M-U-D-B-L-O-O-D
My fingers traced the faded letters on my arm. Fluer's healing spell had taken the edge off, but the scars were still there. Both visible and not. Impatient with myself, I wiped the tears away from my cheeks harshly. A clock somewhere in the house tolled. It was 2am. This was the third night in a row that I had seen this odd hour. The third night in a row my sleep was interrupted by the haunting memories of pain and knives.
The morning came slowly. I watched the sun rise from my window, lighting up my room as it did so. Another sleepless night. Dragging myself out of bed, I proceeded to get ready for the day and head down to the breakfast table, alight with the usual chatter.
"You're very quiet, 'Ermione," Fluer pointed out. I smiled and just said that I was tired, avoiding everyone's eyes. I noticed that Harry was the last one to turn away, though.
Later, I had escaped the hustle of what felt like too many people for that one little house. Walking down to the edge of the water, I looked out over it. Taking off my shoes and socks, I waded out until the hems of my jeans were thoroughly soaked with the frigid water. The cold was nice. The bite of it on my skin was distracting. I waded out a bit further.
"Going somewhere?"
I only stopped when a voice, sounding farther away than it actually was, caught up to me. Turning around, Harry was standing at the edge of the water, just far enough in to get his trainers wet. I glanced out into the sea once again, hesitating. But I knew I had been caught. I turned around and waded back to him. Wordlessly, he took my hand and led me out of the water, close to the place I had tossed my shoes. He sat down and gently tugged me down next to him. It was quiet for a moment, but tears were already burning the backs of my eyes and I had started rubbing my sleeve, below which the scarred letters lay engraved into my skin.
"You can't sleep. It gave you nightmares."
It wasn't a question. He knew. Of course he knew. I nodded. His arm snaked around my shoulders and he pulled me toward him, so my head rested on his shoulder. I instinctively brought my hand to the other side of his neck, holding him close.
We stayed like that for a long time. Eventually, twilight began to fall and the air began to cool down. My pants were still wet and getting colder. Again with no words spoken, he reached over and pulled my shoes toward me, then waited patiently for me to put them on. Standing up, he reached down and pulled me up with him. We walked back up to the cottage together, but I pulled him to a stop right before we entered.
"Thanks," I whispered, before reaching up and placing a soft kiss on his lips, "I think I can sleep now."
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