Save Me From My Pain

Disclaimer: **Why do I have to repeat it? I\'ve decided not to... it\'s already under chapter one... that shoudl be good enough for the whole story right?**


Chapter Two: Mind Games and Distractions


Hermione woke up groggily the next morning. She glanced over at the clock. Great, it’s only 6:30 and I am awake. I won’t be able to go back to sleep now. Hermione swung her legs over the side of her bed and sat up. She suddenly felt a wave of dizziness and she held her forehead in one hand while the other gripped the side of the bed.

She slowly got up from her bed and walked to her bathroom. She figured a hot shower would help her head, so she turned the water on and took off her nightgown. Hermione took a long, hot shower and when she got out, she felt refreshed and ready for the day. She dried off, then went back into her room to get her wand so she could quick dry her hair. She looked on the table by her bed (which is where she usually kept it), but it wasn’t there. She looked in her clothes that she wore the previous day, it wasn’t there either. Hermione started to panic, she never looses things, especially when they are as important as her wand!

Then a thought crossed through her mind, a thought that made her go numb.

“He never gave it back to me.” Hermione said aloud softly. A part of her wanted to get her wand back so much that she was willing to risk seeing him again, if only it meant she could have her wand back. But there was another part of her, her practical side, telling her that she could just buy a new wand.

Hermione got dressed in a pair of dark blue Muggle jeans and a black tank top and put her hair up into a messy bun. She went into her kitchen and made herself some breakfast. She was about to take a drink of her orange juice when a tapping noise on her window distracted her. She opened the window and an owl flew in carrying the Daily Prophet. She paid the owl, which flew back out the window, then closed the window and sat back down at the table. She opened the newspaper and gasped as she read the front-page headline.

The Malfoy’s Last Heir Found Brutally Murdered

Hermione scanned the article, holding her breath until she reached the end. She didn’t notice that she had been holding her breath, and she gasped for breath. She dropped the paper on the table.

“It doesn’t make any sense. How could Malfoy have been with me only a few hours before he was brutally murdered? It doesn’t add up. Not to mention the fact that they say he was found at midnight, and that he had been dead for about 2 and a half hours.”

“You know Granger, you don’t always have to be a know-it-all.” Hermione turned in her seat and almost screamed at seeing Draco Malfoy standing before her, very much alive.

“What - you - no! You - you’re de - ”

“What? I’m dead? No, as you can see, I am very much alive.”

“But if you’re alive then – Who did you kill?”

“Who said I killed them? Not that it matters, they were insignificant anyway.”

“I can’t believe you! I didn’t think anyone could be that heartless!”

He walked slowly toward her. He was three feet away, then two, then one, then just a few inches. He grabbed her upper arm with a tight grip. She tensed and tried to pull away.

“You think I’m heartless now?” He laughed a cruel laugh that made Hermione cringe. “The games have only just begun, and trust me Granger, I’ll do anything to win.”

“You are a sick, twisted jerk!” Hermione spat at him. “Let go of me!” She said deathly calm.

Malfoy didn’t let go of her, instead he pulled his wand out with his free hand a muttered a spell. A necklace appeared around Hermione’s neck. It was very cold and she gasped.

“It’s a portkey. It will only work when I, being a Malfoy, activate it. It won’t come off unless I say the spell. I’ll be seeing you soon.” He let go of her arm.

“Wait!”

“What?”

“Please give me my wand back.”

“Why would I do that?”

“Because I need it for work.”

“Ah, but I happen to know that you don’t have work today.” He turned around and apparated before she even had a chance to respond.

“What in Merlin’s name am I going to do?” Hermione said aloud. Hermione sat down at the table again, she had lost her appetite, so she picked up the Daily Prophet instead. She tried to concentrate on reading an article about a newly discovered potion that may be able to cure werewolves, but found it near impossible. “I need something to do! Why does he think he can prance back into my life and turn things upside down again?! Ugh!” Hermione said in frustration.

