A Snake's Crutch Book 1

Part 22: The First Day (Again)

Y/N stared out the window in horror as she watched the terrible scene unfold. Lucius had whispered into Narcissa's ear before backing up and grabbing Dobby by the nasty old pillowcase. Narcissa then took over conversation with the ladies around her and walk a bit, causing a small migration down the platform that put everyone's backs to Lucius. 

Lucius took Dobby behind a pillar and stuck a long finger in his face. Y/N could see the spittle flying from her seat in the train. Dobby looked terrified, but, at first, y/n had no idea why. 

But things only got worse from there. When Lucius straightened, he turned around, seeming to be done with Dobby. Poor Dobby looked confused by the sudden halt in the ritual, but y/n felt relieved. 

Until a wicked grin split Lucius' face and y/n could have sworn he met her gaze before turning around and hitting Dobby hard across the head with the small, metal, cobra-shaped end of his walking stick. Dobby was only half-way through his arch before y/n was out of her seat and down the corridor. But before she could get off, the train had begun to leave the station. And she couldn't help Dobby. All she could do was stand there, watching helplessly as Lucius brought down the walking stick once, twice, thrice more, beating Dobby to a pulp. 

Just before the train was out of the station, Dobby looked up and somehow caught y/n's eye, giving her a pained 'I'm alright' look. Suddenly y/n couldn't see. Tears had blurred her vision too bad for her to see at all. Maybe that was mercy. 

As y/n walked back along the corridor, she realized that she shouldn't go back to the compartment with all her friends. If Draco saw her crying, it would just lead to him asking questions which could eventually lead to her blood. A week with multiple pure blood families must have shifted her brain on high alert. 

Halfway back to her friends, y/n saw another friend. One much more like her. 

"Er--" y/n felt her cheeks warm when she walked in. "Can I join you?"

Neville looked at her skeptically, as though her new Slytherin status made him scared of her. But Hermione nodded with a look of concern. Y/N wiped away a quick tear and sat down.

"What's wrong, y/n? Why are you crying?" Hermione scrunched her brow.

Y/N knew what Hermione was really asking. "It wasn't my friends. I just wanted to breathe. I haven't told some of them that I'm muggle born yet and if I go back in there, it will just lead to questions about my family."

"Oh... What could possibly lead to questions like that? If it wasn't your friends, then why have you been crying?"

Y/N looked around nervously, not knowing what to tell Hermione and caught Neville's eye. He looked sad now, maybe sympathetic. Maybe he had a secret or two that was ripping and tearing at his insides. 

"I'd... rather not talk about it. Let's just say I saw something I never wanted to have to see..." y/n paused to rid her brain of the image. "How have you been Hermione? Neville?"

"I've been good! Had an amazing Christmas! I'm going to tell Ron all about it when I get back! He'll be amazed! I bet he's never heard of skiing before!"

And so, y/n and Hermione rode back to Hogwarts telling each other about their holiday, while Neville piped in to ask loads of questions about muggle activities and random items. After about an hour, y/n had almost forgotten all her troubles. Until Draco had to go and ruin it.

"Y/N," Sarah said, entering the compartment. "I need to speak with you. Alone," she muttered, eyeing Neville and Hermione with well hidden disgust. Sometimes y/n forgot her friends were Slytherins.

"Okay, coming." Y/N turned towards her two Gryffindor friends. "I'll see you later then."

When y/n made it to the corridor, she didn't even have time to ask Sarah what was going on. Sarah immediately grabbed her arm and yanked her down the corridor to the front of the train. When she finally stopped dragging y/n, the source of Sarah's worry had revealed itself.