Scars

A/N: TISSUE WARNING! 

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When they entered the castle, Draco began leading Hermione towards the Headmistress’ office. “Draco? I thought I wasn’t going to get in trouble.” She said nervously.

The blonde looked at her. “Don’t worry love, not this time. Potter told me we had to meet with the Headmistress. He’s close behind with Weasley. Good job by the way.” She looked confused for a moment. Draco stopped her in the corridor, pressing her against the wall. “You stood up for yourself against an arrogant prat that has made your life a living hell for too long.”

She grinned up at him. “Oh! That did feet good.”

He chuckled above her, sending chills down her spine and warmth pooling in her belly. Draco saw the change in her and leaned in for a kiss. He hovered above her lips and whispered. “It was very… mmmm… enticing… to watch.”

Hermione breathed out and leaned into his lips, enjoying the fireworks that exploded within her. She pouted when Draco pulled back, but understood when he nodded his head at the sound of footsteps coming down the hall.

“Damn” she said under her breath, making Draco chuckle again.

“Come on love.” He said, pulling her by the hand to the gargoyle. “Dragon’s Blood” he said and they stepped onto the moving staircase.

They lifted their hand to knock, but the door opened before they touched it.

The Headmistress sat at her desk looking grim. Across from her sat Kingsley Shacklebolt and Bill Weasley.

Hermione froze in her tracks at the sight of Kingsley, knowing he was one of the people searching for her parents in Australia. “Headmistress?” she asked with a shaky voice.

“Come and have a seat Miss Granger,” the older woman told her. “Mr. Malfoy” she said in greeting. Draco nodded at the greeting.

“Headmistress” Harry greeted, dragging Ron into the room behind him.

“Mr Weasley?” McGonagall looked shocked. “What is the meaning of this? You are banned from these grounds!” she looked at Harry.

“I only came upon them as Hermione was giving him a tongue lashing” Harry said.

The headmistress removed her glasses and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Sit him down in the corner please, Harry.” The black haired boy nodded and pushed Ron into a corner chair, then created more bonds to tie him to said chair.

“What the hell Har..mmph!” he didn’t get out much before Harry gagged him.

“I suggest you stop while you’re ahead” he said, glaring into the blue eyes of his friend. “You’re on your own this time.” Harry turned back to the professor and stood beside Hermione, who had Draco holding her elbow.

“Thank you Harry” the Headmistress said before turning back to Hermione. “Miss Granger if you would please have a seat?”

Hermione shook her head jerkily “N-No. I’ll stand.” The older woman’s eyes looked at her sadly, but nodded before looking at Kingsley.

“Mr. Shacklebolt?”

The darker man approached the young brunette. “I’m sure you are aware of the Ministry’s ongoing search to locate your parents.” He said in a deep voice. “Miss Granger… Hermione.” He took a deep breath and seemed to be fighting within himself. His voice turned professional. “Last night at approximately ten o’clock in the evening, Monica and Wendell Wilkins were found deceased in their flat in Australia.” The young girl’s knees gave out and Draco and Harry walked her to a chair. “From initial tests it would seem they had been killed two days prior.”

Hermione put her head between her knees and wailed. Draco couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He dropped to his knees in front of Hermione and held onto her, putting her head on his shoulder. He looked up at Potter who had a similar look of helplessness on his face. She was getting better. Things were getting better.

Harry watched the fear creep into the younger Malfoy’s eyes. What is he afraid of? The chosen one wondered.

Suddenly he understood. Hermione stood in a rush, knocking over Harry, Draco, and the chair she was sitting on. She pushed through everyone else, who seemed too shocked to try to stop her. Draco quickly gained his bearings and chased after her, but when he got to the door he found it sealed and warded. He looked at Kingsley and Weasley and told them they needed to open it.

By time he got to the bottom of the stairs, Hermione was long gone. Harry appeared breathless behind him.

“Draco?” He asked worried.

