|In The Dark|

16

Fault

Trigger Warnings: Rape, Violence

ANNABELLE LUPIN-BLACK

"Excuse me- Miss" someone called out. I recognized the accent and turned around to see one of the Durmstrang guys. He was tall and had dark hair. He gave me a smile and walked closer. "I was hoping you could help me find my way back to the party." he said. I debated. I had already walked halfway to the tower. I also didn't want some poor guy just wandering around lost all night. We are the host school, after all. "Of course, it's this way." I said smiling. We walked down the hall and I carried my shoes by the straps. "You look very lovely this evening." he said. I smiled. "Thank you." I said. "What is your name?" he asked. "Annabelle." I said. He stepped in front of me and blocked my path. "Well Annabelle, I like playing with lovely girls like you. Why don't we have some fun?" he said. I stepped back and dropped my shoes. They clattered on the ground and I shook my head. "Um- no thank you. I have to get back, actually. My date will be-" I started. But he grabbed me and clamped his hand over my mouth. "Your date can wait until I'm finished." he said. He dragged me into an empty classroom and I screamed into his hand. I was fighting and kicking but he was too big for me. "Don't fight me little girl, you'll only make it harder on yourself." he said. He locked the door and silenced the room but I still screamed. He smashed his lips on mine and kissed me hard. I pushed him away but he just punched me across the face and I fell on the wall. "Stop it! Let me go, please!" I begged. He dragged me over to the desk and bent me over it. Tears streamed down my cheeks as he ripped the back of my dress open. I felt the cold air hit my skin and he kept my wrists pinned behind my back. The wood bit into my hips as I struggled to fight him off. "Stop! Get off me!" I yelled. He pulled down my panties and forced himself inside of me. I cried out in pain as he slammed himself in and out with no mercy. "Please, please stop it hurts!" I sobbed. He groped my body and held my wrists tight enough to leave bruises. My face was pressed against the cold desk and I shut my eyes. He grunted and thrusted his hips against me. Then I felt him stop as he finished inside me. He didn't even cast the contraceptive charm. "See, I just wanted my fun." he said as he pulled out. I collapsed on the floor and my vision blurred as he shut the door behind him. I tried to move but I couldn't. I saw the blood on my thighs as my head hit the floor and I closed my eyes. A tear fell down the side of my face and it all went dark.

HARRY POTTER

The Yule Ball sucked. Even Ron and Hermione got into it at the end. At least Anna had fun. I saw her with Theo. She was happy. I'm not his biggest fan but if he treats her well and she likes him, I suppose I'll have to deal. Today is Saturday and our friend group planned to hang out and talk about the Yule Ball. Ron and I were heading to meet up with Anna, Hermione and Ginny in the common room. When they got there, Anna was't there and something wasn't right. Ginny was pacing and Hermione sat nervously. "What's going on?" I asked. "We can't find Anna." Hermione said. My heart stopped. "What do you mean you can't-" I started. I was interrupted by a knock on the portrait door. Ginny opened it and Theo and Pansy walked in. "What are they doing here?" Ron asked. "Shut up Ronald." Hermione said. "It's about Anna." Pansy said. "Last night, I went to get us drinks and she went to the loo. When I got back she was still gone." Theo said. "She went to look for him. But nobody has seen her since then." Pansy said. My heart started to race and my hands shook. She's fine. She has to be. What could possibly happen in the castle? "The map Harry." Hermione said. I ran upstairs and grabbed it. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." I said. Everyone crowded around to look for her. "There!" pansy said pointing to the map. "Why the hell is she in the old Potions classroom?" Ron asked. "I don't know, let's go." I said. Me, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Theo and Pansy all ran out and down the halls. We turned the corners left and right bumping into people but I didn't care. It wasn't like Anna to just disappear. We arrived at the classroom and Theo opened the door. Then I saw her.

"Holy shit" Ron mumbled. Theo pushed past everyone and ran over to her. He pulled her unconscious body into his arms. "Belle- Belle, open your eyes." he said. His voice cracked and I knelt next to them. Her dress was ripped open and there was blood on her thighs. She had bruises on her cheek and her wrists too. "Come on Belle, say something for me, please" he pleaded. "Someone get help!" Ginny exclaimed. Just then, Theo picked her up and carried her bridal style. "Nott, what are you-" I started. He was running down the halls to the infirmary. We burst through the doors and Madame Pomfrey rushed over. "My goodness, what happened?!" she asked. "We don't know, we found her- and she was- we don't know. You have to help her." I said. Theo laid her down on a cot and Madame Pomfrey put up curtains. "All of you, away. I need to heal her." she said. We all stood behind the curtains and I paced back and forth. Theo had tears in his eyes and Pansy was talking to him. "She was my date, I should've watched her more carefully." he said. "Theo, there's no way you could've known this would happen." she said. "I know guys. I know how some of them think. I should have protected her." he said. "Theo, it's not your fault." Pansy said. "No, he's right." I snapped. They both looked at me quickly. "Mate, don't-" Ron started. "You were supposed to protect her. You know, I was willing to give you the benefit of the doubt for Anna's sake but not anymore!" I yelled. "Harry!" Hermione scolded. "No! This is on him. He should have been with her and kept her safe. Now look what happened!" I yelled. I was standing toe to toe with Theo and he just stared at me. "I'm sorry." he said barely above a whisper. I just glared at him. I couldn't control my anger. Deep down, I knew it was directed at me. Everything I said to Theo, I was saying to myself. I should have protected her. It's my job to look at out for her. I didn't. I failed and now this happened. But I couldn't hate myself right now so I focused my hate on him. "You should be." I spat. Just then, Madame Pomfrey emerged. I turned my attention to her. "Is she ok?" I asked. "Did someone get her dads?" she asked. Hermione nodded. "I sent Ginny." she said. Madame Pomfrey nodded.

"Where's our daughter!?" Sirius boomed as he and Remus walked in. They stormed over to Madame Pomfrey and I walked over. "I'm sorry." I said. "What happened? Where is she?" Remus asked. "She's asleep. She will be ok." Madame Pomfrey said. "What happened?" Sirius snapped. "According to the diagnostic I performed, it seems that she-" Madame Pomfrey paused and sighed. "She was raped." she said. My heart stopped beating. They went behind the curtain and I heard Sirius cursing. I walked behind the curtain and Sirius and Remus looked at me. I just stared at her. She laid in the bed in a hospital gown. Her makeup was smeared from her tears, she had a split lip and a bruised cheek. I could see dark handprints on her wrists and her chest rose and fell gently. "Oh my-" I sighed. "Do you know who did this?" Remus asked. I shook my head. "We didn't even know she was gone till this morning." I said. They just nodded.

"It's my fault." We turned around and Theo was staring blankly at her. His eyes were filled with sorrow and he couldn't look away. "I couldn't find her at the ball. I figured she just went back to her dorm or something. I stopped looking and went to bed." he said. I looked at him too. "If I kept looking, maybe I would have found her sooner- or I could have stopped it or-" he started. "Mr. Nott-" Remus said interrupting him. Theo tore his eyes away from her and looked at him. "I'm sorry Sir." he said sadly. "It is not your fault. Do you understand me?" he asked. "You cannot blame yourself for this." Sirius added. Theo just looked back at Anna. "Is she going to be ok?" he asked. "She will. She's a fighter, our girl. She's gonna be just fine." Sirius said.

I don't know who he was trying to convince. Us or himself.