Life of a Black (Sequel to Life of a Malfoy)

Forgetting the Burn

I bolted up out of bed and muffled my shrieks as I crossed to the door.Two arms wrapped around my body before I had the chance to pound my head in the wall. I saw them. I saw those dark scarlet eyes staring into my own.

"He looked at me!" I made out in one breath before the sobs came out again. No tears fell from my eyes.

"It's okay.. You're alright," he held me as I shook violently. He ran his fingers through my hair and that seemed to calm me. It wasn't until some time passed that he let go of me and looked at me.

"They killed.. He killed-"

"I know, I was there," he confessed. I let out a gasp, and start to think the worse.

"But if we were both there, and he saw me, do you think he meant for that to happen?" Harry wordlessly started touching my hair, tucking it behind my hair and combing through it with his fingers.

"Yes," he replied after a few minutes.

He looked into my eyes once more before playing with my hair again. I realized that my hair was probably in matts next to my head, so I pulled away. My body felt gritty, and I reeked of sweat and blood.

"I'm taking a shower," I announced, and stood up from my spot on the ground. He nodded, and I trudged down flights of stairs and grabbed myself a towel. I turned the ancient shower on, and it blasted shots of freezing water. I grumbled, and shut the bathroom door.  

I started peeling off my dirty clothing until I remembered I hadn't gotten any clean ones after my shower. I rolled my eyes and swore to myself, but then shook it off. I stared at my naked body in the mirror.

My ribs could still easily be counted. My hip bones poked out. My collarbone was popping out of my body, and my legs were sticks. I sighed.

Stepping into the shower, I cursed the cold water pouring down on me. I turned the knob to warm, and let out a breath of relief as warm water fell on my skin. I grabbed the nearest bottle I could find, which was Hermione's shampoo. It read

SLEEKEAZY'S HAIR SHAMPOO 

Wild Locks 

For untamable hair tamed to its finest 

#1 Witch Weekly's Best Hair Product for Hard-to-Style Hair

I laughed at it, and started lathering some into my hair. It felt good to get all of the dirt, blood, and muck out if it. I stepped back under the water and let it rinse out my hair. Surprisingly, my hair still held its amazing length. I felt it tickling the bottom of my back more then once. After all the shampoo was rinsed out, I grabbed a similar bottle of conditioner. I generously put it in my hair, and ran my fingers through it to untangle the knots while my thoughts consumed me.

I would never understand the amazing connection between him and Lord Voldemort. Even myself, a skilled witch at occlumency, could be fooled by his powers, as it had just been proven. Voldemort had purposely brought my conscious to that scene to shake me up, and to remind me that he still held more power than me. More power than any of us.

But that wasn't just it, was it? He knew we had power unlike his, yet he continued to try and prove to us that we didn't. Together, we were all a force that couldn't be questioned.

Harry had his bravery, strength, and will to do almost anything he wanted. He spoke his mind and always defied the evil forces seeking to destroy us. There was something about him that didn't make sense, and it was probably his perseverance. He never gave up. He pushed himself and all of us until we found a way.

Hermione of course had her brains and pure talent. She got us out of every sticky situation we managed to find ourselves in, and erased our steps so that no one could figure out what had happened. Without her, we probably would have not been alive.

Ron was, well.. Ron was Ron. He always knew when to crack a joke and to brighten us all up. Everything from his goofy grin to his ginger hair made me laugh. He was also brave, but it was less obvious when he was next to Harry.

I must have already been in there for nearly ten minutes combing through my hair, because my fingers were aching and throbbing with every touch. I rinsed out the conditioner, and cringed at the no longer warm water touching my body. I cranked up the temperature once more, and rinsed out my hair.

I was about to grab a towel and scrub the layer of grime off my body when steaming hot water was raining down on me. I was immediately hyperventilating, as it felt like the white hot knives branding my skin in the Cruciatis Curse.

I started shrieking, feeling the intense burning of being tortured running through my veins. I winced at every slash of pain against my skin as the scorching hot water poured down on me. I was being hit with the Cruciatis curse, over and over again.

My body went into shock and my knees knocked until I fell to the ground, stunned with pain. I launched my adrenaline into the temperature knob that wouldn't budge. Piercing screams still came from my lips. I tried to stand up, but my legs only burned with pain.

There I was, laying on the ground of the manor writhing in pain.

"Who else is in the Order?!"

"I don't know!"

"Liar! You filthy liar!"

I let out one final scream before I no longer felt the burning water melting into my skin. My screams turned into sobs and I felt a soft cloth rub against my throbbing skin. I gingerly took the bath robe, and wrapped it around my red body. I was lifted out of the shower by Hermione, who had a terrified look on her face. Harry and Ron were standing in the doorway, and I pushed past Hermione.

I ran into Harry's arms and he didn't say a word as I cried. He didn't question me either, just held me as I was broken once more.