Hello my wonderful (and not so wonderful) readers! Now, I know you want to slaughter me because I've forced you to wait for me to update, but I'm sorry! I was on vacation with my (insane) family. So, this is the first time I've been able to get my paws on a computer. Okay, this chapter is dedicated to ChrisMeLove because I promised:) On with the story!
DISCLAIMER: The characters are in no way mine and any passage about the sleep disorders are taken from
Chapter Lyrics:
Don't fret precious I'm here,
step away from the window
and go back to sleep
. . . Pay no mind what other voices say
They don't care about you, like I do, (like I do)
Safe from pain, and truth, and choice, and other poison devils,
See, they don't give a **** about you, like I do.
. . . Lay your head down child
I won't let the boogeyman come
Countin' bodies like sheep
To the rhythm of the war drums
Pay no mind to the rabble
Pay no mind to the rabble
Head down, go to sleep
To the rhythm of the war drums
I'll be the one to protect you from
Your enemies and all your demons
I'll be the one to protect you from
A will to survive and a voice of reason
I'll be the one to protect you from
Your enemies and your choices son
They're one and the same
I must isolate you
Isolate and save you from yourself
Swayin' to the rhythm of the new world order and
Counting bodies like sheep to the rhythm of the war drums
The boogeymen are coming
The boogeymen are coming
Keep your head down, go to sleep
To the rhythm of the war drums
- Pet by A Perfect Circle
Hermione folded her arms in front of her and watched as Ron scarfed down his dinner in record time. Rolling her eyes, she tutted his lack of manners. Harry was seated on the right side of her reading the Daily Prophet from the day before. Hermione glanced over at him and was unsurprised that he was checking the scores from the Cannons match against the Thrashers. A sudden screech from above drew everyone's attention up to the windows where owls swooped in carrying letters for the students.
Hermione was bowled over when an unidentified owl dropped a letter sealed with black wax in front of her. She carefully pocketed it, making sure no one noticed. Excusing herself from the table went to deaf ears and she slipped out into the hall. Although it was summer the corridor was cold, causing goosebumps to rise on her skin rapidly. She smoothed down her sweater and walked rapidly to her common room.
"Semisonic." She told the portrait and it promptly swung open.
Hermione crawled onto the couch and fished the letter from inside her all too baggy pants. She pick at the max seal until it broke off and snatched the latter placed inside. Hermione scanned the note and she felt her jaw clench. Her eyes starting to water, her bottom lip quivering.
Only ten more days. Perfect.
It wasn't signed, but Hermione knew exactly who it was from. Ten days. . What's in ten days? Hermione wracked her rain searching for the answer. September 19th. . . my birthday. . . my 17th birthday. (A/N; Yes, it's Hermione's real birthday, I looked it up)
Hermione's fist clenched the letter tightly in her grasp. It wrinkled on the sides and tore where the tips of her nails ripped the poor paper. For once Hermione did not cry, instead she let out a heated growl that vibrated the back of her throat to the tip of her tongue. She threw the now tattered letter to the floor and stood up violently. That monster. That filthy excuse for a man! How dare he tease me like that? How dare he treat me like a puppet on a string? On his string?
Hermione planted her closed fist against the wall. With a frustrated groan she pulled back her fist and bashed her fist against the rigid stone. She growled and panted as she slammed her fist again. . and again. . and again, until her wrist were sore and her knuckles were smashed.
"Bloody. ." She hissed as she cradled her wounded limbs.
She walked begrudgingly to the water-closet where she turned the tabs for the sink on. Hermione filled the sink up and plunged her arms into the water until all the blood, even the dry specks that clung to her knuckles, was washed off. Hermione picked her hands up from the water and noted the blue-purple color that was forming. The tips of her fingers were pruned from the amount of time spent in the sink and her finger would barely bend correctly.
Hermione sighed and walked back into the common room. With what little hand power she had Hermione found the note and threw it into the flames that were dancing on the logs of wood. And so she stood there; watching it burn. The edges curling in before the flames engulfed it and spit out ash. With a satisfied smirk Hermione went into her room to turn in for a good nights sleep without a second thought of the nightmares that were bound to happen.
