Chapter 2- Do I Wanna Know?
A/N: Hey guys! It's been quite a bit since I posted this. I do have a favor to ask of you that you probably have heard a million times: review. It would really keep me going on with this to know you guys are enjoying and that I'm not writing for no reason. Thanks a bunch! This chapter is small, but it should really give you insight into Hermione's past and possibly answer some questions. :) Enjoy
"Have you got colour in your cheeks?
Do you ever get that fear that you can't shift
The type that sticks around like summat in your teeth?"
-The Arctic Monkeys, Do I Wanna Know?
The following morning, Hermione was sitting up in bed with her elderly doctor, Dumbledore, sitting on a chair beside grasping a clipboard.
"Anything been bugging you?"
"No sir."
"When was your last episode?"
"Eleven days ago."
"Good, good," he mumbled. "How has your sleep been?"
"The past two nights were fine, the night before last I barely slept."
"Did you take anything for it?"
"No sir."
He stood up and thanked her and wished her well until he saw her again and departed. Hermione quite liked him as her doctor, he was more of a person than anybody she'd met during her stay at Privet Hospital. He was always positive and full of wisdom, and never, not once, made her feel unwelcome.
Although, her content demeanor soon diminished when she realized it was Saturday: visitor's day. She pulled on one of her pairs of trousers: simple, drawstring frocks made of a thin canvas material. She prepared herself as she had every other day: brushing her wild hair, then her teeth, and straightening her clothes across from the mirror.
Though she tried - really tried- not to take in her own appearance, as soon as her eyes made contact with themselves in the mirror, she couldn't help her self-assessment.
Very bushy brown hair. Dark circles underlining her eyes. Nearly translucent, almost grayish, pales skin. A few sporadic face freckles. Two rather large front teeth. A very thin frame, with bones poking out of her skin. And worst of all, the deep red scratches adorning various places on her body. She hated them, but couldn't quite avoid them whenever she adopted panic attacks.
She dreaded it, but she knew seeing her sister was inevitable.
Escorted by a tech, Hermione treaded downstairs to the lobby, where patients were allowed visitors.
Lavender, upon spotting Hermione, walked over and gave a hug to her sister.
"Hermione, so good to see you! Let's sit, quickly, before all the good spots get taken."
Now, Hermione was used to listening to Lavender talk about herself without paying any mind to her own sister. This made seeing her bearable, but not pleasant. After all, Lavender was only a contributing factor to Hermione's anxiety.
"You'll never guess who I ran into the other day. Guess. No don't guess. Cormac Mclaggen! Remember the boy you had a crush on in secondary school? Yep! He and I ran into each other at the pub and we had drinks together! Isn't that lovely?"
Hermione couldn't help but grimace. Lavender had always been to peppy for her own liking.
"And get this- he kissed me! Actually kissed me! Can you believe it? We're meant to see each other tomorrow at the park, I simply can't wait!"
Hermione couldn't help but be annoyed. Who did she think she was? Was Lavender trying to make Hermione jealous of her? Sure, Lavender was definitely more attractive. She possessed the charm and good looks Hermione always lacked. All throughout primary and secondary school, Lavender was always the one who had a boyfriend, lots of friends, and popularity, while Hermione found herself countless times the object of bullying and criticism.
Hermione drummed her short, ragged nails on the tabletop, waiting for her sister to finish her spiel about her wonderful life was going without her.
