This fanfiction deals with an eating disorder. As a sufferer of this disease I thought this would serve as an outlet. In NO WAY do I support this deadly mental illness.

If you or anyone you know is suffering from an eating disorder, I highly recommend getting help. Although I have not sought recovery myself, I will hope the best for you all.

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Never was there a more tranquil night. The stars seemed to caress my cheek with their iridescent light, and the shimmer of the snow made for a picturesque scene. I ungracefully turned on my side to look at my friend, who was admiring the view as well.

"I can't thank you enough for taking me along," Lizbeth whispered, turning to face me.

"I'm just glad my parents actually let me bring you," I whispered back, half-giggling.

"Seriously Herms, I think they hate me," Lizbeth said. She stood up to shake a few rogue snowflakes from her jacket.

"No, they just find you a bit..erm…eccentric," I said and gave her quick once-over.

It was true that my parents, who completely accepted the fact I was witch, thought my friend peculiar. Her ebony, chin-length bob was fluffed forward from the crown. She artfully dyed her bangs a charming color of tickle-me-pink. Not to mention her seven piercings, two on unmentionable areas.

"Maybe it's the tattoo," I shrugged. I torpidly looked out at the snow covered mountains.

Lizbeth lifted up her sleeve and stared down at her "MOM" tattoo. A winding rose circled it.

"It's only for when I do handstands!" she said rather loudly. "Wow?! Duh.…"

She rolled her eyes and ruminated over the folly of previous generations.

I positioned myself upright and grabbed my bag.

"Shhhh! We don't want the management down here again," I said, looking into the deserted ski lodge. I took out my key and silently inserted it into the lock. It clicked into place.

With a slight push I opened the large oak door. Me and Lizbeth walked into the lobby of the ski lodge. According to plan, it was completely empty.

"You grab the cocoa from behind the desk and I'll grab the graham crackers from the employees' lounge," Lizbeth whispered authoritatively. Like a spy duo we shot to the destinations.

It was easy enough finding the cocoa. With our prizes in tow, we stealthily climbed up the oak staircase to our hotel room.

Laughing like hyenas we collapsed on one of the comfortable beds in the room. We gobbled into the box of graham crackers, licking the cinnamon-y goodness from our fingers.

I made the cocoa and sat back down on the bed. I brought along a Herbology book in case we ran out of stuff to talk about.

"Ugh, Herms, you're such an over-achiever," Lizbeth said with a disgusted look. "It's winter break. You'll have plenty of time when we go back to study!"

"It's never too early to start studying," I replied, turning to Grooming your Kertuple plant.

Lizbeth slammed the book shut and threw it at the wall. "You just need to learn how to live in the moment. You over-analyze stuff."

I stared at her, wondering how a girl with her nungas pierced could be preaching to me.

"Maybe I just like getting perfect marks? I mean, if you at least tried in Potions you would end up in good shape," I giggled and prepared to hear her vent about Snape, the Potions' professor.

"Don't get me started," Lizbeth muttered, taking a swig of her drink. "This cocoa is too sweet to bitter it with talk about Potions."

We talked about life at Hogwarts late into the night then passed out on the bed. Graham crackers and cocoa soiled the comforter.

---

My death-like slumber was interrupted by a crisp knock on the door.

'Hopefully, whoever it is will go away," I thought lazedly and snuggled deeper into the pillows.

The knocking continued until I was fully awake. I shot forward and a sinking realization hit me.

"Lizbeth! Wake up!" I screeched. I looked up at the mounted wall clock. 10:34a.m.

Panicked spiders crawled up my skin, sending goosebumps to the back of my neck.

I sprinted to the door and opened it slightly. It was my mother.

"I hope you two are ready," a woman in her late thirties said. She had on a smart white button down shirt and a black pencil skirt. I immediately noticed her face looking more stressed than usual.

"Um, we are just going to throw some clothes on," I said nervously. There was always something about my mum's meticulous appearance that made me shifty. I mentally noted to wear something proper for once.

"No robes until we get to the train station," She said, turning on her heel. "Breakfast is down in the lobby at eleven. Bring your trunks."

I closed the door and looked to the two empty behemoths stacked in the corner.

"Lizbeth!" I shook her shoulders and tugged at her raven hair.