Draco walked down the corridor alone. Dinner was done and Draco spent the remaining hours with Blaise in the Slytherin Dorms. The talk was mostly based on the woman in their year and what category they fit into; The 'Do's, The 'Wont's and The 'Dont's.
Draco stopped at the portrait of the small girl on the swing whom guarded the head dorms. The girl swung her small legs and flashed Draco a smile.
"Hello Mr. Draco!" She giggled.
"Hi Posey, is Herm-Granger in there?" Draco caught himself on his slipup, hoping that Posey didn't notice.
She seemed oblivious as she nodded.
"Ms. Hermione ran here a while ago. She just said the password, not even bothering to chat." Posey pouted, playing with her hair. "She looked quite upset, maybe you should make sure she's alright."
Draco nodded and smiled, although it didn't reach his eyes. He wouldn't admit it out loud but Posey's words upset him greatly. 'she looked quite upset' what would make Her-Granger uneasy? Draco mentally berated himself for making the same mistake.
"Bye then, Posey, Semisonic."
Posey giggled and swung the door open for Draco to go through.
"Granger. . are you here?" Draco called.
He took another step into the common room calling out her name once more. He heard a small shuffle coming from inside her room and sighed with relief. He moved toward her door and pushed it open lightly expecting to see her snoozing lightly on her bed. He wasn't emotionally prepared for what he saw.
Hermione was laying on top of the comforters thrashing and convulsing violently. Hot tears slid down her cheeks and disappeared under her jaw. She sounded like she was chocking, as if someone had wrapped their hand around her dainty neck constricting her airways. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes shut tightly. Draco watched as her back arched and she screamed a muffle sob. Draco ran over to her and grabbed her shoulders, shaking her.
"Come on Granger. Come on. . come on! Hermione bloody Granger you better wake up this instant!" Draco demanded, smacking her lightly on the cheek.
Hermione woke up with a gasp, her body still shaking and her eyes watering. Her pupils were dilated, all iris vanished to the outline. Her hair was plastered to her heart shaped face from the sweat beading on her face and neck.
"What happened?" Draco whispered, pushing the hair clinging to her face back.
Hermione swallowed fiercely. She couldn't tell Draco she was destined to die for some man's game, what would become of her? If her worst enemy knew of her fate, he would use it against her in any way possible. She would lie. She would lie and she would die.
"Just a nightmare. Nothing of importance." She answered smoothly, riding her face of all moister.
Draco snorted "That seemed like more than a nightmare, Granger. I'm just trying to help, no need to lie."
That was when Hermione's control snapped. Everything had finally built up inside her, boiling deep within her womb, and now she had reached her peak of destruction. Unfortunately for Draco, it was his words that triggered it.
"You are not trying to help. You're just slithering your way into my life so you can break me. Well let me tell you something Malfoy, it will be a cold day in hell when I let you get to me. You've done nothing-"
"I've done nothing you say? Are you forgetting it was I that saved your sorry self from the brink of death?" Draco hissed. "You are so selfish Granger! You have no idea how others feel and yet you make these wild accusations. Maybe I legitimately care for you. That I would be sincerely upset if you died. Well let me tell you Granger, have you ever stopped to think that someone would actually miss you? I know Weasley would be upset because he can't copy you're homework and Potty is too infatuated with that Ginger girl to care.."
Hermione stared at him, mouth agape. Rage engulfed her, but suddenly simmered when she came to the conclusion he was right. Harry and Ron hadn't talked to her since the start of the summer. She had never been good friends with Ginny, the girl was always bitter about Hermione's close relationship with Harry, so it was known that when they started dating Hermione would stay forgotten. For Ron; he'd never genuinely cared for Hermione. More so cared that she let him take a peek at her notes.
"If you care so much.. prove it." Hermione whispered, shoving her thoughts to the side.
Draco's mouth went into a thin line while he thought. Hermione took the time to trail her eyes down the scar located on the side of his handsome face. From his temple to his firm jaw, no other scar could make a man look so rugged and. . beautiful. Peeling her eyes away from his strong face structure she rested on his eyes. He was starring intently at her, Hermione felt his eyes were burning small holes into he skin and seeping into her soul.
