In This Chapter- Hermione's eating habits catch up with her and she finds some help in very unexpected places. The ball approaches and Hogwarts play host to some very unusual visitors.
~*~
"That is an excellent idea Mr. Weasley." Dumbledore said smiling. "I'll make the arrangements right away, and I must say Miss Granger is very deserving of this."
"Thank you Professor." Ron said blushing. "I do hope she likes it."
Harry and Ron exited the headmaster's chambers with a smile on each of their faces; they had a surprise for Hermione that would knock her socks off.
They walked through the school, and made their way to the prefect's room. Ron was eager to watch some more of that great box Hermione had, he was going to leave the actual calling to Harry.
When they neared the prefect corridor, a figure stepped out from around the corner, nearly plowing them over.
"Harry? Ron?" It was Chase.
"Chase Jones?" Ron asked wearily, he was apprehensive of any Slytherin, head boy or not.
"Yea, hey can I talk to you guys for a minute?" Chase asked.
Harry looked at Ron and them shrugged his shoulders, "Sure, I guess so, what about?"
Chase looked uncomfortable for a moment, then said, "well, it's about your friend, Hermione." He started, and he said the look of confusion in the two Gryffindor's eyes. "See, she's been acting very oddly lately, have you noticed?" He asked.
Ron nodded and Harry said "Yea, we think she's just overly stressed, unless…is there something else?"
Chase by this time looked extremely uncomfortable and then managed to say, "Well, I don't know if I'm the right person to be saying this, but…I think Hermione might have an eating disorder."
"What?" Cried Harry, "You can't be serious! Hermione? Well yea she's really thin, but she's always been thin! That's just the way Hermione is!"
"Harry." Chase said, now starting to sound calmer. "Hermione is what, sixteen now? Haven't you noticed that she's starting to take the body of one, but not? She's really weak; she can barely carry her books. I've seen girls do this to them selves before. I've pretty much grown up in this school, it happens every year, and if we don't do something about it soon, Hermione could die from this, she doesn't know what she's doing to herself, but she could die.
Ron and Harry just stood in front of the head boy with their mouths open. They knew not eating a lot couldn't be good, but they never thought someone could just go and snuff it from dieting.
"What do you suggest we do?" Harry asked quietly. He was almost surprised that the first threat of the year was not that of Voldemort, but of Hermione herself.
"You're going to have to convince her she has a problem." Chase said. "I can try to help, but she has a lot of trust in you guys, you have a great friendship. You need to tell her she needs to eat or she's going to kill herself, it's as simple as that. She's going to be angry with you, and possibly not speak to you for awhile, but you need to over come that to help her, do you think you can do that?"
Harry and Ron looked at each other again, and Harry said, "yes, we can definitely do that."
Chase smiled. "She's really lucky to have you did you know that?" He said, "I know I'm not exactly from the popular house, but I'm not so evil that I cant see a true friendship when its right in front of me." Chase gave them a faint smile. "Good luck, and remember, if nothing works, just go straight to Madam Pomfrey, she has the authority to over see everyone's health in this school, whether their willing or not."
Harry grinned at him, "don't I know it."
~*~
Hermione leaned against the tall goal post outside on the Quidditch pitch; she was tired, very tired. She loved the outside though, it made her feel small and insignificant, but she loved it. She took a small breath of October air. The dance was in less then a month now, but the stressful part was over. She didn't care if she got a date, she's just glad that the planning turned out alright.
She turned to go back into the castle, and saw someone coming toward her.
"Oh no." She mumbled. It was the blonde Slytherin, probably coming to kick her around some more. Before he reached her, Hermione muttered. "Petrificus totalus." And smirked as Draco's hands and legs locked together. "I'm really not in the mood Malfoy." She said before making her way back to the castle. She was very tired.
If Hermione thought she was going to be able to go back to her room and relax, she was very much mistaken. She met up with Harry and Ron just outside the Great Hall, where they appeared to have been waiting for her, both looking very grim.
