Her heart raced as she fumbled with an excuse to escape. But deep down she knew her pleas would fall on deaf ears. She had seen that look before, when her mother pulled her into the doctor the past year for fainting, she got it in tenfold.

Hermione was so tired she couldn't even think enough of to form a reply to his simple question. Had she eaten today? When days begin to blur, binges start to seem like a constant. She was so raped up in her struggle to determine the correct response, she failed to see Severus stand up and make his way to her.

A warm hand came to rest on her shoulder pulling her from her contemplations.

"Are you okay Miss Granger?" he spoke softly. Almost as if he was afraid she would flee.

"I'm perfectly fine, Professor." She stated with a rush of confidence she didn't feel, pulling back from him as if burnt. A flash of pain, mixed with sympathy, made its way across his face. She was as easy to read as the books she cherished. "I was only venturing down to take a cup of tea." 'God, did she have to sound so pathetic' she thought to herself.

"And what makes you think you can frolic down to the kitchens any time you please?" His deep voice waltzed over her skin and washed her bones in chills.

"I'm Head Girl; I have an exception to the curfew rules." She said, but she was starting to drain what little bit of energy she had to spare. She could see the little black spots began to dance into her vision. "Now if you please, I'll be returning to my room."

ooo

Back in her rooms Hermione tip toed back to her bed. Pulling the curtains shut, she spied her box. The small brown vessel was placed carefully on her nightstand surrounded by books and perfumes. The box its self wasn't much, being plain in shape and design, many would just pass it over.

But inside the box was a completely different story. Through extension charms Hermione had created her own stockpile of thinspo, emergency diuretics, and punishment methods.

'We almost got caught.' the voice rang out in her mind. 'You stupid cow; how could you be so careless?' it demanded. Shame and regret coursed through her.

She pulled the box off the nightstand and opened it, one thought on her mind. Reaching for her new pack of blades, she lifted the hem of her shorts reviling her pale, boney leg with the scared over word 'hate' forever etched into her skin. Like a child, following a hand writing pattern book, Hermione slashed into her flesh. Whimpering into the night, she found a moments release from her shame.

ooo

Noora was sitting on the couch reading when her husband came in with a rush. Seeing a panic on his face, she discarded her book and patted for him to sit next to her.

"What is it Habbibi?" She said in a soft, calm voice.

"Miss Granger, she's in your class, came into the kitchen tonight while I was there." He said, looking into the fire dancing within the hearth. "What do you know about eating disorders?"

"Well," she started "not much, but the name would suggest someone had a disorder relating to eating."

"Correct. And I believe Miss Granger might have an issue with eating. She is from a wealthy, loving family, so I don't suspect mistreatment." Running his hands over his face, he seemed every bit of his age. "If you had only seen her, Noora…" He sighed. "She looked like a stick figure, so hollow she could blow away."

"InshaAllah I will talk to her, just point her out at breakfast." Noora smiled soothing away his worries.

ooo

"There," Snape pointed out as Hermione made her way through the doors of the great hall. Dark rings around her eyes, highlighted by her protruding cheek bones made her look even more sickly. She wore her school uniform in a larger size to give herself the appearance of bulk. Frizzy hair jutted out of a messy bun, piled on top of her head. It was obvious to anyone looking, Miss Granger had a problem.

Watching carefully the Snape's saw her gracefully sit down next to Harry. She laughed at something the Longbottom boy said and pulled food onto her plate. By distracting the boys she vanished her food little by little, never letting a crumb meet her lips.

"Sev, is she eating?" Noora suggested with a false hope. "Why would she waste her food?"

"No, it seems as if the boys don't realize; she's trying to deceive them. Avoid them finding out." He said looking into his bowl of oats. "We have to help her."

"Yes, Habbibi."

ooo

On her way to Professor Snape's class Hermione went through her check list. Counting her water intake and the calories she had consumed and purged so far in the week. It was only Tuesday; this week would kill her before it was over. She had tuned out the world around her and walked straight into someone.

When she was sure to hit the floor, strong hands pulled her flat against a toned chest. Opening her eyes she looked into the eyes of her would be savior. Malfoy stared down his pompous nose at her with a sneer on his face.

"Watch where you're going mudblood" He seethed, all the while sliding his hands down her sides.

Struggling to pull away, panic engulfed Hermione. His hands were touching her ugly, disgusting fat. On the verge of hyperventaliting, Harry stepped into save the day.

"Get your slimy hands off her!" he yelled pulling his wand from his pocket.

"You can have her," Malfoy replied. "She has nothing worth touching anyway, isn't that right, moodblood? Too poor to eat, eh? Serves you right, more for the worthy ones."

Before tears could fall down her eyes, she knew she had to flee. Turning on the spot was easy for her body to comply with; her mind on the other hand, was completely useless. As if her brain simply pulled the emergency cord, she fell crashing to the floor.

Darkness encased her.