Under My Skin
Chapter 9
Disclaimer: All characters except for a few belong to JK Rowling.
A/N: I'M BACK!
"Whaa…"
"Relax, Miss…erm…"
"What do we call her?" asked Ronald Weasley harshly.
"Now, Mr. Weasley…Harry, will you please run up to Professor Snape's quarters and inform him that…she…is awake fully now."
"Yes, Professor." Harry sped off quickly out of the infirmary.
Ron, Professor Dumbledore, and Madame Pomfrey all looked at the woman in question on the bed thoughtfully. Who was she? They were all completely dumbfounded and just could not believe this could be their once beloved friend and pupil. The Hermione Granger they knew could never pull something like this off, let alone deceive them.
"Professor," Madame Pomfrey interrupted everyone's thoughts. "Has her husband been contacted?"
"Oh, no, Poppy, as they are no longer husband and wife I thought it would be best not to inform him. But if you insist…"
"No, Professor, that was a good choice. Well, as much as this is baffling me, I have other patients here." She left brusquely with a backward glance at the limp, sweaty body of…the woman.
This woman (Grace, Hermione, it had not been official as to who she was yet) was hearing the voices of her companions through muffled ears. She could barely understand any of the words and all she thought about was a big bowl of chocolate. Yes, chocolate…that's what she really wanted more than anything in this world.
"Miss…Lopez," Dumbledore whispered carefully. "Grace" did not look up, but merely grunted in acknowledgement. "I'm going to give you a potion. Trust me, it will not harm you, so you mustn't refuse it. Just let it slide."
He was a bit surprised she complied so easily. Ron watched with bemusement as Dumbledore took a colorless vial out of the many folds of his robe, uncorked it, and tipped the liquid on "Grace's" lips. When she swallowed it, her eyes opened a bit wider and lost the wild, misty expression on her face.
"Who are you?" Dumbledore asked sternly.
"Hermione Granger."
The answer hung silently in the infirmary, bouncing off the stone walls and reverberating in Dumbledore's and Ron's ears. They looked at each other bewildered and back at Hermione. Truth serum never lies.
"Wait. Professor Snape should hear this…"
"I'm here, Dumbledore," Snape said quietly behind him. He went up to Hermione's bed stealthily and made a motion as if he was going to put his hand over her's on the bed, and instead thought better of it. He sat down on the hard chair he had spent so many sleepless hours in just the night before and stared at her intently.
Harry joined them a few minutes later. "I…" he panted, "Snape practically…flew here, to tell you the truth. I couldn't keep…up with him."
Snape smirked, still staring at Hermione. "Continue please, Dumbledore."
Dumbledore then asked, "Do you remember anything in the last few weeks?"
"Yes," she responded hoarsely. "I was under a glamour, and my assumed name was Grace Vasquez. I was to teach at Hogwarts, away from my husband, as an Arithmacy teacher. I was forced to write him letters every day and tell him exactly what happened. He was furious when he found out I was…"
"Go on!" Snape pressured.
"…in love with Severus Snape, the Potions Master. He was enraged, to say the least, and he came up to Britain and attacked poor Minerva McGonagall. I couldn't stop him. He's a monster."
A/N: Short chapter, I know. I hope you will all forgive me for such a looooong time coming update. Hope you like!