“You know, talking to yourself is the surest way to prove your insanity.”

Hermione got up from her chair and turned around very quickly to find herself looking at one of her best friends.

“Harry!” She gave him a big hug, which he returned. “It is so good to see you again!”

“Oh, I know Hermione. Those two days seemed like an eternity,” he said sarcastically, rolling his eyes, with a huge grin on his face. She tried to glare at him, but started laughing in the process. “So who is it that came prancing back into your liurniurning it upside down? And what is with the serpent necklace?”

Hermione stopped smiling and went pale.

“Hermione, what is it? Please tell me. You know you can trust me, and maybe I can help.”

She turned around, not wanting Harry to see her eyes swelling with tears. “I can’t tell you. I can’t tell anyone. I’m sorry Harry.” She felt his hand on her shoulder.

“Hermione, you were always there for me, putting up with my problems, I want you to know that I am here for you just the same. You should know you are like a sister to me and if anyone, and I mean anyone, hurts you, let it be known that they will pay.”

Hermione giggled and a tear slipped from her eye, which she quickly wiped away.

“Thank you Harry.”

“Is this yours?” Hermione turned around and saw Harry holding her wand. She narrowed her eyes and her heart starting beating madly.

“Where did you get that?”

“It was right here, on the ground. Moody would have a fit if he saw your lack of elementary wand care.” Harry said in mock disapproval.

Hermione laughed at him and felt herself go at ease. But the comfort was gone almost as soon as it had come. She took her wand from Harry while her mind was spinning with questions; the main one being why he gave her wand back.

“Hermione?” Harry said uncertainly.

Hermione shook her head and came back to reality. “What?” She asked.

“I was just saying that I came over because Ginny and I were wondering what you were doing today.”

“Oh, I was planning on visiting everyone up at Hogwarts.”

“But it’s the middle of July.”

“You didn’t know that most of the teachers stay at Hogwarts all year round?”

“No, but I’d always wondered. Anyway, we were just wondering if you wanted to come hang out, Ron and Luna will be there as well.”

Just what I need, to go hang out with my friends who will be making out the whole time. I don’t think so!

“I’m sorry Harry, I haven’t visited them in a long time. I don’t work tomorrow, so maybe we could hang out then?”

“We’ll see, I don’t know what’s going on, I’ll have to ask Ginny.”

Hermione laughed.

“What?”

“Nothing Harry, nothing.”

“Ok, well, I should go now. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Ok, bye.” Harry gave her a hug, then apparated.

Hermione plopped back into her chair. She suddenly had another headache. She didn’t know why she didn’t tell Harry what was going on, but it just didn’t seem right to tell him. But why it wouldn’t have been right, she didn’t know. The only way to really get out of this situation is to get help, right? Then another absurd idea crossed her mind. Maybe she didn’t want to get out of the situation.

What am I thinking?!? Of course I want to get out of this situation! I do not want my first time to be with that jerk and who knows what the hell he’ll do to me!

“Great, just great! My head is pounding now.”

Hermione went into her office/lab where she kept all her potions and books. She grabbed a headache reliever potion – she only took them in severe cases. Hermione felt the effects of the potion immediately. She went to her room, grabbed a dark blue set of robes, put them on over her clothes, and apparated to the gates of Hogwarts. She walked up the path to the school, silently hoping that the events of the previous night wouldn’t repeat themselves. She made it to the front doors and sighed, she really did miss being a student.

Hermione opened the doors and walked in. The entrance hall was eerily quiet, but then again, there weren’t any students there to make a bunch of noise. She looked at her watch.

9:17, they’ll be in the Great Hall eating breakfast.

Hermione went over to the doors that would lead to the Great Hall. She paused before opening the doors, holding her breath for a reason she did not know. She pulled the door opened and walked in. There was a rectangular table, fit to seat 16, in the middle of the room. Professor Dumbledore sat at the head of the table facing the doors. He looked up when he heard the doors open.