"Hey guys." Hermione said testily, seeing the expressions on their faces. "What's wrong?" She asked.
Both boys shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot, mentally praying Hermione would not hex them. "We need to talk to you." Harry said in a quiet voice that made Hermione's empty stomach lurch.
"Talk?" Hermione asked carefully. "About what?"
"You." Ron said. "You're acting so distant, and we've noticed that you look so thin, like I don't know, we're just worried about you."
Ron." Hermione said exasperatly. "Ron I'm stressed out! That's all it is. Once this dance is over with I'll be fine!"
"That's not it though." Harry said. "Hermione you're not eating, you know it and we know it, even other people have noticed! Being stressed out still allows you to eat!"
Hermione looked at them angrily; she was too tired for this. "I cant believe your accusing me of starving myself, I'm a smart girl remember? Honestly!"
"Hermione, look at yourself." Ron said. "When you came and stayed with us this summer, you were gorgeous! Ginny was so jealous of you. You were growing, err, girl parts, and you were just becoming so hot!" Ron blushed. "I even noticed it last year, but now, you're wasting away, you look sick and tired, and most of all, frail! The Hermione I know can take down a two hundred-pound guy and not think anything of it! What happened to her?"
"She got fat Ron." Hermione said in a cold voice. "Do you want me to be fat? Do you? Are you two so protective of me that you don't want anyone to like me?"
"That's not it Hermione." Ron said. "George likes you, and come to think of it, so does Fred! Hell, I began to like you, but being your best friend would always be better then being your boyfriend, I just love you too much for that!"
Hermione managed a faint smile at how weird Ron was becoming.
"Hermione you need help." Harry said. "You need help, and we'll do whatever you need us to do anything besides leave you alone. This is a problem we can definitely face together. You need to be strong Hermione, especially now. You don't know what kind of scum is roaming around this castle, and Ron and I would feel a lot better if we knew you could defend yourself again."
Hermione was still angry. "I think I know how to take care of myself, thank you!" She said shrilly.
"Well you're not doing a very good job at the moment!" Ron said, his famous temper starting to flare. "Look at you! You can barely carry your books, granted you have a lot, but you used to be able to do it fine! Hermione we're trying to HELP you!"
Hermione looked at him, enraged, but then in a split second she started trembling, her eyes tearing up. She let go of her school bag, letting it hit the floor with a loud 'thud' that echoed throughout the hall. "Guys." She said simply. "I don't think I feel very good." Then she dropped in a dead faint.
~*~
"Will she be alright?" A soft voice murmured.
"She'll be fine dear, now, you had better leave, and she needs rest."
"Yes Madam."
Hermione opened her eyes slowly. She was met with the brightness of the hospital wing. She felt herself lying down. What had happened? The last thing she remembered was being so angry, angry with who? Harry and Ron were there, was it them? Hermione felt her stomach gurgle, she loved the feeling of being empty, and it made her feel thin.
"Miss Granger! You're up! Welcome to the land of the living!"
Hermione looked up to see the school nurse bustling towards her, a tray full of her favourite foods and a bottle of an unidentified liquid.
"What happened?" Hermione asked in a small voice and the nurse measured out a portion of the liquid.
"Why you fainted dear." Madam Pomfrey said and she handed the medicine to Hermione who gulped it down. "Fainted dead away, Messer's Potter and Wesley brought you in, lights as a feather you are, I thought they put a charm on you, but then I realized-" The nurse faltered. "Hermione." She said, "You're very sick, very sick indeed."
Hermione just looked at her. "I'm not sick!" She said "I'm perfectly healthy!"
Madam Pomfrey looked at the frail girl sceptically. "I doubt that, Miss Granger." The nurse said. "You're dangerously underweight, your organs are scrambling to stay in operation, and your body is basically eating itself, you need rest, and plenty of food."
