The inevitable

Fainting and ginnys scheme

Over the course of the next week, Hermione had steadily gotten worse. She was throwing up before she could even digest anything she ate and she was getting weaker by the day.

Severus and the rest of the staff were concerned about her, even the Ghosts and Portraits were. Peeves had even stopped pranking people to give Hermione less to worry about.

Hermione had spent more and more time on her own as the friendship groups that Hogwarts usually contained established themselves once more and she felt awkward invading on them. So, she spent time alone reading or doing homework.

Her visits to Madam Pomfrey were becoming more frequent, twice a day at best. She was wasting away before everyone's eyes. The worst thing was, only the teachers, Ghosts and portraits noticed. All except from four students.

Luna Lovegood, like Hermione, was also alone. She was fine with it, used to it since she had started Hogwarts. Due to her loneliness, Luna was very observant and she had noticed the decline in Hermione's health and it concerned her.

She thought of Hermione as a good friend. They studied together and Hermione was always there for Luna when she needed her. 'For how much longer?' Luna thought with a sigh.

At the Slytherin table, three of them had noticed. Pansy Parkinson, Blaise Zabini and Draco Malfoy had all noticed how ill and thin Hermione Granger had been getting, and they felt sorry for her.

Hermione sighed as she got to her feet, teetering a little as dizziness once again washed over her. She slung her back over her shoulder and headed off to Potions.

Severus looked out at his class of NEWT Potions students. There were six Gryffindors, including Harry, Ron and, remarkably, Neville, three Hufflepuffs, Four Ravenclaws and 5 Slytherins.

"Today we shall be making Veritaserum. This is the truth Serum and is especially tricky to make. If made correctly, your partner and you shall be allowed to keep a sample of it each."

The class began to whisper in amazement. "But, if I hear of anyone spouting off answers to embarrassing questions against their will I will personally deduct two hundred points and assign that person detention for the rest of the year." Severus snarled.

The class shuffled nervously. That sounded more like the Professor Snape they knew. "Now, your partners are as follows. Weasley, Parkinson; Zabini, Mathews; Granger, Potter...."

Hermione sighed silently, ignored the discrete apologetic look from Severus as she moved to Harry's side. Harry glared at her disdainfully as she sat down and took out her notes on the potion.

It wasn't that Harry truly hated Hermione, he just disliked the way she had treated Ginny and felt betrayed by her. Any trust he had placed in her was now gone. So he shunned her.

Harry and Hermione worked on their potion, only talking to each other when need be. Harry glanced side ways at Hermione as she added the Unicorn Horn to the potion. Her arm seemed so thin and she looked so weak.

'Weak? Yeah right. How could she be so weak when she had hurt Ginny so badly the young girl couldn't stand the sight of her?' Harry thought shaking his head.

"Go get more lace wings." He snarled, glaring at his once best friend. Hermione grimaced and got to her feet, swaying lightly.

She made it half way across the classroom before collapsing to the floor. Severus looked up just in time to see her fall.

"Hermione!" He yelled, running to her side. "Parkinson, go get Madam Pomfrey. NOW!"

"Yes, sir." Pansy gasped before running out of the room.

"Hermione, Mya, hold on. We'll get help."

Hermione looked at Severus with unfocussed eyes. She moaned softly before her eyes slid shut and she fainted.

"Mya? Hermione Jane Granger!" Severus called, shaking the girl. He cast some spells and frowned.

"Class is dismissed. Cast stasis charms on your potions and then get out." He spat.

The class hurried to do as their professor said and sped out of the door before he could change his mind.

Madam Pomfrey arrived as the last person left the classroom. Draco handed Pansy and, with a last concerned look at the unconscious form of Hermione before the door swung shut, the three Slytherins headed back to the Common Room.

Madam Pomfrey forced a potion down Hermione's throat and she woke with a gasp. "What happened?"
"You fainted, Mya." Severus replied.
"Oh." Hermione looked down.
"You need to eat more. You're wasting away." Severus sighed.

"It's not like I don't try. I just get so ill!" Hermione sobbed, curling up into Severus' arms.

Break time soon arrived and all the students swarmed up to their common rooms, to the courtyards and grounds to enjoy their twenty minute break before heading back to class.

Ginny found the two boys sat by the fire, staring into it numbly. She crept closer to surprise them.

"Do you think she's okay?" Harry asked.

"I don't know, Mate. As much as I dislike Hermione at the moment, I don't want her to get ill." Ron replied, running a hand through his fiery red hair.

"Yeah. I just wish things could go back to the way they used to be. Just you, me and Hermione."

Ginny's blood began to boil. Hermione always got in her way. 'That bitch! I have one way to ensure she loses everything!'

Hermione finally left Severus' quarters at dinner. She had been resting in his guest room while he taught, him coming in to check on her at random intervals.

She entered the Great Hall and it went completely silent, everyone turning to stare at her. Hermione shifted uneasily as she looked at her feet.

She walked to her usual spot next to Parvarti and Neville, only to find Parvarti had purposely moved her bag there. Hermione frowned and looked at Neville.

The quiet boy shifted nervously, refusing to look her in the eyes, and turned his back to her. Hermione felt hurt well up inside of her. "Neville? Parvarti? What's going on?"

The whole of Gryffindor glared at her. A gaggle of girls towards the middle of the table parted to reveal Ginny.

The girl was crying, bruises covering her bare arms once again. Hermione felt her world drop away. It was Harry and Ron all over again.

"How could you, Granger?" Parvarti snarled, moving over to where Ginny sat.

"I...I didn't..." Hermione stuttered.
"Like you didn't sleep with Snape and Slytherins to boost your grades." A Ravenclaw called from their table.

"NO! I would never." Hermione yelled, shaking her head.
"But we all saw his reaction when you fainted." A Hufflepuff in her Potions class added.

"Severus and I are just friends."
"Friends she says." Lavender sneered.

Hermione turned and ran out of the hall, not believing that Ginny had turned the whole school against her.

Amongst their peers, there were four who didn't believe Ginny. They had seen Hermione's true nature and knew she could never hurt anyone.