“Ah, Hermione, it is nice to see you again. Please, come have a seat.” He motioned for her to sit down in one of the few remaining seats.

“Thank you Professor.”

She chose the seat on Professor McGonagall’s left and Professor Sprout’s right. Professor Snape sat across from Professor McGonagall and next to him sat –

“Professor Lupin!” Hermione smiled wide as she looked at her DADA Professor from her third year. He grinned back at her. “What are you doing here?”

“Have you not heard?”

“Heard what?” She was genuinely curious.

“They have created a potion to cure werewolves.” He chuckled as he saw her eyes go wide with excitement. “Albus contacted me as soon as he found out and offered me my old position back.”

Hermione heard Snape grunt, but decided to ignore it.

“This is great! Does Harry know yet?”

“No, I haven’t talked to him since I found out.”

“Oh, I saw him this morning. Anyway, tell me about this potion.”

“Well, it is a very complicated potion to brew. It requires some blood of the person you are trying to cure and unicorn’s blood, plus some other rare ingredients…” Professor Lupin went on and on telling Hermione all about the potion that saved him. “You have to take it three months in a row and I have taken it two months now. I should be cured before the new term.”

“How heavily has it been tested?”

“It’s been tested on two others, both have survived and are living as normal wizards. They finished taking their potions about a year ago, but the Ministry wanted to keep tabs on them for a long time to know if the potion was permanent or not before putting it out for others.”

“Wow, this is the best thing that could have happened.”

“I know, but I would have thought that you would have known about it already. It’s been all over the Daily Prophet.”

“Oh, I do remember trying to read something about it this morning. I had the worst headache though, so I couldn’t really focus on the paper.”

“Understandable. Is everything alright?”

“Yeah, everything’s fine.” Remus didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t press the matter.

Everyone finished their breakfast, Hermione only had some coffee and a bagel, she finally had her appetite, though small, back.

“Hermione, I was wondering if I could have a word with you in my office?” Professor Dumbledore asked her with his usual twinkle in his blue eyes as they all rose from the table.

Hermione followed him to his office and when they arrived, he gave the password (Gum Drops) and they ascended the winding staircase. They entered his office and he offered her a seat in one of the purple velvet armchairs in front of his desk. He went around and sat in his chair facing her. He put his hands together on the desk in front of him and smiled at her, the twinkle in his eyes very bright.

“Hermione, I am sure you are wondering what this meeting is about, and you will know shortly. I must first ask though how you like your present job?”

“I like it very well actually, I really do enjoy being around the books.” She smiled at him, a little suspicious of what this meeting is really about. “Why?” She asked a little hesitantly.

“Well, we happen to have two positions still needing occupants for this coming term and I would like to offer you a job.”

“Two?” He nodded. “What positions are they?”

“History of Magic Professor and the librarian.”

“What happened to Professor Binns and Madam Pince?”

“Well, Professor Binns has finally moved on to other things. He said something about wanting to travel now because he’d never had the chance while he was living. As for Madam Pince, she said something about crazy kids causing too much trouble for her, you know, not returning books on time and such. She said she couldn’t take any more of it. So what do you say? Would you like one of the positions?”

Hermione’s eyes lit up at the thought of teaching or working in the library. “I would love to! I’m just not sure which one I would prefer, maybe I could think about it and get back to you in a few days?”

“Of course, take your time Hermione.”

“Thank you Professor.”

He smiled, “Do call me Albus. I am your peer now.”

“Ok. Well, I will come back in a few days to visit again and let you know my decision.”

“Good bye Hermione.” They stood up.

“Good bye Albus.” Hermione felt weird calling him by his first name, but she figured it would soon become second nature. She shook his hand and left his office.

It was a good time she left when she did because Malfoy chose the moment after she closed Albus’ office door to activate the portkey around her neck. She groaned as she felt the tug at her navel and herself spinning. When it stopped. She held her hand in her hands to stop the spinning and to try to prevent the headache that was threatening to form.