In Dreams You Die
Monday the 26rd of April 1976
Things were still tense and Hermione was tenser than normal. In just a few weeks they would all be doing their O.W.Ls, and already she felt like ripping her hair out – which had been put in an almost permanent plait in order to avoid doing so.
Even still, she wasn’t as bad as Lily who spent every free moment with a book in front of her or Remus who claimed he had far too much to catch up on instead of pranks. Even James – without Remus – had gone from laughing at the idea of studying to jumping at the chance, though that could have been to avoid too much alone time with Sirius, but she was counting it as a win.
Sirius and Marlene were the only ones she didn’t really have tabs on, though she heard from Lily that Marlene was studying with some friend she had made, and from Remus that Sirius pretended he wasn’t but he stayed up late at night going over his text books.
Not that she cared.
Her and Sirius were at some weird civil level where they offered small smiles and nodding heads, and Marlene...well there had been a few instances where Hermione swore the girl was going to apologise and then she was off with her shitty pride and excuses.
Didn’t matter, she had more important things to focus on. Like the fact that her and Zach’s time was seriously limited, and she wasn’t going to demand his time when he was focused on his N.E.W.Ts.
Not that she had said no when he asked if she wanted to spend time in his room with him for a bit, but that was beside the point. She needed to calm down, and her boyfriend had the perfect way of making sure some of that tension eased from the both of them.
Something which she had agreed with since the moment he opened his mouth.
And it hadn’t been like the other first time, which if she remembered rightly, was awkward and slightly uncomfortable – no this had been… like being burned in the best possible way.
Every touch, every kiss and every sound had aided her in a way that she wasn’t 100% sure was healthy, but it wasn’t something she was interested in thinking about, not when Zach was doing things that made the thoughts leave her head in a serious of stuttered words.
For once she got why people were so invested in sex, sure the first time was nothing if not a little awkward, to share something so intimate with someone, but after that it was like getting an itch you hadn’t been able to scratch, or finally sneezing after not being able to all day.
And Zach...Zach was great. Like kindness wrapped in a handsome package, someone she would admire and care for, for a long time – even if it wasn’t going to last as long as she wished it could.
For now she didn’t care about that, or she wanted to pretend she didn’t, as she rolled to the side and into Zach’s arms, a small kiss pressed to her forehead that made tears spring to her eyes and her arms clutch him tighter.
...
The Common Room was empty as she tiptoed down the boys stairs, a large shirt covering her attire – she would have to ask Zach to search for her skirt later.
She was just grateful her underwear had been easily found because she wasn’t looking at running into someone on her journey back to her dorm or waking up to a bunch of seventh year boys who would probably be more than happy to comment on her and Zach.
It was easier to go back, something that Zach had never commented on when he saw her in the morning. Instead he settled for a quick kiss and a knowing smile that made her want to giggle like a ten year old.
“Hermione?” Fuck. Her shoes clattered to the floor as she spun around, holding the shirt firmly in place in case it was James or someone – despite the feminine voice and golden hair. That didn’t make it any better.
She wasn’t looking to talk to Marlene after spending the past couple of hours in Zach’s bed looking...well looking like she had just done some rolling around in the least innocent way.
If this had been a couple of weeks ago then Marlene would have smirked, raised her eyebrows and demanded to hear all about it. They would have been sat before the fire as her best friend tried to guess everything, to pull as much detail from a silent Hermione as she could, before she gave up with a groan and left it alone for the evening.
It wasn’t the same now, instead they stared, unsure of what to say after their fights, after not speaking. Lily had told Hermione what Marlene had said to her, but she wasn’t going to bring that up after what had been said.
“Erm...good night?” Marlene tried as she came around the sofa, eyes slightly swollen and hair unbrushed. It made Hermione’s stomach turn.
“Are you asking if I had a good night or sending me to bed?”
“The first? Both?” Marlene winced out, running a hand through her hair and wincing for a different reason as her fingers caught in the tangled mess. “Sorry...I just didn’t think anyone would be down here...or that you would even be awake at this time.” Golden cheeks turned pink and icy eyes seemed to melt as Hermione raised an eyebrow.
