The rest of the month did not go the way Hermione wanted it to go. Her head was not in it at all. Parts of her wondered if coming back here was a mistake or not. Yes, it got rid of that itch that plagued her for so long, but it opened bandaged wounds in the process. Not to mention her newest obsession with the necklace. She wears it everywhere and each time the word "love" is said her heart almost skips a few beats.

It's sort of become a distraction from the opened wounds. Whenever they start bleeding again, her hand automatically raises to the locket and holds it and as if the dragon inside knows what she needs, it warms up in her hand calming her down. Sometimes, when she got really down, the young woman would even find herself in an empty broom closet or unused classroom, just standing there trying to catch her breath. She'd grab her locket then and open it watching the dragon curiously walk around the clockwork heart. Then the warmth would flood through her hand, it would creep up her arm, and work it's way through her body, ending with her heart. Calming her down so much that if Voldemort himself came in through the door, she'd not even be scared.

Luna Lovegood caught her during one of those episodes. When Hermione ran into the broom closet, she didn't realize that Miss Lovegood had been in there herself looking for a misplaced item of hers. Hermione had opened the locket and began to watch the dragon. Luna saw it with amazement and said, "Is that a dragon?" Her voice full of amazement and curiosity.

Unsuspecting Hermione had lifted her head so quickly, she hit it on the ceiling of the closet (it was a fairly smaller closet - small enough even some third years had to duck to get inside of it - but it was a convenient spot and believed to have been empty to the locket bearing woman). After that she doesn't remember much other than walking a bit down some hallway with the support of someone's strong arms holding her up, and a blinding headache when she woke up a day later in the Hospital Wing.

When she woke up, Luna Lovegood was there but before Hermione could say anything, the curious Ravenclaw had hurried off. Of course, it was only about a minute later when Madame Pomfrey arrived to check on her and then about ten more minutes when Luna returned with Ginny.

"Hermione! I could give you a good hexing for scaring me like that! What did you do, fall off a broom and loose some marbles?", Ginny said - very loudly mind you - to the headache induced witch.

"Mrs. Weasley, I understand that you are her friend, but that does not give you an excuse to be yelling in my Hospital Wing. So, unless you're gonna quiet on down, I suggest you'll have to leave! You understand? I've got patients to take care of, not trouble makers!" Madame Pomfrey says with a snap. Ginny quickly apologizes and promises to be quiet. The nurse doesn't seem convinced but leaves to care for the other student in the wing anyways.

Once Madame Pomfrey is gone, Ginny begins scolding Hermione again - much quieter though. "What's been going on with you Hermione? Luna told me that you were standing in the crying like a blimey idiot - in her own words of course. You don't cry for just anything but usually it has to do with my pig brained brother. If he did something to you, I swear that-"

Hermione raises her hand silencing her friend then slowly leans down and picks up her discarded robe, pulling out the letter she's kept with herself since receiving it. The day she received it, no one else had read it. However, the fact of the matter was that it was driving her to the brink of insanity and her cause for being in the hospital wing was testament enough to that. It was time her friends knew the truth to her bizarre way of acting.

Ginny gives her a look like she knows what's about to happen and quietly sits down listening. On the other side of the cot, Luna gingerly slides a closer and looks as if she's listening but stares out a window while doing so. With this, Hermione reads them the letter.

While she reads the short letter, neither one of them interrupt. Luna just smiles at some parts and other has an expression of deep thought and consideration. Both paying much attention. 

After she finishes reading the letter, Luna asks to see the necklace and inspects it with the same curiosity and admiration that Hermione and Ginny shared the day of receiving it. Luna speaks softly saying, "It's a curious locket". The two girls look at each other and then back at her and she says, "Well, it's a very rare, but my mother used to have this sort of locket. They have to gain permission of the dragon to have its fire in it and are made with goblin silver. I've never seen one that's clockwork style, but it is still intriguing all the same. I can't remember what it's called because it's been so long but I remember that in order for the enchantment to work, it has to be touched by the true love of whoever made it"

"True love?", said Ginny.

Luna looks at her as if it is a plain fact and says, "Yes. That's what mother said". She hands the locket back to Hermione and says, "If I were you, I'd figure out who made this"