Stepping Into The Light (Hidden Under Darkness Sequel)

Chapter 6

**Fairlight’s POV**

I’m lying on my bed with the kittens, watching them play. Shimmer is trying to give herself a bath, but Zesty keeps pouncing on her tail. Princess is watching from beside the pillow, seeming unwilling to join in. I hear my door open, but I don’t acknowledge it. I don’t want to deal with anyone right now.

“I spoke with your dad.”

I look up at George, surprised.

“You did?” I ask, astonished. He leans against the doorframe, nodding.

“He thinks you open up with me,” he shrugs, “he wants me to help you.”

“I-”

“Don’t need help, I know,” George says. I sit up.

“I wasn’t going to say that,” I tell him, “I was going to say that I’m sorry. About today. And pretty much every day, but especially today.”

George shrugs.

“It doesn’t matter,” he sighs, “it’s done. We can’t change it.”

“I lied,” I tell him, “it meant more to me than I wanted to admit.”

“Yeah?” he smirks, “sure seemed like it.”

“I was dreaming of you,” I confess, “and I wanted to feel close to you. I didn’t know how else to do it.”

“And you couldn’t have just told me that?”

“I was embarrassed,” I sigh, “that I’d let you in so completely. I’m an emotional wreck, remember?”

“I don’t understand that,” George says, “I don’t understand how you got like this.”

“Well, let me show you,” I say, holding out my hand, “I’ll guide you.”

We disapparate together and appear outside my mother’s house.

“Wow, and I thought the Burrow was a dump,” George says, “what is this place?”

“Where I grew up,” I reply, “come on. I want you to meet my mother and her husband.”

I walk up to the door, my wand in my hand. I knock and wait. George slips his hand into mine.

“Get the door.”

“You get it.”

“GET THE DOOR!”

I hear my mother swear and approach the door. She flings it open and squints at me.

“Oh, it’s you,” she sneers, “what do you want?”

“I came to get my things,” I tell her, “and to introduce you to George.”

“Well, don’t just stand there, you useless sod,” mother says, “get in.”

I draw George inside.

“This is my mother and her husband,” I tell George, “this is George.”

“Go get your stuff and get out,” mother says, “don’t be hanging around.”

George is staring around him, looking utterly appalled. His house might be small and cramped, but knowing Mrs Weasley it’s spotless. Our walls are covered in mould, the windows are so dirty you can’t see through them and the carpet is damp and smells of urine.

“Come through,” I whisper to George.

I lead him through to the bedroom I shared with Velvet and Anastasia. Dad moved them out last summer, but I haven’t found time to get my things.

“You slept here?” George asks, looking at the pieces of foam that served as beds for us.

“Yeah,” I say, “you get used to it.”

“Wasn’t it freezing?” he asks, “there’re holes in the walls and no window!”

“Ever wondered why Ana and Velvet are sort of short?” I ask, “they were so sick as kids it stunted their growth.”

“How did you survive?” George asks, sounding horrified.

“By hardening my heart and protecting them with everything I have,” I reply. I take the door off the wardrobe and pick up the small box inside.

“Is that all?” George asks.

“Well, I don’t need my bed anymore,” I tell him, “do you want a tour of the house?”

“Not really.”

“Come on.”

I lead him into the bathroom.

“The shower has never worked and we only ever had cold water,” I tell him, “and we were never sure why, but the water always came out muddy.”

“That’s gross.”

“Wait until you see the toilet,” I tell him, leading him into the next room, “hold your breath.”

The toilet is a hole in the floor over a deep pit. It doesn’t have a roof, but in summer it has an abundance of flies.

“This is cruel,” George says, shaking his head.

“You haven’t seen my favourite room yet,” I tell him, “Ana and Velvet never got to go in here.”

I push the door open and walk into the room. It’s pitch back. I flick the light on and George gasps, covering his mouth.

This was the room that I used to be brought to when I was in trouble. The windows are blacked out, stopping sunlight from getting in. The floor is covered in smashed glass and the walls are covered with gruesome pictures. George walks out. I linger for a moment longer, then I flick my wand, sending a small flame out of the end onto the floor.

“Let’s go,” I tell George. He nods, looking sick. We walk through the house. Mum and her husband are sitting in the lounge room staring at the television.

“You should go for a walk,” I say, “the fresh air would do you good.”

“Get out, whore,” he shouts, “take that bastard with you.”

George takes my hand and pulls me outside. I can see the smoke rising from the back of the house and smile slightly. George disapparates but I pause, watching the smoke thicken, knowing I’ll never have to see that room again. I wait until I hear Mum yell out and then I disapparate.

I walk into my bedroom and see George pacing back and forth. When he sees me he stops. I sit down on my bed.

“Understand now?” I ask.

“It’s so wrong,” he snarls. I shrug.

“If everyone grew up being happy and loved the world would be a better place,” I tell him, “sadly not everyone can love… And not everyone knows how.”

He steps over to me and sits next to me.

“I’m sorry,” he says, “if I’d have known how hard it was for you… I never would have treated you the way I did at Hogwarts. We never would have played those stupid pranks.”

“Don’t call them stupid,” I smile, “they’ll make you rich one day.”

George laughs and wraps his arms around me.

“This won’t be easy,” I tell him, “you know what I’m like.”

“Yeah, I do,” he nods, “you’re moody, sometimes quite mean, distant, cuddly, beautiful and great in bed.”

“George!” I laugh, blushing.

“Well, just saying,” he chuckles, “I know it’ll be hard, but we’ll figure it out, right?”

“I hope so,” I reply.

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Sorry about not updating, been going through some stuff and I've become totally forgetful :'( Sorry!!