Hidden Under Darkness

Chapter 5

**Fairlight**

                    

“Will it always be like this?” George asks. I ignore him and walk into potions class. We’ve just come from lunch. It’s been over a month since we shared that moment in the kitchen.

“I said I’d make them learn their lesson,” I tell him, “not that I’d actually like you.”

Truth be told, I would like to like George. I’d like to be friends with him and let him in, but a part of me, the part hidden under darkness, won’t let me. That part of me curls up into a little ball every time he takes a step towards me. That part makes me hate him and push him away.

“They’re going to fail potions,” I comment as Ana, Fred, Velvet and Lee walk in.

“First Hogsmead visit tomorrow,” George says, “interested?”

“Yeah, I’m heading straight to Honeydukes,” I tell him, “I need some study snacks.”

“Want to go with me?”

“Nope.”

“Thanks, Fair, I love you too,” he mutters sarcastically. I ignore him.

               

***

                  

The next morning I line up to go to Hogsmead. George is standing by himself on the other side of the hall and for one crazy moment I want to run over and take his hand. Then Alicia approaches him and they start talking. It’s clear Alicia is interested in him. She keeps laughing and touching his arm. I feel a funny feeling in my stomach and frown. For some reason I hate her. She’s annoying.

I turn away and glance at the marble stair case. What I see causes a double take. Ana is walking down the stairs with Velvet. Vel is wearing jeans and a t-shirt, but Ana is wearing a tiny skirt and a tight top that shows off her stomach.

“What are you wearing?!” I cry, walking over to her. She blushes and shrugs, trying to look casual. I pull out my wand and, ignoring her protests, lengthen her shirt and skirt to decent lengths.

“Fair!” she groans, “I looked good!”

“You looked easy!” I retort, “you weren’t brought up this way!”

“You’re not our mother!” Ana snaps, looking grumpy.

“I’ve brought you up more than her!” I yell, “I’ve always taken care of you and for what? To be left because two boys smile at you! Well, you’ve made your choice and I hope you’re happy with it.”

I turn around and walk back into line. George throws me a sympathetic look, but I’m too angry to care.

I stay angry the whole way down to Hogsmead. In Honeydukes my mood lifts and I buy a big bag of my favourite treats. It’s only after I leave the store that the truth of what I told my sisters really hits home. Embarrassed, I feel hot tears rolling down my face. I start hurrying back to Hogwarts when I see George turn into the street with Alicia. I turn around and see Lee, Velvet, Ana and Fred. There’s nowhere for me to go without crossing paths with one of the parties.

I decide to try my luck with George.

“It’s so good to be able to spend some time together,” Alicia is saying sentimentally. George makes a little noise and I can tell he’s bored.

“Hey,” he calls to me. I glance at him and see shock register on his face. I hurry off, hoping he’ll think he imagined my red, puff eye.

“Fair! Wait up!”

I sprint up into the grounds and run to the lake. I drop my bag and stand, trembling until I hear footsteps thudding behind me.

“Fair, what’s wrong?”

I’m surprised at the genuine concern in George’s voice.

“You should get back to your girlfriend,” I snap harshly.

“She’s not my girlfriend,” he says, touching my arm. I pull away from him sharply.

“Can I help?” he asks softly.

“I’m fine,” I tell him, trying to make myself believe it.

“Oh, really?” he asks. His voice is light and teasing. I begin to turn to face him when I feel my feet leave the ground.

“AH! GEORGE!” I scream as he runs into the water with me.

“PUT ME DOWN!” I yell, clinging to him. He grins.

“Okay,” he agrees, throwing me into the air. I see a flash of sky and leaves and then my hair rushes up around my face, followed closely by water. I struggle to my feet, coughing and drenched from head to toe.

“Thanks!” I cry. George pulls off his wet shoes and socks and throws them onto the shore. I copy him and then blush as I realise he’s taken his shirt off too. He looks and splashes some water at me.

“Hey!” I laugh, splashing him back. Within seconds it’s a full scale war. I duck under the water and tug on his ankle, tripping him up. He throws me into the air again in retaliation. I can feel my fair skin burning, but I don’t care. For once in my life I feel care free.

“Let’s sunbake,” George suggests after a while. We’re both gasping for breath and dripping water. We stagger to the bank and collapse side by side in the sun. I lie, listening to our breathing regulate and stare up at the sky. As I do I realise something feels not right about my vision. Beside me, George props himself up on one elbow and looks down at me. As he’s leaning in, I realise what’s wrong.

“My hair!” I cry, sitting up, narrowly avoiding colliding with George’s face and scraping my wet hair over my eye, “why didn’t you tell me?”

“Tell you what?” George asks, surprised. I feel my face growing hot with embarrassment.

“That my scar is showing!” I yell, my embarrassment and horror coming out in aggressiveness.

“I didn’t even notice,” George says.

“How can you not?” I cry, “it’s hideous!”

“Fair, really, I-”

“DON’T!” I interrupt, “don’t ever speak to me again!”

I collect my things and run for the castle. I run up the stairs, dripping water all over the floor and making it slippery. In my mind, though, I’m not thinking about the floor or the mess I’m making. All I can think of is how ugly George must find me. How repulsive. How could he not tell me? He must have been too disgusted to talk about it. He didn’t want to draw any more attention to it.

When I reach the dormitory I fling myself onto my bed and cry. When Velvet and Ana return I pretend that I’m asleep. But it isn’t until they’ve gone down to dinner, come back, fallen asleep and dawn began to appear that I finally manage to drift off.