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Chapter Eighteen

Madam Pomfrey bustled in and out of her office, grabbing various potions and a block of chocolate. She sat Andy down on a bed after reassuring him that Hermione would be all right. Part of her prayed that Hermione would be all right, at least for the little boy's sake.

"Here," she handed him a bit of the block of chocolate, "eat this. I'm sure you need the energy."

He nodded, still staring at his sister and afraid to take his eyes off of her.

Hermione was lying on the bed across from him. Her eyes were closed, and her body was pale. It wasn't a sight young Andrew ever expected to see.

"Andrew, I can't do anything until she wakes up. I'm sorry. Is it all right if I go fetch Professor Dumbledore? He'll want to know that she's back."

He nodded, "Yes, that's fine."

"Ginny, are you okay?" Blaise asked.

"Fine, I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" Draco questioned.

"Yeah, yeah."

"Then what's going on?"

"Something's happened. I'm not sure what. Maybe, though, maybe Hermione's back." Ginny ran into her closet. She found presentable clothing and threw it on. "Well, what are you two waiting for?" She flew out ofher door and through the portrait hole.

"Hello, Andrew," Dumbledore greeted him as he walked into the infirmary.

"Hello, sir," Andrew looked up at him.

"Can we get you anything?"

He looked back to Hermione, "My sister."

Dumbledore gave a small smile. "I'm sure she'll wake up soon. Her body just has to recuperate. She hasn't eaten much, has she? And, she apparated the two of you here? She's lost a lot of energy that she didn't have to begin with."

Andy nodded, "I know, sir. I'm just scared." He stood and walked to Hermione's bed. Gliding his small fingers across one of her arms, he noticed how cold she felt. It was like she was dead. Slowly, he climbed onto her bed and rested his head over her heart. If he hadn't heard her heart beating, he might've thought she was dead. He stroked her hair gently and was whispering things neither Dumbledore nor Madam Pomfrey could hear. He didn't move from the spot, even when there was an incessant knocking on the door.

Madam Pomfrey opened it a crack to see Ginny peaking through, hope written on her face.

"Is she here?" Ginny whispered.

"Yes, but maybe you shouldn't see her."

"I should, I should!"

"No, the image you'll see. It's not for a child's eyes. It's bad enough her brother is here."

"Andy? Andy's here? Oh please, I've got to see her, to see him."

"Fine, okay, come on in. If Andy is asleep though, please don't wake him. I'm sure he's been through a lot."

"Yes, of course." Ginny walked in, Blaise and Draco in tow. She stopped in her tracks when she saw Hermione's body. She looked dead and poor Andy was lying atop her, stroking her hair and whispering incoherently. Ginny buried herself in Blaise's arms.

Draco dared to walk closer. He touched her. She was colder than usual. The little boy looked up at him, staring him down with watery eyes.

(Dream)

Hermione was curled up in a ball, crying. She was in a meadow. The sky was stormy gray, casting gray over the whole meadow. Thunder boomed and Jake appeared.

"Hello, Hermione. Long time no see. I hope you're well."

She lifted her head to look at him. "I'm sure you know I'm not."

"Well, Daniel and Anne are very upset with you. They know you left."

"Good, I'm glad they know."

"Do you know where your body is right now?"

"Why?"

"You're in the hospital wing. Oh, the things I could do when everyone leaves."

"Who's there?"

"Well, Andrew, Dumbledore, Madam Pomfrey, Ginny, Blaise, and, of course, Draco. He really loves you, you know. It's to bad you're going to break up with him."

"Why would I do that?"

"Because if you don't, I might just have to hurt him. You see, I know that if he gains your trust completely, you'll tell him about me and he'll never leave your side. You breaking up with him would ensure that you don't spend as much time with him. Heck, you might spend more time by yourself, even, because you're just so depressed. You won't be able to trust him, or anyone for that matter. You don't even trust Ginny, your sister. How sad is that? I think you have a problem. You should see someone about it." He gave her a sickly sweet smile. "Goodbye, Hermione."

Hermione screamed.

(End Dream)

Hermione screamed and woke up. She was panting heavily for some reason. Andrew had sat up in fear. She hugged him close to her, beginning to cry.

"I love you," she whispered into his ear, stroking his hair.

