Bruises ~ In editing

~3~

I stare silently at the table as the food appears, not touching a morsel. I take a few drinks of my drink, but that's all I can stomach. I sit silently as everyone finishes their food, everyone ignoring me.

Once they start finishing, they all get up and head towards the Slytherin common room.

I follow them, staying behind as they all whisper to each other. I sigh as I trudge behind them, knowing they won't want me up near them.

As we all get towards the Slytherin door, I hear mumbling as they say the password, but I can't make it out. They all quickly press inside and as I approach the door, it's slammed in my face.

I stand there, shocked for a moment when the door is closed. My eyes gloss over at first, but burning hot anger boils in my stomach like lava, and then I erupt.

"Open the fucking door!" I yell, slamming the side of my fist onto the entrance, "Stop being douchebags and let me in!"

I hear laughing inside the room and I grit my teeth, turning and marching away from the door. I get into the main hallway and sigh as I sink to the ground, my back pressed painfully to the wall.

I look down at my gloved hands, at the dark hallway around me, and I feel tears start to stream down my face. I try and wipe them away but these damned gloves are making it impossible as they just smudge them everywhere.

I rip them off, throwing them down beside me as I place my head into my cut up hands.

I hear footsteps approaching but don't look up until I hear a familiar voice.

"Cassie? Is that you?" Harry says, making his way over to me.

I look up, tears still streaming down my face as my hands are shaking, resting on my knees.

"I came to find you. What are you still doing out here, is everyone already inside?" he says, walking closer.

"Y-yeah, they locked me out," I say, trying to wipe my face when Harry sees my hands.

"Cassie, what happened to your hands?!" he exclaims, bending down beside me.

I pull them away as he reaches out to grab them, tucking them close to my chest, "N-nothing. They're fine."

"Is this why you've been wearing those gloves?" he asks, reaching out for them again, this time, me not pulling away.

He grabs them softly and pulls them towards him, seeing my palms in full view.

When I see them, I fall apart, crying loudly.

They've turned a horrid yellow, infected and full of puss. I can't even count how many there are as Harry stares down at them in shock, "What- who?"

"It's nothing. I'm fine," I say between sobs.

He looks up at me, "You're not fine Cassie, I've only seen you cry
twice before. Twice. And you've been through some tough stuff."

His word bring me back to that time. The first time he ever saw me cry...

Year 4

I stand silently as Dumbledore speaks, his eyes full of pity.

"I know you're in foster care Cassiopeia, so I need to know, what are all these bruises from?"

I stare out the window, watching the snow fall onto the castle in soft white flakes. Christmas had come and gone and I remember what I woke up to that morning.

Being thrown down the staircase.

I blink softly, pushing the memory of waking up on the bottom step, head split open, 2 broken toes, and a fractured wrist. Let's not even start on how many bruised or possibly broken ribs I have.

I know that I should tell them my wrist is hurt, but I don't as I stand silently, Harry, Hermione, and Ron beside me.

They all cast worried glances at me until Ron speaks, "We just want to make sure you're okay Cassie. Is something going on at home?"

"No," I say all too quickly, "I fell down the stairs. I tripped over my cat. I'm fine."

Harry shakes his head, "Cassie please, just tell us the truth."

I shake my head, whispering softly, not knowing if they could hear as I spoke, "I didn't ask for this..."

I look over at Harry who is staring at me pitifully. I sniffle, trying to push back the tears, whispering again, "I didn't ask for this..."

Harry immediately pulls me into him, wrapping his arms around my shoulders and neck tightly, squeezing me in a hug. I immediately return it, crying into his robes.

When he pulls away, my face is screwed up in pain.

"What's wrong?" he asks carefully.

I don't want to tell him. It's an embarrassing thing.

"My hands just hurt is all," I say as I pull them towards me, reaching for my gloves.

At this point, the waterworks have stopped, and I feel ridiculous for crying in front of him, "You should probably get back to the Gryffindor dorms."

I see the pain glaze over his eyes as he says, "I'm sorry you can't come with me."

I shake my head, "I'm sure I'll be fine. There's always after classes right?"

He smiles softly, "Yeah, I guess so..."

I stand up and watch as he also stands, looking down at my now gloved hands.

"What happened?" he says, me looking away from my hands.

"Please, let it be Harry..." I say, my voice soft, nearly impossible to hear.

He sighs as he looks up at me, "Just be careful okay? I'll be looking out for you. All of us will."

I smile softly, "Thanks Harry."

He turns, walking back down the hallway as he says, "Get some sleep okay?"

"I'll try," I say, him knowing damn well that I'm lying.

Year 3

"What are you doing up so late?" Harry asks, walking towards me as I sit by the fire alone, "It's 3 in the morning."

"I couldn't sleep," I say, keeping my arms crossed in front of me to hide the bruises.

"Can you ever sleep?" he asks, his eyes full of concern.

"What do you mean?" I say, confused as to how he knows.

"You're always down here until 4 in the morning then get up at 6. It's not healthy Cass," he says, his eyes roaming over my crossed arms, "Why are you always hiding your arms?"

I look over at him, "I don't know. Why are you so curious?"

"Because in your friend. Are you hurting yourself?" he asks outright.

I scoff, "No, I'm not hurting myself Harry."

"Then let me see," he says, me not realizing he had made his way to my side as he pulled my arms apart.

His eyes open wide at the hand shaped bruise on my arm, and the huge blistered, burnt area of skin beside it.

"What the hell is that?! Did someone burn you?!"

I jump up, putting my hand over his mouth, "Keep your voice down will you?"

His eyes skim over my skin again, "Was it your foster parents?"

"That's none of your business!" I exclaim as I try to march past him but he grabs my burnt skin.

I cry out and rip my arm away, "Leave me alone Harry! My life isn't your concern!"

I turn on my heel and sprint to the girls steps before he can grab me again and race up to the dorm rooms.

I walk over near the Slytherin door and slouch to the floor again, my tears long gone as I rest my head back on the wall, closing my tired eyes.

"This day has been too much already..." I think as I slowly drift into and uneasy sleep.