Chapter Two: Lows, High, and Kicks

Hermione woke too late for breakfast the next day. Her head was foggy, and she wasn't entirely aware of how she got back to her dorm, but she slept without any nightmares and that was a great improvement from the last few weeks.

She was the only one left in the room as she threw on her clothes, and grabbed her book bag. She was about to head down the stairs when she decided to go back and grab two more of the pills she was given the night before.

Just in case, she thought as she slipped them in her pocket.

Hermione couldn't remember exactly where she was supposed to be at first. It took her a minute as she walked down the staircases to remember what day it was. Thursday. History of Magic. She was cleared to take a N.E.W.T. In every subject by McGonagall early in the summer, but when she glanced at her schedule on her first morning back she saw that the professor had took away a few subjects like Muggle Studies, and Astronomy. Hermione tried to be offended, but only found herself filled with gratitude at the time. It was already too much to handle just getting up in the morning.

She began to pick up speed when she realized she hadn't passed any other students in the hall yet. When she reached the History of Magic room she quietly walked in and took a seat in the third row. Professor Binns didn't even notice her late arrival, but several of the other students whipped around and shot her looks. She must have been really, really late.

She hastily took out her parchment and quill and pretended to pay extreme attention to Binns. A shock of blonde hair moved in front of her to the left and she found Draco sitting almost directly in front of her. She completely forgot he was in this class. Where was her brain today?

He shot her a questioning look, and she blatantly ignored him.

"…Harry Potter of course was a known resident of Godric's Hallow, and that was the last person to reside there in the wizarding world." The professor's voice was like a slap in the face. "Since then the small wizarding community that once flourished in that area is now nonexistent. But in 1842 in the small village there was…"

Nonexisistant.

The entire room went quiet with the mention of Harry's name. Ernie Macmillan turned an almost full 360 in his seat to stare at Hermione's reaction. She immediately began scribbling a whole lot of nothing on her parchment pretending to take notes.

Professor Binns as always failed to pick up on any human emotions or current events. He probably wasn't even aware that most people thought Harry was dead, or that he even taught Harry at all.

Everyone except the Death Eaters that were imprisoning Harry and Ron thought them to be dead. She hated just sitting in class doing nothing. She wanted a progress report from Draco on their situations as soon as possible.

She looked down at her pretend doodles, and realized she'd been writing tiny H's and R's all over her parchment. Hermione quickly crumbled it into a ball and pushed it aside. Her fingers began to twitch. How many times was she going to be reminded of them today?

Her hands moved of their own accord to her pockets, and they grasped the two pills she brought with her.

Hermione mentally cursed herself, thinking of flushing the pills down the toilet the first chance she had.

What was she thinking taking pills from a stranger? It was completely unlike her, but nothing she was doing was very Hermione-ish lately.

Binns announced the end of the lesson, and she was the first one out the door. Free period couldn't come soon enough and she spent the time upstairs sleeping, but unfortunately ended up missing lunch. By the time she headed for Potions, she was starving.

Whispers followed her everywhere as she weaved her way through the crowd of students and down the steps to the dungeon. When she reached the bottom she ran into Neville. Hermione immediately wished she was still asleep upstairs.

"Hey Hermione. How are you?" He asked earnestly.

"Fine." She replied uneasily. She could see the pity in his eyes and it made her uncomfortable. She hated lying to everyone, but it was safer if everyone thought they were dead. Even if she could tell them she wouldn't. It'd be too humiliating. Finding the horcruxes was the most important task, but she couldn't help feel shame when she thought of Harry and Ron out there wondering if she had abandoned them.

Not that she'd be able to do much for them.

Draco said they were being guarded at the Death Eater headquarters, where Snape was secret keeper. He was the only one who could tell anyone of its place. Draco was working on a way around that at the moment, or at the very least working on an escape plan for them. Or that was what he was telling her.

He was keeping something from her though, she just wasn't sure what it was exactly.

"Talking about your dead boyfriend Granger?" Pansy Parkinson's snotty voice reached her and Neville's ears.

Hermione's heart dropped. Nothing the Slytherins used to say ever got to her, but now the words were like daggers in her heart. Her hand itched to her pocket where the pills were. A few hours of forgetting? Wouldn't that be nice.

"Beating a dead horse Parkinson?" Draco's drawling voice hit her like a slap in the face.

He. Is. Such. An. Asshole. She thought furiously.

"A horse is one word for her." Pansy snarled.

