River Flows in You-Yiruma (violin & piano cover by Daniel Jang)

Hermione sat on the floor by the fireplace as she jot down notes for her essay that was due for the next potions class. Ginny walked in and sat on the chair and observed Hermione. Hermione didn't even look up or acknowledge Ginny, instead, she sat silently in her own thoughts. She preferred seclusion of being alone and has ever since the war.

"How is your essay going?" Ginny broke the crackling silence between them.

"Fine," Hermione muttered as she flipped through her textbook.

"That was some show in potions today, huh?" Ginny was pulling at threads, grasping at any means to continue the conversation. She didn't see Hermione at lunch and the girl said nothing at supper. She barely touched her food before she went back to the nodded in acknowledgment. Ginny's eyebrows flickered as she clenched her jaws at Hermione. She knew she couldn't be mad at her. Everything Hermione saw, Ginny saw. Ginny lost her brothers, and she had Ron and Harry to help her get through her mourning. Hermione was supportive and would stay up at night with her, holding her as Ginny cried herself to sleep. She knew Hermione cared; but she also knew this was a mask, a way to protect herself from getting hurt again. Ginny wasn't buying her bullshit.

"We're worried about 'Mione" the girl blurted.

"Even Professor Snape noticed you weren't your usual self, and he's a git!" She narrowed her eyes towards Hermione. Usually Hermione would defend Professor Snape but of course, she just shrugged and continued to jot down notes from her textbook.

"Hermione!" Ginny raised her voice to grab her attention from her homework. Hermione sighed and looked up at Ginny.

"I'm just tired."

Ginny scoffed and rolled her eyes. "I'm just tired! I'm fine! Don't worry about it! It' just stress! I'm just having one of those days! Merlin Hermione, we're not bloody idiots!" Ginny threw her hands up in the air as she began to pace the room.

"You don't smile Hermione, you look gaunt and skinny, you barely eat, you have night terrors, you won't talk to anyone, you won't even talk to me! Me! Your best friend! We all went through the war together, and you fought beside Harry bravely! I can't imagine the horrors you have seen but you need to talk to someone!" Ginny's eyebrows knitted together as she folded her arms and stood in front of Hermione.

"Ginny, it's fine. I'm okay. It's just a little stress." Hermione could see that Ginny was getting worked up. But Ginny knew what Hermione was doing, trying to shrug everything off like nothing she said was true. Ginny began to laugh hysterically and Hermione knew she would not be getting out of this one.

"You know, I think you have lied to us for so long now you believe the lies yourself!" Ginny shook her finger at Hermione. Hermione didn't say it but Ginny's mother was coming out and it was a frightful sight.

"Ginn-"

"No." Ginny cut her off. "I talk. My turn to speak. You listen to me." her voice was now quiet and tears trickled down her cheek.

"I lost my brothers, I will not lose you too. I can't have this empty shell of my best friend. I'm not just going to stand by as you-you waste away in front of me!" Ginny wiped the snot dripping from her nose with her sleeve as she sniffled.

"You do not understand what it's like to watch the brightest witch's smolder into darkness" Ginny shook fiercely. Hermione felt her eyes water as she listened. She had no idea she was hurting Ginny. Hermione could feel the guilt sinkings its teeth into her soul, she felt even heavier and felt more sorrowful. She was dragging everyone down with her, how awful and selfish she must really be. A tear escaped her eyes as Hermione looked away and watched the fire dance. Discretely whisking her tear away. She would have to try a little harder to make sure she wasn't hurting anyone.

"I miss you," Ginny confessed as she stared at Hermione. Emotionless Hermione. The outer shell of her friend. Here she was pouring her heart out to her friend and she just sat there with a blank expression. She had to be in there somewhere. She had to be.

"We miss you." She continued.

"So we have come up with a plan to help you." Ginny weakly smiled as Hermione looked at Ginny. She then dug through her bag and pulled out two similar looking journals. She handed them over to Hermione. Both of the journals were the same. The journals had soft midnight black leather, they also contained a metal latch to keep the journals closed.

"These aren't just any ordinary journals." Ginny raised an eyebrow with a devious smile.

Hermione had a flicker of interest as she looked at the journals in her hand. She knew what they were. The journals were charmed so one could write in the journal and whoever had the other journal could see what the other person wrote.

"I don't care who you give the other journal too, or if you send it halfway across the world in that case. You need to talk to someone even if it is a complete stranger."

Hermione raised an eyebrow as she watched Ginny sit down on the chair. "You don't even have to tell them who you are, you can even put an age restriction charm on the journals if you want to. Just promise me, please that you will try to reach out to someone." Ginny eyed Hermione for a long moment before she sighed and tore her gaze to the fireplace.

"It was Harry's idea of course, as ridiculous as it may sound. We really think this will help you open up." Ginny gave Hermione a reassuring smile.

"I just need to hear you say it," Ginny continued.

"Say what exactly?" Hermione asked.

"I need you to promise me you will use the journal," Ginny huffed as she waited for Hermione to say something.

"Ginny I don't see how this is supposed-"

"Just say it!" Ginny was now on her feet glaring at Hermione.

"Okay, fine, I promise to write in the journal."

"Everyday." Ginny added.

Hermione closed her eyes and sighed. "Everyday." she agreed.

"There, see was that so hard?" Ginny flashed a triumphant smile.

Hermione internally rolled her eyes while she chewed the bottom of her lip. Ginny didn't even wait for a reply before she turned around to walk away.

"Any ways, I have homework to do. I'll be in the library if you need me." Ginny walked away with a jump in her step. Hermione shook her head in disbelief.

Hermione was left feeling heavier than she had ever had, engulfed with guilt and shame. She looked down at the journals and let out a sigh. She really didn't have much interest in leaving a journal somewhere so she could pour her heart out to a stranger, though if it would comfort her friends that she was talking to someone. She would have to comply with her friends wishes. She began charming the journals so that they were not retraceable, she then put an age restriction on the journals so that no one younger than her would be able to see the journal. Hermione rolled her eyes as she shoved the journals into her book bag and continued to work on her homework. When she did her rounds she would leave the journal somewhere and just hope to Merlin that whoever got the other journal would find it just as rediculous as she did.

Later that night she made her rounds and made sure students were not wondering around after curfew. She held onto the journal underneath her robes as she walked the halls. She wasn't exactly sure where to leave the journal, she didn't want just anyone to find the journal. The courtyards? No . . . too many students. The library was a place she considered but decided against it. She finally just stood still and looked around, the halls were empty and she looked at the window beside her.

'Whatever' she thought to herself as she took out the journal and placed it on the window sill. She wondered if she should have left a note, but decided against it last minute. She couldn't risk someone showing up and catching her in the act. It would beat the whole purpose of being completely anonymous. She let out another sigh. Why did Ginny have to be so impossible? She left the journal on the window sill as she began to finish her rounds before she headed to the dorms.