Flames

Chapter 1 - Hermione's POV

6 months had passed since the war. Hogwarts had been rebuilt and had started the new year exactly 1 month ago. My classes were interesting and my studies kept me busy but I was lonely. Ron and I had broken up due to him fucking other women. Harry had gone on to Auror training with Neville, Seamus, Dean and Ron. The only people left from my year were the Slytherins and they all hated me. Ginny and Luna were extremely busy also. Ginny with Quidditch and Luna with the Quibbler, they weren't attending Hogwarts either. I was the only one left of the group.

I liked to spend as much time as possible in the Astrology Tower since it was almost completely undisturbed and I could see miles and miles out. It was the one place I could go to be alone without being asked stupid questions about the war.

I had been trying to forget about the war from the moment they declared Voldemort dead. I had tried smoking and drinking myself almost to death and I still couldn't forget. The only thing that would keep me sane was cutting myself. It had started out by accident. I was cutting vegetables for dinner and accidentally sliced my hand. In that moment, I could feel the darkness creep away slightly. I started carrying my favorite dagger around and would do shallow cuts on my thighs whenever I felt the same darkness around me. Then I discovered that if I drank enough, it hurt even less and I could do it on my arms. From there I discovered that a dagger wasn't always the best option considering it was big and bulky. I moved on to razor blades and turned one into a necklace that I kept hidden under my shirt, safe from prying eyes.

I had good days, but more often than not, I had extremely bad days. The first time I spoke to Draco Malfoy after the war, had been a really bad day. I looked at my scars and sighed. The one Bellatrix had given me was hidden under the cuts I had given myself in the weeks before coming back to school. I was sitting on the window sill of the Astronomy Tower, with my back to the entrance, when I heard foot steps approaching.

"Granger?" I heard him call out. I turned my head to look at him. He was looking at me with confusion in his eyes.

"Oh. Hello Malfoy."