“Why are you?” Hermione didn’t move from her spot between the two sets of stairs, but she did move to pick up her shoes from the floor.
“I was studying...I figured if I could do well on my O.W.Ls then maybe I could get my parents off my back for a while with the whole...erm...marriage thing.” Marlene mumbled, gesturing to the books covering the coffee table and the spread out parchments like she had been trying to do all her homework at one time.
Hermione nodded her head, she couldn’t say if it would work, but she understood. “Do you want some help?” Marlene stared at her with wide eyes.
“Now?”
“Sure...or tomorrow, I mean if you’re trying to do the best you can then perhaps staying up until two and being tired during classes isn’t going to help.” Hermione shrugged her shoulders, a small smile on her face as Marlene gulped.
“I get that, I just haven’t really had time – what between classes, Quidditch practice and...drama.” She whispered the last word and Hermione’s smile fell.
“And sneaking out during the night.”
“That too.”
“If you want Lily, Remus and I will be studying in the library tomorrow, you can join us.” Hermione bit out, though now she wasn’t so sure it would such a good idea with everything that had gone on between them, not that she was going to voice that opinion.
“Wouldn’t that be awkward?” It seemed Marlene had no such problem asking the question they were both thinking, except she asked it with a slightly hopeful smile.
“Depends on how the next few seconds go – are you going to insult me again?” Hermione asked, amused herself, even if the thought of everything she had been called out on stung and made her chest ache, and her whole body want to turn and cuddle back in bed with Zach where she could hide.
“No.”
“Then we should be fine.” Hermione whispered, turning towards the girls staircase with a sigh.
“But I am sorry about that – you were right, you didn’t deserve that and I should have thought before I spoke.” Marlene called quickly, before Hermione could even take the first step. Her taller friend now stood before her with worried eyes.
“Why did you say it?” Hermione can’t help but ask. Can’t help but wonder if it was how Marlene had felt about her all along, if there was truth to what was being said.
“Honestly?” Hermione nods, because she can’t stop herself. “You were there and I was angry – I just found out that my parents are all but signing my life away and… I was jealous.” Marlene hisses out, eyes flashing once again.
“Jealous?” It seems impossible to have someone like Marlene, golden and beautiful, but jealous of Hermione, who was pale and slightly bland.
“I know you haven’t had the easiest life and you’ve dealt and are still dealing with shit that none of us could understand, but in this regard...it was something you can’t understand.” Marlene answers, and it seems like a fair response. “Your parents...they wouldn’t do anything that you never wanted, even if it damaged their name, even if it meant they were poor – you and James, always come first for them.”
Hermione couldn’t doubt that. Euphemia and Fleamont would do anything for anyone they loved, without question – but they also wouldn’t put their children through pain unless it was some life learning lesson like washing dishes without magic or helping tame the plants in the garden.
“And your parents…”
“Have been trying to climb the top of the social ladder for years, if that means marrying off a few kids to a couple of more notable Purebloods then what does it matter.” Hermione can’t help but stare, in her past life she had heard stories of the McKinnons, slightly involved in the war, on the right side of history and all of them murdered.
Never had she ever heard that they were trying to sell off their kids for less ethical reasons. “It matters because you don’t want that.”
“It’s sweet how you think that what I want has any importance to them at all.” Marlene lets out a bitter laugh as she speaks, moving to sit on the steps as Hermione joins her. “Why do you think they had five kids?”
“Because for a while they couldn’t keep their hands off of each other?” Hermione can’t help but tease but Marlene sees no humour in her answer – only pain and everything else that comes with being a part of the McKinnon family.
“Because they have four boys to marry, which means four dowries, and four hopeful chances at continuing the line.” It’s all so ancient, so cruel and cold. “Marrying off your only girl means sending her to someone who has more power, giving away something but having a connection to some name.” It means sending a girl to probably an unhappy life.
“So pull an Andromeda and marry someone else.” Something flashes behind Marlene’s eyes, her cheeks turning pink. She shakes herself out of it fast and Hermione bits her lip at asking who her friend was thinking about.
“There’s no one I could think of that I would even want to go down that hole with.” Sure there isn’t.
