Disclaimer: the only thing I own is the character Matt.

A/N: Thank you to everyone who reviewed, you guys are the best! Anyways here is the next chapter. Enjoy!

Matt kept his mouth shut, deciding he shouldn't say anything with all these people around, but he would definitely ask about it as soon as he got the chance.

His chance came later that day when he arrived a little early to his Muggle Studies class and Hermione was already standing at the door. He had originally come early to speak to the professor about his homework, but he figured this was more important.

"Hey Hermione!" he called down the corridor. Hermione turned and her face lit up when she saw him. Matt blushed briefly. "Um, I was wondering if I could talk to you about something…kind of personal." Matt requested a little nervously. Hermione looked confused but she agreed. Matt cleared his throat. "This morning at breakfast I noticed a scar on your wrist. Please don't deny it because I know it's there. Hermione do you cut?" Hermione looked stunned, then guilty, then sad. Out of the blue she burst into tears and fled.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Hermione didn't come out until Dinnertime. As she passed the Ravenclaw table on her way to her seat, she slipped a tiny note onto the table by Matt's plate. Then she made her way over to where Harry and Ron were seated with Neville and Ginny. While they all squished over to make a space for her, Hermione sneaked a look over to where Matt was sitting, reading her note.

Yes, I cut. Deal with it, don't tell anyone!

Hermione turned back to her fellow Gryffindors and sat down.

"Hey Mione, where have you been all day?" Ron asked. She was dimly aware that it was just a friendly question, but she snapped at him anyway.

"Why is it any of your business Ronald?" Ron looked taken aback.

"I-I, uh I guess it's… not but um, look don't call me Ronald ok?" Ashamed of herself, Hermione looked down at her plate and pushed her food around with her fork. As she was doing this she realized something. She hadn't eaten for ages. She'd come to every meal in the last two days but she'd gotten distracted with something else and hadn't taken a bite. Hermione refilled her plate and was about to put her first forkful in her mouth when Matt tapped her on the shoulder.

"Hey, can I talk to you for a sec, in private?" he asked gently. Hermione hesitated, but then she shrugged and stood up. Matt led her out into the empty entrance hall where he stopped and turned to look at her. "Why?" Hermione looked up at him, then returned her gaze to the floor. She opened her mouth, then close it again, and again, and again. Matt studied her eyes. She was struggling; she seemed to be mentally arguing with herself. Finally, she broke the silence.

"Look, I like you, I really do. But I've only known who you are for less that 2 years and the first time I talked to you, was just last week. So, please forgive me if I'm not about to tell you all my deep, dark secrets." With that she turned on her heel and walked up the stairs as fast as she could without breaking into a run.

Back in the common room, Hermione decided to start her homework. Bent over her Star Charts and fresh pieces of Parchment, the time passed quicker. Somehow, it was different to being in class. The silence was peaceful rather than awkward, and the dimmed light was cosy instead of dreary. The hours passed swiftly and soon Hermione had to take her work up to her dormitory to avoid the noise.

As she arranged her books on her bed, an owl tapped at her window. It was gorgeous. A rich, chocolate brown with tanish highlights and big green eyes. As she let him in, he stuck out his leg obediently to reveal a small piece of ripped parchment with her name on it.

A/N: Ok and that's the end but please PLEASE push that button! It only takes a little extra effort. Review review review!