Chapter Two – Hate

As soon as Hermione was out of number 12 Grimmauld Place, she ran. Ran as hard and fast as she could. There were wards all around the house so no one could apparate or disapparte into or out of the house but they could apparate from room to room once they were inside and Hermione needed to get home. Now.

Harry sent her over the edge with that look. It hurt so much to know he hated her. As soon as she was out of the wards reach, she disapparted with a pop.

Hermione appeared in the living room of her flat, and fell to her knees, sobbing into her hands. Luna was dead, Ron was dead, and Harry hated her. What was the point of living?

The answer stifled her cries and slowly brought her to her feet. Revenge. It was her sole mission in life now. To kill, to torture, to destroy Lucius Malfoy. She never thought that she could hate. She wasn't exactly fond of Draco but hate? Well, it was an emotion that Hermione had been sure she wasn't capable of having. Now it felt like hate was the only thing left inside of her. Hate and Pain.

Thoughts of Lucius brought her full circle to thoughts of finding Ron and the sobs returned. Bloodlust only ease the pain so much. She slowly walked into the kitchen and grabbed a full bottle of vodka from under the cupboard. She twisted the top open and just as she was about to take a long swig, a sliver glint caught her eye. A steak knife was laying on the counter.

She sighed looking back and forth between the bottle and the knife. She decided that she'd rather have a sore arm then suffer through another hangover in the morning. She set the bottle down the on couter snatched up the knife and walked over to the sink.

The next morning, when Hermione heard the alarm go off, she slowly sat up and yelled at it.

"God damn it! Why do you have to go off at the most inopportune times? What did I ever do to you? And what the hell does he need now?" she sighed, exasperated.

Dumbledore could set the it to go off whenever there was a meeting that the owner of the alarm needed to attend. Hermione was starting to regret her 'brilliant' idea of enchanting the damned things.

She got up and made the bed, noticing that there was blood on the sheets. She looked at her arm. There was blood smeared on it as well. Two quick scourgifys took care of the mess.

She took a quick cold shower and placed a glamor on her arm. Wouldn't do for everyone finding out she was harming herself and locking her up in the loony bin.

She sighed and changed her clothes. Grabbing another book, Creating Spells and Potions: Advanced, as she walked out the door, wand in pocket. She still wasn't planning on getting stuck on guard duty with nothing to do and she had some horrific spells to create.

When she walked into Harry's house she noticed that almost no one had arrived yet. Snape, Harry, and Dumbledore were the only ones there. She checked her watch..

What the hell? Usually the alarm is only set for an hour before the meeting. She should be 15 mnutes late by now. She looked over and Dumbledore and noticed he had that knowing look on his face and a twinkling in his eyes. She often wondered how, after everything, he still remained so normal. How his eyes weren't as cold and dead as hers because surely he had seen more, worse than she.

She walked into the room and took a seat in between two empty chairs.

"Early today, I see, Ms. Granger." he said smiling.

Now she understood. There was no one here because she was early. She was early because the old coot had made her alarm go off two hours before the meeting. She smiled, her first real smile in weeks.

Harry noticed Hermione's smile and wondered if maybe his friend was finally coming back and smiled in return at her. He hoped that maybe she would eventually go back to the normal Hermione that he missed so much, but just as soon as it came, the smile that graced her features was gone and replaced by that same hollow, indifferent mask that she always wore now. Suddenly Harry felt that maybe he'd lost more in this war than he had thought.

Audrey's Notes -- I still have my gaurentee... yay toHotaru420 and Melody Prycefor reviewing! Thanks guys! I won't be updating for alittle bit. My bday is comeing up and we are going away for a little while...umm I think thats all. So review review review! oh and visit Sarahs site! (my homepage) yes i know I'm not Sarah.. just go look at it okay?