“Then how about we do this...for now we focus on O.W.Ls...and then when your brothers wedding comes we distract your parents and make sure no boy gets to speak to you.” Hermione says with a large grin, slapping her friends knee as she stands up.
“We?” Marlene asks, surprised.
“Of course ‘we’...you may have been a bitch but you are my best friend.” Hermione states, moving up the stairs to stop once again and turn and face her friend. “Also I have to question your intelligence if you think that the high and mighty Potter’s won’t be in attendance.”
“Thank you.”
...
Saturday the 22nd of May 1976
Studying was far more important than watching the final Quidditch match of the season, or that was what she had tried to tell her friends when they dragged her down to the pitch in support of Gryffindor vs Ravenclaw, but they had all disagreed.
They had one full week left of May, of studying before they were forced into their O.W.Ls, and already five people had cracked under the pressure, sure they all seemed to be Ravenclaws – and yes, she might have done this before, but Hermione was not looking to slack off just because she could.
“Come on Hermione...we’ve spent the better part of a month studying...I literally nearly stole James’ glasses the other day because I thought I was going cross eyed.” Lily complained as she pulled on Hermione’s hand that wasn’t wrapped in Zach’s while Remus strolled before them, looking better than he had a few days ago.
“You can stop the act, Lil’, I’m already coming.” Zach coughed beside her as she elbowed his ribs before he could say anything that would have Remus hinting or whispering to James. “Also I really doubt that, you and James haven’t spoken in weeks – in fact last week you said that the thought of touching him made you want to vomit.” Hermione added as Lily blushed.
“Which I was adamant was just a phase until he apologised.” Hermione tensed her jaw and wished she had never brought this up. The full moon incident was still a bit sore for everyone, and Lily was far too prideful to admit she went too far.
The pitch came into full view, imposing above them all, with screams already heard despite the fact that they still had ten minutes until the match. The four of them climbed the stairs, pushing their was to the edge so they could see everything.
“Important match.” Zach muttered, usually he would have his arm around her but now he was leaning over the edge with Remus beside him.
“I know – I’ve never seen James and Sirius so focused – I will admit, I’m worried.” Remus huffed out and Hermione couldn’t help the disbelief that flew across her face as she looked between them, like a couple of parents worried about their childs first match.
“Because of Edith?” Hermione hadn’t heard that name in a few months, had all but forgotten the girl existed, and she did not like the name falling from her boyfriends lips. “She’s a strong player.” He added, moving to pull Hermione forward so he could wrap an arm around her shoulders.
It didn’t make her feel better, not as the teams flew out and Edith was visible, calm and collected, eyes focused on James with a smirk on her lips.
“I think it will be close.”
“Yeah but as long as we get fifty up then it doesn’t matter.”
The boys carried on speaking, even as the whistle was blown, eyes solely on the pitch as Hermione tried her best to keep her eyes on her brother and not the blonde haired girl that shouted something that made Sirius laugh as she flew past.
“I thought you would have moved on from that by now.” Lily whispered softly in her ear, eyes no longer tracking James but instead flitting to Hermione’s face with an amused smile. It was obvious who she was talking about, more so when she gave a pointed look towards the blond and her grin.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Dorea Black had always insisted that one must feign ignorance when being accused of something unbecoming.
“Sure...though I don’t think you have to worry, Zach’s never even looked her way.” Lily whispered with a teasing grin, even as Hermione sent her a sharp look. “I don’t even think they’ve ever spoke.” They wouldn’t have much reason to, Zach spoke to his year and them – he probably had only heard of her.
“Lily, I appreciate the...whatever you’re trying to do...but I don’t care about Edith, in any regards.” Hermione hissed back as Gryffindor let out a loud cheer, the boys beside her jumping and bashing into each other like a pair of idiots.
“Yet you knew exactly who I was talking about.” Lily drawled out, raising her eyebrows as Hermione flushed. “Come on…”
“How about instead we talk about why you still haven’t spoken to James?” Defence. Much better, bring it right back to someone elses problems instead of your own. Her Grandmother would have been so proud, though probably not – she would have found the whole teenage romance troupe trivial and unnecessary.
Why care about boys when your Grandfather and I will find you the best and most suitable match?
