Punishment- Reader POV

Chapter 8

CW- Rape, Abuse, Torture

December 21st, 1996

Time has passed in a blur. Everyone was packing up to be ready to get on the train home tomorrow. I have been dreading going home for the holidays. Draco and I were happy to be seeing each other for Christmas Eve at his home and Christmas Day at mine. We always spent Christmas Eve at the Malfoys. A lot of the pureblood families did. Narcissa loved to host, they always threw extravagant parties. Everyone knew of Christmas Eve at the Malfoys, some judged and others envied. It was always strange seeing such evil people boasting about thinking they're the prime example of what a wizard wishes to be. I was ashamed to have to be part of it all. There was not one wizard who made the list and did not attend. Getting an invite to celebrate Christmas Eve at Malfoy Manor was the highest honor for those types of wizards. Every Death Eater that was not locked up in Azkaban went. I knew this year was going to be a shit show. Professor Snape would be there, he always was. I still have managed to avoid most conversations with him. My crush on him did not go away at all. I always caught myself thinking about him, not just with Lucius anymore. I thought about him holding me as I fell asleep, him touching me while I touched myself in the shower, could hardly pay attention in his class anymore, my marks had dropped significantly but he had not said a word about my marks to me. I reckon he pities me too much, not that I blame him. I let out a sigh as I put on my hat, gloves, and scarf. It was a Hogsmeade weekend, perhaps the busiest one of the year. Everyone went to get last-minute gifts and chocolates or have a butterbeer with friends before saying goodbye before the break. I had promised Valentina that I'd go with her but was definitely not as cheery as I usually am this time of year. My family had always been glum and boring for the holidays but seeing my friends made it better but this year not even that will help.

"C'mon Y/n!" Valentina calls out.

"Coming!" I grab my wallet and shove it in my coat pocket before running out to meet her.

"Cheer up, we will shop and grab a butterbeer," she smiles before locking arms as we head off. The first stop we made was Honeydukes. "I thought we were going to get butterbeer?"

"I just wanted to grab some sweets to bring back to Sirius, we will still get butterbeer but before we go back, it'll be our reward for finishing our shopping" she smiled.

"So I guess you will be spending the holidays with him?" I asked as I picked out some chocolate frogs to replenish my binge basket.

"I am," Valentina beamed. It was so nice to see her so happy. "I actually wanted to talk to you about that, I was talking to Sirius the other night through the fire and he said I could tell you where to find me," her voice was quiet and she pulled out a piece of folded scrap parchment. I gave her a look and opened it, 12 Grimmuald Place- "It's headquarters, Sirius's old house, it's where we will be in case you need somewhere to run off to, or just to come to visit, it would be nice seeing you over break, you know how to summon the Knight Bus right?"

"Yes, but-"

"Perfect! Just take the Knight Bus to Grimmuald and once the bus is gone all the instructions on how to enter are on the parchment, sorry about the handwriting it was Dumbledore's," she smiled. I couldn't believe they trusted me with all this.

"Valentina... Thank you this is so nice of you," I felt a bit of the weight lift off my shoulders, but I don't know if I'll be able to slip away, I'll try, I just can't promise anything," I wish I could just go there with her now.

"Y/n" she chuckled "I know, if you don't come it's no problem at all, I just wanted you to have somewhere to go in case you needed to." I hug her tight