Sorry for taking so long to update. :-)
Disclaimer: I do not own anything.
"Come on, Hermione or we're going to be late!" Ginny yelled through Hermione's bathroom door.
"I'll be there in a moment." A small voice came from behind the door.
Hermione looked at herself in the mirror. All she could see was the dark bags from under her eyes. It has been a week since madam Pomfrey gave her that potion, and nothing changed. She still had those awful dreams every night.
"Come on, Hermione…" Ginny yelled again.
"Alright, I'm coming, Gin." Hermione assured her and she got out of the bathroom.
"Merlin's beard! Hermione, you look stunning! Turn around so I can see you better."
Hermione did what she was told. She couldn't see herself in the same light, but she didn't want to upset Ginny.
"Oh, come on Hermione, smile a little. You look beautiful! What's with the long face?"
"Thank you, Gin, but I'm not in the mood for partying. I just want this to be over. Plus, I think we all know who's the beauty here, Miss Greek Goddess!"
Ginny smiled at the compliment as she looked in the mirror. "Thank you, but Hermione, not even a Greek Goddess can compare with the great Audrey Hepburn!"
Hermione let out a small chuckle. She has chosen to dress like the iconic Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's, a famous muggle movie. The hair, the black long dress, the gloves, the pearls, everything could be found on Hermione. Ginny paid her a visit on the holiday and they watched some movies. The redheaded girl was very impressed by the movie and she convinced Hermione to dress like Holly for Halloween while she picked a simple, but beautiful white dress. The two girls looked beautiful.
"I think we should go." Hermione told Ginny as she glanced at the watch.
"Yes, I think you're right. We are already late." Ginny agreed.
"Well, I don't think someone will notice we are late, so relax. "
"Malfoy might notice…" Ginny responded with a mischievous grin.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Hermione asked Ginny as they got out of the door.
"I think we both know that." Ginny smiled.
"Enlighten me, please."
"Well, it's obvious that he likes you, Hermione…"
"It's not obvious to me. Gin, I'm telling you, he does not like me. Not like that, anyway. Right now, he is probably dancing with Pansy at the ball."
"Yes, I thought he would ask you to be his partner."
"He obviously didn't ask me." Hermione lied. The truth was she refused Draco's proposal. She was afraid that it would go too far. They have become good friends and she didn't want to ruin it with a dance.
"I wish Harry was here. I miss him so much…" Ginny complained.
"I know, Gin. But don't worry, you will see him soon." Hermione assured the other girl.
"Not soon enough…" Ginny sighed.
Hermione let out a small chuckle. "Oh, Ginny…"
When the two girls arrived at the Great Hall, everybody was having such a great time dancing or just hanging around. Even Dumbledore got out of his chair and he was now dancing with Minerva. They looked like an old couple, which Hermione suspected they were. All of the professors were dancing with their students. Except one. One certain professor was standing in a corner, arms crossed at his chest, and he had a nasty look on his face.
Hermione tried not to judge the man. She knew that these types of activities were not on his taste and he was probably forced to even be there. Just like her. She preferred to be alone in her room, reading a good book, but she was the Head Girl, everybody was expecting her to be there. In addition, she put a lot of effort into the Ball, so she might as well try to enjoy it.
Hermione was still staring at the man when he looked up and caught her staring at him. She was too stunned to look away and for a moment, their eyes locked. Hermione couldn't see anything more except his dark eyes. Suddenly, she was thrown back into the woods. Her legs were moving, but she was still there, she was still looking at him.
Ginny searched the crowd for Neville. She was supposed to be his partner for the night, but he was now dancing with Hannah Abbott.
"Hermione, look! Neville is doing well on himself after all. I'm so happy for him." Ginny told Hermione and she turned on her heels to face her when she didn't get a response from her.
"Hermione? What's wrong, dear?" Ginny asked concerned when she saw the blank look on the other girl's face. It was as if she saw a ghost.
The redheaded girl turned to see what it was that Hermione was looking at and she was surprised to see the Potion Master on the other side of the room, looking at her friend with a confused look on his face.
"Hermione!" Ginny tried to awaken the girl from her daze, but nothing happened. Instead, the girl started to tremble. "Hermione, what's wrong?" Ginny was starting to get worried. She was about to scream for help when she heard someone's footsteps behind her.
"What happened?" she heard someone say and she didn't have to turn to see who that was, but she did it anyway.
"I don't know, sir. I turned for a minute and then she was just like this. What's wrong with her, professor?" Ginny asked Snape, but he didn't answer. Instead, he got in front of Hermione, and he looked into her partially open eyes. When he touched her neck to find her pulse, her tremble stopped, but she immediately collapsed into his arms.
"Miss Weasley, go find Poppy and inform her of the situation. I will be expecting her at the infirmary." Snape told Ginny and he slowly got out of the Great Hall while carrying the Gryffindor.
Ginny watched as Snape disappeared and she started looking for the mediwitch in the crowd.
Severus watched the girl in his arms while he carried her through the dark corridors. His shoulder was acting like a cushion for her head. She looked at peace sleeping in his arms, but he knew better. He was halfway through when the girl started to tremble again, but he didn't know if it was due to the cold or to the darkness she was in. He tried to cover her with his coat so she would not catch a cold and she snuggled against his neck. He was about to enter the infirmary when he felt something wet on his neck and he looked down only to see tears rolling down on Hermione's cheeks.
"I'm sorry." Severus heard her say and he put her down slowly onto the nearest bed.
Snape took her heels down and he covered her with a warm blanket. He put a hand on her forehead. She was burning and she was stirring in bed.
"Not again!" she cried and he felt the pain in her voice.
"Granger!" he tried. "Granger, wake up!" he tried again while he put his hands on her shoulders to still her. "Granger, it's just a dream, wake up!" nut nothing happened.
"Hermione…" he whispered and she stilled for a second.
Severus let go of her arms and he looked around. The room was silent; nobody was residing at the infirmary for the moment. Even Poppy was out. He looked back at the girl and he made up his mind. He got out his wand slowly, pointing it at Hermione's forehead and he whispered "Legilimens!"
Suddenly, Severus found himself in the Forbidden Forest. It was so dark, he could hardly see anything. He heard someone running in front of him and he started running towards the source of the sound. After what seemed like an eternity of running, the sound stopped and he found himself in a small clearing. Severus looked around. The stream of light from the moon made it easier to see, so he found what he was looking for only steps away from him. He was about to go to her when she started moving again. Severus followed her slowly. She stopped just outside the clearing and she let herself fall on her knees. At first, he didn't know what she was doing, but a few steps further, he realized that someone else was there, next to her. He quickened his pace involuntarily and he got out his wand.
"No!" Severus heard her yell and he started running again. Just as he reached her, everything changed around him. Unexpectedly, he was looking down on his own motionless body. Regardless of Hermione's efforts to keep him alive, he watched himself die.
"I am sorry…" Hermione whispered and he felt a lump in his throat. He was her nightmare.
Severus was about to exit her mind when she managed to throw him out herself by waking up.
When Madam Pomfrey entered the room, followed by Ginny and McGonagall, Severus was in the far end of the room, in front of the window, looking out. Hermione was in her bed, looking at the man.