"Food?" Hermione asked faintly. "I certainly do not need food, is everyone trying to keep my fat and ugly?" Hermione was starting to cry, and the nurse racked her brain, trying to figure out how to knock some since into this girl, then an idea struck her.
"Please stays in bed, Miss Granger, I think I need to have you meet someone."
Hermione slumped back into her crisp white hospital bed, in a foul mood and tears running down her pale cheeks. She wished everyone would leave her alone! It was her body, and HER life, which, by the way, was falling apart at the moment. Then she heard a light tap on the door, unsure of what to do Hermione invited the person in.
"Hermione?" A small girl with shiny black hair and almond shaped eyes asked – Cho Chang.
"Cho?" Hermione asked. "What are you doing here? Are you looking for Madam Pomfrey? She's not here.
"No, I was actually looking for you." Cho said, taking a seat in a chair by Hermione's bed.
"Oh, what did you need?" Hermione asked.
"Actually, Hermione, it's what do you need." The Asian girl said with a slight smile.
"What I need?" Hermione asked, confused. "What I need is to get out of here, the nurse is off her rocker, and she keeps going on about how sick I am, I'm not sick!"
Cho looked at Hermione the same way the nurse did awhile ago. "I'm afraid you are Hermione." She said. "And trust me, I definitely know."
Hermione stared at her. What was she getting at?
"Do you feel fat Hermione?" Cho asked. "Do you feel like your life is falling apart, and no on is ever going to like you? Do you think people are trying to keep you fat? Do you think your friends are being stupid? Do you look in the mirror and want to cry? Or smash it?"
Hermione just looked at the girl, how was she reading her mind? This beautiful, intelligent girl?
"I do." Hermione said softly, "How do you know what I'm feeling?"
"Because I went through it too." Cho said simply. "Because I know what it's like to want to punch the mirror, I have on occasion. I know what it's like to starve myself, and feel so tired, and to feel like I'm fat, and unloved, and Hermione, I need to tell you, it's all in your mind, all of it."
Hermione just stared at the girl in front of her. The perfect Cho Chang wasn't so perfect?
"Hermione, you have anorexia." Cho stated the obvious. "I want to help you, because I can."
"How can you help me?" Hermione asked. "I can't even come to terms with it."
Cho smiled her gentle smile. "I know what that feels like as well, and I know you need help. Cedric-" She faltered. "Cedric helped me; he loved me and helped me through the darkest point in my life. I think I owe it to him to continue to help people, and that's what I'll do. It would be an insult to his memory to not use what he has taught me."
Hermione gave a moment of respectful silence, then finally said, "Ok, What can I do?"
~*~
"How is she doing?"
"Is she alright?"
"What happened?"
"Will she be better in time for the ball?"
"Who's going to help me with my potions!"
Harry and Ron stood in the entrance of the Gryffindor common room as their fellow Gryffindor's gathered around them. They all had heard about Hermione's fainting spell and all were concerned.
Harry saw a tall redhead parting through the younger and smaller students towards Harry and Ron.
"How is she?" Dean asked them. "Will she be ok?"
"What's wrong with her?" Neville said, coming up at Dean's side. "I heard she made a potion wrong, but that's not bloody likely."
"You're right." Ron said. "It's not likely, but Hermione is very sick, from what Pomfrey told us. She said Hermione needed to eat more, and get some sleep, she's been doing too much."
Dean and Neville, along with the other Gryffindor's nodded, they all knew too well from sharing a dorm with Hermione just how involved she could get. Hermione was the definition of over achievement, but that also meant she was going to go far.
~*~
A couple weeks past in the lonely hospital wing, and Hermione kept up with her ever increasing schoolwork. With the help of Cho and Madam Pomfrey, she was slowly regaining he health, and began to gain back the weight she had lost. Ron and Harry visited her whenever they could, which helped more then anyone even knew. Hermione's dark circles disappeared after a few well-deserved good nights rest, and her hair began to shine again. She knew she had a long way to go, but for now she was happy with the way things were going.
"Hey Mione." Cho had stopped in.
