With Or Without You

Four

TW: Abuse

"Teresa, it's time to leave. You don't want to miss the train," I hear my mom call.

I checked to make sure I packed everything. I grabbed all my things and started to walk slowly down the stairs so I didn't drop anything. As I walked down the stairs, David pushed me hard in the back causing me to drop all my things and tumble down the stairs. At the end of the stairs, I hit my head hard on the ground.

"Hurry when you walk down the stairs," David sneered at me.

"I'm sorry, I was just trying t-" I was cut off with a slap to my face.

"Don't talk back to me," he says.

"Yes sir," I looked down feeling scared.

"I don't want you to come back for Christmas," he said to me. I looked back up to him with a tear rolling down my face. "I don't even want you combing back, but you have too," he said irritated. I looked down and nodded. I didn't know what else to do during this time. He walked away looking a little mad.

I walked outside and I saw my mom shake her head. I had a bump on the top of my head and a red face. As I was putting my things into the car, she kissed me on my head.

"Are you okay sweetheart?" she asked.

"I'm fine mom," I said , trying not to cry. I didn't want to worry her before I left.

...

We got to the muggle train station and it was completely full of muggles. It was hard to enter our platform. We had to wait for a whole group of muggle until finally not many people were there. My mom and I ran through a wall between platforms nine and ten and it took us to platform 9 ¾.

I hugged my mom tightly. "I'll miss you mom."

"I'll miss you too sweetie," she said, sounding like she was about to cry. "I wish you could come for Christmas."

"Me too, but David said no and I don't want him to be mad. I promise to write," I said, looking hopeful. She helped me put my trunk onto the train then the train's horn rang saying it was time to say goodbye. I hugged my mom one last time. She kissed my forehead then my cheek and I ran to an entrance to the train.

I walked through the train to look for a place to sit. Everywhere was totally full until I saw Harry sitting alone so I decided to ask if I could sit with him.

"Hey stranger," I said to him with a slight chuckle.

"Oh hey Teresa," Harry said back.

"Do you mind if I sit in here?" I asked him.

"No, not at all," Harry said. I sat across from him, closer to the door. I tried to cover the red mark on my face and the bump on my forehead with my hair but luckily he didn't say anything.

"Who do you live with?" I asked Harry. I knew his parents died but I didn't want to talk about that with him.

"My Aunt and Uncle, they also have a son named Dudley," he told me. He didn't look so happy on the topic.

"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude on your life," I said to him.

"Oh don't worry about it," he then paused. "It's just, they aren't very nice people."

"I know what it's like to live with not very nice people," I mumbled. I was so quiet I didn't think he heard me.

"Is it really hard for you," he asked. I was so grateful when a boy with ginger hair walked in because then I didn't have to answer Harry's question. He asked if he could sit with us and we both agreed.