Lost: Dramione Story

Chapter 2: Off Kilter

I was there again. The black marble floor cold and hard against my back. The chandler hung above me. Forty-eight lights. Six, twelve, twenty-four, forty-eight. A gate locked somewhere beneath me. I could hear Ron screaming, Harry banging on the gate. "Where is it?" she screamed.

"I don't know". Bellatrix Lestrange muttered something and my whole body went tense. My head began to explode. The pain was unlike anything I had ever felt. The Circuitous Curse. Every part of me hurt. Every cell, every muscle, every bone. I couldn't stop it. There was nothing I could do. I was helpless. Then she was above me, "you took it, where is the real sword?"

"I didn't take anything" I screamed.

"Hermione!" Ron bellowed like someone had just stabbed him. Then a piercing pain ran up my left arm. I almost blacked out from the pain.

"please, I didn't take anything" I cried and cried.

"Hermione" a dull voice called "Hermione stay with me!"

I shot upright in the bed, grasping at the sheets. My breathing ragged, sweat pouring out of me, tears tumbling down my face. I looked around and nobody else in the dorm was awake. At least I hadn't screamed out loud. I slid from the bed, the sheets now soaked and pulled my mother's cardigan from my trunk. The common room was empty, but the fire still blazed. I sat next to cool window leaning my head against the glass. I had hoped they would go away now that I was back in Hogwarts. But it seemed that no matter where I was the terrors would always follow me.

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I looked at myself in the mirror adjusting the grey skirt and gold and red tie. My hair was pulled back from my face. I looked normal, but the purple circles under my eyes told a different story. I hadn't climbed the stairs back up to dorm room till long after the sun had spilled over the far-off mountains and had begun to stain the lake a red orange colour. I hadn't slept once I got back upstairs. I just sat in bed with my wand in my hand watching the door. I hadn't realised I was in a daze until Ginny began to wave her hand in front of my face at the breakfast table. "Earth to Hermione"

"sorry, I was on a different planet" I shook my head.

"tell me about it" she chuckled "you okay?"

"yeah, just getting used to being back has me tired" I said pouring a cup of coffee. Ginny just nodded in agreement. I could tell she was missing Harry. Those two had been inseparable and now without him I could see she was starting to feel the withdrawal. Owls fluttered throughout the hall as the morning post was dropped to waiting students. The Daily Prophet had two familiar smiling faces on the front of it. The headline read "Minister for Magic Welcomes Young War Hero's to Auror Programme". Harry and Ron stood in front of the Ministry Auror wing with Kingsley beside them. The article was in dept about the war. Sighting their heroics and bravery. Even a section about the brown haired, brainiac who had chosen to complete her education at Hogwarts before joining the Ministry. I looked to the bottom of the article to see Rita Skeeters name in the credits. Merlin's beard, that woman made my skin crawl.

"you can't be serious" Ginny muttered at the paper.

"what?"

"look what she's written about me and Harry". Indeed there was a section detailing how Ginny was and acquaintance believed to be involved with Harry on a personal level. Hinting at a possible feud between Harry and Ron over Ginny.

"Gin, it's tabloid gossip, don't sweat it" I said taking the paper from her "don't give her the attention". A letter appeared on the table beside me. I recognised Ron's handwriting straight away. Before I even had a chance to open it, Ginny interrupted me.

"Mione, if you don't move you'll be late to Dark Arts". I hauled myself off the bench, feeling a little off kilter.

"I don't understand why they make me take that stupid class"

"take it up with McGonagall" Ginny called as I walked away. I rounded the corner into the main corridor and ran straight into somebody.

"ow" I exclaimed "I'm so sorry" I said as I found my found my balance once more.

"Granger" Draco Malfoy looked down at me "all the brains but none of the grace".