So yes, another chapter begins. I found this one hard to begin, but it's well worth it I think. Once again, I do NOT own Harry Potter (as much as I wish I did), I just pathetically dream about owning it. sigh JK Rowling…you are one LUCKY genius. Now, on with the story!

Chapter 2

Percy awoke the next morning to find that, while he did believe it was near to impossible to feel any worse than he was the day before, it was indeed possible. He groaned as he sat up, his head spinning. He waited for his dizziness to subside, and he slowly stood up. He dragged his feet over to the mirror, and took a look at himself.

He looked horrible. His posture alone screamed at him to get back into bed, but he knew he had to many things to do today and he just couldn't afford it. His eyes were red, and the shiny shade of his nose could've given his hair a run for it's money. He had dark bags under his eyes, and his cheeks were bright red.

He sighed as he mentally calculated his list of 'to-do's' for today. Double N.E.W.T potions class in the dungeon with Snape first. "Oh great," he thought, "the cold damp dungeons will really be great for my sinuses…"

Next on the list was Advanced Transfiguration. Still a very tough class, but at least McGonagall's room was warm…After that, he had lunch period. That would be a good time to do a little bit of relaxing and then…oh no!

He groaned as he remembered that he had a outdoor lab for his Herbology class today! The study of preserving and caring for herbs during the intense cold of the winter. He took a hopeful look at the window to see if the snow has possibly lightened up since yesterday, but his face fell as he saw that the snow was just as bad as yesterday, if not worse. He groaned, and knew that the two hour period outside would be hell, but it had to be done.

His final class of the day was Charms, which would be a great relief after his intense Herbology class today if he could make it through. He groaned as began to change out of his pajamas, and decided to pull on an extra sweater under his robes today. He cast his usual silence and glamour charms, straightened his glasses on his face, and decided that it was good enough. He made his way out of his rooms and began his trip down to breakfast, first stopping by in the Common Room.

He looked around for Hermione, but didn't find her anywhere. So he decided that, being just as an early riser as he, she must already be in the Great Hall. His predictions were right, and he soon found himself sitting to a perfectly well Hermione who was happily munching on some toast and reading the daily prophet.

He plopped down next to Hermione, and got the usual "Good morning Percy" from her, feeling her hand intertwine with his underneath the table. He smiled weakly to himself, knowing that Hermione could always make him feel better no matter what. Suddenly, he felt her hand upon his knee, and a blush spread across his already flushed cheeks and down his pale neck. Merlin, it was creeping higher! He shifted, almost uncomfortably, and Hermione's hand settled upon a spot near his inner thigh. He snuck a glance at her, and was disappointed to see that she was still engaged in reading the paper, no one being any the wiser when they looked at her. He was sure glad that he had worn his thicker robes today. He shifted a bit more, and Hermione promptly looked over at him, smiling, and removed his her hand from his thigh and once again wove her fingers into his.

She then proceeded to talk on about her morning and such other things, Percy only half listening and sometimes occasionally muttering a small 'mmhmm' or 'yea, me too' to her incessant chatter. Finally, she did notice that Percy was being unusually quite, and she looked over at him.

He had his eyes almost closed, so close to falling back asleep, but yet still awake. He was slumped forward on his seat, his food on his plate untouched. He shook him a bit, and he jerked his head up.

"Hmm….wha-? Oh, sorry Hermione. I'm just a bit tired."

Hermione eyed him suspiciously, and he was worried for a minute that she could possibly she through his charms, but a minute later his worries were relieved as she said, "Ok, but please just try to take it easy today."

He agreed, and as the first bell chimed, they were off to their first class. He gave her a quick hand-squeeze good-bye, and they went their separate ways.

Hermione was off to her first class, Ancient Runes, which was up near the Astronomy Tower while he headed downstairs to the dank dungeons with Snape.

He got there, and plopped down into his seat. He was one of the few 7th years deemed 'crazy' enough to take the N.E.W.T Potions class. The class was very small, and consisted of mainly Slytherins. There were a few Ravenclaws, and even one daring Hufflepuff.

Class began as usual. Snape striding up to the front, lecturing on his instructions upon the board, and setting them to work. Percy was quite thankful that they were only making a moderate healing potion today, deciding that from the looks of things, Snape didn't seem to be feeling quite up to par either.

