How do I ease the pain of my sore throat?

I began to have a burning pain in my throat last night (WHILE I WAS SLEEPING!) and I always have a bottle of water by my bed side, so when I started drinking the water it made my throat so uncomfortable! I've been spitting out mucus and saliva all morning because I'm afraid to swallow! My mom fixed me some mint tea with a cough drop mixed inside (so it's mint AND eucalyptus) I then googled for some resolutions, and I found out that gargling lemon & salt water would help, I did that...helped for a SECOND, and my throat began it's burning spree once again. Please, can somebody tell me how to get rid of the pain? It feels like it's on fire! And I have a date on Monday!