A/N: This in in response to Astronomy, Assignment #6, Task 2:Write about someone who only has one friend, and how it affects them. Prompts used will be displayed at an author's note at the bottom. Thank you for reading this, and do visit the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments) Forum if you want to read any more work!

Disclaimer: None of my work belongs to me, it is solely the property of the one and only J.K. Rowling and any other company which has the copyright of Harry Potter, including Warner Bros. Nothing here belongs to me; all the characters are J.K. Rowling's originally, though any new character not part of the Harry Potter series belongs to me.


Title: Voiceless she cries

Author: hpjkrowling4ever

You're not alone anymore

Ever since that one night, Eloise and Hermione had been friends. A bond only created out of shared pain and healing tied them together. Something powerful, beyond anything Eloise had ever felt, had joined them. That feeling of warmth never left her now, because Hermione looked out for her. They talked on that special windowsill in their dorm deep into the night, and that something special, Eloise discovered, was friendship.

Being friends with someone was a novel experience. Eloise had never been given the opportunity to talk with anyone, but in Hermione she found a ready listener. Hermione possessed wisdom beyond her years, and one that Eloise discovered was at the disposal of any of her friends. Hermione seemed to have a sixth sense for knowing if anything was wrong with Eloise, and always acted accordingly. Sometimes she would make a piece of paper flutter over to Eloise in class, or she would slip some chocolate into Eloise's bag whenever they passed in the corridor. Hermione knew how to make Eloise feel better without ever making Eloise feel like she should talk about her problems.

Which was why Eloise paused that night. The moon shone so brightly that Eloise could see slivers of light coming through the thick tartan curtains, and silence reigned supreme in the dorm. She had woken up from a horrible nightmare, a recurring one she had where she became almost invisible because she was unable to express herself, and was breathing shakily and tears were pouring down her face. Her eyes automatically sought Hermione, who was lying comfortably in bed, her head spread out like a bushy halo. Something about the innocence in Hermione's face struck Eloise, who knew that Hermione had seen more horrors in her life than Eloise probably ever would.

She tugged her red throw around her shoulders and knelt beside Hermione's bed. She paused infinitesimally, but the sight of Hermione hardened her resolve. She shook Hermione's arm gently, and the girl's eyes shot open. Her hands sought her wand before she realised that it was only Eloise.

"Eloise?" she asked groggily. She peered at her in the darkness. "Are you okay?" Then she caught sight of the tears, followed by the panicked breathing. "Merlin, Eloise!" Hermione slid to the side of her bed and pulled over her covers. "Come on." She jerked her head and Eloise hesitated only briefly before abandoning her throw and climbing into bed. Eloise put her head in the crook of Hermione's neck, her panic making her bold, and sobbed quietly. And Hermione did a very simple thing: she put her hand on Eloise's head and carded her fingers through her hair.

"Shh, shh. It's okay. It's okay. Thank you for coming to me." Hermione did reach for her wand this time, and she waved it. Eloise recognised a Silencing Spell. "I know it was difficult."

Eloise nodded jerkily, but the relief of finally admitting weakness to someone was so strong that she couldn't help but pull herself closer to Hermione. And Hermione didn't bat an eyelid. Instead, she wrapped her arms around Eloise and continued carding her fingers through Eloise's hair.

"There's this thing about friendship I realised," Hermione said, her voice a calm ocean compared to Eloise's rocky one, "It's that no matter how many times you tell someone that you're there for them, they'll never believe you until you make the first step and show your own weakness. Ron and Harry made me realise this. And eventually, baring yourself and your faults means that people will be reluctant to hurt you. Because it's the most powerful courage to go to someone and say that you need help. Friendship is all about doubting yourself; doubting that you're actually as strong as you are. When you finally admit that you're not perfect, then everything falls into place. So I'd like to thank you for trusting me. I know how much it hurts to take that step and fall. But I'm here, and that's what friends are for."

Eloise's hands sought Hermione's and she squeezed them tightly. In that moment, Eloise was never more thankful that she couldn't speak. There were some things that couldn't be expressed with words, and words in that moment felt entirely insubstantial in the face of the power of Hermione's conviction. Hermione's hand squeezed Eloise's in return, and her fingers continued their calming motion.

"You are so strong, and it takes so much courage for you just to face a new day. For that, you are one of the bravest Gryffindors I know. But this courage that it took you to wake me up and tell me that you're not okay is the stronger courage, the better courage. Because Gryffindors lean on each other, and you can always lean on me, just as I know that I can lean on you." Hermione kissed Eloise's forehead in a sisterly way, like her brother did sometimes when saying goodnight. A lone tear made its way down Eloise's cheek and Hermione brushed it away.

"Shh, I'm here now."

Eloise squeezed Hermione's hand again, and Hermione's shining eyes told Eloise all she ever needed to know.

You're not alone anymore.


A/N: It's quite short, but I conveyed all the emotion I possibly could in this. The prompts I used were simple and red.