|| Star-Crossed ||

41

We Never Stood A Chance

CAROLINE POTTER

I kept telling myself it's not him. It's not him. What he said isn't true. He's lying. He doesn't mean it. I know he doesn't. I know he loves me. I know there's something else at play. He loves me.

Once Draco walked out, I sat back down. I wiped my tears and sighed. Then Harry walked in. "Did he leave?" he asked. I nodded. He looked shocked. "He left you?" he said. "I told him to." I said. He sat down next to me and I looked at him. "Why?" he asked. "I couldn't face him. Not after what happened." I said. "It wasn't your fault. They forced you." he said. I exhaled a shaky breath. "But that's the thing, Harry. They didn't." I said. His face dropped. "What?" he exclaimed. "I fought them as they dragged me upstairs. I fought and yelled and tried to escape. And when they ripped my clothes off, I was fighting, and when they held me down I was fighting. But then it started, they started raping me and it hurt so badly and I couldn't fight anymore. I just laid there." I said. His eyes were filled with tears. "That's still rape, C. They still forced you. If it was to the point where you were in so much pain, you couldn't fight anymore, that's even worse." he said. I shook my head. "I let them do it. Theo kept fighting and I didn't. I was weak." I said. " That's not true," he said. I stared at the ground. "You did what you needed to do to survive," he said. I just nodded. "Ok." I said. Then Theo, Blaise, and Enzo walked in. "Did Draco leave?" Theo asked. I nodded. He gave me a look and I just shook my head. "How are you feeling?" Theo asked. I pulled the blanket tighter around my body and looked down. "We got you some clothes," Enzo said. He placed a bag down in front of me and I smiled. "Thanks," I said. He nodded. "What is this place?" I asked. "Secret clubhouse. Blaise, Enzo, Draco and I bought it a few years back." Theo said. I nodded. "Thanks for letting us stay here," Harry said. They nodded. "Um, so we got you this," Blaise said. He handed me a small bottle and it was a potion. "What is it?" I asked. They were quiet. "It's a- a contraceptive. It prevents pregnancy, and diseases. We thought you might want it but you don't have to-" Enzo said. I uncapped it and drank the bitter liquid. "Thanks," I mumbled. They nodded. "How are you feeling, Theo?" I asked. He looked at me. "The bruises?" I asked. He shrugged. "I'm fine, nothing I haven't handled before." he said. I just nodded. "I still don't understand," Harry said. We all looked at him. "Malfoy just left?" he said. "Harry, please. Drop it." I pleaded. "No, I don't get it. I could see the look in his eyes. The fear. He was terrified, when you didn't wake up at first. And as much as I hate it, he loves you. I can tell." he said. "No, he doesn't," Theo snapped. Harry stood up and faced Theo. They stood chest to chest and Harry glared at him. "I'm not a fool, I can tell," he said. "Maybe you should be less focused on Draco, and more focused on your sister right now." Theo said. "You're one to talk, snake!" Harry spat. "Harry!" I exclaimed. "Quiet, C." he snapped. He looked back at Theo. "Explain something to me. You are, what? 6 feet tall. You play quidditch, you're a strong, tough guy. How is it that you couldn't protect her? Huh? How is it that she was raped on your watch?!" he yelled. "Harry, stop!" I yelled. Theo's face dropped. "I- I tried," he said. "Not hard enough," Harry said. A tear fell to Theo's cheek and he wiped it away. "Don't mistake my sister's love for you as protection. I owe you nothing." Harry said sharply. Theo turned around and he walked into the other room. Blaise and Enzo just stared at Harry. "How could you say that?" I said. Harry looked at me as I limped over to him. "C, he was there, it's-" he started. "Don't. Don't you dare say it's his fault." I said. Harry was quiet. "That was cruel. You don't owe him nothing, you owe him everything. He saved me. He saved my life. Theo is my best friend, more my family than you right now." I said. "You don't mean that," he said. "I do. There were 4 of them against him. He never stood a chance... we never stood a chance." I said quietly. "I'm sorry," he said. "You should be. How dare you blame him! Where were you?" I asked. He stared at me, frozen. "Were you off getting blasted in the muggle world again?" I asked. He looked down in shame. "You were," I said. He nodded. "So what? Blame Theo because you feel guilty. You feel guilty that while Theo was taking the beating of a lifetime trying to save me, while I was being raped, you were drunk off your ass. So instead of blaming yourself, you blame Theo. Huh?" I said. "Shit," Enzo muttered. "I should have been there, I should have protected you," he said. "Maybe. Maybe you could have stopped it or maybe they would have just hurt you too. It doesn't matter." I said. "I'll apologize to Theo," he said. "No. I will talk to Theo. You need to leave." I said. "What?" Harry exclaimed. "Leave. I don't want you here. You are in your self destructive mode right now so take it somewhere else. Let the Weasleys pick up the pieces of your chaotic mess. I don't want any part of it. Not now." I said. His eyes watered. "Please don't push me away right now, C. You should be alone." he said. "She won't be," Blaise said. Harry looked at him. "You aren't her family," he said. "We are. And we'll take care of her." Enzo said. Harry looked at me again. "Please, C." he begged. "Just leave, Harry. Please." I said quietly. He stomped out the door and apparated away. I sat back down and wiped my tears. Then Blaise and Enzo walked over and sat down with me. "I'm sorry," I said. They nodded. "You'll survive this, that's what you do. You survive." Enzo said. I nodded.