She opened her black eyes and blinked a few times before jerking upright. At least she shared the same virtue for punctuality as me.

With a flourish of clothes, books, and school items we accomplished putting all of our possessions into the two gigantic trunks. At precisely 11:01 a.m. we were wheeling our trunks out of the elevator and into the lobby.

"Late," my mum said, not looking up from The Guardian. She took a teeny sip of her orange juice.

"Morning Mum. Dad," I said and took a seat next to my mom while Lizbeth sat opposite.

Dad smiled and handed us three ladies a plate of scrambled eggs and toast. Lizbeth instantly tore into her batch.

I looked hungrily at the toast and reached for a rather delectable piece spread with preserves. Mum looked down her nose in disapproval.

Instead I grabbed the piece spread with Smart Balance. She nodded.

"So, Hermione. I expect at least a letter a week," my dad said with a wink. He turned to Lizbeth. "And it was swell having you for the break, Lizbeth."

Lizbeth swallowed a bite of toast and smiled. Crumbs were stuck between her teeth.

I giggled and stole furtive glances at Mum. She looked rather appalled and took another teeny sip of her juice.

After a minute or two of eating (and Mum not eating), Dad broke the silence.

"Well, it was a lovely breakfast. I'm going to put the luggage in the cab," Dad said, and grabbed one of the big trunks.

"Mr. Granger, let me help you with that one," Lizbeth said, running over to retrieve her case. Knowing Lizbeth I could only guess what illegal substances could be in there.

As they walked out of the lobby Mum took a miniscule bite of egg, chewing very slowly. Her face contorted from repulsion.

Setting down her fork she said, "Hermione, I want you to consider what I said." She cleared her throat and took a sip of her drink. "It's important to be in good health. I don't want you eating too much of the sweets back at school. It's starting to show."

A feeling of inferiority swept over me. I fidgeted with the navy button on my jumper.

"And it would be wise not to wear that again," Mum said with a huff. She reached into her purse and gave me a Shape magazine.

"It accentuates your, ahem, large hips." Mum inserted a mint into her mouth and pulled on a pair of sunglasses.

"I'm only saying what I think is best for you dear."

---

The ride back into London was onerous. I felt the Shape magazine burning a hole through my bag and prayed that Mum wouldn't say anything else degrading for the remaining time.

Light drops of rain landed on the cab as it pulled up to the train station. The snow on the ground turned into a gray slush.

I dismounted the vehicle and shivered in the wet cold. Lizbeth pulled on her yellow and blue beanie and stepped out beside me.

"Well, it was good seeing you two," Dad said. He gave me a big hug and started pulling our trunks from the car.

"Yes, nice to see you Hermione!" Mum yelled from the car. She shivered even though the heat was on full blast.

"See you in May," I said and helped Lizbeth push the loaded bell hop into the train station.

It was easy enough getting onto Platform 9 ¾ since we had done it for six years now. I was happy that I was going back to a stable home.

It wasn't that I hated Mum and Dad. I loved them with all my heart. But Mum. It would be nice if she was proud of me every once in a while. Dad was completely oblivious to Mum's peculiarities. He never saw her pick at her food, criticize my body, and obsessively workout. It is a good thing I have magic to focus on instead of getting caught up in the same cycle she's in.

For most of the journey to Hogwarts I was asleep. Lizbeth and I had found our favorite cabin on the Hogwart's Express to be empty. So we made ourselves comfortable on the buttery leather seats and talked about who we were excited to see again. Harry and Ron immediately came to mind. Then with a yawn I was into a sound nap.

I awoke to find the window of the Express drenched with rain and the cabin icy cold. I took out my wand and did a basic incantation to make it warmer. Lizbeth was asleep on the seat across from me, snoring slightly.

I slumped back into the seat and took out the Shape magazine from my bag. An intense hatred drifted throughout my body as I stared at the toned model on the cover. What was it about her that Mum didn't see in me?

Ultimate Swimsuit Makeovers

We make real women look 10lbs. thinner

I almost laughed and chucked the magazine into my bag. Hopefully my perfect marks would make up for being a "real woman."

The sweet trolley rolled to our cabin. I pulled out a few shillings to buy a chocolate frog for later.