| Girl on Fire |

11

VERONICA MALFOY

The next morning, I couldn't go to lessons. I couldn't walk. My entire body ached. I just laid in bed. I didn't cry. I had cried all my tears. Then I heard a knock on my door. I looked at the clock. Classes just ended. It was probably Allison or Draco. "Alohomora" a voice said.The door opened and I quickly drew my wand and pointed it at the intruder. It was Draco. He put his hands up in surrender. "Woah easy Ronnie" he said. I put my wand away and sat back down. "Why weren't you in class today?" he asked. "I'm sick" I lied. He walked over and felt my forehead. "You don't have a fever. What's wrong?" he asked. "I said I'm sick. I don't need to explain myself to you." I snapped. He looked at me and concern covered his face. "I'm just worried about you," he said. "Yeah, well I'm fine." I said. "Ronnie, what's going on?" he asked. "Merlin, can you ever just mind your own fucking buisness!" I yelled. Anger. Anger is good. I can't lie to my brother. If he is mad at me, he won't talk to me. Then I won't have to. "Why are you being such a bitch?" he snapped. "I don't know? Why are you so fucking annoying?" I spat. He scowled at me. "You know what, fuck you Ronnie." he said. Then he stormed out and slammed the door. "I'm sorry Draco" I whispered. I sat down and buried my face in my palms. A few minutes later, there was another knock. "For fucks sake" I said. I walked over and opened the door. I expected it to be Allison or Blaise or Enzo or Theo. I expected them to come ask what was wrong or why I was rude to Draco. When I opened the door and saw Mattheo, I froze. Was this really him? "Mattheo?" I asked. He looked confused. "Yeah?" he said. "Nothing, just I'm not feeling good. You should go." I said. He reached into his bag. "I just took notes in our classes. I wanted to-" he started. Then he stopped. "What?" I said. His eyes went dark. "What the fuck is that?" he spat pointing to my neck. Shit, the glamor spell. I forgot to use it on the hickeys they left. "Nothing." I said, pulling up my sweater. "That's a fucking hickey." he snapped. I didn't say anything. " Did you fuck someone else?" he asked. I stared at the floor. "How could I be so fucking stupid? I cared about you. I waited. I wanted you to feel safe because I knew what you went through. But really you just wanted to fuck other guys didn't you?" he yelled. "Mattheo I-" I started. "Didn't you?" he yelled. I couldn't say anything. I didn't know what to say. "I can't believe I actually started to fall in love with you." he said. I froze. My eyes filled with tears. He was falling in love with me? "This, whatever the fuck it was, is done. Go back to Marcus for all I care." he said. He slammed the door and I slid down. I laid my head on my knees and more tears fell. "I loved you too Mattheo. I'm sorry." I whispered to myself. Then I sat there. I sat there until I fell asleep.

The next morning I woke up. The pain in my body had reduced to a dull ache and I needed to go to class. I got dressed and grabbed my bag. I couldn't sit with my friends. I couldn't sit there and pretend I was fine and lie to their faces. If they said one word to me, I would break down. I know I would. I walked into the Great Hall and Allison waved and smiled. I ignored her and grabbed an apple. Then I walked straight out. I was walking down the hall when I heard her calling after me. "V! V! Wait up!" she yelled. I kept walking. She ran and stood in front of me. "Is everything ok? Why aren't you sitting with us?" she asked. "I don't want to." I said. Her face fell. "Did we do something?" she asked. "Yeah, none of you can mind your own business and maybe I don't feel like having my personal life invaded every goddamn second." I said. A hurt look covered her face. "What's going on with you? We didn't do anything." she said. I gave a fake laugh. "Piss off Allison." I said. Then I pushed past her and walked into potions. I sat down and Professor Snape looked at me. Please don't talk to me, please don't talk to me. I've known Snape since I was a baby. He was my godfather. I couldn't lie to him about this either. "Veronica, why did you miss class yesterday?" he asked. "I was sick." I lied. He raised an eyebrow. "But you are better today?" he said suspiciously. "Yes." I said. "Hm, strange." he said. I just looked down. Mattheo walked in and stood at the back. He wouldn't look at me. "Mr. Riddle, take your seat please." he said. He scoffed. "I'm not sitting next to her." he said. I stared down. Marcus laughed. "And why is that?" he asked. "Ask her." Mattheo said. "Yeah, I'm sure we'd all love to hear what happened." Marcus said. I turned around and Marcus winked at me. "You know what, I'll leave. You take the seat. I stood up and walked out ignoring Snapes calls. I went to the Astronomy Tower and took a breath. I kept trying to push the memories of what happened out of my head but I couldn't. It's like they were on a loop. I could see all their faces and I could feel their breath, I could smell their sweat. I slouched against the wall and squeezed my eyes shut. "Where's the fun in that?" "Please don't do this" "I'd rather just fuck her" "Let me go" "Kill your brother" "No, No, No" "Not so tough without her boys." "Next time you swallow." "I told you we weren't done." Their words rang through my head. I covered my ears trying to block it out. I just wanted to scream. Tears streamed down my face. I kept reliving it over and over. It wouldn't end.

