My eyes opened in a familiar setting, but an unfamiliar room. It was definitely someone in the Slytherin house, (Yes, we all have private rooms), yet it had been personalised with posters, sketches and books. Everywhere. As soon as I opened my eyes Burns, who was sitting in the corner of this room, rushed to my side.
"Are- are you okay?" I groaned and tried to sit up, when a hot stab of pain shot up my chest. She must have saw me flinch, as she continued. "I think you broke a few ribs, but they should be fine in a few days. Do you need anything? I have aspirin."
Ignoring her pestering, I realised I had no idea what the time was. "How long was I unconcious?" I said, my voice rough from not having spoken for a long time.
"About two days."
Shit. Shitshitshit. He's going to kill me. "What?! What about my parents?!"
"I- Well, I sent them an owl from the school saying you need to stay for the holidays, as your grades have slipped too much for you to go home, and you will be joining a study group to help catch up on your-"
"Fine." I cut through her rambling icily, deciding that the excuse was sufficient, until I realised, "How did you know my grades have been slipping?"
"Are you kidding? It's all Hermione ever talks about! She's so confused as to why you don't even try anymore." She exclaimed, shaking her head and blushing slightly.
"Burns... why am I in your room?" I sneered, looking around at what I now realised to be where the beast lurked in her spare time.
"Well, you see.... I didn't know which room was yours, and I didn't want to take you to the hospital wing, in case Madam Pomfrey started asking questions, so... Um..." she flushed.
An awkward silence lapsed between us, until finally I decided to break it.
"Why?"
"Pardon?" She look confused, and shifted her position in the chair on my left.
"Why did you even bother saving me? I mean, you hate me!"
"And I have good reason to!" She retorted, but softened her features and said, "No matter what you did, no one deserves to-to die like that."
I didn't know what to say. What do you say to that? I just blurted out an insult, my usual mechanism when talking to her, and instantly regretted it.
"Was that something your Potter boyfriend told you?"
She frowned and asked, "Wait, you think Harry and I, are dating?"
I shrugged, then grimaced at the movement, but she didn't notice.
"Oh my gods! That's the funniest thing I've heard all day! No, no, no way! Ew, oh my god please no."
Her tinkly laughter filled up the room, and I found myself smiling in spite of it all.
"Well, it does make a lot more sense." I explained, "The boy who lived, and his perfect girlfriend, uniting the houses forever!" I attempted sarcastic jazz hands, before she grabbed my hands with a chiding look, and slathered another layer of cream onto them.
"I would hardly say perfect, we wouldn't stand a chance against you and Pansy."
"Me and- me and Pansy did you say? Pansy Parkinson? Are you stupid or something?"
"What?" She snapped, her cheeks flushing an angry red.
"Wow, you haven't been listening to the Slytherin gossip at all. She's lesbian!" I exclaimed, and watched Burns' jaw drop.
"She is?! But what about when you went to the Yule Ball together in Fourth Year-"
"As friends! When she confided in me and I helped her to come out!"
Another silence lapsed as she smiled wryly.
"What?" I said, getting annoyed at her lack of speech.
"Just ironic, that's all."
"What is?"
"How you have absolutely nothing against LGBTQ+ rights, and yet, when it comes to, oh I don't know, a muggle-born like me, it's a completely different matter."
I didn't know what to say. How to tell her that I wasn't against anyone, that my Father was. How he used to hit me when I suggested that maybe they weren't all that bad. How she was actually one of the coolest people I had ever met, and my crush on her in the Third Year. How my Fathers Master had asked me to do something for him, and I had said yes, just to please my Dad. How, one day, it would lead to her death.
And you know what? I could have, told her everything there are then, and maybe things would be different now, maybe I wouldn't have become who I am. But the problem is
I didn't.
And look at me now.
I watched her walk out the room, looking hurt that I hadn't replied, maybe expecting me to profess my love for all muggles or something, but I knew she'd be back. That was her weakness you know, not being able to leave anyone behind.
