Trigger Warning - The following chapter has content based on disturbing themes, like self harm, mental illness. Please proceed at your own risk.

Chapter 9

The ministry atrium was still packed with people dancing, drinking and laughing. Ginny took another sip of champagne as she chatted with her colleagues, team members of the quidditch team. When she saw Harry in the crowd she excused herself and walked towards him.

"Where were you Harry?"

"Ginny I need to talk to you" he said, in a serious tone.

"I'm not going anywhere with you until you dance with me" she chuckled, playfully.

"Gin this is important. Come with me" he grabbed her hand and dragged her away from the crowd in a quieter corner of the hall.

"What's the matter with you?" Ginny asked.

"It's Hermione" Harry answered.

"What about her?"

"Have you noticed her lately? Isn't she acting a bit weird?"

Ginny paused and looked at him thoughtfully. "Well now that you mention it...yes she does seem a little off"

"I knew it" Harry exclaimed.

"Why? What happened?"

"A few minutes ago she seemed very restless and anxious. Then she just left in the middle of the conversation and so I decided to follow her-"

"You followed her?" Ginny raised her eyebrows.

"I only did it because I was worried about her and guess what I found. She was snogging Malfoy!" he exclaimed.

"Malfoy? Atleast she's snogging someone!"

"I don't have a problem with Malfoy. The problem is when she saw me watching her, she...she just freaked out"

"Freaked out?" she asked, puzzled.

"Yes! As in she pushed Malfoy off her and started panicking. The look on her face...she seemed so terrified and afraid" he trailed off. Ginny looked confused. "And now I can't find her. She's gone" he continued.

"Gone where?"

"I have no idea but she's certainly not in this building"

"But that just doesn't make sense. Did you say something to her, Harry?" she narrowed her eyes at him.

"What? Of course not!" he exclaimed, incredulously.

"Well then something else must be troubling her. We should talk to her."

"Yes. To be honest, Hermione's changed. She hasn't been the same since..." he trailed off.

"Ron's death. None of us have been." Ginny finished morosely.

"I know. We'll talk to her and sort things out" Harry said as he placed his hand over Ginny's comfortingly.

...

Draco walked back to the crowded section of the hall with mixed feelings. He was feeling annoyed and irritated at being left hanging in the air by Granger, again. He was also surprised and confused after seeing her reaction to Potter watching them like that. After what had happened he was convinced that she was dating the boy who lived but he still couldn't fathom why she seemed so reserve about their relationship.

He was standing by the bar, downing his third glass of whiskey when someone tapped his shoulder from the behind. He turned around with a frown on his face only to find Blaise Zabini standing behind him with a huge grin on his face.

"Missed me?" he asked.

Draco's mood immediately lightened. "Blaise! I didn't think I'd see you here and no, I didn't miss you at all"

"You arrogant bastard, that's no way to talk to your best mate" he exclaimed playfully.

"Where's Pansy?" Draco looked around.

As if on a cue Pansy appeared from the crowd. "He remembers my name!" she said, sarcasm dripping in her voice.

"Don't start the both of you! I'm already having a shitty evening" Draco groaned.

"That's why we are here, aren't we Blaise?" Pansy smirked and shared a look with him.

"Exactly! Pansy literally dragged me here." He complained.

"Shutup! You're having fun, aren't you?" she punched his stomach.

"Bloody hell woman! That hurt!"

"Why do you two always have to be so embarrassing, honestly!" Draco took a sip out of his glass.

"What's got your knickers in a twist?" Blaise asked.

Draco didn't even know where to begin. He just shrugged.

"If you would have just bought a date tonight, you wouldn't have been so grumpy" Pansy exclaimed.

Draco rolled his eyes. "For your information, I do have a date" he looked around hall and continued, "although I lost her in the crowd somewhere, which is not a bad thing actually" he mused.

"Who's it?" they asked in unison.

"Astoria Greengrass" he sighed.

"Oh...but don't you work with her?" Pansy asked.

"Yeah it's a long story, some other time"

"Well Blaise and I are going to the dance floor. Want to join us?"

"No, I'm better off here"

They both scowled. "Come on mate, don't be such a spoilsport"

"Honestly, just go. I'm not interested"

Blaise and Pansy shook their heads and started walking away. Soon Draco was alone. He gulped down a huge sip of whiskey and scanned the crowd. He was looking for Hermione, even a glimpse of her would do, he just wanted to see her.

As his eyed lingered amongst the crowd, he couldn't spot Hermione but he saw Potter. Draco's expression hardened and hands tightened around the glass in his hands. He felt a surge of anger rush through his veins as he couldn't help but picture Potter doing everything with Hermione that he was supposed to be doing.

Harry Potter who was until now completely oblivious to the fact that he was being watched suddenly turned around and his eyes met Draco's. He scrutinized the former Slytherin suspiciously and Draco only glared at him in response. Their staring contest ended when Draco abruptly tore his eyes off him, slammed the empty glass down and walked away.

...

"Do it" he ordered.

Hermione shivered as she heard the words, tears streaming down her eyes.

"I'm sorry. It was a mistake" she cried.

"It doesn't matter"

"Please listen to me. I don't want to do this, please stop"

"You don't have a choice"

"I said I'm sorry, I will never do it again. I promise" she was begging.

"Liar"

"I'm not lying. Please Ron, don't make me do it, please"

"Fine. You don't have to do anything"

She stopped crying and looked at him hopefully. "Really?"

"Yes. But you know the rules. If you don't do as I say, I will leave"

Hermione looked conflicted and dismayed.

"Goodbye Hermione. I'm never going to come back again and it's all your fault" he said in an accusatory tone.

"No! Ron wait! I'll do it!" she sobbed.

Hermione picked up the knife sitting on the table with trembling hands. She looked at him. He was staring at her, waiting for her to do it.

She raised her left hand and placed the sharp edge of the knife on the smooth skin. Beads of perspiration appeared on her forehead and tears flowed down her eyes blurring her vision. She clutched the knife in her right hand and slowly pierced it into the skin of her palms. A stinging sensation made her grimace but she shut her eyes and forced herself dragged the piece of metal over her skin. Droplets of blood started flowing down her hands and onto the floor. Hermione stared at the blood on her hands and the knife with a painful and terrifying expression on her face.

"This is was your last warning, Hermione. Stay away from Malfoy" he said scathingly.