The inevitable

Medicine

After the feast, Hermione trudged up to the Hospital Wing. She was feeling dizzier than before and also had a killer headache. A need for the Hospital Wing if there ever was one.

Poppy Pomfrey was cleaning out the bed pans using her wand when the door opened. She sighed softly, knowing immediately who it was. The only person who visited frequently. Hermione Granger.

Hermione had been coming to the Hospital Wing ever since her Parents had died the summer before sixth year and she had been hit with an unknown curse from Voldemort. It was always the same thing, nothing changed. If anything, it got worse.

Madam Pomfrey sighed as she remembered that day Hermione had been brought in.

The door to the Hospital Wing burst open and Madam Pomfrey hurried out of her office to scold the person who had woken her in the middle of the night. The words died on her lips as she saw the group who had entered.

A lifeless body lay in the air, held there by Dumbledore's spell. Her arms dangled below her, one clearly broken, and her body looked bruised and beaten.

"What happened, Albus?" She asked, hurrying to her patient.

"There was an attack. We were too late to stop it." Dumbledore replied solemnly.

"Who is this? Who was killed?"
"This is Hermione Granger. Her family were murdered tonight. Alastor already checked the records; she has no other surviving family members."

"Oh, the poor dear. She looks a sight."
"Indeed. We found her in a pool of her own blood and vomit. It doesn't look good."

"It doesn't indeed."

Hermione stirred, letting out a pained groan. "Hermione?" Madam Pomfrey called, taking the girl's hand.

"My parents. He killed them!"

"I'm sorry, dear."

"He used this curse. He said he made it."
"Who did, dear?"
"Voldemort."
The members around her bed gasped in horror.

"What curse?" Dumbledore asked.

"Nex Veneficus."
"Death Magic." Alastor Moody translated, his face grim, drawing more gasps of horror from the Order Members gathered.

"Madam Pomfrey?" A voice called from the door of the Hospital Wing, bringing the Mediwitch out of her thoughts.

"I'm coming." She called.

The Mediwitch ambled out of her office to see Hermione Granger sat neatly on a nearby hospital bed, her face scrunched up in pain and holding her head.

"Are you alright, dear?" Madam Pomfrey asked.

"I'm fine. Just dizzy."

"Are you sure?"
"I'm fine!" Hermione snapped. "I just need the usual potions."

Madam Pomfrey sighed and headed to the medicine cabinets at the back of the wing. She searched around a bit, before finding the two potions she usually gave the Gryffindor.

"Here you go, a pain relieving potion and a dreamless sleeping potion." She announced, handing the bottles over to the Head Girl.

"Thank you." Hermione smiled sadly.

"Are you sure you are okay? You can tell me. I was the one who patched you up." Madam Pomfrey said.
"Really, I'm okay. It's probably just the wounds aching a little and the curse coming back to haunt me."
"You say that so casually." Madam Pomfrey sighed.

"I made peace with it a while ago. I know what my future holds thanks to this curse."
"Maybe we can find a cure..."
"Saint Mungos already tried. Severus and I are going to try to produce one, but I'm not that hopeful." Hermione interrupted. She had heard it all before.
"You should be, it may save your life one day."
"Not likely." Hermione scoffed, sliding off of the bed and heading towards the Hospital Wing doors.

"Goodnight, Hermione." Madam Pomfrey called.

"Goodnight, Madam Pomfrey."

Hermione walked out off the Hospital Wing, ignoring the Mediwitch's concerned eyes watching her back.

She sighed heavily. Life just wasn't fair. But then again, she had known that since was thirteen and they had found out the true story of the Marauders and the night Lily and James Potter were killed. For years everyone had thought Sirius Black the Culprit, but it was the Traitor, Peter Pettigrew.

The Fat Lady swung forward to admit the Head Girl, her face concerned as she noticed how ill the young girl looked. Hermione had become a favourite amongst all of Hogwarts, including the Ghosts and Peeves. She had spent the month after her parents' deaths in the castle and had taken time to speak with some of them.

They had all come to care for her. Peeves even avoided pranking her, showing he cared in his own way.

"Are you alright, dear?" The Fat Lady asked.

"I'm fine, Madam. I just need a good rest." Hermione smiled, touched that the Portrait had asked after her.

"Just make sure you get it."

"I will. Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Miss Granger."
Hermione clambered into the Common Room. Most of the Students were in bed, except three people sat by the fire. The girl's long red hair shone in the firelight, her eyes glittering coldly as they stared at Hermione. The two boys, one red headed and the other black haired, sent almost half hearted glares at her.

Ginny falsely whimpered when she saw Hermione look her way and pushed herself further into Harry's lap. The Boys responded immediately, Harry hugging Ginny and Ron glaring harder at Hermione as she walked past them to her Portrait.

"Veneficus." She whispered to the great Lion who guarded her Common Room and Dorm.

She slipped inside and stared at the red wood floors, high ceilings, the deep red wallpaper on the walls, the Gryffindor Crest above the Fireplace and the windows giving her a great view over the Quidditch field and the Forbidden Forrest.

Hermione walked past the Kitchen that she had in her common room, to the winding staircase. At the top of the staircase was a red wood door with her name carved into it.

She pushed it open and smiled. The walls were an aqua colour with brown flowers spreading over it. A brown fluffy carpet covered with floor. A bookcase was along one wall, a double bed opposite it and a balcony was situated in the wall opposite the door.

Hermione grinned. It was her dream room. She slung her bag onto the desk, next to the door, and headed to the Wardrobe that was next to the desk. She put her wand on the bedside cabinet and grabbed some Pyjamas before heading down the stairs to her bathroom.

On her return, Hermione downed the potions she had gotten from Madam Pomfrey, sighing as the pain receded. She climbed into the big fluffy bed and soon fell into a dreamless sleep.