Mirrors.
I've just found a mirror in the woods, I haven't seen my reflection in so long I'm kind of scared to look. I know I've become thinner, I've felt myself wasting away. Its been 6 months of travelling around in a tent and I'm sick and tired. Literally sick and tired. Bathing in lakes in the winter is taking its toll and magic can only do so much.
The mirror itself is so pretty, its a vintage hand held one with flowers engraved in the enamel and even a few little birds. I found it when I saw something glinting in the snow, it was very dirty when I found it but a very gentle cleaning spell and that's all sorted. I trace the delicate pattern with the tips of my fingers. It must have been loved by someone at some point, maybe a little girl or maybe even someone else on the run like me but probably not.
That's it, I simply must look, I need to see what I look like.
I can see why Ron left. Who could carry things on with me? My eyes are sunken into my face, I look so thin and so pale. As a child my biggest fear was growing old and it looks like it has finally happened, I look like I've doubled in age in less than a year. Its all my fault, the golden trio have fallen apart and its all because of me and my ghastly face. I've never looked so awful in my life, tears bleed from my eyes and pour down my face. I want to look away but I'm hypnotised.
Days feel like months and months feel like years. Being on the run is relentless. I'm constantly on guard, it feels like I'm always sleeping with one eye open. I've had to give up my own identity so my mirror is the only thing that's mine now, the only thing that lets me know I'm still human. I sit around a small fire trying to suck out every ounce of heat it can give me but even that is not enough for my rattling bones first thing in the morning. My hand creeps into my pocket without me even realising and take out my mirror, the feel of the cool enamel has an instant calming effect as I close my eyes and exhale slowly savouring the fact that I'm still alive. Upon gazing into the mirror I see my usual self, my skin has a yellow tinge to it and I have bags under my eyes, my lips are all chapped and my cheeks seem to cave in now I'm so thin. I stare and stare and stare, I'm waiting in anticipation for what I know will happen and after a while it finally does. I blink and then all of a sudden the bags under my eyes seem to disappear, I get the glisten back in my eye and my fuller cheeks seem to glow. I'm stood outside of Hogwarts, the sun is shining and the lake is glistening, my friends laugh around me as I tuck into a pumpkin pasty. I feel happy and warm and healthy again. Nothing spectacular or mind blowing is happening, I'm just... content. A smile crosses my face as the rest of the world around my little mirror zones out, its just me and her and all of the souls who have gazed into her pool of silver before me.
"Hermione!"
As my name is called my reflection changes. I'm me again. Boring, repulsive me. Its still snowing but now its dark and we're under attack. I jump up with a start and drop my best friend onto the dirty ground. There is shouting, screaming and a little bit of fire, I panic as someone grabs me and throws me over their shoulder. I kick and scream and call for her but I am too weak, I look back only to see someone stand on my little portal of hope leaving it smashed on the floor.
They can have me now, I go limp in their arms.