione
"How do you know?"
"Draco told us."
"I would think that at least you, my best girl friend (NOT that kind, just female friend) would side me. Argh." Hermione stomped away
"Hermione..."
Ginny looked at the retreating back of her friend. She shook her head sadly. How were they going to get that blasted portrait?
Hermione flopped onto her four-poster bed and stared at her dormitory's ceiling. She sighed loudly.
Even Ginny, one of her most trusted friends actually listened to a Slytherin them side with her. Hermione sighed again. She walked over to her trunk and got Hogwarts: A History to read. Normally after reading it Hermione would feel less stressed about the world.
An hour and a half passed quickly and quietly, just Hermione on her bed reading Hogwarts: A History. There was a tap on her door.
"Hermione?" came Ginny voice softly
Hermione got out of her bed and opened her dormitory door.
"Yes." Hermione said a little more stiffly then her usual friendliness.
"Can I come in?"
"Fine."
Hermione sat on her bed and Ginny stood there awkwardly in front of her.
"What do you want to talk about?" said Hermione, still laced with coldness
"I'm sorry about just now. I promise, no matter what you decide to do about the portrait, I will stand behind you and support your decision." Said Ginny
"Ginny, you are such a good friend." Hermione stood up and enveloped her friend in an enormous hug.
The girl sat back down on Hermione's bed and started talking. Hermione took the portrait out of her pocket.
"You know, that portrait isn't very nice looking, is it?" Hermione said
Ginny nodded.
"So why don't we just keep it in... here?" Hermione threw it into the disposal bin.
Ginny smiled. Hermione could be angry with a person at times, but she also turned back friendly just as fast.
"Do you remember what we were angry about?" asked Hermione
"Nope." Replied Ginny and the two friends started talking animatedly.
Another two hours past quickly with Ginny and Hermione still talking. The bell rang, signaling lunch. The two girls, found Harry and Ron playing Exploding Snap in the Common Room. When they saw the girls, they kept the cards and walked with them to the Great Hall.
Ron filled his plate to the top as usual while Harry and Ginny talked about the upcoming Halloween Ball. Hermione caught snippets of their conversation.
"...are playing at the ball."
"I heard..."
Hermione ate quickly. She felt someone watching her. She didn't like being watched.
Someone was indeed watching her.
"So... you've gotten rid of the portrait. Next time you're going down." the person thought evilly. A smirk appeared on her face.
Draco, Ginny and Harry met that evening in, of course, the Library.
"Hermione threw the portrait away." Ginny announced triumphantly
"That's one problem less." Said Draco "I have a feeling Pansy is planning something else bigger. More terrible."
"What?"
"How am I supposed to know? I don't read minds." Draco said irritability
"Sor-ry."
Pansy was indeed planning something. No one was in the Girls Dormitories right now. Perfect for scheming. She paced around her room. Pansy suddenly felt very drained and fainted on the stone floor. She hit her head hard. A misty silver-white ghost-like object swirled around of her body and formed into an elderly woman wearing 1600s robes. Her thin lips turned up into a smirk and floated away. Pansy stayed on the ground until some Slytherin girls found her several hours later and brought her to the Hospital Wing.
On Monday, Ginny came running towards Harry, Ron and Hermione who were walking to the 'Great Hall for breakfast.
"Pansy Parkinson has been unconscious in the Hospital Wing." Ginny said, out of breath
"What happened?" demanded Ron
"Well, supposedly she fainted on Sunday and some Slytherins brought her there. Even Madam Pomphrey and Dumbledore can't wake her."
Hermione felt a wave of coldness around her, like a ghost had just flown through her and shivered slightly.
"Are you cold?" asked Harry
"No." replied Hermione and shrugged it off.
Sorry(AGAIN!) for the long update. Haven't been on the internet to post it.