Chapter 2

A weight held her down, restraining her movements. Gulping air as she swam from the depths of her somnolence, she cried out in pain from teeth sinking into the flesh of her shoulder.

"Sorry," a gruff brogue sounded in her ear. "I could nae resist."

"Uhnnn…Minerva…?"

"Aye, luv."

"What…?"

Minerva grabbed Hermione's wrists and dragged her arms over her head. "Don't," her deep voice ordered, her darkened emerald eyes boring into Hermione's

Hermione barely nodded in compliance before Minerva slid down her body, leaving heated tracings of lips, teeth, and tongue.

Hermione's legs gave out and dropped her to the floor when she tried to stand from her bed. With a Herculean effort, she dragged herself to her room's en suite bath and sat on the cold shower tiles while steaming water pummeled her body back to life. She felt a sharp sting as the water hit her shoulder, triggering her mind to replay images of her night's visitation. Despite being the beneficiary of Minerva's rapacious carnal knowledge, Hermione was bereft from being refused reciprocation. Deciding to leave her concerns for later examination, she shut the water off and concentrated on getting ready for the day.

Joining her friends at the dining table, Hermione was greeted by Ginny's worried expression and interrogation.

"Where have you been?"

"What? I just came from my room."

Ginny squinted her eyes in an attempt to better evaluate her best friend. "Hermione, it's after noon."

"What?!"

"You made it in time for lunch…"

"No! That can't be."

"What's going on? How late did you stay at the library?"

"Only 'til eleven."

"Didn't you go to bed?"

"Yes! I went straight to bed."

"Well, you look like you haven't slept for a month."

Hermione felt a panic begin to churn in her stomach. She glanced at the teacher's table and caught Minerva watching her in consideration. She arched an eyebrow in challenge to the Headmistress before turning back to her breakfast…or lunch.

"I think I'll go to the infirmary and see if Madame Pomfrey can give me something to help me sleep." She muttered into her water glass.

"Miss Granger. What can I do for you?" Poppy eyed the young woman speculatively.

"I'm having trouble sleeping. I wake up exhausted. And today, I was so late; I thought I was at breakfast when it was actually lunchtime. Perhaps you can give me an invigoration draught to get me through the day?"

"You do look rather ragged." Poppy agreed. "Let's check you out first. Make sure you haven't caught something." While running a few standard diagnostic spells, Poppy questioned Hermione. "Are you not sleeping? Having night terrors or invasive dreams?"

"The nightmares are few and far between, thankfully." Hermione frowned in puzzlement. "What are invasive dreams?"

"Vivid dreams that your brain cannot differentiate from reality. They are most often the cause of one's talking or walking while asleep."

"Oh, um…maybe."

"Well, that may be the issue. I find nothing physically wrong with you. It may simply be your mind is refusing to shut off. I will give you the invigoration draught, but I want you to use it sparingly. I am also going to send you with some dreamless sleep potion. If you have not rebounded after three nights of this, I want you back for further testing."

"Yes, ma'am." Hermione agreed respectfully.

"And maybe take a night off from the books," Poppy suggested knowingly.

"Maybe." Hermione conceded. "Thank you."

Hermione hurried to her potions class, disconcerted over missing her entire morning. She was a few minutes late, but Professor Slughorn had just arrived and she slipped in behind him. Taking her usual seat, she was immediately questioned by Ginny.

"You alright?"

"Yeah. She gave me a couple of potions to help."

"Oh, good." Ginny halfheartedly approved.

"What?"

"You sure there isn't something more going on? I mean, you look like death warmed over."

Hermione turned her face to her open book, avoiding Ginny's intense scrutiny. "I'm fine. I'm sure this will do the trick."

Later that night, Hermione was curled up in front of the common room fire staring absently at the flames with a book open on her lap. The sound of heels striking slate pulled her from her mental wanderings.

"Oh! Miss Granger. I was not expecting to find you here."

"I'm sorry. Would you prefer to find me asleep in bed?" Hermione testily shot back.

"Yes, I would rather you were sleeping. It is one o'clock in the morning." Minerva's lips pursed in baffled displeasure at Hermione's tone.

"Is that part of the thrill for you?"

"The thrill?" Minerva's eyebrows knitted in utter confusion. "I'm sorry Miss Granger, but I do not understand to what you are referring."

"Seriously? The last two nights?"

"What about them?"

"In my bed..?" Hermione prompted.

"Did something occur that I should be aware of?"

Hermione squinted, studying the Headmistress. There was no guile or deception in the woman's demeanor, just a keen curiosity blending with concern. Doubting her own memory, Hermione asked meekly, "Did you come into my bedroom to check on me?"

The look of horror that flashed across Minerva's face was almost comical. "Ne'er in a' th' time ye have lived in this castle." Minerva's brogue was laden with mortification. "Ah have always respected my students' privacy. I would ne'er intrude unless an emergency …"

"I apologize professor. I do not mean to accuse you of impropriety. I haven't been sleeping well. Madame Pomfrey thinks I may be having invasive dreams."

"Ah. And you have had a dream that I disturbed your slumber?"

"Yeah, you could say that."

"And you are here now because…"

"Because I'm afraid to go to sleep."

"Would you like a dreamless sleep potion?"

"I have one."

Minerva eyed Hermione wondering what could be so troublesome to cause the woman to resist sleep. "Maybe you should take the potion and get some sleep. It is Saturday. You have no demands on your day. Enjoy a lie-in and get some well-earned rest."

"I will. Thank you, Professor."

"Of course. Have a good night."

"You too." Hermione watched indifferently as Minerva returned to her night patrol.