Skeletons in the Closet

Hermione dissolved into big, hiccupping sobs. Memories of her childhood floated to the front of her foggy, tired mind. Harsh words from her mother, loud and scary drill bits, the boy who pulled her hair, harsh words from friends she knew she could never have, bad marks on her Potions essays, Harry plummeting to the ground, huge fangs dripping blood, spiders and giants and flashes of green light, dead, cold eyes, clammy hands, the smell of death and charred flesh, red slits, high-pitched laughter….

Hermione couldn’t breathe. The smell of death made her cough and her tears made her choke.