Beginning, Middle or End?

Chapter Two

A Nasty Shock

"...And the time - Hermione? Oh!" That shut him up. Just as things faded into darkness, I whisper, "Things can't get any worse." I was wrong

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A bright red flame dances in and out of my view as I open my eyes. Flame? Oh my, a fire! Where's my wand... A pair of big brown eyes and a freckled fore head appear under the flame. Freckles? Red flame? A Weasley! "That's it Granger, your getting there...slowly" Malfoy mutters. I blank him out. Weasley...Brown eyes... Ron! I sit bolt up right and clash heads with the flame of red hair before falling back onto the bed.

"Bloody hell Harry, I think she's awake," Ron groans, rubbing his head.

"Yes Ron, I think I'm awake too," I reply, rubbing my own head. He chuckles, and the back of my neck tingles.

Sitting up slowly, I find myself on a crisp white bed, wearing a pair of ghastly pyjamas - the Hospital Wing. At the thought of Ron seeing me in a pair of hospital pyjamas, I groan and slump further into the pillows.

"Stand aside Mr Weasley," commands the firm voice of Madam Pomfrey. She waves her wand over me before thrusting three vials of potion at me.

"Drink those," she orders. "It would appear there is no reason health wise for you to collapse, Miss Granger. Perhaps a nasty shock could have caused it." I shift uncomfortably. "I believe you were with her, Potter. What exactly were you doing?" Pomfrey asks. Did she just jig her eyebrows under that fringe?!

"Just talking," Harry replies (Ron narrows his eyes). I jump at the sound of Harry's voice to my right. I hadn't even noticed he was there. ("Too busy looking at Weasley, eh Granger" sniggers Malfoy).

"Perhaps something you told her was startling-" Pomfrey stops mid-sentence as the Hospital Wing doors burst open. Severus Snape staggers in with a bloodied Blaise Zabini draped over his arm. I'm glad of the interruption

"This bed Professor!" cries Madame Pomfrey as she hurries across the room. Turning back to Harry, he looks like a light's been switched on in his head. He gives me a knowing look ("Oh dear Granger, we are in trouble," cackles Malfoy). Ron gives us both an enquiring look. It would appear Harry's a lot brighter than he makes out to be.

I ask them if they want to leave as I was going to get some sleep. "Like you haven't had enough already!" jokes Ron. I choke on my water when Harry suggests Ron should really find Cho. Harry leans over me as if to plump my pillows.

"A nasty shock, eh, Hermione," he whispers with a smirk.

"Harry, you wouldn't! You wouldn't! You wouldn't, would you Harry?" I gasp. He laughs and joins Ron at the door. Just as the doors swing shut, I hear Ron say, "Hermione seems a bit jumpy all of a sudden. What's up with her?"

"Oh, just a rather nasty shock," comes Harry's reply. I can tell he made sure I could hear him. I'll kill the git.

"Things couldn't get any worse, did you say Granger?" Malfoy asks.

"Oh shut up!" I snap to no one.

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