(Book Three) Innocent {CLP SERIES}

{Chapter 1}

C R Y S T A L ' S P O V

Blood.

Lots of it.

This had to of been the worse beating yet.

The way, he cackled while he was hitting, slapping, punching, kicking me, it was like he was getting pleasure from it.

Like I was a punching bag.

In his eyes, I'm just a toy that can be played around with.

I scrambled out of the room I was in and scuttled into my bedroom that I share with my brother.

He was sitting with his feet up on the bed, but when he saw me, covered in blood, his face paled.

"Why didn't you defend yourself?" He asked me quietly.

I couldn't answer, but even if I could, my wand was in my trunk.

My bloodstained shirt had rips and tears in it.

It was in that moment, that everything went black.

I couldn't feel any more pain.

I couldn't feel anything.

*

When I woke up, I could hear pounding at the front door downstairs.

Harry, who had me laying in his arms, placed me on the bed and under the covers, then went downstairs to answer the door.

It was Aunt Petunia and Aunt Marge.

In an instant, Harry came back upstairs.

I noticed he had a face towel in his hand and it was dripping wet.

He gave me a weak smile when he realised I was awake and he dabbed my face clean.

He grabbed my hair tie from the bedside table and tied my hair up in a bun the best he could.

He pulled out some fresh clothes and I got changed, not caring that he was still in the room.

We both went downstairs to the kitchen to either cook or clean.

On the way down, I saw Uncle Vernon.

Harry pushed me in front of himself while I saw the pair having a chat.

I went into the kitchen.

"Hello Aunt Marge." I say politely.

I put on a fake but convincing smile.

"Why are you so happy?" She sneered.

I shrugged and got onto cooking dinner.

I was shocked at how fast I pulled myself together after what had happened only an hour previously.

"How long are you staying Aunt Marge?" I again tried not to have a tone in my voice.

"3 weeks if you must know."

I scowled.

Harry had now entered the kitchen and placed a hand on my shoulder, instantly relaxing me.

*

Surprisingly, Uncle Vernon gave Harry a plate of food.

He asked me to stay behind while he told Harry to go up to our room.

"Why didn't you give the girl some food Vernon?" Aunt Marge asked.

"Look at her! She doesn't need to eat! Why, the girl is terribly wide!" Uncle Vernon pointed at laughed at me.

"Ugly too!"

Once he said that, I ran right up to Harry.

I didn't realise that Harry was waiting out the front of the kitchen.

He had heard every word.

I ran into him, but he didn't even flinch, instead, he let me sob into his chest.

He picked me up and carried me into our room, where I kept on crying.

"He's right." I sobbed.

"No he's not Christella! He's just someone who will do anything to bring you down."

"Well go tell him it's working."

"You're braver than you believe. You're smarter than you appear. You're more beautiful than you think."

Harry made sure he made eye contact with me to let me know he was serious.

"I love you Harry." I say into his chest.