Breaking Hermione

The Vision

"If I see any sign that you tried to harm yourself, you're going to have me to answer to."

Tom's tone was a warning all in its own. Disobey me and you'll be sorry. "Do you understand?"

"Yes." I said quietly. "I understand."

"Good." Tom's voice was low. "You have 15 mins. If you're not out before then I'll come in and get you. And trust me," He smirked, "you won't like that at all."

"Ok." I walked to his door, my face burning from embarrassment. Out of all the things I wanted right now having Tom walk on me when I was having a shower wasn't one of them.

I grabbed a hold of the door and twisted it, conscious that if I opened the door too fast Tom would get suspicious that I wanted to get away from him. Of course, I would have liked nothing better to just bolt out the door and kept running but I had to be careful now that Tom was keeping a closer eye on me. With my back to him I left, walking up the hall to the door furthest from me.

As soon as I was in the bathroom I locked the door, trying to steady my breathing. If Tom was going to barge in I would at least hear him unlocking the door.

I looked around. There wasn't a shower, instead a giant bath was set into the tiled ground. Large, and ornately decorated it dominated the room, catching the coloured light coming from the stained glass windows artfully. I walked over, turned the taps on and hurriedly peeled my clothes off. I didn't have any idea of the time but I could feel the minutes slipping by.

It took about 10 minutes alone waiting for the bath. There wasn't any shampoo or conditioner for my unruly curls, instead a single block of soap and a razor was placed almost with surgical precision over by the tap.

Ignoring it, I got to work scrubbing my hair with the bar of scentless soap and after I washed it out I took hold of the razor blade. So this was what Tom was thinking I would use to hurt myself?

I took the single blade carefully into the palm of my hand, it glinted as it caught the light dancing off the water. I could use this to end my life right now. If I really wanted to. Did I want to take my life? I couldn't see the point in existing beneath oppression of this magnitude. My life had become a constant fear that troubled me day and night, I couldn't exactly escape from my own mind.

Hermione. Don't do it.

The voice was so clear that I jumped, slicing my hand on the jagged razor. I was too shocked to be aware of the blood blossoming in the water. I had heard my mother's voice.

"Mum?" My voice broke. "Where are you?"

"You won't be able to see me." My mother's voice replied, echoing in the bathroom. "I am in your mind and soul. Nothing more nothing less."

"What do you mean?"

My head started to pound. Blood stained the water around me. I had cut myself again in shock. I swam over to the side of the bath where I felt the voice had come, shakily dropping the bloody razor on the tiles.

"What do you mean?" I repeated, leaning over the side, desperate to hear more of my mother's voice. Blood was dripping down my hands, I made no attempt to stop it.

"Look up."

Floating above me was the transparent form of my mother, smiling down at me.

"Mum." I cleared my throat, hardly daring to blink. She was here with me. Somehow.

My head started to pound more intensely. The bath was almost crimson, I didn't know what part of my body I had cut. I raised my arm and saw a deep wound in my wrist. I didn't remember doing that....