Secrets

Chapter 2 Burden of Truth

Hermione could hear Ginny's voice talking to her, though it sounded far away, like through a tunnel. She opened her eyes to see Ginny's worried face looking down at her, "What happened?"

"Hermione, you passed out. Don't you think we should get you to St. Mungo's and have you checked out?"

"No, not St. Mungo's. Just give me a few minutes to get myself together and we'll go back to the table," Hermione was quite emphatic and didn't want a lot of fuss.

"Fine, but when we get to my house you are resting."

Hermione nodded in agreement, if only to keep Ginny from telling the others. After sitting still for a few minutes, she slowly got to her feet and went out to the main store with Ginny in tow.

"We thought you two had fallen in, you were in there such a long time," Ron said, a smirk upon his face, but Hermione knew that he was teasing her.

"Your ice cream melted while you were gone , Hermione, so I got you another one," Harry looked with concern at Hermione who looked very pale to him, then handed her the ice cream, "Why don't we go out into the fresh air so we can get the rest of our shopping done?"

The four friends finished up their shopping and then headed back to the Burrow, where Hermione discovered that Ron's parents had already taken Crookshanks and her trunk to Ginny's room.

Molly gave her a hug and clucked at the site of her, "Hermione, you look kind of thin, aren't you eating enough?"

Hermione looked down at herself and knew that Molly was right. She saw Ginny catching her eye from across the room and shook her head slightly, "It's just been such a hot summer, Mrs. Weasley. I haven't felt much like eating."

The truth was that her attacks all but killed her appetite. She knew that she was being foolish, that she needed to be seen by a mediwizard, but she wasn't going to let it stop her from going to Hogwarts this year.

"I'm going to go read in our room, Ginny," Herminone said, taking her purchases up to the room that she shared with Ginny when she visited. She had just reached the room and was about to close the door when she felt a hand upon her shoulder.

"Hermione, are you alright?" Harry said, turning her gently to look at him.

"Harry, I'm fine. It's just been a rough summer, that's all," She said, a little more sharply than she had meant to.

Harry looked crestfallen, "I'm sorry, Hermione. I'm just worried about you, that's all."

Hermione felt so bad. She and Harry had told each other how they felt about one another at the end of last year. But she couldn't tell him what was wrong. It would be too hard on him, "Harry I didn't mean to snap at you. I'm just kind of jumpy waiting on our OWL results and everything, that's all."

Giving Hermione a sweet kiss on the lips, Harry smiled at her, "I know you did brilliantly, 'Mione," He said, with much affection in his voice, "You have nothing to worry about. You do look a little tired, though. Why don't you have a lie down? I'll come and get you when it's time for dinner."

Hermione nodded, that sounded like a good idea. Giving him a kiss back, she smiled at him, "You are so sweet to worry about me, Harry."

Harry's green eyes played over her pale face as he smiled back at her, "I can't help it, 'Mione. I love you."

Hermione squeezed his hand, then went into Ginny's bedroom. Falling on the bed fully clothed, she fell asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow.

Some time later...

A gentle kiss on the cheek and the wonderful minty breath of someone woke Hermione from her nap. Opening her eyes, Hermione was greeted by two beautiful green eyes behind round glasses. With a tired smile, she gave Harry a hug, "Hi."

Sitting down on the edge of her bed, Harry returned Hermione's hug and gave her another kiss, this time on the lips, "Hey, beautiful. How are you doing?"

Feeling as though she had been run over by a hippogriff, Hermione didn't let on and did her best to smile, "I feel better after my nap. How long did I sleep?"

"Quite a long time, it's nearly suppertime," Getting to his feet, Harry put out his hand and offered to help her up, "Are you hungry?"

The thought of food made Hermione's stomach gurgle but she knew that Mrs. Weasley wouldn't take no for an answer. This was going to be a lot harder than she thought it would be, and she didn't know how long she would be able to keep up the charade, "I could eat something. It's just that the heat has kind of gotten to me and I don't have much of an appetite."

Harry couldn't mask his worried expression as he helped her to her feet, "Are you sure that you are okay, love? You don't seem like your normal self."

"Normal? Really, Harry, what is normal after what we have been through?" She said, not really answering his question but trying to make light of what was happening.

Taking her hand, Harry gave it a squeeze. He knew that there was something that she wasn't telling him but he wasn't going to pressure her. He was truely worried about her; her face was very pale and she had lost quite a bit of weight.

All throughout the evening meal Hermione saw Ginny stealing glances at her, opening her mouth as if to speak and then closing it when she saw Hermione looking at her. Mrs. Weasley was also watching her closely to make sure that she ate some food, and she wondered how much longer she was going to be able to keep up the charade.

Later, as the two of them were getting ready for bed, Ginny cornered her again, "Hermione, you look like you're about to drop over. I saw Harry watching you during dinner, Mum too. Why don't you tell someone?"

Hermione just kind of rolled her eyes, "Ginny, you saw how panicked Harry was when he visited me in St. Mungo's. What do you think he would say if he knew that not only am I still having problems from the fight but they are worse than they were at the beginning of the summer?"

A look of sadness crossed Ginny's face, "I understand, but he would want to know..."

With resignation, Hermione sighed and laid upon her bed, "I will tell him, but I have to wait until the time is right. As soon as we get to Hogwarts I will see Madam Pomfrey for an examination and then I'll have something more to tell him."

"But what if something happens to you before then?" Ginny said, shaking her head, but Hermione had already fallen asleep. She stayed up for long after their talk, watching her friend sleep and unable to sleep herself due to worry.