A/N: Hello hello! How's everyone's holidays so far? Mine started with Christmas and Boxing Day shopping right after, so that was pretty sweet. Anyways, I know that this story isn't really one that should be updated around the holidays but I really enjoy writing it and I hope you enjoy reading it. So, chapter 2!
Chapter 2: Falling

I awoke the next morning in pain, as I frequently did. I looked over and thankfully saw that Jason was still asleep. I noticed how peaceful and utterly kind he looked as he slumbered. I sighed at how misleading appearances can be and silently pulled myself from the bed. My body screamed in agony at the movement, the bruises and cuts from last night still fresh and very tender. I padded my way to the bathroom and stepped in to the shower.

I usually avoided looking at my body in the shower at all costs. It was too horrific to see the things that someone I loved so much had done to me. However, this morning I couldn't resist for I needed to inspect the damage. Most of the blows had been directed at my abdomen, so I started there. The sight was terrible, making me feel nauseous. Dark blue and black bruises coloured every inch of the skin on my stomach, the results of being kicked there so many times on numerous occasions. I ran my fingers over the marks, flinching at the pain that immediately sprung up. I looked in morbid fascination at the markings, the mix of old and new wounds.

My eye was soon drawn to the other scars and marks that tainted my body: cuts and bruises on my thighs and abdomen, the swollen skin around my breasts, the pale scars up and down my arms from when Jason had used a razor as a weapon and from my old habit of cutting myself. I know, it's terrible but it's the truth. Why would someone who already goes through so much inflict more pain on herself, you may ask. I couldn't help it though. It had started one day months ago. I had been sitting quietly, thinking about the hell called life. Tears had sprung to my eyes and before I had known what was happening, I was slowly dragging a razor down the inside of my arm, a combination of tears and blood falling to the ground. After the first time, there was no stopping it. When you're in a situation like mine, you do it once and you're gone.

I grew tired of seeing my body and stepped out of the shower, wrapping myself protectively in a fluffy white towel. I stepped closer to the mirror and inspected my face. My cheek was red and puffy from where Jason had slapped me last night and I muttered a spell to conceal it. I did the same with the rest of my body and watched with a sigh as all the marks faded away as if they were never there. They were gone for now but would come back within a few hours. I had tried every concealing spell I could lay my hands on but the scars were resistant, always stubbornly reappearing soon afterwards.

I stepped in to my room and dressed quickly. Jason was still asleep, much to my liking. I slipped out of the room to go to breakfast, knowing he would be angry when he awoke and found that I wasn't there, but not caring much. If I stayed, he would be angry with me for being too clingy and I would much rather be away from him for a few precious hours if the result was going to be the same.

I stepped in to the Great Hall and walked with my head down to the Gryffindor table. I sat down and nibbled on a piece of bread while awaiting my friends. Harry and Ron entered soon after, making their way over to me.

"Hey 'Mione," they said as they sat down. I smiled at them and said hello. Ginny came down a few minutes later and sat down with us.

"Hi Ginny," I said quietly to the redhead. She didn't answer, as she was obviously lost in thought. She looked troubled, which worried me. "Ginny?"

She snapped out of it and fixed me with an anxious look. "Hermione, did Jason hit you last night?"

I was shocked, not ready for such a blunt and unexpected question.

"Of course not," I said quickly, my hand drifting subconsciously to my cheek. "Why would you ask that?"

"Well, apparently he kicked Shawn out of your common room because you guys were working on a project and he got jealous," Ginny explained. "Shawn came and found me afterwards. He was really worried, he said Jason looked so mad."

"Well, he was mad," I said slowly. "But it was my fault. I was getting too close to Shawn."

"You were working on a project, Hermione!" Ginny exclaimed. "That's hardly getting too close. So I'll ask you again, did he hit you?"

"No, Ginny," I repeated impatiently. "Sure, he was mad but he didn't do anything wrong."

Ginny accepted my answer purely because she didn't want to get in to an argument with me. I could tell she didn't believe me but I didn't care. Just then, Jason stormed in, looking pissed off. He spotted me quickly and made his way over but upon seeing that I was with my friends, his expression turned in to one of fake happiness.

"Hey babe," he said to me, kissing me hard on my injured cheek. I gritted my teeth to avoid hissing in pain. I noticed Ginny watching us carefully and plastered a fake smile on my face.

"Morning," I said, my false cheerfulness hurting my ears. I sat there for about five minutes before standing and excusing myself to get ready for my first class of the morning. I was in the hall for about two seconds before I was being pushed up against a wall in a dark corner. I felt a strong body pressed up against me and I heard Jason's hiss in my ear.

"Why didn't you wait for me this morning?"

"I-I'm sorry, Jason," I stuttered, his harsh grip making tears spring to my eyes. "I didn't want to seem needy and-"

I didn't get to finish before he slapped me hard on the same cheek as before. My head snapped to the side and I smashed it against the cold stone wall. Jason left me just as people came pouring out of the Great Hall. I sat in the shadows for a minute as I brushed away my tears and muttered a concealment charm on my cheek, knowing there was a handprint there. I then stood and stumbled in to the swarms of people. No one even noticed me. My lip began to tremble as more tears came and I rushed towards a staircase, running up it, turning a corner and running towards another staircase that I needed to go down to get to class. Blinded by my tears, I ran right smack in to someone and my hands flew to my mouth as they went toppling down the stairs and landing at the bottom with a sickening crunch.

A/N: Review and let me know what you think!