The glass is shattered now. Smears of blood on the walls, the pane's, my hands. S'okay. I can stand the pain. Just can't look into that mirror anymore – too many truths, so many lies in that sheet. Things I can pretend don't happen without a reflection for people to see. My face is in the mirror – cracked, splintered like the glass. Like me. Gasps and coughs, tears and snot, eyes red and hair wild – like usual. Hands clench and unclench reflexively. Small wince for the pain as the shards embed themselves deeper into my palm. Words ring in my ears.

….Stupid mud-blood bitch. …..useless….ugly…bet they only hang out with her for help with homework….ugly Bookworm…killjoy….fun-sucker…. SLUT BITCH MUDBLOOD POSER UGLY BET THEY ONLY USE HER! NO WONDER HE PARENTS SENT HER OFF WHO WOULD WANT HER WHY IS SHE HERE USELESS PATHETIC –

Jerk back with a gasp. Small whimper – hurts. Can't they tell it hurts? Face stares back – plain, ordinary ugly. Another blow to the mirror – more blood, pain, glass. Exhilaration, anger, sadness. Sobbing, can't take it – whywhywhywhywhywhywhy?

Thought they were my friends, thought they actually liked me. How could they? How could Ginny say that? How could Harry and Ron not defend me? Did they hear? Of course they heard – I heard it.

Anger, pain, suffering, betrayal, tears. Blood, so much blood. Woozy. Should stop now. Pull yourself together Granger – focus on schoolwork – do well. Be successful, live, wait to get out of here. That's it. Straighten my back, I can do it. Wipe eyes, blow nose. Walk towards door, ignore Mrytles shrieks – heard it before, nothing new. More pain, the walls are moving. Should be staying still. Headache – go take a nap. Who? Oh, it's a Weasley – which Weasley? Shorter one – huh, Gred or Forge, can't remember names, brains going fuzzy. Whys he – shock, anger, confusion – fear? Why fear? Don't be scared Gred, won't yell at you this time, just want a nap-

"Hermione what? HERMIONE! SOMEBODY HELP!"

"SHE WOULDN'T STOP HITTING THE MIRROR! I TRIED TO MAKE HER STOP, BUT SHE COULDN'T HEAR ME"

myrtle shrieking? Someone's in pain? Warm hands, worried eyes – why so worried? Such pretty brown eyes shouldn't be worried. Did I say that out loud? Eyes getting more scared, another person enters the bathroom

"what's going – oh my god!"

blackness, look down – huh, glass shard in my wrist, hurts, whimper. Scared – Fred, help me! The floor is getting closer.

….Blackness…..