How strange that her internal thoughts understood Marlene more than her actual thoughts. Also how strange that she was thinking of a woman she hadn’t seen since she was seven. She didn’t miss her Grandmother, her judgemental stare and cruel words, but she did miss her Grandfather, a man who looked like he regretted and both loved the last few years of his life.
“That has nothing to do with this.” Lily whispered beside her, snapping Hermione out of her memories to focus on her best friend.
“Come on…”
“I can’t – I mean I’ve tried, but he’s still so hung up on what happened that I think he doesn’t actually want to speak to me.” Lily explained, a bit angrily, flinching slightly as Remus and Zach cast a look over to her.
“Well how would you feel if the guy you liked insulted you and blamed you for something that wasn’t actually your fault?” Hermione asked, raising an eyebrow as Lily frowned at her. Hermione let out a sigh. “Don’t worry, I’m sure he’ll come around soon and everything will go back to the way it was and you’ll be begging him to leave you alone again.” Her hand reached out to rub the girls shoulders with a soft smile.
She would make sure of it – make sure James and Lily were back on the fast track at getting back together, even if it was the last thing she did because there was no way Harry James Potter wasn’t going to be born.
…
“It was a great match.” Hermione tried, placing some food in front of James as he glared at her face. She tried to smile, aware that it was coming out as a wince. “You’ll get them next time.” She offered as he let out a scoff but his body slumped slightly.
The whole of Gryffindor table seemed to be down, though it probably didn’t help that Ravenclaw were basking in their win along with Slytherin and most of the Hufflepuffs. What a great time to be reminded that half of the school were tired of the proud and ferocious lions that claimed their school.
At least now they would be able to focus on studying...
“Hey Potter.” Hermione and James both looked up to see Edith there, freckle faced and wind swept messy hair, somehow pulled off by the girl, especially as she gave them both a dimpled smile and a wave.
It only serves to annoy Hermione further, still able to look great after playing two hours of Quidditch while Hermione has to wipe the slight dripping from her nose and the sweat from her forehead, looking much more of a mess.
“What do you want?” James asked with a pout.
“Well I was going to brag but I see that isn’t the vibe we are going for.” Edith began dryly, giving the typical British smile when she met the tables annoyed glare. “Instead I came to say you did good today – same for Black and McKinnon – and I look forward to next year.” And then she was gone, leaving the Hall and everyone watching her.
“She does know we still have three weeks left of school, right?” James asked suddenly but he perked up, a small smile on his face, that didn’t move even as Lily sat opposite them.
“She means in Quidditch, you idiot.” Lily provided helpfully, James nodded his head – turning his eyes to meet Lily’s before going back to Hermione.
At least he wasn’t pretending she wasn’t there no more. Her brother was petty, but in this case rightfully so – the hurt of Lily’s comments and his friends stupidity cut deeper than anyone knew was possible and it was taking him a while to bounce back.
And it fucking sucked to see. Her brother, while dramatic and slightly idiotic, deserved better than being blamed for things or to have the girl he so clearly admired and drooled over, put him down and remind him that she didn’t really feel the same. Maybe it was right that he took a step back, made Lily think about what she had said and how she could fix it.
Though Hermione would never really admit it out loud, she was proud of her brother for having enough pride to take a step backwards.
“So Marlene mentioned something about a study group?” James asks, breaking through the awkward silence that sits around them like another person, hazel eyes flicking to Lily one last time.
Hermione lets out a laugh and offers a small smile when James sends her a quick glare. “You mean the group that you’ve been studying with for the past couple of weeks?”
“You were studying?”
“Wha – yes, Jamie – we were studying...actually we have these big exams coming up soon which will decide if we can continue into N.E.W.Ts -”
“Very funny...I didn’t know you were studying, I thought that was what you all normally did when I wasn’t around.” He seems genuinely confused, like he hadn’t thought three of the most studious people in their house weren’t preparing for their exams but just reading books and getting stressed for the sake of it.
It’s so classically James that she can’t help but laugh, even as a wave of heat hits her. “Believe it or not, we are actually known to do other things when you aren’t there.” He looks like he doesn’t quite believe and Hermione can’t blame him there.