"I told you we weren't done"

"I told you we weren't done"

"I told you we weren't done"

"Ronnie?" I looked up sharply and Draco stood in front of me. "Go away, Draco." I said. "What's wrong?" he asked, kneeling in front of me. "Leave" I said as I backed up. My voice was shaky. "No, not until you tell me what's going on." he said. I shook my head. "I'm fine." I said. "No, you aren't. Pansy told me you ran out of Snape's class. What happened with Mattheo? Did he hurt you?" he asked. "No, I hurt him. He hates me. I hope you're happy." I said. "I'm not, Allison told me you really liked him. What happened?" he asked. I stood up to leave but he grabbed my wrist. I flinched and pulled away. "Ronnie, I'm not going to hurt you. I'm your brother." he said. A pained expression covered his face. "I have to go." I said. I ran down the stairs and to DADA. Draco walked in a minute later. He sat down next to me and I ignored him. As Umbridge was talking, I felt him nudge me. I looked over and he pointed to the parchment on his table. He had scribbled a note on it that read "Ronnie, please tell me what's going on? You are scaring me." it said. I didn't write a reply. He kept staring at me trying to talk to me the whole class but I ignored him. Then class ended and I ran out and headed straight for my dorm. I shut the door and locked out the world. I don't know if I can do this. It's on repeat as I lie to my friends. I can't do it.

DRACO MALFOY

Something is up with Ronnie. She seems to forget we are twins. I know when something is wrong. I can tell if she's just annoyed or if something is really wrong. When I walked up to the Astronomy Tower, her favorite spot, and I saw her on the floor I knew something was wrong. She was crying with her eyes shut tight and her ears covered. Like she was trying to block something out. She won't talk to me. I have to figure out what;s going on because she has never seemed this...sad. I sat down at dinner and she wasn't there. "Draco, did you figure out what's going on with V?" Allison asked. "No, I think it has something to do with Mattheo." I said. Her face changed. "Allison." I said firmly. "What?" she asked. "You know something, tell me." I said. She sighed. "Mattheo left V a note telling her to meet him in the locker rooms after the quidditch game. There was something he wanted to show her." she said. I looked over at Mattheo sitting at the table alone. I clenched my fists. "Calm down mate, we don't know what happened." Blaise said. I got up and started to walk over. Allison, Blaise, Theo and Enzo followed me. "I think we're about to find out." Enzo mumbled. I stood in front of Mattheo and he looked up at me. "What do you want Malfoy?" he snapped pushing food around his plate. "I want to know what you did to my sister." I spat. "What did I do? She cheated on me!" he exclaimed. My face fell. "What?" I exclaimed. "She wouldn't do that." Allison said. "Sure," he said sarcastically. "What did you want to show her in the locker room then?" Blaise asked. His face changed. "What?" he asked in confusion. "The note you left on her door. To meet after the quidditch game. Why did you want to meet?" Allison asked. He looked confused as hell. "I didn't leave Veronica a note." he said. "What do you mean?" Theo asked. "I mean I have literally no idea what you are talking about. I was in detention during the quidditch game. For using the cruciatus curse on Marcus. I didn't even go." he said. We all looked at eachother. "Then who left the note?" I said.