It's DominoTyler! Please enjoy! ^^

…

The dungeons of Hogwarts were cold and dirty and brought back such gut-wrenching memories, but, strangely, it was good to be back. Hermione was reading and retreading the book-marked and dog-eared pages in a very old potions book passed down through the Black family, right to Sirius, who had loaned it to Hermione, while Remus worked on gathering all of the necessary ingredients.

"Tell me again how this happened, Hermione?" Remus asked.

Hermione sighed. "Do you remember Harry's last birthday?"

Remus nodded. "Of course. It was the first time the entire Order was able to get all together in months."

"Well, it's hard to tell who, but someone brought in a poisoned bottle of wine. And everybody drank some."

Remus shook his head. "Who on Earth could have poisoned it?"

"I'll give you one shot."

Remus sighed. "Death Eaters."

Hermione nodded. A few weeks back, Hermione had noticed some very strange symptoms coming from every last member of the Order, the first being loss of appetite. No one had ever turned down Molly Weasley's meals before. But, suddenly, no one seemed up to eating. Another thing was hair loss. The drain in the shower was constantly plugged with all sorts of hair. And the last thing she'd noticed was she was coughing quite a bit and her wrists were turning the slightest bit purple. It was the strangest thing ever.

Worried, she'd done some research, asking her previous DADA professor for help. They'd discovered the exact poison that had been ingested into each of the Order Member's systems, and Hermione had traced back the date of poisoning to Harry's birthday.

Now, here they were, the only two who knew they were ill, trying desperately to complete the cure.

Hermione knew that they had been poisoned for exactly a month and eleven days. The poison would slowly weaken the body for twelve months, and at the end of those twelve months, each person who had taken the poison would die. The scariest thing was that the potion, the antidote, took exactly ten months to brew. They would just barely make it of they were able to start now.

"Hermione, half of these ingredients are illegal if used without a licensed potions master," Remus said. "How are we supposed to obtain them?"

"Well, aren't we lucky to have a licensed and practiced potions master at our disposal?" Hermione replied. She pulled something from her pocket. "Snape gave me his license and a letter to the owner of the Apothecary to give us whatever we desire. He gave me a pretty suspicious look, but he'll get over it."

"Do you have the potions?" Remus asked as he organised the more legal potions.

"No," she replied. "I was heading out to purchase them when I found Malfoy on the doorstep. We'll have to go get them."

"What are the first five steps?" Remus asked.

Hermione read them off clearly.

"We don't need any of those potions until next week, sounds like," Remus said. "Why don't you go and get them and I'll stay here and get the potion started?"

"Sire," Hermione replied, picking up her bag from the floor. "You sure you'll be okay on your own?"

Remus smiled. "Positive. Go on, now. And go straight to Diagonal Alley and then straight back here, Hermione. Don't be recognised, or you're a goner."

Hermione nodded and tied a cloak around her neck, hiding her face in the hood. "Right. I'll meet you back here in a while, Remus. Goodbye."

"Be safe, Hermione."

She left the room at a swift pace, passing by curious students. Of course they all knew who she was. One girl even asked for her autograph.

She was pulled aside abruptly by Snape as she passed him. "How is my nephew?" he demanded.

She shrugged. "Fine, I suppose. He's still got a gaping hole through his stomach, but if he refrains from moving too much, he should be alright. Just pray he doesn't try and escape."

Snape nodded. "And is that mutt still in my classroom?"

"He is," Hermione replied, matching his glare. "And he will be for several more hours. You're just going to have to deal with it."

"And why should I?"

"I can't tell you."

He blinked, not removing his careless mask.

She signed. "It's a matter of life and death for the Order, you included. Just deal with it."

"Fine."

Without another word he left, walking swiftly down the hallway.

Hermione sighed again and turned away from him, then continue walking towards the exit.

She didn't want anyone to know they were poisoned. She didn't want them to know about the antidote. If they knew and she failed, it would mean everyone would hate her. She would have failed her single attempt of saving them.

But not telling them and her failing meant they didn't even have a chance at surviving.

She shook her head. She'd rather risk it. And she wouldn't fail.

She couldn't.

...

"Where've you two been all day?"

Hermione stood in the doorway like a deer in the headlights as she tried to think of a good explanation for Mrs. Weasley.

"Hermione and I have signed up to take special potions lessons at Hogwarts for advanced learners," Remus said easily. "And we help Snape with teaching. It's only once a week, don't worry about us."

Mrs. Weasley nodded. "That's such a nice thing to do! Is it fun?"

"It is," Hermione replied. "Very fun! Anyways, I'm going to go check up on Draco...has anybody gone in to see him?"

"Harry gave him some food and helped him to the bathroom about twenty minutes after you left," Mrs. Weasley replied.

Hermione nodded and started up the stairs. "How was he when you talked to him?" Hermione asked Harry, who she happened to pass along the way.

He shrugged. "Didn't say anything. Although, I have to say it was terribly awkward holding him up while he used the bathroom."

Hermione rolled her eyes and passed Harry, undoing a few wards so it was possible to get into her room. She cried out when she entered.

"Help me!" Draco cried from the floor, a pool of blood surrounding him.

Hermione dropped from the floor next to him, trying to stop the bleeding, nearly forgetting she had a wand.

"What on Earth happened?" she exclaimed once she'd gotten the bleeding to stop and she was tying bandages around his torso.

"I had to go to the bathroom," he muttered, hissing as Hermione helped him back into bed. "I fell when I tried to get up."

Hermione groaned. "Merlin, you're worse off than I thought. Alright, I'm here the rest of the week, all day every day. I'll come in a couple times to help you to the bathroom. Never try this again. We clear?"

Draco seemed embarrassed. He grimaced. "Crystal."

...

I didn't think I would be able to finish this during study hall, but there's either a drug search or a school shooting currently going on so I'm locked in my study hall for a bit. Anyways, hope you liked it! ^^