"Back off Pansy." Neville said pulling out his wand. "I'm not afraid to curse a girl…if you can even call yourself that."

At that moment Slughorn entered the corridor leading to his dungeon.

"Everyone alright?" His voice boomed through the small space. "In the classroom now, I've got a special potion to show you all today!"

They fumbled inside, the tension still heavy in the air. Hermione took one pill from her pocket, and squeezed it in her palm. She had two last night and it was pretty strong…maybe just one would make her still be able to function, but also help her forget.

"Not as tough without your friends are you mudblood?" Parkinson whispered in her ear on the way to her seat. "Better hope I don't find you alone in a corridor one day, or you're dead."

"Come on Hermione." Neville said from behind her and led her to a table with him and Padma Patil.

Hermione sat and pulled the pill completely out of her pocket and stared at it under the table as Slughorn began to talk about some potion she'd never heard of. Resolutely she took the pill out from under the table and put it in her mouth, closing her eyes and swallowing it before she could change her mind.

When she opened them again she found Draco Malfoy staring at her for the second time that day, a fierce accusatory look in his eyes.

"I don't feel good." Hermione said out loud looking away from Malfoy.

"What was that Hermione?" Padma whispered to her left.

"I don't feel good." She said louder, and this time Slughorn heard her.

"Miss Granger?" He asked concerned. "Do you need to go to the Hospital wing?"

"Yes." She answered, and immediately stood up to gather her things. She didn't wait for an okay from Slughorn before heading out of the dungeon and up the stairs. The weather outside the windows was turning to autumn, and Hermione had a feeling without magic the castle would have been extremely cold. Just like Hermione was without Harry and Ron.

They would be so disappointed in her if they knew what she was doing. Taking pills from a stranger, working with Malfoy, not even caring about classes.

Who was she anymore? She didn't really like to think about it, and just as she was hoping to forget about all of it, the pill she took kicked in.

It spread warmth throughout her body, her vision was slightly foggy, but overall she was just happy to forget. She ran her hand along the stone walls on her way to nowhere, enjoying the feel of the rock, and relishing in not having everyone stare at her.

She let out a soft giggle. Hermione wanted to explore.

She headed down to the kitchens, tickled the pear on the wall, and walked right in to a cheer of welcome from the house elves. Two large green eyes stood out among them.

"Miss Granger!" Squeaked Dobby excitedly. "Dobby is so pleased to see you!"

"Hi Dobby, how are you?" Hermione grinned at him lazily.

"Quite good Miss!" He answered eagerly. "And how are you?"

Before Hermione could answer another house elf came with a large plate of food. She knew she should be hungry, but it didn't look appetizing, and Hermione refused the dish. That was another weird thing about whatever these pills were, they made her not feel much of anything, even hunger.

"I was wondering if Kreacher was available Dobby?" Hermione asked, feeling that since she was down here she might as well see if he wasn't busy cleaning.

"He is no longer employed here Miss." Dobby said sadly.

"Why not?" Hermione asked alarmed. She was sure this was where he'd be since Harry had ordered him to work here. Now how were her and Malfoy going to find him? They needed to ask him about the necklace. She was so sure he would still be here…

"He left when the great Harry Potter…you know." Dobby finished sadly, using one of his several sleeves to wipe the sudden tears from his eyes.

"But Harry ordered him to work here." Hermione stated, suddenly confused.

"Yes but when Harry Potter died he was no longer Kreacher's m-master." Dobby couldn't even bring himself to continue speaking as he was so overcome with emotion thinking of Harry. He let out a great wail.

Hermione took a few steps toward the wall and leaned against it, unable to hold herself up. She quickly dug into her pocket and pulled out the other pill.

"Can I get some water Dobby?" She asked hoarsely.

Dobby left to grab her a glass and when he came back with it she swallowed it immediately. Dobby left here there for a bit to contemplate until she called him back a bit later voicing her concerns.

"A house elf can disobey a direct order though, right Dobby? I mean if Kreacher just thought Harry was dead, he might be able to get around the rules that way and convince himself he could leave? Right?" Hermione asked desperately.

She looked hopelessly at Dobby for confirmation.

"It-it is true, Miss. It's uncommon for an elf to do so, but it is possible."

"Thanks Dobby." She said, downing the rest of the glass. "Any idea where Kreacher went?"

"He said something about visiting his master's home." Dobby replied promptly.

"Harry's home?" She asked thinking of Grimmauld place. "Or one of the Black's homes? Or Bellatrix?"

She was trying not to panic.

