'Tell Me Pretty Lies,' by moongirlel

Chapter 68: The Scars Riddled With Guilt (pt.2)

[Black Friday - Tom Odell]

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Fri. 13th January 1995 - 5:55pm...

Sitting on my bed, I had the Mandrake leaf on the mattress along with the book Professor Snape had given me.

After reading a brief description of the properties for each ingredient to become an Animagi, I intended to use the mirror of Pansy's vanity to fix the leaf underneath my tongue.

Since Draco had helped me clean up my wound, I haven't taken a proper look in the mirror. Avoiding my reflection was hard, especially whenever the Slytherin bathrooms and dormitories have one in each room.

It was like trying to hide, or run away from your own shadow.

I hid my injury from myself, by using my hand to cover it. Slowly lowering my hand, I finally take a detailed look of the damage.

At first, I didn't have any initial thoughts or reactions. I stared at the scar, until a wave of uncontrollable emotions overwhelmed me.

Anger; rage; anxiety; fear... Sadness.

Why did this have to happen to me?

Why was it always me?

Covering my eye, I returned to my bed, tossing the leaf down onto the book. I sat down, pulling my legs up to my chest.

If Draco was here, he'd have the correct things to say. And, if Sirius was here, he'd know exactly how to comfort me.

A knock came from the other side of the door, and it creaked open.

"Mate, Draco wanted me to come and check up on you." Blaise spoke, "...I knocked this time."

I nod, glancing over at him through my fringe. "I'm not sure how I feel."

He walked over, and knelt down in front of me. "If you're worried about your scar, believe me, everyone in our house thinks it's sick as fuck. No one thinks badly about it, that's all in your head."

I unraveled myself, and stand. "Alright... I suppose it isn't that bad."

"No, it's not." He gestured to the leaf, "I think you should give it a shot. I know Draco would want you to have the extra protection."

Picking up the leaf, I respond to him over my shoulder, traveling back over to the mirror. "I am, yes. I was just... a little shocked. I didn't think my scar would look like this — I suppose I didn't even know what I expected it to look like."

It was dry, and uncomfortable at first, until it settled into my gums.

One full month.

I only had to survive a month of keeping a wild, crispy leaf in my mouth. As disgusting as that sounds, the leaf didn't taste half bad.

I marked the date on me and Pansy's shared calendar, and counted exactly a month in advance — 13th February, 5:57pm.

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Eating proved a lot more difficult with a leaf, which you don't want to swallow, in your mouth. If I even took it out for a split second, I'd have to start over again.