The Abuser

The House Without House-Elves (Year 4)

But daddy's gone, and my momma met a maker. Oh to hell with that place.

- Home by Johnnyswim

........

I cough, my eyes burning.

"Miss DeLuce- come with me, please!" A strange voice calls through the oppressive smog and heat.

I turn around and come face to face with a man that I've never seen before. "How do you know me? Where are my guardians? The Auseens- I need the Auseens!" I cry hysterically, as a burning piece of fabric flaps down around me. A muffled scream wrings in my ears.

The strange man grabs my arm, pulling me out of the way of imminent danger from the flaming flotsam. "I've seen you in the newspaper- and I don't know where your guardians are. You need to come with me; I'll take you to the forest where you'll be safe." He drags me from the remains of my burning tent, over charred bits of rubbish and past hordes of screaming people.

Tears streak down my face, making white lines on my soot-smudged cheeks. "Why the forest? What's happening?" I scream, dodging away from a tall dark robed man with a mask.

"The crowd is just getting a bit out of control and we don't think that the fire will spread to the forest. I've just brought another child there—a young man- so you won't be alone. Just keep calm, we're almost through." He yells over the shrieks, practically lifting me over the burnt and twisted remains of a fence.

I stand, panting on a stretch of turf. Tall trees loom behind me, and I watch the strange man disappear into the chaos of screaming children, burning tents, and revolting crowds. Wiping smoke from my eyes, I turn towards the forest, slipping into its cool dark shadows.

I had thought that a trip to the Quiddich World Cup with my elderly guardians, the Auseens, would be enjoyable. Merlin, was I ever mistaken.

I look down at my heavy black dress. A good part of its train has been burned off (and it now reeks like sulfur) yet it's still long enough to drag mournfully on the ground as I walk. My hair has become tangled and frizzy; falling out of my long, once neat braid. My skin is blackened with soot and my mouth tastes of smoke. The high collar of my austere dress covers a good part of my mouth, so thankfully, it actually protected me from the dangerous fumes.

I stumble over the over-long hem of my gown and come crashing to the ground. Looking up, I see a pale figure relaxing against a tree, casually watching the horrendous scene that is unfolding through the smoke.

"My Lord, someone else coming here to trip over tree roots?" He drawls, looking at me throw half-lidded eyes.

I scramble to my feet. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, Potter and his cronies were just through here. Weasley tripped over that same- wait a bloody moment...DeLuce?" he pauses and stares at me as if seeing me for the first time.

"Malfoy. And yes, it's me. Surprise!" I say sarcastically, brushing leaves off of my dress.

"Ha. Since when do you dress like that?!" He laughs coolly.

"Funny that's the first thing you notice." I say steadily. "But because you asked- since I haven't had time to slip into the Ladies' Room and change. What are you doing here?"

"Oh, you know. Father purchased us tickets and then this little celebration broke out so I came here to watch." He replies, as if this is an everyday occurrence.

"Sure. Where are your parents anyway? I can't find my guardians anywhere."

He looks back towards the burning camp sight. "Hither and thither." He glances back at me. "You have soot on your face."