Take me to count the stars

Chapter six

It was a rainy friday, just like the rest of the week. Harry looked over at the Gryffindor table as he entered the Great Hall, looking for Elizabeth.

"Are you ready for today?" he asked, sitting down next to her.

Two things sustained the girl that day: the thought that it was the end of the week; and the fact that, as terrible as yet another punishment with Umbridge was, it would be the last.

"I hate her" she snorted, continuing to eat.

At five in the evening there was a knock on Pofessor Umbridge's office door. The white parchment was ready on the desk, along with the sharp black feather.

"You know what to do " Umbridge said, smiling softly.

Harry took the quill and watched Elizabeth do the same. They smiled at each other and began to write.

'I don't have to tell lies'. The cut on the back of her hand opened and began to bleed again.

'I don't have to tell lies' .The cut became deeper; it stung and burned.

'I don't have to tell lies'. Blood ran down her wrist.

The parchment glistened with drops of blood and the back of her and burned in pain.

"Harry" Elizabeth whispered "are you all right?"

The boy nodded, raising his hand and so did she.

"Let's see if you got the message, okay?" said Umbridge's sickly voice an hour later.

She walked over to Elizabeth and grabbed her hand to look at the words etched into her skin. The pain exploded and she began to cry, bending to the ground.

The professor smiled and released her hand, taking Harry's.

The pain made its way into him,not on the back of his hand, but on the scar on his forehead. He freed his arm from her grip, staring at her. She looked back at him, with a smile.

Harry leaned towards Elizabeth, helping her up.

"It hurts, right?" the teacher asked the girl.

She didn't reply. Her heart was beating very fast.

"Well, I think I've achieved my goal with you, Miss Avery. You can go" 

Elizabeth stood  up and started walking towards the door with Harry.

"Mr.Potter, I think it's appropiate for you to stay"

"She can't walk" he replied furiously, pointing to Elizabeth

"Miss Avery, go away if you don't want another punishment", professor Umbridge replied, smiling.

The girl nodded and looked at Harry for a moment before leaving the office.

She walked through the corridors of the castle, trying to not cry, praying to not meet Filch.

But suddenly an arm, coming out of a closet, grabbed her wirst ad dragged her inside.

It was a small room, there was barely enough space for both of us and the little light prevented us from seeing whatever was in there.

Draco was standing behind her. He could feel his warm breath on her neck, his chest brushing her back.

"Flich was there, not far from you" he whispered in her ear.

"You are a prefect, he woudn't have said anything to you" 

Draco carefully brushed her hair, exosing one side of her neck, and walked over to her.

"I was worried about you" he confessed, stroking the newly discovered part "Are you okay?"