Dilemma

"Dilemma"

Hermione raised her head slowly off of her arms, which she had crossed on top of the desk in the common room. She had dozed off. She sat up straighter and smoothed out the front of her robe and jumper. She checked her watch. It was 2:09.

"Oh no! I'm late for Potions!" she cried as she gathered her books and bag and flew out of the common room.

She hurried down the stone steps to the dungeons where Potions class was held. She could hear Professor Snape's voice echoing in the corridor.

"...please copy the ingredients for today's potion,"

She took a deep breath and stepped into the classroom.

"Ah. Miss Granger. You remembered to join us today," said Professor Snape, coldly.

"Sorry, sir. I had dozed off,"

"Sleeping in-between classes, are we? Is that perhaps because we're up all night with Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley on their adventures?"

Hermione felt her cheeks flush with color as she hurried to the back of the class where Ron and Harry were.

She sat in between them.

"By the way, Miss Granger. Ten points from Gryffindor," called Professor Snape.

"Blimey. Hermione, you've been sleeping a lot. Are you OK?" asked Harry worriedly.

"I'm fine. I've just been feeling sick, but I'm sure it'll go away," said Hermione as she pulled out her parchment and quill and began copying down the ingredients.

"You look ill, Hermione. I think you should just to Madam Pomfrey," said Harry seriously as his eyes scrutinized Hermione closely.

"I said 'I'm fine'," snapped Hermione as she began writing.

Harry and Ron looked at each other worriedly. Hermione never came late to class and she looks flushed, more than usual. They returned their eyes onto their own notes and continued with the lesson.

When the bell rang, Hermione stood up gathering her belongings. Suddenly, she felt lightheaded. The floor began swaying before her eyes. The next thing she knew, she had fainted.

"She'll be fine. Just a bout of the flu," a voice said.

Hermione opened her eyes. She was lying in the hospital wing on one of the beds. She had a cold cloth across her forehead. Ron and Harry were sitting beside her bed.

"Hey. You scared us!" said Ron.

His expression was nothing less than panicky. So was Harry's.

"What happened?" asked Hermione as she tried to sit up, but Madam Pomfrey gently pushed her back against the bed.

"You fainted in Potions. Professor Snape called Madam Pomfrey. You were as pale as a ghost," Harry said, his face grim.

Suddenly, overwhelming nausea rolled over Hermione. She leaned over the side of the bed and ended up yakking on the end of Ron's robe. Then, she fell back asleep.

The next morning, with some potions from Madam Pomfrey, Hermione began feeling better. Ron and Harry visited her every day with some of the chocolate from Honeydukes. Once and awhile the chocolate wouldn't stay down, but Hermione's color began coming back to normal. By the end of the second week, she felt herself again.

"Did the Mudblood yak on the end of Weasley's robes? Not that it made a difference. They're still ugly," said Malfoy as he sneered at Ron, Harry and Hermione as they were coming out of Charms.

"And what's your excuse?" demanded Hermione stiffly.

Ron and Harry laughed as Malfoy sneered, then continued down the corridor.

"Yup. 'Mione's herself again!" Harry laughed.

Hermione grinned.

They continued to laugh as they headed to Transfiguration.