A/N: This is my first non-songfic story. Please review. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Don't worry, I am not taking credit for Harry Potter, it's characters or locations, only those I created specifically for this story.
Perfect
Chapter One: Pressure
Take a deep breath Hermione told herself. She glanced at the common room clock. It read four-thirty; it couldn't possibly be four-thirty! Hermione yawned, wishing desperately that she could go to bed, but she still had so much studying to do. Hermione turned her tired eyes back to the tiny print of The Complete Guide to the Justice Systems of Magical Minorities Vol. III but she couldn't read it. The words blurred before her eyes. I can't stop now she said. Gradually Hermione coaxed herself into a little break. She rose slowly, in an attempt to move to one of the armchairs by the long-dead fire. The pressure she was feeling suddenly bubbled to the surface and she collapsed on the floor sobbing. Why did there have to be so much pressure? Everyone wanted something from her, her parents, her friends, her teachers, her boyfriend, too much. Between being the perfect daughter, the perfect friend, the perfect student and the perfect girlfriend couldn't anyone realize that she wasn't perfect? Hermione had been up every night for a week. Each morning so tired she barely made it to breakfast, so nervous that she couldn't eat. She recognized her hunger and tried to recall the last time she ate...she couldn't. I can't do it Hermione thought; I can't go on like this. Somewhere, in the back of her mind, a tiny voice whispered you don't have to, just give up. Maybe she thought, maybe I can.
The next morning Ron found her sprawled across the common room floor. Gently he woke her. "Hermione, are you okay? What happened?" Hermione didn't answer. In a daze she shook her head. "Please Hermione." Ron urged her as he helped her up. She looked as though she were in a trance. She stared into Ron's face but didn't see him. She looked as if her head were completely empty. However, inside Hermione's head a war was raging and she was on the loosing end. Slowly and surely, the small voice took control...and she was powerless to stop it. She turned to the dormitory stairs Ron touched her shoulder but she brushed away his hand. Hermione climbed the stairs and into bed where she lay, unmoving.
Hermione was absent in every class that morning. Around lunch Ron got worried, "I'm going to look for her. She missed all of her morning classes! Something's wrong." Ron stood up defiantly and walked out of the Great Hall. Harry and Ginny followed. They marched to Gryffindor Tower and found Hermione lying in her bed. She looked pale and thin, she didn't move when they entered.
"Hermione, Hermione, are you okay?" Ginny said approaching her bed. She knelt down and stroked Hermione's hair. Hermione didn't even blink. Ron stepped beside Ginny touching Hermione's cheek.
"You okay 'Mione? What's wrong? Should we call Madame Pomfrey?" Turning to Harry, he asked, "When was the last time she ate?" Harry shook his head.
"I don't remember." Suddenly Ron realized that something was dreadfully wrong.
"I'm going to get Madame Pomfrey!" He ran out of the room and did not stop running until he reached the hospital wing. "Madame Pomfrey come quick, something is very wrong with Hermione!"
A/N: Thanks for finishing chapter one. I really don't know where I'm taking this so if you have any ideas I'd like to hear them. Please review! I like constructive criticism but hate reviews will be ignored. Thanks for reading everyone!