CHAPTER 2

Hermione groaned, and shifted in bed. Her arms were aching. Her head felt like she had a Blast Ended Skrewt in it, trying to blow its way out. Her legs were numb and tired, and her wrists and fingers felt like they would never move again.

In short she felt terrible.

She opened and eye, and winced at the pain in her head. With a great deal of effort, she sat up.

Why am I so tired?

Gently, she massaged her aching wrists, and then carefully stepped out of bed. Every muscle in her body groaned and protested. With a gasp, she realized that as she had stepped out, her sheets had slipped off her bare skin, and she was now standing naked in the middle of her private dorm.

What the hell?

She frowned, trying to figure out what had happened last night. What could have happened last night? With a sudden start, her mind arrived upon the simplest solution.

She jerked out of her trance.

Oh my god!

Could it be? Could she actually have….?

Her eyes widened, and she froze where she was standing.

Oh shit…

Suddenly, she whirled around and raced to the long mirror propped up on her vanity table. She stood in the front of it, and gazed at herself. With a groan, her hand moved up to cover her eyes, and she slumped to the floor. Her base of her neck, her shoulders, her arms…they were all covered by finger bruises and love bites that stood out violently against her white skin. It was fairly obvious now exactly what she had done last night.

Suddenly, her mind pounced upon yet another frightening thought.

Birth Control!

'Oh my God!' she moaned. 'What happened? And who was it?'

But she found no answers, just question after question. Finally, she got off the floor, and stepped into the shower. Scrubbing her love bites to hard they began bleeding.

XXXXXXXXX

'Hermione!'

Hermione froze. She was standing in the middle of her dorm, with a towel wrapped around her, glaring at her reflection in the mirror. A heavy hammering sounded on the door.

'Hermione! Are you awake?'

Hermione forced her voice to become normal.

'Ginny! What's the matter? Am I late for classes?'

Ginny chuckled. 'Herms, sweetheart, it's Saturday. Harry and Ron want to have a snowball fight. You coming?'

'I- I really don't feel like.' Hermione replied.

'Why not? Are you sick?'

'Sort of…I- I think I'm coming down with a cold.' Hermione said, praying that her lie would work.

Ginny's voice was sympathetic.

'Oh, you poor thing! A cold five days before Christmas? All right, stay in bed…I'll get one of the house elves to get you something.'

'Thanks, Gin,' Hermione said, sighing with relief.

Six minutes later, when Ginny entered Hermione's room, she found her huddled up in bed with a million scarves wrapped around her throat.

'You look terrible,' she said, complacently.

Hermione sniffed just a little too loudly.

'Thanks,' she said, 'where would I be without you?'

'Without hot chocolate. Here you go. I got the house elves to make it. Drink it and go to sleep…the three of us will be playing outside, but don't you even think of getting out of bed. You have to get better before Christmas.'

'Sure,' Hermione said, hoarsely. 'Bye Gin. You guys have fun.'

'Thanks,' Ginny said, leaving. At the door, she turned around. 'Oh, by the way. I should just remind you. Your potions assignment is due today.'

Hermione's hand flew to her mouth. 'Shit! I forgot! My Saturday assignment.'

'You've done it, I'm sure,' Ginny said, not too worriedly.

'Of course I have…but imagine if I'd forgotten to give it in? Anyway, I'd better go give it to him in a while.'

'You do that,' Ginny said. 'I'd offer to do so, but then- it is Snape….'

'Don't worry. I'll go ahead. Bye!'

'Bye sweety. And get well soon.'

Ginny left her room, leaving Hermione to ponder over everything. Instead of going hysterical, she had one main aim in her mind right now. To find out whom it was.

I don't see how I can forget something like this…something so important.

Actually, she realized, it was quite strange. It wasn't like her to forget anything, and forgetting something like this was damn weird.

Maybe…

She paused, and her mind ran over the sudden possibility. It was, she concluded, possible.

He cast a memory charm on me. He made me forget.

She felt a sudden flash of anger at that person who could have done this to her and then wiped her memory. Well, she would remember. With uncharacteristic stubbornness and defiance, she screwed up her eyes, trying to remember…

Much to her surprise, images flooded her mind.

His hand, gliding down her arms….his lips, soft against her hers…his breath, hot on her cheeks.

She jerked and shivered, as yet more memories flashes before her eyes….

His body, lying warm next to hers, his eyes, flooded with desire….

I remember….

I remember so much….but his face…?

Eyes screwed up, she tried to remember his face. But, striking contrary to the vividness with which she pictured his actions, his face remained blank and empty in her mind.

I remember everything…but his face….

Something stirred in her mind. All of a sudden, she was back in her sixth year DADA class, with Lupin presiding beside the board.

'Yes,' he was saying, 'A partial memory charm. It is an extremely difficult charm, and we needn't go into the details of how to make it. But, for the sake of your upcoming NEWTS, it is necessary to know its functions. Write this down please- Partial memory charms are placed in order to remove only a part of ones memory. This particular part can be chosen, and woven into the charm through a complex procedure which includes potion brewing, and enchantments. That is all you will need to know about Partial Memory charms. Now, please turn to page 223 of your text book, and we start with Obliviations.'

The words rung in Hermione's mind. Suddenly, everything seemed clearer.