Hermione had gotten halfway to Gryffindor Tower when she realized that she had forgotten to check out a book she had been eyeing on the shelf behind Theo whilst studying.
She stopped in her tracks. It could wait till tomorrow...Or it could distract her from crying herself to sleep. If she hurried back now maybe she would make it before Madam Pince left. She turned abruptly and carried herself back to the first floor.
As she arrived at the library, she saw Madam Pince was still there, however Irma only eyed her sharply. Hermione smiled warmly as she made her way to the back of the library. She had hardly noticed the pile of black robes lying on the floor, until she tripped over them, landing right next to whatever the mass was.
Once the realization hit her, she lunged forward.
Theo.
His nose was caked a deep garnet color and fresh new blood was slowly spilling out over it.
Her heart began to race frantically as she called out for help.
Madam Pince ran around the corner and found the pair on the floor.
"Miss Granger, what happened?"
"I... I'm not sure, Madam. I had gone to turn in for the night and I came back to grab a book and... And he's..."
Madam Pince rushed to fetch Madam Pomfrey as Hermione felt desperately for a pulse.
Theo had one, but his unusually-pale skin felt clammy and was glistening with fresh perspiration.
"Okay." Hermione breathed.
She took an old notebook from her bag and transfigured it into a nicely-sized feather pillow, very delicately and slowly easing it beneath his limp head.
Theo still didn't show any signs of consciousness. She grabbed the handkerchief that was poking out of his trouser pocket and dabbed at his nose.
After five minutes or so, both Madam Pince and the school's Matron appeared, running to Theo's side.
Madam Pomfrey felt Theo's head with the back of her hand, and tsk'd her tongue.
"What's wrong with him?" Hermione asked quietly.
"I'm not sure, Miss Granger. He had come to see me earlier needing a bit of Grand Pepper Up Potion for a cold. However, this is... most definitely not a cold." "Irma, would you be so kind to grab Minerva? She is in charge whilst Albus is away."
Hermione's ears perked at this knowledge as Madam Pince went on her way to find McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey levitated Theo up to the hospital wing.
Hermione made to gather Theo's belongings. As she approached the table, she found droplets of blood on its surface. The sight made her cringe. Quickly she cast Scourgify to clean it away.
She noticed the burnt candle perched atop his cupcake. She sighed and thought, "This was not how his birthday should have ended."
Hurrying up the stairs to the fourth floor, Hermione ran in to be by her friend's side.
She dropped her bag onto the floor next to Theo's hospital bed with a thud and slouched deeply into the nearest chair.
Professor McGonagall had entered, her hair piled atop her head and wearing her night dressing gown.
"Miss Granger?" McGonagall said as she hurried in, "What are you doing here?"
"I found him like this, Professor. I only thought I should be here for him once he woke."
"I understand, but you need to make your way back to Gryffindor Tower. Currently, we are unsure of what the illness is within Mr. Nott, but I assure you, I will update you once we know something."
Hermione could feel an anger rising within her but she nodded and grabbed her bag, leaving the cupcake and his new watch on the bedside table.
She leaned forward and ran her fingers through his hair, pecking him lightly on his forehead, "Feel better." she whispered.
McGongall watched the young witch in slight curiosity.
Hermione left, but only on the premise that McGonagall would absolutely, positively, let her know if anything changed with her friend's condition. She left the hospital wing grudgingly.
Once she entered the Gryffindor common room, Hermione was bombarded by an anxious Harry.
"Did you find anything?" he asked, quickly tossing a book down, rising from a nearby sofa and teetering on his heels.
"Wh- oh. You mean... No sorry, somethings happened." she answered, reimagining that paled face of Theo's.
"What happened?" Harry asked, pulling her from her thoughts.
Hermione gathered herself and sat down on the sofa, "Theo Nott... He was in the library after we were done studying... And he..." Hermione felt the sudden urge to cry.
Harry sat beside her, and began lightly patting her back, "Did he hurt you?" his voice now thick with concern.
Hermione scoffed, "No Harry, he didn't hurt me. He was unconscious, bleeding! H-he looked as if he were...dead." At the last word, the tears finally spilled over.
Harry realized then how much Theo must have meant to her, because she didn't just cry over anyone.
Taking in a deep breath, and wiping her nose she announced, "I'll check out the book tomorrow."
"No. Your friend needs you. Just tell me what the name of it is, and I'll go get it."
Hermione pulled some parchment from her bag and scribbled upon it:
'Secrets of the Darkest Art' by Owle Bullock
She handed him the page, "It's in the Restricted Section. If you run into her, just tell Madam Pince you're picking it up for me... So she doesn't feed into her own curiosity."