“Anyway...now the Quidditch is sadly over, I really need to hit the books so that my summer doesn’t tragically end with mum beating me to death.” His puppy dog look has nothing on Sirius’, but it still makes her ache as she stares back at Harry’s face, slightly darker and with hazel eyes but it’s Harry nonetheless and her baby brother mixed into one person.
“I don’t think that depends on your exams but rather how annoying and cocky you are.” She remarks but it’s a whisper on her lips and her eyes feel strangely itchy, her hand twitching to grab something but there’s nothing there.
She feels dizzy, hazy in her own head, something picking at the back of her brain and a rush of emotions flooding through her at once. James is still talking, mouth moving with no sound as he tries to show her unfocused eyes his timetable, pointing at something she can’t quite see.
Something shakes on the table, and then Lily is there, head whipping around as she pushes away a broken shard of glass. Hermione blinks, noise slowly coming back as James places his hand against her head and pulls away with a frown.
“Mi’, are...is everything ok?”
No. But she can’t pinpoint what’s wrong or what happened, but it’s claiming her body with a tiredness she doesn’t want to feel. “Erm...yeah...I think I just need to go lay down.” She mutters, not waiting for an answer as she stumbles away from the table.
…
Monday the 24th of May 1976
Fucking sick.
She’s fucking sick and her O.W.Ls are in a week.
At first she thought she was having some kind of mental break down, which wasn’t far from the truth, but no, she’s just caught a common cold and is being forced to lay in bed in the Hospital Wing with potions forced down her throat, despite her claims that she is fine.
“Now Miss Potter, stop being stubborn and take the potion.”
“I’m fine – it’s just a cold, in a couple of hours I’ll be right as rain.”
“A strong strain that is going to take a few remedial potions and a couple of days rest to right.” Hermione opens her mouth to fight, but instead a raspy popping cough follows, and she can’t stop the slight groan that leaves her mouth.
“Listen, Madam Pomfrey, I understand what you’re saying but the truth is that this the last week of revision before O.W.Ls, and I simply can’t afford to miss…” A sneeze, the whole body situation is really not helping her sell her point but honestly she had only come here to get a pepper up potion so she could continue with her day.
“Something tells me that you are far more ahead of your class and a couple of days away will do nothing to effect your results – now drink up and get into bed.” Pomfrey says with a click of her tongue as Hermione glares. “I’ll right a note informing your professors and I’m sure your friends will catch you up on anything you’ve missed.” There’s no fighting this but Hermione can’t help but want to.
“Oh for fuc-”
“I expect that gone -” Pomfrey pointed to the glass on Hermione’s bedside table with a stern glare. “- and you getting ready to sleep by the time I come back.” It’s an order if she’s ever heard one, and one her body is pleading with her to listen to despite what her brain is telling her.
She knows her O.W.Ls will be fine, but still she can’t shake the small part of her that needs to make sure she knows everything before then. The small part of Hermione Granger that still lingers and wants to be better than everyone else, wants to prove her worth.
Then comes the part that she is stuck to a bed until Madam Pomfrey releases her, drinking the thick vile potion that honestly tastes like something died, and trying to fight the sudden wave of tiredness that hits her.
She tried not to think about them much.
It always hurt to remember those that had passed, that died way too young while she got something of a second chance, to be someone else and to have another life where those memories could be forced back for her own traumatic ones – and for her own happier ones.
Real life offered her that escape, but her dreams did no such thing – they stole her memories and twisted them into something cruel that she couldn’t run away from. Told her of her failures, reminded her of everyone that was counting on her even if they didn’t know it yet. They reminded her of her mission – of the end she could bring to the war raging on outside the comfort of their school.
The strange thing was, she knew this was a dream from the moment it started.
Because she never wants to think about this moment. Never wants to see it.
He looks far too tired, and so much like his parents – and it makes her sad to realise, even as he offers her a small smile, what he’s going to try and show her.
“No.” She whispers, stumbling backwards and shaking her head. Trying to fight of the nausea that is threatening to overtake her – because she can see everyone else, can know that they won’t be effected – but she can’t watch him. Never him – not when their lives remain to be entwined.
“Mi’.” His hand is holding hers and his eyes are so sad, his smile a bit twisted on his handsome face.