"I love you, too. I was so scared that you were going to leave me. You looked so dead."

"I'm sorry, baby, I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry."

"Hermione," his voice dropped a notch. "There was a guy here… the guy that lived next door. He was in the shadows and probably thought no one saw him, but I did. He looked at you and then smirked and disappeared. Who was he?"

"No one, baby. Don't worry about him." She looked into the shadows and swore she saw his eyes. His words rang in her head. "You don't even trust Ginny…. I think you have a problem."

"Okay…"

"Miss Daniels, I'm sorry to interrupt, but please eat this. You'll need all the energy you can get." Madam Pomfrey shoved a piece of chocolate into her hands. Hermione tore a small bit off and ate it. She really wasn't hungry.

By the next morning, Madam Pomfrey had poured at least five different concoctions down Hermione's throat, made her eat ½ a pound of chocolate, and refused to let her leave.

"Please, really, I'm fine. My body has rested. I'll eat if you want me to. If you will just let me out…."

"Fine," Madam Pomfrey said, "if you eat a full plate of breakfast, you can leave."

"Okay," Hermione smiled.

A few minutes later, she had a hefty plate full of all kinds of breakfast sitting in front of her along with a cup of orange juice.

"I'll be in my office. I'll check on you in half an hour."

Hermione nodded. She ate a little toast and two bites of egg. After one grape and a mouthful of orange juice, she was full. She pulled her wand out, making the rest of the food disappear but leaving crumbs and such so it looked like she had eaten.

Twenty-five minutes later, she called the nurse out.

"I'm done! Can I leave?"

"Yes, if you insist." Madam Pomfrey took the plate and let Hermione leave, eyeing her wearily.

"Goodbye!"

Hermione walked down the halls. She considered going back to the common room but was sure that her friends and Andy would be there and chose not to. The library called to her but her friends would look there first if they wanted her. Instead, she headed outdoors, walking around to the side of the school where hardly anyone came by. She ended up laying in the grass and watching the clouds roll by above.

She heard someone calling her name an hour later.

"Hermione? Hermione, are you out here?" Ginny called.

Sighing, Hermione stood up and jogged to the front of the school. "Yeah, right here," she answered Ginny.

"Oh, hey. Madam Pomfrey had said you'd been released. I checked the library first since I knew you weren't in the common room. Then, I came out here."

"Okay. Did you need something?"

"No, not really."

"Oh, where's Andy?"

"With Harry and Ron."

"Oh, God, they're going to corrupt him. Where are they?"

"The quidditch field, I think."

"Okay, let's go." She walked to the quidditch field with Ginny. Andy was standing on the field, watching Harry and Ron race around. Hermione snuck up behind him and picked him up, spinning around and around. He laughed and laughed, which only made Hermione smile wider.

"Hermione!" he hugged her.

"Hey, baby, how are you today?"

"I'm good, but how are you?" he stressed the "you".

"I'm fine, never better."

"Oh, right, and I believe that."

"You should. Would I ever lie to you?"

"Yes," he nodded.

"Oh," she put her hand over her heart, "that hurt, Andy, that hurt."

"Aww, I'm sorry," he gave her a pitying look.

"Don't give me that sarcasm young man."

"I learned it from you."

"And you learned from the best!"

"I accept no less."

"And you shouldn't."

"Why would I?"

"I have no idea." Hermione smiled at him. "So, are they showing off, or what?" Hermione looked up at Harry and Ron.

"Showing off like maniacs."

"As usual."

The two came down a little later and smiled upon seeing Hermione.

"Hey, Hermione!" Ron said. He hugged her. Harry did, too.

"Pomfrey let you out? Wow!"

"I pestered her until she did."

"Oh, the pestering wrath of Hermione is something that should never be suffered," Ron laughed.

"I agree," Andy smiled.

"Oh, I love you, too, Andy."

"Of course."

"He's just like you, Hermione."

"Yeah, he is, isn't he?"

Author's note: Okay that was Chapter 18. I hope you enjoyed it. :)) I enjoyed writing it. It's longer, too. Please review.

I'm sorry for all the mistakes in the last chapter. I think I might repost it. It and fifteen.

I'll start writing nineteen soon.

Review, my minions, review!

Mucho Amor

Heather