Chapter 2 – "Flashbacks can cause emotion to seize the heart…"
When Hermione woke, she jumped slightly and rubbed her eyes, causing her to flinch in pain. She walked gingerly over to the bathroom and took a look in the mirror. Her right eye was bruised as well as her cheekbone. She was bleeding on the opposite cheek and she had another cut just above her left eyebrow.
Gazing down at her legs, she noticed the big bruise on the inside of her left thigh, and another bruise and a few scrapes on her hips. She sighed and held the tears from falling. She had to act like nothing was wrong, or she might be subject to more damage.
Malfoy was already downstairs when Hermione came down. He noticed she had used make-up to conceal her wounds. He smiled evilly at this, and gave her a knowing glance that in turn made her shiver. She was scared to death of this man, and she was only 16.
She had a sudden flashback as she crashed down onto the stairs leading up to her bedroom. Malfoy had left and she now had time to think and cry, formulate a plan even, while he was away.
It was the day after Dumbledore's funeral, and everyone around her seemed to be depressed beyond words. Hermione, Ron, and Harry began to speak less and less as they packed their bags. Soon, they weren't talking, for fear of reminiscing what had happened.
Malfoy had begun to help Hermione and ease her pain, telling her it would be okay and that Dumbledore would want her to find those whom she could find love and trust in. Slowly, Hermione began to fall in love with Draco because he seemed so honest and comforting.
When Harry and Ron heard of the news they pleaded with Hermione to change her mind. 'The war will start soon, he will want you to fight with Voldemort, against us!' She insisted that she would never turn to that side and on the day of the departing train, she gave her friends a heart-shattering goodbye, and left with Malfoy to move in with him.
Things had been good for a while, Malfoy lead her to believe he loved her. He told her that the war would never happen, and that they would never have to choose sides. That it was just the two of them, in love.
All things like this come to an end. Malfoy began recklessly abusing Hermione, taking advantage of her, and even cheating on her. He forbid her to see or tell anyone of this. He would never let her speak to Harry, Ron, Ginny, or any of the Weasleys, even her own family. She listened and didn't want to get hurt.
As she came out of her reverie, she cried out for someone, anyone to help her. She grabbed her cloak as she sobbed and apparated to the only place she could truly call home.