"I'm not sure Miss." Dobby said unhappily. "Would you like to sit down? Are you alright?"

"No…no. Thank you Dobby I'm fine. It was good to see you." She said tiredly, leaving the house elves who were bustling around getting dinner prepared.

Classes must have gotten out while she was down in the kitchen, because the corridors were quiet once again. She was below ground level, and decided to stay down here until the sun went down. The light was too much to bear, and she could feel her second pill kicking in. Without Fire Whiskey in her system she could really start to feel its full effects.

Everything was mind numbing. Thinking was hard, feeling was hard, and walking was hard. She managed to make it down one more flight and into a side corridor she didn't think she had ever been in before. There were only two suits of armor, and one painting on the wall.

"Don't get many Gryffindors down here." It said to her disapprovingly as she sank against the stone wall beneath the painting too out of it to reply.

This was bliss, she decided right then and there.

She couldn't even summon the power to think of one bad thing in her life, and for once she was calm. Hermione clumsily unfastened her cloak, and pushed it behind her head as she rested against the stone wall. Her knees bent up, she dropped her head on them and slowly spaced out.

Hermione couldn't say how much longer it was before a slight light shown through the door at the end of the hall and a few voices carried along the way to her.

She couldn't make out what they were saying exactly but some words were easy to hear: Granger, fallen, pathetic, and something about dealing with her.

Her head was so heavy, but as the voices got closer she managed to lift it up and see who was in front of her.

Zabini, Crabbe, Nott, and some sixth year Slytherin boy she'd never seen before.

With a feeling of dread, she suddenly realized why this corridor seemed vaguely familiar. She used to patrol it during her prefect duties in fifth year. It was on the way to the Slytherin common room. How many first and second years who didn't recognize her walked right past her until this lot came? Hermione felt embarrassed, and tried to stand up, but even though the pills were waning they were still coming on strong. Her feet stumbled beneath her as she tried to stand.

"Sorry." She muttered trying to find her way towards the door. It was so dark down in the dungeon with only a few candles lighting the way. She couldn't remember which way she came in from.

"I'll help you Granger." Zabini said firmly, grabbing her arm. He sounded so sincere that Hermione was alarmed when he helped her to her feet, and then immediately pushed her hard against the opposite wall. Her arm hit the stone first, and she slid down landing on the floor once more.

This was not good. She moved her arms as quick as she could to her wand pocket, but her reaction time was poor.

"Expelliarmus!" She heard Nott yell, and her wand quickly flew from her and into his.

"Poor Mudblood." The unnamed sixth year taunted. "All alone as always. What shall we do with you?"

"The headmaster will..." She started to say, but was interrupted by their laughter.

"The headmaster is a Death Eater, stupid." Zabini said taunting her. "You would have known that if you could pull your shit together enough to make it to breakfast for the announcement this morning. God, you're pathetic."

Hermione had nearly forgotten her close encounter with Snape last night, and him walking up to the castle with Draco.

Draco….yes…that was it. She could summon him! She tried to remember what he told her. Grasp the mark, think about him, and where you wanted to meet. Just like last night when she was summoned, and she instinctively knew to head towards Hogsmead. This would work too…it had to.

"Delashio!" She heard the sixth year cry, and a flash of red light hit her legs, and she felt as if someone had taken thin razorblades and cut them across parts of her thighs. Hermione let out an involuntary yell of pain.

"No need to start with the physical scars yet Dolevo." Zabini said darkly. "We want her to be conscious enough for the fun."

Hermione took the moment to bring her right hand over the mark, clasping it firmly.

Draco. I'm looking for Draco. Please find me. Draco Malfoy. Slytherin corridor. I'm summoning Draco Malfoy. Malfoy, please.

That was all she could manage before she saw a foot stomp down on her hand. Tears welled in her eyes, but she had experienced much worse. She tried to stand up but they pushed her down again.

"Stupid mudblood." Nott muttered, coming over and kicking her hard in the side.

The wind was knocked right out of her, and she gasped in pain.

"Don't." She pleaded pathetically.

"Don't want? Call you a mudblood, mudblood?" Zabini asked teasingly. "Or don't do this."

Zabini's foot slammed into her stomach again, and her face hit the ground so hard, she immediately knew she had cut it on something hard. But the pain was starting to blur her vision…or was it the pills?

She knew she'd never be taking them again if she could just get out of this mess.

Her left forearm began to burn, and for once she didn't mind the slight pain. It meant he received her message. He was coming.

She just hoped he'd get there on time.