Harry folded the parchment and put it into his trouser pocket, "You know I won't run into anyone, Hermione." he said winking, "Do you think this will have the information we will need?" he continued, his expression more sullen.
"It might. I'm not sure, Harry." she replied earnestly.
XXX
Beep. Beep.
Gurgled voices were flooding Theo's ears, yet darkness still managed to surround him.
"Mr. Theodore Nott..."
"Approximate age twenty-two."
"No relatives."
"Heartbeat lost"
Beep. Beep.
XXX
Suddenly a jolt of strange energy rushed through Theo's veins. His eyes opened slowly; his body covered in sweat and chills.
Slowly, he transferred his gaze to the windows; finding that night had fallen, or maybe it was even early morning.
He turned his neck slightly to the left, painfully so, and saw that Hermione was asleep in the chair next to him.
He tried to reach out for her but his body felt as if he had been hit by the Hogwarts Express.
"Gran-" he managed through a choked voice.
This only stirred her slightly.
He felt the urge to cough, but instead his chest was too heavy to push one out.
"Granger..." his voice still garbled and low. Hermione yawned and stretched forward, quickly taking Theo's hands into her own.
"Hey there." she said sleepily, gently squeezing him.
Theo smirked dazedly, and Hermione could see the pain etched through his eyes. She let go and moved her hand to his head.
"Wh-what was that sound?" Theo asked
"I'm sorry?" Hermione's brows pursed in confusion.
"It was a strange sound... Like a... 'eep'." Theo managed without pitching his voice too loudly.
Hermione shook her head, "I...I don't know Theo. There is nothing around to make that sort of sound."
Theodore sighed, perhaps it was just a dream.
With a few moments of silence, Hermione began to speak again, "How are you feeling?"
"Terrible."
"Madam Pomfrey isn't sure what is going on. They are discussing moving you to St. Mungo's if you're not better by tomorrow evening."
Theo swallowed and nodded slightly.
"Draco?" he asked.
Hermione sadly shook her head, "I don't know... I haven't seen him since Thursday afternoon. It's now Wednesday..."
Theo raised his brows at this. Had he really been asleep for a week?
Suddenly the cough that he had been holding in escaped his lungs, causing blood to splatter from his mouth, all over the stalely-pressed white sheets.
"Madam Pomfrey! Pomfrey!" Hermione called as she leapt forward to hold the sheet up to Theodore's mouth, as she did this she rubbed his back. "Gods, Theo." she whispered.
Once the coughing subsided, Madam Pomfrey held Theo's head back by his chin and poured a dark purplish liquid into his mouth that caused him to gag.
"Honestly woman, are you trying to kill me?" he managed, a ghost of a grin dancing on his lips.
Poppy, however, ignored his cheek. "He needs rest, Miss Granger." she said sternly.
Hermione nodded and as she made to leave, Theo caught her wrist with his hand and muttered, "Don't go." his features now serious, almost scared.
Madam Pomfrey accepted this, and allowed her to stay.
Once the Matron had cleaned up the blood and walked away, Hermione crawled beside him into the bed and wrapped one arm loosely over his waist.
"You're my best friend, Theodore Nott. I hereby forbid you to not get better."
"Even more so than Weaselbee?"
"Yes, even more so than Ron." Hermione said, smiling from his shoulder.
Theo chuckled a sigh and just as he was about to fall into a deep sleep, a loud bang startled them both.
Hermione jumped from the bed and ran around the curtain to find out what had caused the ruckus, Madam Hooch and the Gryffindor team were bustling through the doors along with Hagrid, holding a body in his arms.
Once Hermione caught sight, she ran forward to see what had happened.
"Harry!" She called and Ginny ran to Hermione's side.
"What happened?!" Frantically, Hermione searched Ginny's face, as well as looking over her shoulder to see Harry being placed on a bed.
"McLaggen mishit the the Bludger and it pelted right into Harry's head. Nasty fall."
Hermione shook her head, "I don't understand why you all love this bloody game! I swear every year, Harry ends up in here hurt, bruised or scarred."
Ginny glared at her and then toward Theo's bed, appearing singularly uninterested, "How's your friend?"
Hermione didn't want to react savagely but she crossed her arms, and smiled, "kill with kindness" she thought. "He's awake and doing better. I'll let him know you asked about him."
Ginny sneered, "Please don't."
Hermione scoffed and rolled her eyes, "See you later, Ginny."
Hermione hoisted herself onto her elbow, lying back down beside Theo. He was sleeping. Even though he was seemingly in agony, he looked relatively painless, at least for the moment.
She smiled softly, and soon fell asleep herself.