"Okay, Gran-Hermione, I'll show you I care."
Draco leaned forward until he was a hair away from the shocked girl.
"I'll show you, Hermione. I'll show you I'll care. I'm going to save you from whatever those dreams are doing to you. Even if it kills us." Draco whispered
Hermione shivered as his breath hit her lips when he said 'us'. Her eyes were fluttering closed and her breath was shallow. Suddenly Draco drew back and Hermione yearned for him to come back to her.
It was after curfew. Hours and hours after he was supposed to be in bed, but here he was. Hunched over Weak Sleep, Draco rubbed his eyes furiously. He read passages over passages but non of them deemed fit for Hermione's symptoms.
Lucid Dreams-
A lucid dream is a dream in which one is aware that one is dreaming. The term was coined by the Dutch psychiatrist and writer Frederik (Willem) van Eeden (1860–1932).[1] In a lucid dream, the dreamer can actively participate in and manipulate imaginary experiences in the dream environment.[2] Lucid dreams can seem real and vivid.[3]
A lucid dream can begin in one of two ways. A dream-initiated lucid dream (DILD) starts as a normal dream, and the dreamer eventually concludes it is a dream, while a wake-initiated lucid dream (WILD) occurs when the dreamer goes from a normal waking state directly into a dream state, with no apparent lapse in consciousness. ()
Draco marked the page as a 'maybe'. He didn't believe Hermione knew the difference between when she was awake nor would she willingly participate. But, it was a chance. Draco flipped a few pages, letting his fingers drag over the wording. He stopped about half way through the page, his finger tapped the title while he pursed his lips.
Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder-
Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is a sleep disorder (more specifically a parasomnia) that involves abnormal behavior during the sleep phase with rapid eye movement (REM sleep). It was first described in 1986.
The major and arguably only abnormal feature of RBD is loss of muscle atonia (paralysis) during otherwise intact REM sleep. This is the stage of sleep in which most vivid dreaming occurs. The loss of motor inhibition leads to a wide spectrum of behavioral release during sleep. This extends from simple limb twitches to more complex integrated movement, in which sufferers appear to be unconsciously acting out their dreams. These behaviors can be violent in nature and in some cases will result in injury to either the patient or their bed partner.
This could explain her strange injuries, Draco reasoned. He again added it to the possibility pile while he scanned the book once more. Chancing a look on the grandfather clock and tutted when he realized just how late it was. 3 O'clock to be exact. Thanks Merlin it's Sunday, Draco sighed. Turning back to the task at hand. The list went as far from Restless Leg Syndrome to Insomnia until Draco finally thought he had found the one. He carefully read through the passage, checking for what Hermione was connected to.
Sleep Terror-
A night terror, also known as a sleep terror or pavor nocturnus, is a parasomniadisorder that predominantly affects children, causing feelings of terror or dread. Night terrors should not be confused with nightmares, which are bad dreams that cause the feeling of horror or fear. Children from age two to six are most prone to night terrors, and they affect about fifteen percent of all children,[2] although people of any age can be affected. Episodes may happen for a couple of weeks then suddenly disappear.
The symptoms also tend to be different, with the child being unable to recall the experience, and while nearly arisen, hallucinating. Children who have night terrors are usually described as 'bolting upright' with their eyes wide open, with a look of fear and panic, and will often scream. They will usually sweat, breathe fast and have a rapid heart rate (autonomic signs). Although it seems like children are awake during a night terror, they will appear confused, will not be consolable and will not recognize others.
Strong evidence has shown that a predisposition to night terrors and other parasomniac disorders can be passed genetically. Though there are a multitude of triggers, emotional stress during the previous day and a high fever are thought to precipitate most episodes. Ensuring the right amount of sleep is an important factor. Special consideration must be used when the subject suffers from narcolepsy, as there may be a link.
Draco's heart constricted as he read. Everything seemed correct all the way to the irregular breathing and the panic. Glancing around the library to make sure no one was spying, Draco tore the page out of the book. Stuffing it in his pocket he headed back to his dorms for a well deserved rest.
I know it's not good :( but, I hope it at least satisfied you:)
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