A Dance Through Thyme (Harry Potter)

Panik

Chapter 1: Panik

Panic

A tiny, pinprick of light was visible just underneath Hermione's eyelids. She tried to grab at it with her mind, making it larger and larger. Every part of her body was aching, but at the same time, she felt rather content under the soft blankets.

"I don't remember doing anything to make me feel like I was run over by a bulldozer..." thought Hermione as she reached her hand out so that she could see the time.

However, instead of being able to pull her alarm clock closer to her, a warm hand enclosed itself around her wrist.

Hermione's eyes snapped open. Alert and full of apprehension, she tried to snatch her hand back under the covers.

"There's no need to panic, you're safe here," said a soft voice.

Hermione swivelled her head over to the direction of the voice.

A young woman was there, dressed in what Hermione supposed was an old-fashioned nurse's uniform. The woman was sitting close enough for Hermione to make out the neat stitches that bound the red cross to the starched white apron.

"Who are you?" she blurted out, almost unable to contain her panic as she tried to scramble out of the cocoon of sheets.

The woman waved her wand over the bed, and the covers snapped themselves back down onto the bed, successfully pinning Hermione down with them.

"You need to stay in bed, my dear. Can't have you overexerting yourself!"

"But, who are you?" cried Hermione, in an exasperated voice, still struggling to get away from the stranger.

"My name is Poppy Pomfrey, and I am the nurse here. Would you be able to tell me what your name is?"

Hermione took the chance to properly take in her surroundings; she was in a room with a lot of narrow beds. The kind one might find in a traditional hospital.

The woman seemed trustworthy, familiar even, but Hermione's mind was still raging a debate.

"My name is Hermione Granger," she said at last.

Poppy nodded encouragingly.

"Hermione, can you tell me how you got to Hogwarts?"

"What do you mean?" replied Hermione, fear rising up within her once more as more information of recognition was trickling through her brain, "How could I be at Hogwarts? I have no reason to be here. I've already graduated."

Poppy blinked in surprise.

"You couldn't have! We have no records for you. What year do you think you finished in?"

Even though Hermione's head was clouded in a haze of headache, she was absolutely certain of her answer.

"It was last year, 1999."

Poppy's eyes all but bulged out of their sockets and, for a second, Hermione thought that the young woman might keel over in shock.

"It's not possible!" she squeaked.

"Are you calling me a liar?"

Poppy's mouth opened and closed a few times, no sound issuing forth.

"I..I... I don't know what to say..."

Hermione was getting rather annoyed with this so-called Poppy.

"I finished my seventh year last year, the year 1999. It is now the year 2000. Simple."