Disclaimer: Don't own anything. Never did, never will.

Chapter 1:

Hermione sat crying in the corner of her room after being beaten by her father. His regular quest for proof of strength she had guessed. He'd come in her room and scream at her about something she didn't do, that she was supposed to do but most often it was something that he'd just make up. He came in this night drunk like most times. She hated him for beating her and hated her mother because she was too weak to take Hermione away from this.

Her mum didn't do anything, she simply didn't care. When Hermione was first beaten she didn't see her mum for at least a week. It was as if she avoided her daughter because of some horrible virus that she didn't want to catch. Hermione hated herself worst of all. She was weak for crying. She shouldn't be crying she should be strong and fight back, but she knew she couldn't. If she did it would only get worse.

It had been going on all summer, ever since her father started drinking. He just snapped, from the loving father he once was to the bastard he had become. She would be going to Hogwarts in a few weeks though and wouldn't ever be coming back here. It was her 7th year and she was Head Girl. She got up and looked at herself in the mirror. Her hair wasn't it's usual bushiness. Hermione had took off on one occasion and had gotten her hair died black and straightened with the little bit of pocket money she had saved over the years. That week, she had gotten the worst beating yet. The paleness from never going outside all summer covered her small, skinny frame. She didn't want anyone to see her like she saw herself, her bruises and scars. No one cared either.

The clothes that had once been only slightly large on her now became her bodies personal swimming pool.

"HERMIONE!" Her father screamed from below, like the devil himself. She got up weakly from her corner, wiping the tears from her eyes. Her body trembled as she descended the stairs. She was afraid, she was always afraid. "I thought I told you to do the dishes? YOU LITTLE BITCH!" He slapped her across the face, hard, knocking her down then dragged her back up by her hair. She made no noise, she didn't dare. He hadn't said to do the dishes but she didn't see the point in arguing. It didn't matter anymore. "When I TELL YOU TO DO SOMETHING YOU DO IT!"

He hit her again but this time with his fist and she fell to the floor again, he kicked her in the stomach but she didn't make a sound. She wouldn't allow him the satisfaction of knowing he hurt her by seeing her tears. She wouldn't do it. He kicked her a few times and pulled her up by her hair throwing her at the stairs.

"Go to your room you filthy little witch and you can forget about getting any of my food you ungrateful little.." she didn't hear his last words as she quickly climbed the stairs to her dark room, her safe haven. She closed the door and couldn't hold it any longer. Vomit spilt on the floor, the kicks doing more damage then she had anticipated.

She cleaned up the mess and sat limply in her corner. Pulling the sleeve of her long sleeved shirt up, she looked down at her arms. The cuts on her arms brought back horrible memories of what she couldn't help but do again. She didn't feel alive anymore. She wanted to end it all, but didn't have the nerve. She popped open the loose floorboard and took our her CD/Radio player. Her father couldn't take it away as he didn't know she had it. Good Charlotte blasted in her ears as she flipped the player to radio.

GOOD CHARLOTTE

"Hold On"

"This world

This world is cold

But you don't

You don't have to go

You're feeling sad, you're feeling lonely, and no one seems to care

You're mother's gone and your father hits you

This pain you cannot bear

But we all bleed the same way as you do

And we all have the same things to go through

Hold on if you feel like letting go

Hold on it gets better than you know

Your days

You say they're way too long

And your nights

You can't sleep at all

Hold on

And you're not sure what you're waiting for, but you don't want to no more

And you're not sure what you're looking for, but you don't want to no more

But we all bleed the same way as you do

And we all have the same things to go through

Hold on if you feel like letting go

Hold on it gets better than you know

Don't stop looking, you're one step closer

Don't stop searching, it's not over

Hold on

What are you looking for?

What are you waiting for?

Do you know what you're doing to me?

Go ahead...What are you waiting for?

Hold on if you feel like letting go

Hold on it gets better than you know

Don't stop looking, you're one step closer

Don't stop searching, it's not over

Hold on if you feel like letting go

Hold on it gets better than you know

Hold on"

Hermione loved the song. Good Charlotte had saved her life once when she had a blade to her throat. The song came on and filled her ears. It was a sign. She had to stay around. She had so much more to live for. It was extremely hard though. She had received letters from Ron and Harry and even one from Fred. They each told her that they missed her and wanted her to come down. She had to lie to them, she always lied. She told them that she was going on a vacation with her parents and couldn't come but that she would see them on the train to school. They couldn't see her like this. Not with the bruises that was already forming on her face. Once school started she would figure out a way to cover them but until then she would have to hold on. No matter what.

A/N: Hope you liked it. If not, tell me. Review.