Draco was woken up roughly the next day ,finding his cheek plastered to the front cover of his Charms textbook. Last night, after he'd gone back to the common room, he'd slumped down on the couch and tried to finish his Charms homework ,but for some reason he kept thinking about Hermione. Every word he read, it somehow brought back the thought of Hermione Granger's guilty and sorrowful face. It was probably because she'd written the book. Yeah, that was it. He'd ended up giving up on his homework and simply staring at her name on the front cover in curvy, elegant handwriting :Hermione Granger.

'Are you even listening to me?' Theo asked angrily.

'Huh'

Sighing exasperatedly, he sat down on the couch next to Draco.

'Have you seen Hermes?' He asked.

'No' Draco said almost instantly ,causing Theo to raise his eyebrows 'Why would you think I'd know?'

'I was just asking' Theo shrugged ,as if he hadn't been avoiding Draco for the past three days. 'She didn't come up to dormitory last night and neither did you'

'What?' Draco exclaimed ,only realising now that it was true. He hadn't seen Hermione walk past him on the way to their dormitory.

'I take it you had nothing to do with it then' Theo said.

'Obviously' Draco said ,before realising something 'Where's Blaise and Pansy?'

'Looking for him' Theo said before correcting himself 'Or her'

'Or her' Draco repeated.

Theo was opening his mouth to say something else ,when Blaise and Pansy appeared through the portrait hole.

'Did you find him?' Draco asked.

They shook their heads.

'No one has seen him since yesterday' Pansy said ,looking dejected. Blaise put an arm around her shoulders ,in an attempt to soothe her. She smiled gratefully ,but didn't lean into him.

'Not even Weaselette' Blaise added.

'Where is she?' Theo asked curiously.

'Just outside' Blaise answered 'She wanted to help ,but we weren't sure whether we should grant her entrance to the enemy's den'

There was a silence before-

'Blaise said you didn't go to bed last night ,Draco. Did you see him?'

Draco looked at his feet. He did see her ,but not after that.

'The last I saw her was-'

His sentence was cut off by a loud shriek from outside.

'That's Ginny' Theo said ,eyes wide with worry.

He hurried to open the portrait hole ,the rest followed.

'Ginny!' Theo called.

'I'm here' She called ,her voice calmer now.

Theo followed the sound of her voice to a small alcove in the corner.

Ginny was sitting down on the floor next to…Hermes Orion. She didn't look like Hermes Orion anymore though. Her forehead was drenched with cold sweat and her Hogwarts robes were askew around her.

'Isn't she that girl from the Halloween Ball?' Blaise asked ,absolutely confused, looking at Draco. 'Why is she on the floor?'

'I found him' Ginny said ,ignoring Blaise.

'Him?' Pansy asked ,also confused.

'No time to explain' Draco said ,covering Hermione's face with her cloak and scooping her stone cold body into his arms ,bridal style.

Theo helped Ginny up from the floor and the six of them made their way quickly up to the hospital wing.

'Madame Pomfrey!' Blaise called ,jogging upfront and calling out for the Hogwarts nurse ,in a bid to be helpful despite the fact he had no idea what was going on.

'Oh dear' the matron cried softly as she saw Hermione's limp body in Draco's arms ,as he placed her gently on a hospital bed 'What happened?'

'No idea' Ginny replied 'I found her outside the Slytherin Common Room in a shadowy alcove'

Madam Pomfey began to do some tests on her and frowned.

'Is something wrong?' Draco asked.

'No' she said ,frowning deeper 'That's the problem. Nothing seems to be physically wrong with her'

'What?' Draco exclaimed. 'She was perfectly alright yesterday'

'Up and about, walking and talking' Theo added.

'I've told Professor Dumbledore about the situation. He should be here soon' the matron said.

'Morning ,Poppy' Dumbledore greeted politely as he entered the hospital wing 'What seems to be wrong with her?'

'Nothing' the matron shook her head.

'I expected as much' Dumbledore nodded.

Madam Pomfrey took her leave to go and see to a group of Hufflepuffs ,who were covered in angry, green boils.

'Do you know what's happened to her ,Professor?' Ginny asked ,watching as Draco sat down on a seat next to Hermione and began stroking her hand ,staring at her pale, milky white face.

'I have my guesses' He said mysteriously ,conjuring a comfy armchair and sitting comfortably in it ,waiting.

'Will someone tell us what in the world is going on?' Blaise asked 'We still need to find Hermes remember'

'Oh ,about that…' Theo began before trailing off unsure what to say and looking at Draco for help ,but he seemed to be in his own world ,staring at Hermione.

'That's Hermes Orion' Ginny said ,pointing at Hermione bluntly ,not sure really how else to do it.

Blaise and Pansy looked from Hermione to Ginny then at each other before bursting into laughter.

'You've got an amazing straight face ,Ginny' Pansy chuckled lightly.

'I'm not joking. That is Hermes Orion' Ginny repeated ,before explaining the whole story ,Theo and Draco chipping in from time to time.

'No wonder you guys are so worried' Pansy said at the end of it all ,crouching down next to Hermione's bed and staring at her 'She's in danger and undercover and then she turns up knocked out on the floor near the common room'

'Why did she lie to us?' Blaise asked.

'She was protecting herself. Had no choice' Draco said.

'How come you're defending her?' Theo asked 'I remember not more than two days ago, you were thirsty for her blood'

'I wasn't that mad' Draco defended.

'From the way Hermione explained it ,you were madder than mad' Ginny nodded her head.

'Well, she is the first girl you've had more than just a passing crush on' Blaise chuckled.

'Shut up' Draco glared at him purposely not denying the comment.

Ginny and Pansy shared a look and smiled.

'So, have you forgiven her yet?' Ginny asked him.

Draco stayed silent before ,as if in slow motion, he nodded. 'If only she was up'

'He's got it bad' Blaise whispered ,making sure Draco could hear him.

'Shut. Up.' Draco cried ,not moving his eyes from Hermione's face this time.

A/N: What's happened to Hermione? Can you guess? Please review and tell me how what you think.