Written for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Assignment 2 - Spell Origins and Creations: Task 2 - Write about someone learning to live with scars

My scars remind my that my past is real

Hermione had stared at the word on her forearm for so long that it no longer made sense to her. It no longer physically hurt her, the cuts having healed a long time ago, but the memory still made her flinch.

It had been a year since Bellatrix had carved Mudblood into her arm. Well, four hundred and two days, but who was counting now that the world was safe to live in for someone like her. It didn't stop her reliving the moment every time she looked to long at the scars, the letters dark red and jagged.

She rubbed her thumb hard across her skin, always surprised that she couldn't actually feel the difference between scar and healthy skin. Almost like it was tattoo.

The scraping of the empty chair opposite her brought her out of her thoughts. Hermione blinked as she looked up to see Lucius Malfoy taking a seat, his eyes firmly on her forearm. Even though the scar was the reason for him taking that seat, Hermione quickly tucked her arm under the table, resting it on her lap, using her other hand to picking up her now cold cup of tea.

"Miss Granger," he greeted idly, meeting her gaze.

"Mr Malfoy," she said quietly, looking around at the busy street. She'd been sat outside a coffee shop in the West End, away from magical prying eyes who would wonder why she would want to meet a Malfoy, and all the busy sounds and lights came rushing back to her.

Without preamble, Lucius pointed at her hidden arm before resting his hand on the table, palm up. "May I?"

She took a shaky breath, not sure why she was so nervous. He couldn't do anything to her. He likely wouldn't anything to her anymore after the turn of events with the Malfoys in that final battle.

She gently laid her arm into hand, his touch warm and gentle as he moved his fingers over the letters with his free hand. "You can help?"

"I know the curse she put on the knife…" He looked up at her, still holding her arm. "The spell is of my own, but this is a lot more severe than I had expected, which means I may not be able to remove it fully."

She nodded, like she'd been expecting those words from him, hiding her surprise at that he was able to sound mildly humble. "Even if it works a little, I'll take it."

Lucius nodded, taking another look at the scar. "No matter how scars come to be, they're never easy to live with."

"How do you live with yours?" she asked, her eyes looking at his own forearm, covered in dark fabric, knowing what was under it through her growing friendship with Draco.

"I won't allow myself any other choice." He gently put Hermione's arm down on the table. "If I don't, then I will lose my son."

"Is that why you're helping me?"

Lucius shook his head, a lift of the corner of his mouth. "No… this is for me and the guilt that eats away at me every day."

"Well, I hope this helps you in some way," Hermione said honestly, trying to live without holding any grudges.