Bailee Potter

Grimmuald Place

I stepped out of the fireplace coughing. I looked around and noticed we were in a small shop. We all exited the shop and walked until we approached a street with apartments covering one side. Mr. Weasley muttered a spell and the whole line of apartments began to shake. They moved further apart from each other until a new, slightly older looking apartment appeared. The Weasleys walked forward to it as I followed. We got to the black painted door but before we could open it someone pulled it open from the inside, "Ahh they're back!" Said Mrs. Weasley as we all entered through the front door. She gave me a warm embrace before pulling away to get a look at me.
"Oh, you've grown a couple of inches I see, still as beautiful as ever." She smiled warmly. Next Hermione gave me a fierce hug.
"I would have come to pick you up but there wasn't enough room in the fireplace."
"It's ok Hermione, it's so good to see you."
Mrs. Weasley interrupted by saying "dinner will be ready soon so you can head upstairs."I picked up Hedwig's cage and began going up the stairs.

(Later that night)

It was around midnight when I awoke with a start, my head throbbing. I reached up to touch the scar on my head. I quietly climbed out of bed and started towards the bathroom. The door slightly creaked as I shut it behind me. Looking in the slightly cracked mirror I saw a girl with green eyes and long dark brown hair looking back at me. Freckles were distantly scattered across my nose. I sighed and sat down on the cold tile floor. I was so happy that I was about to go back to Hogwarts but something didn't feel right. Ever since I had come back from Hogwarts to stay with the Dursley's I felt so empty. That is until I would have a gut wrenching dream and wake up out of breath. But shortly after, I would feel empty again. I sat there on the floor for a while as slow cold tears slipped from my eyes. I touched where I had a small fading bruise on my cheek. I glanced down at my hands where I could see half moon cuts from me digging my fingernails into the palms of my hands. 'Damn it' I thought as I ran my hands under the sink to get rid of the blood. Just then I heard two voices talking. I realized it was coming from the vent leading downstairs.
"I knew we should have never left her to stay with those horrible people." Said the voice of Mr. Weasley.
"Yes I know but it was on Dumbledore's orders he had no choice." Said Mrs Wealey.
"You should have seen the way she reacted when that horrible uncle of hers got angry. She got all tensed up as if waiting for the inevitable." Said Mr. Weasley fiercely.
" Oh dear!" Said Mrs. Weasley. "We will be having a chat with that family the next time we see them."
"We should not have her be sent back there at all." Said Mr. Weasley.
"Yes I know dear, the best we can do is make sure she feels comfortable while she's here, make sure she always has a place to call home." Said Mrs. Weasley.
"Yes of course." Said Mr. Weasley.
Bailee leaned back against the wall and stared back at the base of the sink feeling tired but she knew she would not be able to fall back asleep. She heard footsteps coming down the hall. Slowly the door creaked open and the curious eyes of Ron peered from around the door. " Bailee?" He said as he stepped into the bathroom.
" What are you doing in here?"
"Couldn't sleep."
"Oh" said Ron sitting on the floor beside me. I rested my head on his shoulder. Ron was like the big brother I never had. He was so sweet and understanding all the time and he always made me feel better. I adjusted my head so it was flat against his shoulder.
"What's that on your cheek?" said Ron curiously.
I quickly turned my head and attempted to brush my hair over my cheek.
"It's nothing." I lied. Ron stared at me with sad eyes.
"C'mere" he said as he lifted me to my feet he slowly walked me back to my bed
"get some sleep," he said. I smiled back at him as he closed the door. I lay there for what seemed like hours before I finally closed my eyes and drifted off into another world of nightmares.

(The next morning)

I was standing there in the graveyard with Cedric. "Kill the spare," said the cold voice of Voldemort. " AVADA KEDAVRA" as the second voice of Peter Petegrew screamed. Cedric went flying through the air and landed with a heavy thud. I could feel tears boiling in my eyes. The next thing I knew I was pinned back by ropes on a large gravestone. A cold blade was piercing the skin on my arm. Blood spilling through my robes and down my arm. Then I was falling.
My eyes shot open and I sat up quickly in bed. I rubbed the bridge of my nose and put my head in my hands silently crying. When was this going to stop? I thought.
I sat there for a few more moments breathing softly. I walked over to the windowsill and gazed out as the sun began to rise. The golden light glowed across my face. It felt warm and nice. I quietly crept downstairs, careful not to wake anyone, and went to the kitchen. Hedwig was sitting by an open window as a nice breeze fluttered in. I made myself a cup of coffee considering it was the only thing I could keep down. The Dursley's didn't feed me much, just what was left over from the meals I would cook. It was never enough. I crept back upstairs and sat down on my bed and took a sip of coffee. I continued to gaze out the window. It was so beautiful. I wished I could stay at the burrow forever and never have to deal with the Dursley's or voldemort. I was almost done drinking when there was a sickening feeling in my stomach. I ran to the bathroom and threw up in the toilet. Holding my hair back I threw up once more and then leaned against the wall breathing heavily. I closed my eyes. I could still taste the disgusting bile in my mouth. Just then there was a knock on the door similar to the one I heard last night. Ron opened the door and stepped into the bathroom. "What happened Bailee?" He exclaimed as he looked at me with his deep blue eyes. "Nothing," I said, not wanting him to worry.
"Must have been something in the coffee."
"Bailee, what aren't you telling me?" Ron said
"It's nothing, really Ron."
He sighed and helped me to my feet. He stared at me with a knowing look and then turned. I followed him back upstairs into me and Hermione's room. She was awake by now. "There you are,'' she said, looking back and forth from me to Ron's worried face.
"Come on." She said "breakfast should be ready soon."
But I had no desire to eat.

I sat there at the table while everyone else was talking, thinking about what I would have to face this year back at Hogwarts. I turned my head to see Molly looking at me. She gave me a warm smile before turning back to talk to Mr. Weasley. I hadn't touched my breakfast yet. Nothing really seemed good anymore. Like it was all just another thing to get through each day. I quietly used a reduction spell and my food disappeared. No one seemed to notice so I excused myself and walked back up the stairs. I stopped inside of my room before sitting down on my bed. I turned to the right and there was a long mirror propped up against the wall. I stared into the mirror and slightly lifted up my shirt. I was skinny but I felt like if I ate anything it wouldn't be right. I summoned a glass of water using a spell and drank some. I sat down on my bed and stared at the ceiling. A feeling of hopelessness overwhelmed me. I could feel tears prickling at the corners of my eyes. I felt ashamed that I was crying so I quickly wiped away the tears. How could I feel sorry for myself when it was my fault that Cedric and so many others had died. It was all my fault. I took another sip of water. At this point there was one reason I was still alive. And it was to fight Voldemort. Almost nobody knew what lied ahead of me. I don't even know how I knew it just kept coming into my mind and I've started to believe it. It didn't scare me. I was ready. After all I had been through and after all I had put others through I felt as though I deserved what was coming for me. I could still hear the cold voice of Voldemort whispering in my head "you will die for nothing, I am stronger, better, you are weak, and you will die."