Behind the Façade

Chapter One

Maeve's Point of View:

I never had given much thought on how my life would go. Truthfully, I didn't really care. I know I liked school, but after that the future just did not seem all that important.

All my life I have been told by my father, that I am someone who will never become anything. He believes I am quite stupid, no matter how often I show him my stellar grades at Hogwarts. Father will even go as far as to say I am cheating, which I would never dream of doing.

Anything less than perfect results in a beating, and by now it just feels like it's an every day occurrence. Every little thing I do sets my father off, but I don't blame him, I deserve ever single second.

I will never be good enough. I will never be smart enough. I will never be more than nothing. I will forever be ugly and no man will ever want to marry someone so stupid.

That's okay, because I had books. I could escape it all for hours and let my mind travel to places my physical body had never seen. My mind can take on the tropical rain forest and play with all of the species of animals, while my physical body lays on the floor of the punishment room.

Cold. Bare. Numb.

Numb was something I had gotten use to, I started to feel comfort in the numbness. Punishments had gotten so bad with father, that I don't have much feeling in my hands or feet anymore.

I deserve it.

Remember that Maeve, we deserve this.

Mother and Father deserved a perfect daughter and I fail them every single day. One day, maybe one day, I can be perfect for them. Maybe father will stop the punishments, maybe mother will be able to look at me in the eyes.

I won't count on that happening anytime soon.

Hogwarts was my escape, for nine months of the year I got to be completely and utterly ignored. I didn't have many friends at Hogwarts, but I didn't mind in the slightest. If I had more friends, I would let them down like I let down father and I can't have that happening. What if they punished me as he did? I wouldn't be able to bare it.

So I tuck myself away, usually in the library all alone with my thoughts and a good book. Father liked that I did not have friends, it made it safer to keep my punishments secret. No one to check up on me meant no rising suspicions when friends would catch  healing bruises.

I liked it this way, having no one to disappoint made it easy. I liked life when it was easy. Summer is supposed to be our easy time of the year, but getting through summer has got to be the hardest task I've ever endured.

"Are you all packed and ready to go? Train is leaving at 11am sharp Monday morning." My mothers words broke me out of my thoughts. She stood in the doorway of our greenhouse, which was by far my favorite place to read.

It's Saturday now, so I still had time but she always liked when I was prepared.

"Yes, mother. I packed all of my finishing touches last night." I tried to perk up and have a good attitude, but she glared at me harder the more I spoke.

"Maeve, go have a talk with your father. Tell him I sent you for your attitude issues you seem to have at the moment. I'm sure he will be surprised by your sudden outbreak." Shit.

"Yes mother". I sighed and closed up by book, while started to head back towards Monroe Manor.

I kept my eyes down on the cobblestone path, trudging along with one arm at my side while the other clutched my book. Bad feelings emerged in my stomach as I pushed the grand doors open. Here we go.

As I approach the study, I hear voices unlike my fathers.

"Lucious, it's always a pleasure. Draco, you are always welcome to come along the next time your old man comes to visit."

God damn it, Draco Malfoy is in my house right now.

He has quite the reputation at school, everyone knows the Malfoys. Not necessarily in a bad way, but just known for their pureblood status.

If I go in there now, what if he knows who I am? What if he sees me get punished? He will tell the whole school, I will be a joke at school just like I am at home. Fuck, what do I do?

Well considering he can already see me, because of the office doors being glass, I'm fucked.

If I make my father wait any longer, I'm screwed. So I guess that leaves one option.

Three knocks later, my father announces my presence and allows me to come in.

"Maeve, darling, what seems to be the issue?" He fake smiles as he ushers me over to his side.

"Mother said I had an attitude during our conversation we just had. She had asked me to come talk to you about it. I came straight here when she told me, I apologize for not realizing we had company." I try to get out, without stuttering over any words. Lucious and Draco's eyes haven't left the side of my head, and I have a feeling my father is going to put on quite the show.

"Very well then, go wait in your room and we will discuss it when company has left."

"Thank you father."

A 'Thank you' has always been required prior to my punishments, it was one of Father's rules.

As I left, I got a rush of green apples and mint, my nose delighted at the scent. I could've closed my eyes and smelt it all day long, but I quickly picked up the pace to the punishment room. The last thing I would like to do is keep father waiting.

As soon as I thought I got out of there unnoticed, I felt a long stare at my healing bruises all over my body. I wore a short sleeve white dress shirt and my
favorite pink skirt. With me not expecting company, they could see every single scar, mark, and bruise along my pale skin. I was screwed.

Eyes burning into every spot on my visible skin, making me almost hot at just the pure thought.

Little did I know, the burning eyes belonged to a very confused and yet pissed off Malfoy boy.

Punishment room, here I come.