Rubber Bands (open)

[weaslebee2]

Christmas had been yesterday. Emily hadn't expected much, she didn't really want anything at all. Maybe something sharp, though. But of course, Hermione had locked up everything one could possibly get cut on with her wand, and Emily hadn't been able to figure out how to get to them yet. At least her mum had decided rubber bands were "safe," so here Emily was, locked up in her room and snapping a rubber band as hard as she could against her wrist. Her parents had been most dissatisfied with what she had done to her hair and face. But, they didn't seem to want to test Emily, she was close to tears every moment of the day. The doorbell rang downstairs and Emily listened as her father got up to answer it. However, she was fairly surprised when she heard him come upstairs and knock on her door. "Emmy," Ron said gently. "Someone's here to see you," Emily nearly fell off her bed, her father hadn't called her "Emmy" since she was ten, he had liked her then. She got up and walked downstairs only to see a familiar face waiting in the hall...

[igloogirl]

Gabriella grinned up at her sister. She and Isaac were away from Hogwarts to visit Isaac's mother. That was supposed to happen tomorrow, but Gabriella figured she would check up on her sister while she had some spare time. "Hey Em," Gabriella said.

[weaslebee2]

Emily was aware the her mum was in the kitchen down the hall, drinking tea and probably listening with all her might to hear their conversation, and Ron was neglecting to leave. Did the honestly think Gabriella was smuggling in a knife? She grabbed her cloak from the hook on the wall. "Want to go for a walk?" Emily asked.

[igloogirl]

Gabriella shrugged, but figured she better go along with what Emily was saying in case her sister had to tell her something important. "Sure, sounds good," Gabriella replied, giving her father a smile and a nod as she opened the door for her sister.

[weaslebee2]

Emily donned her cloak as the door closed behind them. She didn't care that this was a neighbourhood for muggles and wizards alike, she wore her cloak anyways. "Thank God," Emily said. "I've been trying to think of an excuse to get out of there for ages. It's too tense, and Mum doesn't trust me to be by myself. It's like I'm four years old all over again."

[igloogirl]

Gabriella gave her a weak smile, wondering if Emily even realized why they were doing all this anyways. Hermione and Ron loved her, they didn't want her to hurt herself. "They're just protecting you, I'm sure they'll get over it soon enough," Gabriella replied.

[weaslebee2]

Emily rolled her eyes at that. Had Gabriella seen what had gone on inside the house? Hermione had bought every muggle child-proofing device on the market and applied it to everything. "Gabriella," Emily said, eyes with makeup heavily applied now wide. "She's put squishy plastic things on the corners of the coffee table, don't you think that's a bit extreme?"

[igloogirl]

Oh, well Gabriella hadn't seen the whole house, just the entrance area. Then Emily had quickly taken her outside. "Alright, I'll agree that's a bit extreme," Gabriella replied. "Hopefully they'll back off soon. And you are going back to Hogwarts after the holidays, right?"

[weaslebee2]

"If Mum decides to let me leave her sight, then yes." said Emily. She doubted this, but Hermione was so concerned with her children's educations, she probably wouldn't dare try to keep Emily from returning to school. "It's strange Gabriella, I can't handle it much longer." Emily said suddenly.

[igloogirl]

Gabriella couldn't tell if Emily was referring to being babied, or to the pain that she was still experiencing from her memories. "Mum and Dad?" Gabriella asked, just to clarify. Yes, they were acting very strange, Gabriella would hate it too.

[weaslebee2]

Emily bit her lip, she wasn't exactly sure how to respond. Everything was just eating her away. Food was sickening, her parents were so cautious around her, treating her like porcelain, as if she might break. It was getting on her nerves. But there were still the nightmares, and the continuing urge to hurt herself. "Everything," Emily said, feeling her eyes stinging. "I don't know what to do anymore."

[igloogirl]

"Oh," Gabriella said quietly, understanding at once. Emily was overwhelmed by everything that had happened, which was completely understandable. And quite frankly, who wouldn't be overwhelmed. Gabriella stopped and gave her sister a gentle hug, feeling almost like a mother.

[weaslebee2]

Emily felt tears escaping, in spite of how hard she had been trying to not let them fall. They carried traces of black eyeliner, making streaks on her now pale cheeks. She felt a bit awkward since she was so much taller than Gabriella, but she didn't really care at the moment. Emily had the strong desire to kill herself, but deep down, she knew that wouldn't help anything.

[igloogirl]

Gabriella saw the tears falling down Emily's cheeks, heavily tinted with the thick eyeliner she had been wearing. Gabriella rubbed Emily's hair soothingly and held her for a few more moments. Finally she softly let her go.

[weaslebee2]

Emily wiped her tears away, only accomplishing to smear her eyeliner even more. She sniffed, she didn't know if she would ever get over it. And the therapist her mum had been making her go to wasn't much of a help, all he did was make her relive that night all over again, which only made her life worse, although he was supposed to be helping. "Thanks," Emily whispered.