Chapter 5 – Threats and Hunches
After realizing these feelings, Hermione didn't notice that she had the ingredients she was putting on the potion was all wrong, causing the potion to explode knocking her unconscious. Students gathered around her body to get a good luck of what happened. Ron and Harry can't believe what just happen. Without further ado, both boys ran to Snape and asked his permission to bring Hermione to the Hospital Wing, receiving a questioning look from Snape.
"What do you mean? What happened?" Snape asked Harry rushing through the commotion.
When he reached the crowd of students, he saw Hermione lying on the floor like a dead person. Pale and unconscious. Quickly, he made a decision.
"Everybody, as I bring Ms. Granger to the Hospital Wing, I demand that all of you go to Professor Flitwick's class with the sixth years. Are we clear? Now move!" Snape demanded and he hurried to the Hospital Wing.
When Snape reached the Hospital Wing, Madame Pomphrey came dashing to where Hermione was laid out.
"What happened to her, Severus?" She asked worriedly.
"Well, her potion exploded. Might have dropped a lot of asphodel and this is the effect." He replied.
"I see. Now, I'll try to heal her. She might not be back for class for around two weeks before she fully recover. It was a large explosion." She explained and Snape hurried to Dumbledore's office.
While the seventh year Gryffindor and Slytherins move to the Charms classroom.
As they enter the classroom, Professor Flitwick questioned them.
"Oh, goodness. What happened? Why did Professor Snape send you here?" He asked.
The sixth years turned their heads to the door's direction to see who was the professor addressing to. To their surprise, it was the seventh year potion class.
No one answered from the seventh years, until Xavier Knox answered.
"Hermione Granger and my potion exploded while I was getting materials. Professor Snape rushed her to the Hospital Wing."
"Oh Lord. Well, then, just sit there on the floor in front of the sixth years." He motioned for them to sit on the floor.
Ginny was shocked of what she had heard. "Oh no! Hermione! It can't be. I hope she's alright." She thought.
Professor Snape arrived in front of gargoyles and said the password.
"Acid Pops." And the gargoyles elevated to form a staircase leading to Dumbledore's office.
When he went inside, he found Dumbledore standing in front of his desk, as if he was expecting Snape to come.
"Ah, Severus. What brings you here?" He said calmly motioning Severus to come forward.
"Well, Headmaster, I'm here to inform you that one of our students was caught in an accident during my potions class." Snape answered him.
Upon hearing this, Dumbledore asked him more questions.
"I see. How is her condition so far?"
"Well, for now, I don't know. All I know is that Madame Pomphrey started healing her when I left her." Snape said.
Dumbledore didn't reply once, but thoughts are starting to rush into his mind. "These are not normal at all." He thought to himself. Then he started talking again.
"Perhaps, I will pay her a visit sometime later. For now, I want you to take close eye on Ms. Van der Sen and Mr. Knox. These accidents maybe intentionally done. Only Ms. Granger knows about this." He ended. And resumed. "Is that all to it, Severus?" He asked him questionably.
"Yes, headmaster. I must leave." With that he left Dumbledore's office going back to his class.
On the hospital wing, Madame Pomphrey was having a hard time identifying what the real reason was. She have done all she can to revive Hermione, but it seems like asphodel has nothing to do with this. Because of this theory, she went to her office to research.
After some time, Hermione started to awake.
She tried to analyze where she was, but before she could, someone walked to her. She can't analyze the face for her sight was still blurry. Then she started asking.
"Who are you?" Sounding afraid and nervous.
"Don't worry, Granger. It's just me." Said the voice. She found familiar. Could it be? No, it can't be. "Draco Malfoy? Here? But why?" She asked herself.
"What are you doing here, Malfoy?" She asked.
"Let's see. I don't know. I was just checking you out. Seeing if you're fine." He said.
"And why do you care?" She answered back sourly.
"Whoa, Granger! Don't get too harsh on me." He said in a hurt manner. Finally, shooting up, gaining clear vision, Hermione looked at the smirking Draco.
"You don't tell me what to do! Git!" She said annoyed. "Can't he just go?" She thought, and then she looked away from Draco.
Draco began to fill up. "Okay, keep your cool. You don't want her to shot spells on you." He told himself. He started opening his mouth and started speaking.
