| Girl on Fire |

1

VERONICA MALFOY

"Ladies and Gentlemen... Her."

"Ronnie" I heard a knock on my door. "Ronnie." I rolled my eyes and got up from my bed. I walked over to my door swinging it open. "How many times do I have to tell you not to call me that stupid nickname?" I snapped. My twin brother laughed. "It's funny seeing you get all riled up over it." he said. I scoffed. 'I'm not riled up, and should I start calling you that pathetic name Parkinson came up with?" I asked smugly. He rolled his eyes. "Oh Dracy this, Oh Dracy that" I mocked in a high pitch voice. "Don't you dare." he said. "It's pathetic," I said. I walked back into my room and sat on my bed. Draco closed my trunk and sat on top of it. "It's not my fault she's obsessed with me." he said. "I warned you not to sleep with her. I told you this would happen. But did you listen. Oh no. Well now this is what you get." I said. "You are really not one to talk about relationships. How is dear Marcus?" he asked. A chill went down my spine as I thought about him. I forced a smile. Don't show weakness. "He's fine. He is vacationing with family. I'll see him tomorrow when we return to Hogwarts." I said. Draco shook his head. "Ronnie, come on-" he started. "Shouldn't you be packing?" I said cutting him off. "Father will be home in a few hours. He said to be done by tonight." I said. Draco just stood up and walked towards the door. He stopped right in the doorway and I looked up. "I really hope you know what you're doing Ronnie." he said. Then he shut the door. I sighed of relief and went back to packing. I'm fine, everything's fine. Marcus loves me. I love him. I do.
I love him. I love him. I love him.

I had just finished packing and was reading a bit of my new textbooks when I heard a crack. Barry, our house elf popped in my room. "Dinner is ready Miss." he said. "Thank you, I'll be down in a moment. There was another crack and he was gone. I got up and put on my flats and grabbed my wand. I wore a plain black dress with sheer sleeves and emerald jewelry. I walked downstairs and Draco, my mother and my father sat at the table already. I sat across from Draco and the house elves brought out the food. "Hello father," I said quietly. He nodded at me. I smiled at my mother and she smiled back. I loved my mother. She was so kind and caring. The complete opposite of my father. He is cold and unloving. She said he was different in the beginning. I used to not understand. Then I met Marcus.
Now I understand.

"Are you both packed?" my father asked. "Yes father," I said. "Yes," Draco said. "I assume you know the expectations for this year at Hogwarts?" he asked. We both nodded. "Speak up" he snapped. "Yes father," I said. "Yes father," Draco also said. "Good, Do not disappoint me." he said. "Like that could ever not happen" Draco mumbled. "I'm sorry?" my father said. I looked at Draco and shook my head slightly. "Nothing father." he said. "No, what did you say? Really, I'm sure it was fascinating." he spat. "Lucius please," my mother said. "Shut up!" he yelled. "Don't talk to her like that." I said glaring at him. "Oh so now you both have something to say?" he said smugly. "Just, please, mother doesn't deserve for you to speak to her like that." I said calmly. He smirked at me. "Well then, if you say so" he said sarcastically. "I didn't mean any disrespect." I said. "Dinner is over. Draco, go to your room. Veronica, stay here." he said. I sat there and kept a blank look. Draco stared at me with concern. "Just go." I mouthed. My mother and Draco left the room and my father stood up and walked over to my chair. "Give me your wand Veronica." he said. "I don't have it." I lied. He grabbed the back of my neck and yanked me up. The chair scooted back and he grabbed my wand. "Hmmm, lying now too?" he said. "I'm sorry father. Please just-" I started when he slammed me down and I was bent over the table. The edge of the black wood dug into my hip bones. He ripped the back of my dress open and the cold air hit my skin. I closed my eyes as he pulled out his belt. Then I felt it. The contact. The belt hit my skin 10 times, each time harder than the last. I felt the hard leather break my skin and blood seeping through the wounds. Tears filled my eyes and one fell to my cheek. I quickly wiped it away. Don't show weakness. My father leaned in and I felt his breath on my neck. It smelled of fire whiskey. "Next time, keep your mouth shut." he whispered in my ear. Then he walked away. I fell to the floor and laid there. The cold tile soothed my aching body. I laid there and shut my eyes. He was right. I should have kept my mouth shut and not disrespected him.

"Ronnie" I opened my eyes. I was still laying on the floor. My dress was torn open and my back was bleeding from the whip of the belt. Draco shook me gently and I looked at him. "Are you alright?" he asked. "I'm fine." I said sharply. I stood up and started to walk upstairs. Draco followed me. "Ronnie, your back is bleeding." he said. "Yeah, no shit." I snapped. "What did he do?" he asked. "Go to bed Draco, I told you I'm fine." I said. I walked into my room and tried to shut the door but he put his foot in the way. "Just stop being your stubborn self for a second and let me help." he said. I looked at him and rolled my eyes. "You want to help?" I asked. He nodded. "Fine, give me your wand." I said. He handed me his wand. I pointed it to the cuts on my back and healed them all. "There, you helped." I said shortly. "Ronnie-" he started. "Why do you have to start stuff with him? You know in the end he will always win, why bother fighting it?" I asked. He just looked at me. "Is that what you tell yourself with Marcus too?" he asked. My face dropped. "Get out Draco" I snapped. "You can't just-" he started. "I said leave!" I yelled. Our mother rushed in and looked at us. "What is going on here?" she asked. "Ask her," Draco said. "Draco, shut up." I said. "Ask her mum, ask her about Marcus. Go on, do it." he said. "Shut up," I said. "What is he talking about Veronica?" she asked. "He doesn't know what he's talking about. He doesn't know anything. He's just making shit up." I said. "Oh really," he started. "Yeah, you really have no right. Why don't you ask him about Pansy Parkinson, or Astoria, or one of the other thousand girls he's slept with?" I yelled. "Enough!" my mother yelled. We both froze. Our mother rarely if ever yells. "Both of you, that's enough. You are brother and sister. You are twins. You have a connection nobody else will ever have. That's sacred. So stop fighting-" she started. "Marcus hits her." Draco blurted out.

"Draco!" I yelled. My head whipped up at him. My mothers face fell. "What?" she asked. "Marcus, he hits her." he repeated. I glared at him. "Is that true Veronica?" she asked. Her voice was shaky. I shook my head. "Veronica..." she said. Her eyes watered. "You have to end things with him, immediately." she said. I just laughed. "Are you both serious right now?" I said. They both stared at me. "Mom, how many times have me and Draco watched dad beat you huh? How many times has he hit you Draco? It doesn't matter. Marcus is just like every other guy. Mom, I love you, but you have no right to tell me what to do. If you wanted to teach me how to love properly, you wouldn't have stayed with father. But you did. And I know you will never leave him. So both of you get out." I said. They looked frozen in place. I lowered my voice. "Please just go." I said softly. My mother walked out. Draco looked sad. "One day I hope you realize you deserve better Ronnie. I really do." he said. "And one day, I hope you stop just sleeping around because you're scared to fall in love." I said. He just shut the door. I put on pajamas and crawled into bed. Tomorrow we return to Hogwarts. An escape from father, but a return to Marcus.