The Abuser

Something's Out There...

Please be kind, you know I love you, but my heart is blind and I can't tell you the words that are right for what you need.

- Feel My Love by Phebe Starr

...........

"Dracoooo. I want a new dress. Buy me one!"

I stiffen and look over the racks of clothes at the faint sound of my roommate from Hogwarts. "Blaise," I turn to face him, frowning concernedly. "I think that I've got enough clothes, okay? We should probably go." The last person I want to bump into is Malfoy, especially if he is with Pansy. Of course he'd be with her. I'll bet that the only thing he's ever seen in any girl is her body.

Blaise winks. "Alright then. Whatever you desire, baby!" He scoops up my bags and grabs my hand. We head towards the door of the shop, but evidently not soon enough; through the small window of glass in the door I'm clearly able to see Pansy Parkinson's pug face.

Zabini opens the door for me and I step out onto the tiny front porch. Catching my eye, Pansy glares menacingly; she must recognize me even with my sunglasses on.

"Out of my way, Hufflepuff." She hisses, trying to trip me with her foot. I can't help but notice that she looks thinner than ever; her pink clothes practically hang off of her fleshless form. I'm swept with a sudden wave of pity. I'd like to help her with whatever problems she's facing, but I'm certain that she'd never allow me.

I side step and yank my sunglasses of, giving her a long look. "Yeah, no. I actually have just as much right to this step as you, Pansy! How about you move over so that I can pass? I'd be out of your way in a heartbeat." Pansy huffs in outrage, sending a poorly aimed kick at my shins.

A cold voice calls from the bottom of the steps, alerting me to the presence of another. "Listen, Pansy, I've got some more money from mother, so I suppose you can get a dress."

Pansy sticks her tongue out at me and shoves me hard to the side, catching me unaware. Merlin knows how she did it with those ridiculous heels on. I scream instinctively and make a grab for the wrought-iron railing, missing. It's not a long fall from the porch to the ground, only about 8 steps, but certainly enough to warrant a substantial injury. My ankle twists as it whacks against the paving stones at the bottom of the steps. Oddly enough, my fall is stopped by a pair of strong arms.

"Arrgghh!" I utter a rather un-ladylike moan of pain, quickly realizing that my ankle is broken.

"Hey, Malfoy! Hands off my witch!" Blaise is laughing as hurries down the steps, taking me from the tall boy who caught me.

I moan in pain leaning against Blaise for support. I look at my "rescuer", eyes widening in recognition and surprise. Sweet Merlin! Draco is almost unrecognizable without his hair slicked back; it now falls onto his forehead, and even I have to admit that it's undeniably alluring. He is about a foot and a half taller than last year but still lacks an imposing figure. Despite all the changes, however, he still has the same pale pointed face and stone-cold eyes that I've dreaded seeing for years.

"DeLuce?" He looks at me like a stranger, his true expression unreadable.

"You." I say calmly, throwing my arms around Blaise's neck while I remove my shoe from my hurt foot. "Oh, to bad we're not allowed to do magic outside of school. I could really use a spell on this!" I try to laugh through the pain, gritting my teeth as Blaise runs his dark hand along the cracked bones.

My Italian companion wraps his arms around my waist and lifts me easily. "Here, I think that Olivander's is closest. I hope that the old bat knows a bone–knitting spell." He's just taking a step to carry me off when we are all frozen by an earsplitting shriek from Pansy, who was lurking at the top of the stairs after pushing me.