h e a l ing |hermione/open|

[doodle]

The holidays at home had been tense so far, Blaize almost wished that he had decided to stay at school instead of coming back. It was weird, being the only kid left in the house- Gabriella was married and moved out, and Emily... Blaize bit his lip as he turned the knob on the door leading into what had been his twin sister's room. Looking around, he recalled that everything was left exactly the way it was back in August. It was probably too hard on his parents to even open the door, let alone clean it out. Blaize was glad they had left it alone as he stepped into the room, standing in the middle and looking around.

There were still clothes on the floor, crumpled parchment and quills littering her desk, the window still open as if it were expecting the summer breeze, and the final poem she had written laying atop her dresser. Blaize picked up the poem, but could only read four lines before he was forced to put it back down. Quietly, Blaize closed the window, as it really was freezing in the room. With a sigh, he sat down on Emily's unmade bed and picked up one of the pillows. It still smelled faintly like her. Blaize held the pillow close, taking in the scent, his brain flashing back to happy, though painful memories.

"Wish you were here, Em," Blaize muttered into the pillow, but only now the hurt wasn't as powerful. Perhaps the wounds had finally begun to heal- they still stung, but not so badly. Blaize was too consumed in thought to notice the footsteps coming from up the hall.

[hermy]

"I miss her too," Hermione replied softly, leaning in the doorway of Emily's room. She smiled softly at Blaize, hoping she hadn't frightened him too much. She looked around the room, smiling, her arms wrapped around her body to keep herself room. She hadn't so much as stepped foot in Emily's room since she had died, and had been too numb to realize the window was open. Hermione walked forward, sitting next to Blaize on Emily's bed.

[doodle]

Blaize looked up at his mother, he hadn't noticed that she was there. He only nodded in response to what she had said, he wasn't really sure what to say. If only Emily were still there, she would see his book published, she would have been happy for his success. Blaize had dedicated the book to her, it was simple, it only read; For Emily, I hope the pain has gone away. "I should have done more," Blaize said quietly, putting the pillow back exactly where he had found it.

[hermy]

Hermione took her son's hand and shook her head. "No. I should have done more. I didn't know she was hurting herself, didn't know she was so..." Hermione trailed off, looking for the right words. "So troubled," she finished. Hermione thought about it everyday, how much more she could have done. Biting her lip, she looked around the room. It had traces of the young girl that had been happy once, with things from her childhood prominently displayed.

[doodle]

Blaize wasn't sure what to say, how his mother could have not seen what was going on... Sure, Emily was secretive, but it didn't take a genius to realize how much weight she had lost, how tired she looked, how pale she always was... Blaize wasn't angry at his mother, no, far from it, there was no use getting angry now. He sat quietly for a long time, suddenly wanting out of the house. Lately he had been haunting the stretch of the abandoned highway overpass that Emily had thrown herself from. Sometimes, it almost seemed as if she were there. "I'm dedicating my book to her, you know," said Blaize after a moment.

[hermy]

Hermione had been looking about the room when she heard Blaize's half-hearted call. Turning, she found her vision blurring. "Oh Blaize," she whispered, smiling sadly. She cleared her throat, not wanting to creep her son out. "She must be so proud of you. I know I am," she muttered. Hermione reached forward and patted her son's knee affectionately. It was times like this, when he looked so much like Ron, when she was so heartbroken. Her family was falling to pieces, and Hermione was unsure of how to fix it. "I'm so proud of you Blaize."

[doodle]

Blaize could only get a small smile to his lips. He was thrilled about his book being published, it had been something that he had dreamed of since he started writing elaborate stories in primary school. Blaize was excited, but at the same time he wasn't entirely rid of his period of mourning, and now on top of the recent death of his aunt and Safira being kidnapped... Blaize's world was changing quickly, and he didn't like it that much. Blaize nodded, now being one of the many times that he had no idea what to say.