“We have to find her. Now!” the blonde breathed out, panic in his eyes. “Go check the head dorm, ask the portrait if she’s been there.

“But..”

“Potter. Harry. Trust me. Go now!” Draco didn’t wait for a response or to see where the other boy headed. He knew where Hermione was most likely to be and didn’t want her friend to see her in such a state.

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Hermione’s decision to stand at the news may not have been her most intelligent. She heard the voice of Kingsley as if he was down a long hallway and not standing before her. “Monica and Wendell Wilkins…. Dead….flat in Australia…” Her knees gave way. Her lips were moving but no sound came out. No. No. NO. Oh gods.

She felt Draco pull her to him and it helped temporarily, but the pressure was too much. She had to run. She had to get away.

Hermione jumped out and ran…she sealed the door behind her, needing to be alone and ran to her hiding spot. She slammed the 2^nd floor bathroom behind her, silencing and warding it quickly.

Just when I thought I could be happy. Just when I thought things would be better. No. I’m not meant to be happy, am I? Relief I need relief… this pressure is too much. Gods… It needs to stop.

Hermione’s hands shook with tension and panic as she crashed her fist into the mirror and screamed out loud. It’s not enough. It’s never enough. She pulled a piece of broken glass from the shattered mirror and raised her sleeve. Removing her glamour bracelet, she pressed the cool glass against her hot skin seeking her relief.

The relief came, but it was short lived. When the slice was done, the pain, the pressure came back again. She made another cut… and another…and another. It wasn’t working. She kept cutting.

Why isn’t it working? She thought to herself as her stomach began to turn.

Hermione ran to the nearest bathroom stall and expelled all her food from the day and then some. Even when her stomach was empty she continued to heave through heavy sobs. I can’t do this anymore… Why does everything have to go to hell?

She didn’t hear the voice calling her outside her stall. She didn’t hear the door blast. She felt the cold taking over and felt peace.

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Draco ran all the way to myrtle’s bathroom, once again finding it silenced and warded. He banged on the door and yelled for Hermione to come out. His heart raced in his chest.

Suddenly he pulled out his want “Bombarda! Accio!” he yelled at the door in quick succession, trying to keep the door from blowing inward. He jumped sideways to avoid being hit by the door. “Desperate calls and all that” he muttered to himself, getting up slowly.

“Hermione?” he called waiting for the dust to settle. The broken mirror was the first sign that her recent accomplishments may have been for naught. Then the blood on the ground… much more than was normal for a simple cut.

Draco followed the drops and found the broken glass on the outside of a stall. He opened the door slowly and found Hermione unconscious on the floor, covered in her own blood and vomit.

“Oh gods.” He cried out. “Hermione? Hermione, love. Wake up” Tears flowed from his eyes. He wouldn’t fail her again. He picked up her small frame and kissed her frighteningly cold forehead. “Come on baby, wake up.” Nothing. No response. He continued talking to her and trying to get a response as he ran to the hospital wing, using as many shortcuts as he could to avoid the other students. Why did everything have to go to hell?

He didn’t know that those were the same thoughts as Hermione before she blacked out.

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​A/N: I swear characters are going to start running away from me... i'm so cruel aren't i? In all seriousness though i had to show she wasn't healed... an event such as happened in this chapter drove her over the edge. The point being, sometimes falling isn't enough to help you heal... sometimes you have to crash... and crash hard. Sometimes someone has to catch you even if you don't want them to...

​Thank you everyone for your words and reviews! They mean so much more than i can ever express! 

​Madamdragon: how's that for drama!? lol 

​Alicelynn581: thank you so much for your review and support. I understand firsthand the struggle of depression as well as cutting. I needed to express that as much as i could. I wanted to get into Hermione's head to help people understand the thoughts behind the emotions and the actions. I'm so happy i'm able to get it all across. Thank you! 

​goldhorse: i'm getting on with it, promise! I think only 4 chapters after this one...