“Don’t make me do this – not this.” She’s not begging him, she knows that, but more herself, trying her best to get her brain to cooperate with her but it’s not listening. It’s playing Hermione’s worst fears on a loop and this is where it’s caught, stuck until she wakes up. “I can’t…”
Her knees buckle, and he reaches out to catch her but ends up falling with her. It’s imagined, she doesn’t know what he’ll look like five years from now, but the stubble that scratches under her fingers feels real, so do the tired eyes. So much older than he actually is.
“It will be over soon.”
“I’m not watching this – you can’t expect me to...imagine if this was the other way around.”
“Then I would do all I can to save you like you are doing for me.”
“Jamie please…” He’s never been rough with her, but now he’s pulling her up by her arm, dragging her towards the house. And she should fight but she can’t, like everything in her body freezes as he leaves her in the hallway to watch the door.
A whimper leaves her mouth as she hears James rustling around in the living room, a warning on the tip of her tongue when he arrives, long cloak and red eyes passing over her. James rushes in, wandless, defenceless and she watches as he shouts something, then a flash of green light and her brother is falling to the floor.
Voldemort moves past her, invisible to him, as he heads up the stairs, soft voices flood down, pleads and another bright green light with a scream, a loud bang – a baby crying but her eyes remain focused on James as she cries softly. Her brothers hazel eyes stare up at her, blank and so hauntingly beautiful but she still can’t move to check on him, can’t move to check on her brother.
Forced to stare at her baby brother, while her best friend lays dead upstairs, who suddenly looks like the one she knows now only without the grin. Bile rising up her throat as she sees a rat rush by the gate followed by Sirius as he rushes in, stopping by his best friend with a loud sob.
A loud wail rings out and Sirius is moving again, the scenery changing around her but James is still laid there, but Sirius is older, sending spells left and right, a laugh coming from his lip even as a spell hits his in the chest and sends him backwards into a curtain that wasn’t there before and taking him from the world as Harry continues to scream from somewhere.
Then there’s Remus, battling the best he can, falling to the ground with the same dead eyes as her brother. Tonks laid not far away, and a baby between them with blue hair and tears rolling down his cheeks.
There’s whispers around of the McKinnons being murdered brutally but she can’t see it, can’t comprehend what that must have looked like. But apparently her brain can comprehend as a grown up Harry walks up to Teddy, picks up the baby and gives him a sad smile.
It only takes a second and then there both joining the rapidly growing pile of dead men at her feet, and she can’t look. It’s bad enough to have seen it all, to have heard it but she refuses to watch the death of a baby...of her best friend. Refuses to look at the other bodies joining.
“Hermione?” She knows that voice, but she is too busy battling her brain to try and get herself out of this nightmare. “Mi’?”
Her feet move, a small step at a time, because she needs to get back to him, to make sure none of this ever happens. Because out of everything she’s seen, she’ll be damned if her brother dies like he did, she can make sure that never happens.
“Mi’?” Another step forward and her eyes close…
And opened, blinking rapidly against the light of the Hospital Wing to focus on the blurry hazel eyed boy before her. A sob left her throat as she threw back the covers and wrapped her arms tightly around her brother, half dragging him onto the end of her bed.
He didn’t question the sudden onslaught of tears, didn’t hesitate to wrap his arms around her despite their awkward position and offer her the comfort she clearly needed, even if she couldn’t fully explain why she was crying into the crook between his shoulder and his necks, muttering words that even she couldn’t make out.
That was the beautiful thing about their relationship – some things just didn’t need to be explained between them. A bond existed between them that passed all limits and boundaries – she would do anything for him and she knew he would do anything for her.
Hermione’s mission had started off with saving the world but she would give that all up if it meant just saving James. If it meant she could watch him grow old and be with his child, the same stupid grin on his face and the bright hope in his hazel eyes even as he sat hunched over and grey. He meant more than all of them.
“Nightmare?” He mumbled into her neck, rubbing her back slowly as the tears started to dry and she pulled away to run a hand over his face as she nodded.
He didn’t pull away like any other boy would do when their sibling tried to embarrass him, in fact he seemed to lean in, needing her touch as much as she needed him before her. Hermione and James, the most codependent siblings at Hogwarts it seemed.
