Chapter 2: Keeping Up Appearances

Normal

What is normal?

Is it when you finally reach the point that everyone else is at?

Is it when there is nothing wrong with you at all?

Is it when you are what is expected of you?

Does it exist at all?

Hermione P.O.V.

I wish that I could be normal. But no something in me compels me to drive towards perfection. How do you reach a point that many think does not exist, it's simple, you never stop driving for it. No matter what even if it hurts you or those around you.

I think this as I wipe the vomit from my mouth and brush my teeth. I hope that Draco didn't hear me, I can hear it know. 'You know that fat Mudblood Granger barfs to try to be thin? Yeah like that will ever happen.' Before I leave the bathroom I check one last time to make sure that there is nothing left that could suggest what I had done, and there is nothing.

I go into my room and leave to go meet Harry and Ron in the Gryffindor common room.

Draco P.O.V.

Finally Granger is out of the bathroom, I enter as quickly as I can and pull my blade out of my pocket. I roll up my sleeve and take a moment to look at all of the scars that cover my arm. They used to be so clean and perfect, but now they are covered in marks of violence.

I take the blade and put it to my arm, I let it bite a little, then slowly let it go deeper. It hurts yes, but the pain reminds me that I am alive, and I can feel. I can be something that my parents weren't. My parents. They condemned me to this life, if not for them I cold be a normal 7th year student, but no. They forced me to work for him. Thankfully the mark that he placed on my arm is gone. Not really but it's covered by the scars that I made.

I hear a knock on the common room door. I know that it's Blaise and Pansy before I even leave the room. While I was thinking the blood had stopped. I roll down my sleeve and go to let them in.

Hermione P.O.V.

When I get there Harry and Ron are playing chess and Ginny is there as well and is sitting as close to Harry as possible.

"Hey guys." I say almost surprising them.

"Hey Hermione," Harry says, "Hows life as the Head Girl?"

"It's been good to me so far, even if Malfoy is the Head Boy." I reply.

"I didn't think that they would make him the Head Boy I mean he worked for You-Know-Who himself." Ron says rudely.

"I know but it's not like he wanted to. It was either that or be killed. In that position what would you do." I ask.

"I suppose that you are right." Ron said, "By the way where were you during the feast?"

"Oh, I had to meet with Dumbledore he told me some last minute head duties." I lied, not wanting them to know that I didn't want to be near all of that food, "Went down to the kitchens after and got something to eat though." I lied again. (Dumbledore is alive in this story, he went into hiding until the final battle.)

"Ok." Ron said as he made finished the game and beat Harry. "You really need to learn to play better Harry."

"I know Ron but some things interest me more than chess." Harry said as he kissed Ginny.

'Good,' I say to myself, 'they don't suspect a thing.'

"I better get back to the Heads Dormitory before it gets too late, I don't need to get into trouble the first day back."

"See you later." everyone says to me.

I leave to go back, but when I enter the common room Draco has company already there.

Draco P.O.V.

I am trapped in the common room with two people that still see nothing wrong with the message that Voldemort was preaching to us. I never thought that a single vile word that man spoke was correct.

Then Granger walked into the common room and Pansy just had to say, "Oh look, the filthy mudblood made head girl. It's a miracle that such filth could accomplish that." I could see in her eyes that it bothered her, but she refused to let any of that show.

After that comment she rushed to her room, but before she left I did say, "It's really not, but you might be surprised Pansy seeing as you have the intelligence of a rock." Pansy looked at me with disbelief and I swear that I saw something that looked like shock in Granger's eyes as she went into her room.

"I think that you should leave." I say to Blaise and Pansy, "It's the first night back and you might not want to start trouble already."

With that they left. I go over to Granger's door and knock, praying that she will answer. She does and she is already in her pajamas. They show just how small and fragile she is, and how thin.

"I heard you earlier in the bathroom. Are you feeling ok?" I asked with genuine concern.

"Yes, must have been something that I ate." She relies.

"Ok, just wanted to make sure that you wouldn't get me sick." I add trying to be rude like I am supposed to be.

"Ok, don't worry I won't get you sick." She says not seeming the least bit affected by what I had said to her, "Good night Draco." She tells me and then closes her door.

Here's chapter 2. Once again I do not own anything except the characters and the poem at the beginning. Please tell me what you think and if I should continue. Thanks for reading.