Sadly, There Is More Than Us

{15} THE Mark

Harry was beaming at the Gryffindor party.  I am sipping on a beer, watching as Hermione enchants everyone she talks to. I cannot believe she feels this way about me. She could have anyone here. She chooses me. 

When I head to the bathroom, Ginny stops me as I walk out of the stall. 

'Draco's minions have been speaking about you.' She says. 

'What's new there.' 

'They say that Draco got you pretty badly.' As she says this, her eyes wander to my back. I click my fingers to get her to look back at my face. 

'You believe them?' I laugh, 'they'll say anything, Ginny.' 

She looks at me for a moment. There is something different in her eyes. I cannot make out what it is. 

'Are you okay, Y/N?' she asks, and I raise my eyebrows. She looks genuinely very concerned. 

'Of course. What do you mean?' Her eyes lock in on me. She says nothing. We look at each other, both analysing the other. 

'You have had a very difficult few months.' she states quite plainly. 'It can change a person. Have them feel... lonely. Different. Isolated... Desperate.' 

I catch something in her stare there. There is something she's not saying. She glimpses down at my torso. I look at her, confused. 

'I might be a bit drunk, Ginny, but I'm not sure what you're getting at.' 

'nothing.' she responds, ' I just mean that... you are supported and loved here, Y/N/N... Crabbe and Goyle, they... they've been saying some things.' She is dancing around something. Surely Draco didn't tell them... He wouldn't chance it. The Dark Lord would have him killed if he found out. Draco isn't that stupid. 

I start to wash my hands. There it is. That's what's happening here. How am I so stupid? Ginny is staring at me now in disgust, fear and pain all at once. Her eyes fixed on my forearm, my sleeve slipping to my elbow as I clean my hands. 

'Ginny-'

'It's true.' 

'Ginny, no, no, you don't - You don't understand.' 

'That's his mark. That's the mark. They claimed they saw it this evening they-' 

'Ginny, no no no. You can't-' I put my hand out to touch her arm lovingly. To try and get her to understand. 

'Dont! Don't touch me. How could you? You coward.' She stands back from me. 

'Ginny Please! Please don't-' 

'My mother defended you. My father defended you. She wanted to invite you to stay with us this summer, you know? She said she knew you were different. She felt sorry for you.' She stands forward now and grabs my arm to fully pull down my sleeve. ' This!' she wags my hand around. 'This means you are exactly like them... What is your game here? Why are you here, LeStrange?'  

'Ginny-' 

She shakes her head and storms out. 

What do I do now? What can I possibly do now? I need to find Ron before Ginny. God and Harry. And Hermione... Hermione... 

I run around the party trying to find the three of them to no avail. I walk out to the corridors around the castle. This is when I see three daft faces staring at me. I feel my blood boil. 

'Out for a late night stroll?' I say, 'How romantic.' I see in Draco's eyes that he knows something is wrong. I walk towards them with my wand armed. 

'Your goons here have a lot to say.' I tell Draco. 

'Y/N, what happened?' He says immediately. 

I point my wand at Crabbe 'Langlock!' I yell, and the spell leaves my wand. He gulps and holds his mouth. He tries to speak, but no sound comes out.  

'What did you do, you bitch!?' Goyle retorts. 

'Silencio', I point at him, and he continues to mouth words, but nothing comes out. 

I walk up to Draco. 

'He will not be happy with You.' I say, and he immediately knows which 'he' I am threatening to tell. 

'I did nothing, cousin', He says. 

I put my face close to his. 'Get your goons in line, and do not tell anyone at home.' 

'What happened' he says. I go to yell some more when Professor Snape appears behind the boys. He looks at Crabbe and Goyle's attempts to speak and then back at me. I do not break eye contact with him.

'I'll handle it.' I say to him and turn around to leave. 

'Do keep your outbursts more discreet Miss LeStrange. We do not want any... Unwanted attention on you ... Do we?' He says with his usual snare.  He stares at Crabbe. 

I walk away. 

I find myself in the courtyard sitting on a step alone. I am angry, enraged... I am terrified. A tear falls down my cheek and I wipe it away. I must be strong. I must be. 

'Is it true?' I sweet voice almost whispers behind me. I let out a breath I didn't realise I was holding. Hermione is the only person and yet the last person I want to see right now. I need her comfort, but... I am not ready to feel the heartbreak of her knowing. I don't look at her yet. I keep my head down and forward. I do not respond. 

I wait for the yelling and the crying. 

I hear her sigh. She sits down beside me. Her head facing me. I do not turn to face her. I cannot bear to look into her eyes. She softly and slowly places her hand on my arm.  I close my eyes shut in disgust. She looks up at my face again. I remain facing forward. She slowly and carefully lifts up my sleeve. There it is. The dark mark. She leaves out a breath. She purses her lips, closes her eyes and breathes slowly and heavily. Finally, she nods her head. She has come to some decision on something. She rests her head on my shoulder. I feel a tear of hers drip onto my arm. I watch it stream down the skull and snake. We sit here for minutes without speaking. I think this is a kind goodbye.

She puts her hand on my cheek to turn my face towards her. She is smiling. She is beautiful. She kisses my lips softly. 'Let's go to bed, Y/N.' She says, and I almost cannot believe it. 'It has been a long night.' 

I look at her in disbelief. She holds my hand and guides me back. What could possibly await me there?