crave

eighty-seven

the image of my mouther curling up in pain replays in my mind all night. the sound of her screaming in agony rings in my ears, deafening me. i'm sure what my father did is all around the school 'micheal alure uses torture curse on wife, caroline alure' exactly what the headlines will say. i can already feel the people staring at me. i want to go see my mother, draco says that the curse shouldn't have lasted long because he doesn't think my father had enough anger. i beg to differ. the anger in my father's eyes was more feirce than i had ever seen it.

"elizabeth, did you get any sleep" draco's tired voice pulls me out of my thoughts. "yeah, of course" i lie and he rolls on his side to look at me, he lays his hand on my stomach as i turn my head to look at him. "don't lie to me, elizabeth" he shakes his head and i laugh. "i'm worried about her, what if she's still in pain. what if it's driving her crazy" i sigh and he look at me, a sympathetic look in his eye. "i'm sure the ministry has taken caer of everything, he'll go to a trial and be put away for life, you won't have to worry about him anymore. and your mother will be alright, i promise" he assures me and i nod.

"i have to start getting ready" i sigh and he shakes his head "are you sure you want to go to class today? you can stay in if you want, i'll stay with you" he says and i nod "i'm sure. i need something to get my mind of of..everything" i laugh and he nods. "alright, i'll join you in a shower" he smirks and i roll my eyes "no thank you" i laugh as i sit up. "what? that will get your mind off of things" he says as he sits up with me "you're a-" "creep. yeah yeah, i know" he shakes his head and i smile as i stand up.

the stares are driving me crazy, the whispers are like voices constantly murmuring in my brain, they never go away. as i walk through the corridor, draco's hand holds mine tightly, people stare, point, whisper, they don't hold back. they act like i did it, like i'm the evil person here. though, i don't blame them. what's the saying? the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

we walk into breakfast and he looks at me "do you want me to sit with you or would you mind if i sat with pansy" he asks and i shrug "i don't mind. see you later" i nod. "alright" he lets go of my hand and walks over to the slytherin table as i walk over to cam's table.

"before you say anything, i don't want to hear about my father and i'm not answering questions" i get straight to the point as i sit down "yes ma'am" caleb laughs and i shake my head. "i swear, nobody can stay out of my fucking business" i laugh and esmeray nods "alright, i know not to mess with you today" she laughs and i sigh. "kai and esmeray went on a date the other night" cam spits out and kai glares at him "what the fuck? we aren't talking about that" he says and i laugh. "i'm guessing it didn't go well" i ask and esmeray shakes her head "we both found out we're better as friends" she says and kai nods. "way better as friends" he agrees and i laugh. "really? i was sure you two would be perfect together" i look at cam and he nods "didn't we all"

i watch as my owl flies in and drops a letter in front of me. my heart drops as i read the front 'to: elizabeth alure, from: the ministry of magic'. esmeray looks at me as i open it, preparing myself for whatever this will say.

"miss elizabeth alure,
we are sending this letter to inform you that your mother has been brought in to one of our best hospital wings, she is feeling better. the worse effects of the curse has worn off though, there are some long-term effects that she will be dealing for a while. she will be okay.
in regards to your father, micheal alure, we will be holding a trial. we have been informed of inappropriate acts, domestic violence, and other things your father has participated in. the ministry has summoned you to testify against your father to help him be put away for longer. your mother has agreed to testify also though, the effects of the curse could have possibly affected her memory. we suggest you come to the trial next wednesday at three in the afternoon. you will be questioned about your father in front of a judge and jury. you will be expected to tell the truth about every situation and have specific detail for everything.
thank you, the ministry of magic"

i feel sick. i didn't know i would have to testify against him. what happens when he finds out? he'll kill me. how am i supposed to tell everyone what he's done to me? the whole school will know. esmeray, cam, kai, caleb, everyone. draco will find out things he didn't even know about. my mother even. she'll have to testify too, she'll have to relive these horrible things.

"liz, what is it" esmeray's voice is muffled as my mind races, my heart speeds up, my hands become clammy. it feels like the rooms closing in on me. the voices. the stares. "i'm going to be sick" i breath out as i drop the letter and walk out of the room.

*draco's pov*
elizabeth runs out of the room, a sickly look on her face. i look at esmeray from across the room, she shrugs. "i have to go" i cut off pansy's talking as i stand up. "alright then" she rolls her eyes as i walk out.

i watch as elizabeth walks into the girls bathroom. i sigh as i get to the door, "elizabeth" i call into the door, not wanting to barge inside. no answer. "elizabeth, darling, are you alright" i ask but still, no answer. "okay, i'm coming in. pleas everybody be decent" i say as i open the door. i look around, making sure no one else is in the room.

i go over to the stall and i can hear elizabeth getting sick, "elizabeth, love, it's draco" i knock on the door. it's not locked so it swings open. i look at the sick elizabeth, curled over to the toilet. i sigh as i pull her hair back out of her face and crouch beside her. "it's alright. just breath" i comfort her and she sighs as she sits up. she wipes her mouth and looks at me as she leans against the wall "what happened" i ask and she shakes her head. "i have to testify against my father. tell things he's done to me. to my mother" she sighs, i can see the worry in her eyes. the fear of telling everything that's happened. i know i don't know all of it, and i'm sure i don't know the worst of it.

"the more your able to tell them, the more he'll suffer. he's getting what he deserves, elizabeth. afterwards, everything is going to be alright. it will just be you and your mother. he won't hurt you anymore" i try to calm her down as a tear rolls down her cheek "everyone will know, they'll know everything" she sighs and i nod. "i'll take care of it. just breath, elizabeth, calm down. when's the trial" i ask and she looks at me "wednesday at three" she explains and i nod "then we'll worry about it wednesday. right now, we're going to go get you some breakfast, and we'll go to class. unless you want to take me back on my offer of staying out of class" i say, she shakes her head. "i'll go to class. i have a feeling i'll want to stay in a lot next week" she sighs and i nod as she grabs my hand for me to help her up.

"everything's going to be alright, elizabeth" i look at her and she sighs as she pulls me closer to her and leans her head on my chest. i let out a breath as she relaxes in my arms, she's alright, i'm alright, we're alright. "let's go" she sighs as she pulls away and walks out of the stall.