Step one of faking it: showing an interest in people around her. The day after the conversation with Blaise by the pond, Hermione made a point to track Theo down. He was in his potions lab, likely brewing up the next batch of her pain potion. Her weak pain potion, Hermione thought with a slight grimace. She should have clocked the change - the slow progression of the absence of the stronger ingredients. The taste would have changed. The smell and consistency would have been at least slightly different. But she was just... numb. Everywhere, all the time. That was something else she needed to start faking. Feeling. For as long as she could. She sighed, stepping into the once familiar room. Not that she had ever actually stepped foot in Theo's brewing room. But she has spent over a year in a similar space - dark, quiet, ingredient lined shelves with various sized cauldrons spread throughout. Potions fumes and vapors floating softly in the still air. It should have felt like coming home. But all she felt was absence. She could no longer brew. Another thing that fucking bargain took from her.