|| Star-Crossed ||

56

Force

1 DAY LATER
CAROLINE POTTER

The next day, Draco and Theo began to bring stuff into my room. A trunk full of clothes, books, paper and colored pencils, a radio, bathroom items, everything. They filled my room with everything I could possibly need and I watched in silent horror. The permanence of my situation sank in and I felt ill. Once they finished, Draco looked at me and shrugged. "It's not much. You can ask for anything and I'll try to get it for you. This won't be forever. Until then I hope you can be happy here." he said. I said nothing. "Theo will bring dinner up in a bit. You can unpack if you want," he said. Then they left and shut the door without another word. After I cried again, I looked through the things they brought. He brought books on potions, runes, magical creatures, auror training, healing, and he even brought Hogwarts: A History. Then I looked through the clothes. It was all muggle clothes. He must have gone to an actual shop in an actual muggle city. There were jeans, t-shirts, sweaters, pajamas, socks, bras and knickers. None of it was skimpy. Draco got simple white cotton knickers, white bras. I placed the radio on the table and turned it to the only frequency I knew by heart. I spoke the password, "Albus" and it allowed me to hear the broadcast on the war. The missing people, places that had been attacked, things like that. I took the wireless radio and put it on the nightstand next to my bed. Then I laid down and listened. I let silent tears fall to my cheeks as I listened for anything to give me hope. Nothing.

Soon, it grew dark. Theo walked in and shut the door. He held a tray and set it down on the bed. "Dinner, you should eat." he said. I glanced over at the tray and it was full. Chicken, potatoes, vegetables, gravy, pumpkin juice and a tart for dessert. I ignored him. He sighed. "Caroline, I know you're hungry," he said. I stayed quiet. "If you think starving yourself is going to make us let you go, you're wrong." he said. He sighed. "I'll just leave this here," he said. Then he left.

4 DAYS LATER
I didn't eat the dinner. Or the breakfast Theo brought the next morning, or the lunch followed it. Or any of the meals that Theo brought to my room. I ignored him and Draco everytime they came in to ask if I needed anything. I didn't know how long I had been here but I guess it was long enough for Draco to be concerned. Theo and Draco stormed in right after bringing in dinner. "Caroline, eat...now!" Draco said sharply. I ignored him. "You have been laying in the same spot for 4 days!" he yelled. So that's how long I've been here. 4 days. Time moves funny here. "You haven't eaten, you haven't showered, you haven't done anything since I brought you to this room. You don't have to like it here but I won't let you starve yourself." he said. "What do we do?" Theo asked him. He sighed. "Hold her down," Draco said. Theo looked at him with alarm. "Really? Are we really going to do this?" he asked. "I won't let her kill herself because she's angry at me." he said. They sighed and walked towards me. I sat up and crawled back. "Get away!" I yelled. Theo had a look of sorrow and he grabbed my arms. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "Stop it! Let go!" I yelled. I fought and struggled and he knelt on the bed and pinned me down. "Stop!" I screamed. Draco straddled me and looked down. "You either eat or we force you to eat, pick one." he said. "Go fuck yourself, you fucking bastard!" I yelled. "Use a spell, I need you to hold her head," Draco said. Theo whispered a spell and my wrists were pinned to the bed. "Let me go! I hate you! I hate you so much!" I screamed. Theo held my mouth open and Draco forced some potatoes into my mouth. Then they held my mouth shut as I coughed and sputtered. "Just chew and swallow. Please, Caroline!" Draco pleaded. I couldn't keep it in my mouth and I was forced to swallow the food. They let go and Draco looked at me with pleading eyes. "Do I have to force feed you every single bite? Or will you grow the hell up and eat your food?!" he yelled. I spit in his face and he groaned as he wiped it away. "I fucking hate you," I said. "So you mentioned," Theo mumbled. "Fine, I will force the food down your throat if I have to!" he snapped. And he did. They repeated the process for all the food until I was a sobbing mess on the bed. Draco took a warm wet cloth and cleaned my face gently. Then he wiped the tears from my face with the palm of his hand. Theo removed the spell and Draco climbed off the bed. I dropped to the floor and curled up in the corner as sobs wracked my body. "I want to go home," I cried. They just stared at me with sorrow in their eyes. "Please, Draco. I'm scared and I want my brother. I want Harry. Please," I cried. "I'm sorry," he said quietly. "Please let me go. I'll do anything. I want my brother, I want Max, I want Ginny, I want Hermione. I need my friends. I'm scared. I'm really scared and I need them. Please," I begged. "Just give her time," Theo said to Draco. He nodded. They walked out and left me. The next morning, when Theo brought in breakfast, he handed me a present. It was wrapped in newspaper and tied with twine. "I didn't have any pretty decorations," he said. "I don't want a-" I started. "Just open it...please," he said with hopeful eyes. I nodded and opened it. It was Harry and I's wanted poster from the ministry, in a frame. I looked at him strangely. "It's the only picture of you and Harry I could find. I thought it would be a nice thing to have. To remind you of him," Theo said. I couldn't help but smile. "Thanks," I said quietly. He nodded. "Please just eat. I don't want to have to hold you down again." he said sadly. I nodded and took a bit of the bagel he brought. "Thank you," he said softly. Then he left.