He gathered his ingredients, shivering as the cold air of the dungeons swept around him, and sat back down. He pulled a handkerchief out of his back pocket, and tried to discreetly blow his nose. This didn't go very according to plan, and as the wet blow sounded into to handkerchief, he received several disgusted looks from around the room and one very menacing glare from Snape. He resignedly put his hankie back into his pocket, and was thus resorted to quietly sniffing for the rest of the double period.

By the end of class, he was seriously considering going to Madam Pomfrey. The cool air of the dungeons had only served to aggravate his sinuses, and he was constantly sniffing or wiping his nose now. He was just about to take the stairwell that led to Madam Pomfreys when he decided that if he could just tough out this day, he would have the entire weekend to recover. He shook his head, and began to make his way to Transfiguration.

He was only half listening to McGonagall's lecture about Animagus transformations, and his eyelids were threatening to close over, the darkness of sleep slowly pulling him down…so warm and so inviting…and suddenly he was jerked awake by the ringing of the bell to signal the end of the period. But before he could make his way out the door, he was stopped by Professor McGonagall. She approached him with a look of concern on her face.

"Mr. Weasely, are you quite alright? You looked a little pale today, and your thoughts seemed elsewhere."

"Yes Professor, I'm fine. Just a little under the weather, that's all."

'A little under the weather, that's' the understatement of the year…' he thought dryly.

"Trust me, I'm okay."

"Alright, if you're sure. Now off to lunch with you Mr. Weasely."

Percy made his way down to the Great Hall for the second time that day, only to be greeted by Hermione one the way down.

"Hey Percy, how are you feeling?"

"Better," he lied, "I think it just took me a little while to wake up this morning."

Hermione smiled, obviously relieve that Percy appeared to be fine. They continued on their way to the Great Hall. Stomach churning, Percy didn't think he could possibly stand to even smell the food, so he made an excuse that he forgot his books down in the Dungeon's during first period, and he told Snape that he would come get them before lunch.

"Okay, just try to hurry back. I want you to get a little food in your stomach before your next class, it seems like you haven't been eating at all lately."

Percy forced out a weak laugh, and changed his course from Hermione's to go back to the dormitories. The thought of food made his stomach violently lurch once again, and he had to stop for a bit to make sure he wouldn't be sick. Not that it would matter, he hadn't eaten anything to puke up since yesterday morning anyways.

He went back to his dorm, and began bundling up for his outdoor Herbology lab. He put on two sweaters, a thick cloak, and he wound his scarf tightly about his neck. He also pulled on some gloves, and put on his thick hide boots. He made his way down to the greenhouses through the heavy falling snow, and arrived just in time for class.

He took a seat in the back of the greenhouse, and waited for Professor Sprout to being her lecture. She tottered into of the middle of the room, clearing her throat a few times to get everyone's attention and signal that class was about to begin.

"Alright class, today we will be looking for the Jasminum Nudiflorum. Now you know from you plant guides that these are bright yellow, and should be very easy to spot. Look in the heavily wooded areas, and bring small samplings of what you found back to me." She gestured towards the small gray cart on which they were suppose to put their samples. "Remember, don't uproot the plants because if you tear the roots from the heat of the ground and expose them to the winter air, the plants will wither and die." said Professor Sprout enthusiastically as she explain their task to them.

They each grabbed a plant trimmer, and headed out. Feeling the cold air cutting into his lungs like razors, Percy headed for the trees, thinking that they would at least block some of the wind. He headed into the forest, and it wasn't long before he found himself quite alone.

He wandered about the trees for a bit, sometimes looking for the bright yellow of the Jasminum Nudifloum, but soon he realized that he just didn't care anymore. He pulled his cloak tighter about him, realizing now that the cold air was really getting to him, and each step was getting harder and harder. He even contemplated for a moment if he would have enough energy to make it back to the greenhouse. His question was soon answer as he suddenly stumbled over a root, and fell into the snow. He struggled to get back up, but the darkness was so inviting that he gave into temptation and sank into the blissful darkness…

So ends another chapter! Sorry to leave you with a cliff hanger, but I just had to end it here! I'll try and get the next chapter in as soon as I can, and I think that'll be the last one. I already have it written, I just have to edit it and what-not! So again, reviewing may help me grow taller, I NEED IT! Lol, much luv, Sarah.