The Abuser

Burn in Hell, Malfoy!

It's time to begin, isn't it? I get a little bit bigger but then I'll admit I'm just the same as I was. Now don't you understand that I'm never changing who I am?

- It's Time by Imagine Dragons

........

I have three other room-mates who I suppose came to bed far later last night than I did. They all look rich and mean, so I take care not to wake them. After all, if they are going to be late for classes because of sleeping in, it's their own fault. We're hardly in kindergarten anymore! It's time to try being responsible. Besides, I suspect that they were up all night partying in the common room, so maybe it's for the best. I don't know any of them personally, although I've seen them all before, at balls, or banquets.

One of them is sleeping in a literal cloud of pink. Ew. It's absolutely nauseating! I personally despise that particular shade, and am already sure that this mystery girl and I are likely to be sworn enemies. Honestly, give me a nice shade of green or blue any day of the week. Just not pink! Her bed is pink, her blankets too. She has a brilliant magenta nightstand, and a revolting posy-colored mirror. Goodness knows how she got all of this junk here! I think as I step over her blush-pink dress, which lies crumpled on the ground. She has written something on her mirror in ink, and so I lean in for a better view. "Mrs. Pansy Parkinson Malfoy" it reads in curly handwriting. I shake my head and tiptoe to the bathroom. Yeah. That was basically the deciding factor right there. My eyes briefly travel back over my dormitory, and I find myself wondering what each of these girls looks like.

Locking myself into the restroom, I exchange my night-gown for a pleated skirt, white button-up shirt, and green Slytherin tie. I spin around in front of the mirror, pressing the perfectly tailored clothes tightly against my body. My skirt makes my legs too thin, but the top robs me of whatever waist I have! I frown, knowing that try as I might, I will never fulfill my own personal standards. As it turns out, all of this comparison is rather for naught since in the end my entire figure is completely engulfed in the voluptuous black work robes. With a final apprising look at my reflection, I depart from the room, my long braid swinging behind me.

...........

"Ahh! Ms. DeLuce! I'm glad you arrived safely!" Flitwick squeaks with a hint of a smile.

"S-sorry!" I gasp. I needed to use the restroom, and was now a minute or two behind the rest of the students. Pretty much the most embarrassing thing that can happen on one's first day at a new school. My classes have been going alright so far, but now I've definitely branded myself as an outsider; I distinctly saw every head turn as I walked through the door just a moment ago.

"We are splitting this class into pairs. Your partner is the person who you are sitting with. Now, Miss DeLuce, I believe that there is a seat left for you..." The tiny professor stands on his tiptoes, peering over his podium. I turn to face the class, and immediately know where I'll be forced to sit. "Right next to Mr. Malfoy!" he finishes, as waves me to the chair.

I slide in, ignoring Draco. Nearly half the class is tittering. Draco scoots his chair a bit further from me, but doesn't turn. Just my luck. I would, of necessity, just have to be coupled with Draco Malfoy. I sigh, shaking my head slightly as I pull a fresh roll of parchment from my heavy, leather, book-bag.

Charms class almost immediately becomes one of my favorites. There is something about the precise art of swishing and flicking, and the words of today's charm: "Wingardium Leviosa", practically exude a sense of levitation. I just wish that I didn't have Malfoy as my partner! While we are supposed to be helping each other, I find him writing on a scrap of parchment, or doodling on his hands. It's a struggle trying to master the spell even with helping hands, and by now I'm almost despairing. I should have gotten Hermione Granger. I think that we'd be a great team.