Summery : A tragedy has gone through Hogwarts. A student has been found dead. What led to these drastic actions? Why is Draco so sad? How does Hermione fit into all this? This is a Songfic, based on Blaine Larson's 'How Do You Get That Lonely'. Long AN at end. R&R please.

It sickened her. The fact it was in paper ment no one really seemed to care. The way it was written as well. No sorrow. No sadness. Just the gruesome facts.

It was just another story printed on the second page

It deemed not worthy enough to be front page news.

Underneath the Tiger's football score

Each student received a copy at lunch. Not one could hold back the look of shock. No one would have guessed.

It said he was only eighteen, a boy about my age

Blaise Zabini. The quiet Slytherin. Hardly anyone noticed him. Not his family, nor his peers.

They found him face down on his bedroom floor

They claimed it to be because of the Dark Lord falling. He didn't want to be jailed. No one had known if this was true though.

There'll be services on Friday at the Lawrence Funeral Home

No number on how many would attend. The hall was in a state of shock. It was only the second day back. Only a very select number of pupils had noticed his absence.

Then out on Mooresville highway, they'll lay him 'neath a stone...

The paper said he had been dead a month before he was found. How did his parents not notice?

Everyone's mind asking the same question.

How do you get that lonely, how do you hurt that bad?
To make you make the call, that havin' no life at all
Is better than the life that you had?
How do you feel so empty, you want to let it all go?
How do you get that lonely... and nobody know?
Whispers broke through the hall.

Did his girlfriend break up with him, did he buy or steal that gun?

"I heard he was depressed and that he killed his girlfriend too," was one of the rumors followed by; "He didn't even have a girlfriend I bet it was because he was gay."

"Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini. Did you see how they looked at each other last year. I bet they got together and Draco ended it."

"I heard his father had the gun laying around. Just waiting for him to use it."

"He stole the gun. It was from London!"

Did he lose a fight with drugs or alcohol?

"I heard he was a druggey. He took too many that time though and shot himself."

"Did you see him last year? He was always out of it. Obviously into the powder."

"He drank every night. I didn't every see him without it. I bet that's what made him do it. The alcohol."

Did his Mom and Daddy forget to say I love you son?

"I met the Zabini's last year. His parents didn't pay him any attention. I thought nothing of it… he was just so quiet…"

"No one even spoke to the Zabini's and they never spoke of a child when people did."

"His parents took too long to find him. A month? Who wouldn't notice a child missing that long? Unless they killed him…?"

Did no one see the writing on the wall?

"The signs were all there. He just didn't bother to try and get close with anyone. No one took notice."

"He was a silent type. Always alone. It was just how he was."

Unable to stand it anymore Hermione fled the hall. Running out onto the school grounds. She had never really talked to him unless they were paired together. He was a nice boy. Lots of people liked him.

I'm not blamin' anybody, we all do the best we can

"Granger!" she heard someone call. "You alright?"

"Go away Malfoy! I want to be alone," she whispered back, her voice full of tears. She just didn't understand. What would drive someone to this?

"Why would I? You were the only one to actually be nice to him… you deserve the full story," shocked Hermione turned to Draco Malfoy.

"You know what happened?" she asked the tears now flowing freely.

"I was his best friend."

I know hindsight's 20/20, but I still don't understand...
"What happened Draco?"

"Everyone bullied him. His parents neglected him," he took a deep breath. His voice shook. It had to be hard to lose a best friend. "To them he didn't exist. He was a burden. They used to leave him for months at a time, the elves would watch him. They hated him Hermione."

How do you get that lonely, how do you hurt that bad?

"He coped so well. But once the Dark Lord fell… his parents went crazy. They blamed him. Everything that went wrong was his fault."

"So that was his way to prove he wasn't theirs?" she asked, her voice broke throughout it. She couldn't even begin to imagine a life were parents didn't look after their children.

"Yes. It was his way out," a few tears fell, followed by more. "I tried to stop him… I really did."

To make you make the call, that havin' no life at all

"If his mind was made up you could have tried everything and it still wouldn't have worked," she tried reasoning with the teenager.

"They beat him. All summer. It was horrible. He would… he would come round each time and we'd… we were always talking. They cursed him repeatedly."

Is better than the life that you had?

She just stood and watched in shock as the great Draco Malfoy fell to the ground crying. He made no sound but she could clearly see it was killing him inside. She walked over and knelt in front of him.

He was no longer an enemy. He was a broken person who had lost an important person it his life.

She slowly put her arms around him and hugged him tightly. She didn't tell him that it'd be alright, because she knew it wouldn't be. This would haunt him forever.

How do you feel so empty, you want to let it all go?

"Draco…" she whispered softly into his hair. He pulled back to look her in the eye. His red, puffy eyes made him look so much more human. So much more vulnerable. "I need you to promise me you won't do that," she needed to hear him say it. She couldn't lose someone else she knew, no matter what. The war was too much.

"I can't… it's too hard," he cried softly.

"Draco… I need you. I have no where else to go. My friends are happily in relationships. I can't hold them back now… plus Blaise wouldn't want you to be like this," she whispered desperately. "He'd want you to live for both of them. You need to Draco.

How do you get that lonely... and nobody know?
"I promise," he said so softly I almost missed it. "Hermione? Does this get any easier?"

"Only a little. It'll take time though," he nodded looking down. This Draco Hermione liked, the small child-like one. The one that needed a friend.

"Draco. I'm here… if you ever need me. you know that don't you?" she asked gently. His nod was the only thing.

He was no longer capable of words. He had said what needed to be said. He told her, just like Blaise had asked.

Draco took one last look down at the floor and saw the paper, open on the second page.

It was just another story printed on the second page
Underneath the Tiger's football score...

AN: ok… this has been in my head even since I heard the song. The song means a lot to me personally. It also holds a strong message within it. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem as most people say, but at the time it seems much more. It can be their only way out and to some of them, their only chance at freedom. I find it sad how people look down on the one that have tried or that succeed in committing suicide. It is a major problem and with that attitude it is only bound to get worse.

Things need to be done to help people thinking about it. Teenage suicide is getting worse as the years go on. If you could take the time to just talk to someone about what is worrying them or just make a nice, friendly conversation and not bullying them or ignoring them you could save that persons life. I'm not saying that this is anyone's fault, it just could make the difference. Everyone deserves a chance to fully live. They just have lost that part of life, it needs help returning…

If anyone is thinking of committing suicide please, I begging you get help. I was once in that place and I wish it on no one. It's horrible. You're just so lonely. Talk to anyone willing to listen, write, call a hotline. Please don't take your life. People care and would miss you.

As I said I've been to that place and back, every so often I revisit it. I hate the feeling but at times there is nothing I can do. If anyone ever needs to talk message me (or email… it's on here) I'll take the time to read through it and I'll try and help you. I've been through a lot and I didn't have the chance to talk. I will not be judgemental, I will be honest and if I think you need to get help I'll say so. I would never tell you to just get over it. Everyone's problems are big. I also check my emails and such often throughout the day. I'm here if you want.

Thank you for reading. If you leave a review I would be most grateful but if not that's ok too. I just hope that you all are in a good place and none of you are being mistreated.

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