“Want to talk about it?”
Her head shook before the words made it out. No she didn’t want to talk about what she had witnessed or how it made her heart hurt. “It was just something that I’m never going to let happen.” A promise she made even if she couldn’t say it out loud – and he seemed to understand enough as he nodded his head.
“Then I have faith that whatever it was will never see the light of day.” He meant it as a comfort, pulling on a curl and giving her a crooked smile, but it did the opposite. His faith in her wasn’t reassuring but instead weighed on her with it’s pressure – a pressure he didn’t even know he was putting on her. “How are you feeling now?”
A small smile made it’s way to her face as the back of his hand pressed itself to her forehead. “A lot better than this morning.” She answered, pulling away slightly and letting out a small cough that didn’t tear it’s way up her throat or make her whole body ache, but instead made her head feel a bit hazy.
“I’ll be the judge of that.” Hermione groaned as Madam Pomfrey swooped into her little space, sending a quick look to James who moved away to give her space. “Open up – yes, just what I thought – how are you feeling?” Her wand waved over Hermione, a strange tingling taking over her body and forcing her to grit her teeth against it.
“Fine.”
“Well your throat is still inflamed, your nasal passages blocked and I imagine if you were to try and walk for two minutes you would find yourself feeling dizzy.” Pomfrey checked off, looking over her parchment with a raised eyebrow that dared Hermione to try and fight her on it. “I’m going to keep you for another day for surveillance.”
“What – Madam Pomfrey, surely another nights rest will help – I don’t get why I have to stay here for another day?” Fuck. Another day away from classes. Another day with horrid dreams and feeling like she was laid in a puddle of her own feverish sweat.
“Colds spread, Miss Potter – especially when they tend to be as bad as your own – I can’t have students swarming in here when exams are a week away.” Pomfrey explained with a shake of her head. “Better to contain it now and avoid any future problems.” Like Hermione was patient number one of some kind of outbreak.
“But that – fine.”
“Which reminds me, Mr Potter, since you feel the need to ignore the signs of a sick person and perhaps contaminant yourself -”
“I get to miss a day of school and stay in here too?” James asked hopefully as Madam Pomfrey reached for the trolley she had left outside of the curtain, a frown on her face as she turned back to face the tall and childish boy.
“No – you get to drink this.” Hermione could have gagged, in fact she did a little as her own potion was placed on her bedside table, thick and goopy, and not something she wanted to pour down her throat for the second time in a day.
“What is it?”
“Arse.”
“Something like a pepperup, filled to the brim with nutrients to combat the early signs of any cold – something your sister should have come and gotten the moment she felt sick.” Pomfrey snapped, eyes flicking to Hermione in annoyance – how did one know if it was early signs of a cold or a mental breakdown?
“I’ll do that next time.” She deadpanned, watching as James shrugged his shoulders and downed the potion, face turning disgusted by he seemed to approve, handing the vile back to the matron and giving her a grin.
Pomfrey was not impressed, her eyes rolling to the back of her head as she turned towards Hermione. “As for you, I expect your own potion drunk within the next hour and a good nights rest – then we may see how you feel in the morning.” Hermione nodded her head but didn’t move to pick up her own vile, even as the Matron left them alone.
“I better head down for dinner, but I’ll be here tomorrow morning – so just rest and maybe ask Madam Pomfrey for some dreamless sleep.” He was already moving backwards as he spoke, eyebrows raised and hands swinging by his side as his stomach gave an angry rumble and a yawn left his mouth.
“I’ll be fine.” Hermione waved him off, a small smile on her face as he by stepped the curtain, half peering through at her.
“And drink your potion.”
“I will.”
“Love you!” His voice echoed through the wing as he left, feet slamming against the floor and Pomfrey calling out for him to be quiet but Hermione couldn’t help but chuckle and shout back.
“Love you too.” James’ laugh was quiet as Madam Pomfrey let out another unhappy yelp, the main door closing with a soft bang as Hermione picked up her potion.
It still tasted like death, even as warmth spread over her body, but now she relished the tiredness that seemed to come with the potion, allowing it to settle over her like a blanket and pull her into it’s deepest sleep.