From the Grave

Chapter Fourteen

"Okay, well, raise your hand if you thought your parents losing their shit over nothing and beating the crap out of you when you were a kid was normal."
All the people I've met so far plus some are gathered around me in the library. Several hands go up, including Draco's and Sirius's. "Well, the Dursley's weren't my parents, but-" Harry trails off. The rest of the group looks horrified at the responses. "What, you mean to tell me any one of you guys had a normal childhood?" I ask them, challenging. "You guys can literally do magic. Tell me how that's supposed to be fucking normal!?!! It's not!"
"Tiffany, dear-"
My heart stops beating. I thought I'd heard the last of that name. An intense, burning hatred fills me and I spin towards the newly-repaired entrance of the library where Trelawny hovers. "The Fuck did you just call me?" I spit, my words like ice. "Who the fuck do you think you are, bitch?" The room is silent; everyone seems to be holding their breath, waiting to see what will happen next. Not Trelawny. The bitch. "That's your name, Tiffany," she rasps out sweetly, putting a deliberate emphasis on my deadname.
"My name is Venus, thank you very much."
"I mean your real name," she insists, like duh. I don't think I've despised anyone more in my entire life. And considering who "raised" me, that's saying a lot. My breathing becomes shallow and ragged, and I can feel my hands forming a fist at my side. I've worked so hard my whole life to keep myself together; to never lose control; but in moments like these, that control is hard won. "You need to stop lying to yourself, Tiffany. You and I both know who the real bully is right now, and it's not me or your parents whom you've so badly abused. Imagine, your own daughter, treating you this way! I could never! I love my parents and cherish each moment spent with them, because I'm not a monster like you, Tiffany. How selfish you must be to deny them access to their daughter, their own property, their-"

"Bullshit." I interrupt loudly. Every inch of me is shaking. I've never wanted to punch someone so badly. I force myself to regain control. I will not let her control me. She is not going to manipulate me. Don't give in. You got this, bitch. I take a deep breath, shuddering as I try to stifle my ragged sobs. "You're a monster." My voice, low from the tears, rings out in a deep bass tone. The sudden euphoria from hearing my own voice drop so low strengthens me.
"No, Tiffany. You are." She begins fake crying. I am absolutely disgusted. Flashbacks to my mother doing the same thing and both parents constantly victim-blaming me flicker through my vision. "I owe you nothing, Trelawny. I owe-"
   "I saved your life, you ungrateful brat," she snaps. "Not like it was worth saving, but-"
   "So, what? Saving a life I didn't even ask you to save makes you entitled to harass me? You people are the type to be all like, "oh, I brought you into this life and I can just as easily take you out of it-"

   "Try me." She interrupts. This is exactly like what a "conversation" with my parents-usually my mom-goes.
   "Im not afraid of you." She tries to interrupt me. "Uh-uh! You listen to me for once, fuckin' asshole. I am not weak. I am not your plaything. I am not your slave or your property or required to blindly obey you or let you violate me. No! My body; my choice; my life. 'Cause guess the fuck what, bitch, you don't get to live vicariously through me anymore. Never should have allowed it in the first place. Don't know why I did. I'm sorry your husband dumped you and ran off with his girlfriend." She starts towards me but I fake a run at her and she retreats. I'm on fire now. Dimly I realize this is not what dialing it down looks like for most people, but there's no stopping me now. Even I can recognize it. "I've already tried to kill myself twice, and thought about it since I was twelve. When I finally do die, you decide to snatch that away from me and expect a reward in return. No one asked you to "save" me. No one wanted you to!!! I was finally at peace!!!!!
   "So fuck you. I'm gonna make you suffer. Mark my words, bitch, you're gonna wish you'd never been born."

   Dead silence. Shit. I should really learn to keep my mouth shut. When will I fucking learn??