Hermione looked up to see the now- familiar face of Cho popping into the infirmary.
"Hey Cho." Hermione said. She was glad to see her new friend Hermione was bored.
"Guess what?" Cho could barely keep in her excitement.
"What?" Hermione asked, giggling.
"You're allowed out!" Cho said, clearly proud to have been a part of Hermione's recovery.
"I am?" Hermione asked, dazed.
"Yes!" Cho said, "Aren't you happy? Ron and Harry will be here any second to get your stuff and take it to the prefect's room."
Hermione smiled and jumped out of bed. "Finally!"
"Come here." Cho instructed, and pulled Hermione to the bathroom and stood her in front of a full-length mirror. Hermione gasped a little and stared back at her reflection. For a month she was not permitted to look at herself, and now she finally could. She remembered seeing a skeletal girl, but this- this girl in the mirror- she was so healthy looking! Hermione's cheeks glowed with a rosy hue and her curves were distinctly visible through the outline of her nightdress. Hermione was finally growing into her woman's body.
"Come on Hermione." Cho said, now pulling the brown haired girl out of the bathroom. "Time to get dressed, it's a Hogsmeade day and your ball is only a short week away! Do you even have a dress yet?"
Hermione nodded. "Yes I do actually; I got it before school started." She smiled. "You should have seen Harry and Ron's face."
Cho giggled and started finding some clothes for Hermione to wear. "Here, put this on, I think a trip to the three broomsticks is in order."
Hermione put on the clothes Cho gave her and emerged from the bathroom looking refreshed. Then there was a knock on the door.
"Hermione?" Hermione heard Harry's voice call in.
"Come on in guys, we're descent."
"Who are we? Oh." Harry saw Cho, who smiled at him.
"Hey Harry." She said.
Harry grinned at his former crush. "Hey Cho, have you been playing nurse?"
Cho giggled. "Yes, I suppose I have, and it's my pleasure to announce that you have a very healthy friend here guys."
Everyone was laughing as they made their way out of the hospital wing, bound for the magical wizarding village.
~*~
"Hello Professor." Harry and Ron were in the headmaster's office on Halloween, about five hours before the ball.
"Good afternoon Harry, Ron." The headmaster smiled at them. "I trust everything is ready?"
"Everything is perfect, Professor." Ron smiled. "They all have sent back letters, and are waiting for us to get them."
"Excellent." Dumbledore said, "Then you may go now, go now and retrieve them." And with that, Harry and Ron disappeared into the Professors fire, and about half an hour later, returned with three very awed looking teenagers.
~*~
"Hermione come on!" An agitated Padma Patil said. "You've been in the bathroom for an hour!"
"Alright! I'm done!" Hermione emerged from the rose scented bathroom.
"Wow." Padma said. "Now I see why you were in there so long!" Hermione giggled and twirled, letting her dress spin out.
It was the same dress she had bought in Diagon ally. Maroon and gold and snug fitting. She had on the same necklace she received on her birthday, the gold chain and ruby gem matching perfectly. Her hair was down, in tight, elegant coils around her face, a nice change from the usual straight hair she had.
Hermione took a bow and giggled.
"You make me proud, Hermione." Padma said, pretending to swipe away a fake tear. "My little bookworm is all grown up!"
Hermione was laughing now, and Padma soon joined in before disappearing to the bathroom to do some touch ups on her makeup.
"Hermione?" Hermione heard a muffled voice coming through the other side of the prefect picture. "Come in Harry!" She called, "The password is still the same!"
Hermione heard him say the password, and she watched as the picture swung out, revealing him and Ron in very nice looking dress robes.
"Hey Herm." Ron said brightly, his eyes were sparkling with an untold secret.
Hermione glanced at them; they were definitely hiding something. "What is it you two, what do you know what I don't?" She asked.
Harry grinned wider, and then called to the door. "Oi! You can come in now!"
And then three familiar faces entered unsurely- Jared, Lauren, and Jessica.