"Look, I came by to check on you. That's what I do when something happens to the head girl. Besides, there are a lot of things to do and I can't take it anymore." He said, hopefully, it can satisfy Hermione's judgment. He crossed his fingers behind his back.
Hermione turned to look at him, and Draco thought it was fine, until…
"You are loathsome!" She shouted and took her wand and started firing spells on Draco.
Draco on the other hand, started running out of the room. When he got out and closed the room, he breathes fast and began thinking. "I thought wrong." And before he could catch another breath, someone spoke to him.
"What are you doing here? Especially, what are you doing, panting?" Isabelle asked with curiosity and confusion.
Draco slowly stopped panting and regained his strength.
"What about you? What are you doing here?" He said, smirking at her.
She stepped closer to him and spoke.
"Stop smirking you, freak. I'm here for Hermione. I hope that satisfy your judgment. Can I go now?" She asked annoyed and stepped on the other side. Before she could reach the door handle, Draco caught her hand. Isabelle looked shocked and turned to face Draco, only that he was still looking at the other direction.
"The answer would be, No." He paused and looked at her. "I was gonna interrogate you about something." Without waiting for her answer, she dragged her away, and led her to a deserted classroom.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" She asked freeing her wrist from his grip and rubbing it.
He looked at her and stepped closer.
"The thing is; nothing's wrong with me. It's you. What is it you're hiding?" He asked looking straight into her eyes, as if reading her thoughts.
Isabelle, shocked of what she heard, wasn't able to speak for awhile. The two stared at each other for the next couple of minutes waiting for someone to break the silence. Until Draco spoke again. He let out a small laugh.
"Okay, fine. Play while it's still early.Just watch your back. You might crack." He said and turned away to leave the empty classroom, leaving Isabelle motionless and for once in awhile, speechless.
After Transfiguration classes, it was free period for seventh year Gryffindors and Slytherins.
Harry and Ron quickly left the transfiguration classroom to leave their things back to their common room and visit Hermione in the Hospital Wing.
Upon reaching the Hospital Wing, they heard voices inside. They both leaned closer to the door to hear their discussion.
"Ms. Granger, I'm afraid we have to keep you here for one more week. I know that you might think you're perfectly well, but you're not." The voice said, which they assumed to be Madame Pomphrey's. Then she continued. "You might not know, you're body is contaminated with that potion you were making. It appears that, someone or possibly, accidentally, you have put the Draught for Living Dead potion. The potion is strong and partly contagious. We don't want you to suffer poisoning or death." With these, the two decided not to hear anymore. They lifted themselves up and knocked on the door.
"Come in." Madame Pomphrey told them, and they stepped inside. As soon as they saw Hermione, they noticed she was crying.
It's alright, dear. You'll get better." She said to Hermione sweetly, then turned to the two. "It's best if I live the three of you to talk." She said and left.
As Madame Pomphrey left, Ron tried to comfort her.
"Oh, c'mon Herm. Why are you crying? Is something wrong?" He asked concerned. Harry looked at her and squeezed her left hand.
"Oh, guys! It's aw-awful" She said sobbing. She recounted the story and she sobbed even more when she finished.
Harry removed his hand from hers and pulled her into a hug.
"It's alright, Hermione. Everything's gonna be fine. I'm sure Madame Pomphrey will make you better. And don't worry, your duties aren't left behind, a couple of seventh years were asked to do them for you. About your homework, we have them for you. So don't be so stressed and anxious about these things. We don't want you suffering more." He said and he let go of Hermione.
On the other hand, Ron gave her a quick hug and told her,
"Harry's right. There's nothing to worry about. Everything's under control. Besides, it's our job to make sure of your safety." He said and gave her a wide smile.
Hermione smiled back and quickly replied.
"Well, thanks guys. I don't know what to do without you." She flashed both of them her sweetest smile and reminded them. "Don't forget, Charms starts right after five minutes, so you better hurry." She added.
The two guys bid their goodbyes and left Hermione.
Hermione, on the other hand, was still on thoughts. "I have to recover fast, or something else is gonna happen." And with that, she was back in her sleeping position and tried to sleep as possible, not knowing what's in store for her days to come.