A Forbidden Love

Chapter 16: Nightmares

As soon as he saw us, he ran to a black cabinet and climbed inside. I pray Dad doesn't see him, but if he does, he doesn't show it. The last thing I need is for Dad to catch Potter alone. He does catch me looking in that direction, though.

"Something catch your eye?" he asks.

"Nah. Just looking," I respond, walking in that direction to cover things up. I pretend to be looking at the items on display.

After what feels like forever, Dad's ready to leave. I let out a sigh of relief. After Borgin and Burkes, we stop in two more shops in Knockturn Alley, before heading to Diagon Alley.

Once in Diagon Alley, we start at Gringotts and make our way to Flourish and Blotts. Since I already have most of the equipment, books are the only things I need to shop for. We walk up to the front door just in time to see Potter finish getting his picture taken for the Daily Prophet and Blaise begin tormenting him.

We walk in and Dad walks straight to Potter, stopping behind Blaise. “Well, well, well. Blaise, good to see you again,” he said, kind of annoyed. He hates my friends for putting up with me being bi almost as much as he hates me being bi. He thinks their acceptance is the reason I still am. "Is your mother around?" he then asks, indicating that Blaise should leave.

"Just outside," Blaise says as he turns to go.

Dad turns back to the others. "Ah. Who else do we have here?"

I lean against the door frame, irritated and upset by what my father is about to do. He insults Mr. Weasley for working with muggles and grabs the daughter's book to show the poor pay. I think Ron mentioned something about a sister named Ginny last year. I assume that's who this girl is.

Dad must have known that Potter wasn't going to let him get close to him because I watched Dad slip the diary in Ginny's book instead. Then he playfully fought with Mr. Weasley for kicks and shoves Ginny's book back into her shopping bucket. I've never felt so embarrassed by Father's actions.

For the rest of the shopping trip, I keep my head down. I can't bear to even look at my father, or anyone else. When we walk by anyone, they start to whisper. I hated Dad before, but now I've realized what a disgrace he is to the Wizarding community as a whole, not just in my eyes.

When we finish shopping, he drags me along until we get to a spot where we can travel home. We reach a pretty empty sidewalk and in no time, we're at home.

Mom requests I be left on the porch again, and I'm fine with that. I don't want to spend time with a disgraceful family. I need my reputation to be likable. Now that I've practically lost everything, my crush on Potter is all I have.

Since I'm on the porch, I run away with no problem. I run block after block until I hear my name being called. It doesn't sound like either of my parents, so I risk a look behind me. Sure enough, it was neither of my parents, but Blaise Zabini.

"Hey," he says, panting from trying to catch up.

"Hey."

"You're welcome at our house, still. I was able to convince my mom."

"Thanks Blaise, but I don't know that I want to stay in a house with someone who hates me. Plus, my house is too close. I don't need another stunt like this morning's."

"Well... if you're sure."

"Yeah, I am."

"Ok. You should probably grab your stuff though."

"Yeah, maybe I should," I say with a tight laugh. He let's out a strained laugh as well.

We walk back to his house. When I get inside, Elizabeth tells me the same thing Blaise did, and I tell her I can't stay. I go up to Blaise's room and pack my things.  Elizabeth insists that I eat dinner before I go, so I share one last meal with them. After dinner, I say my final goodbyes to Blaise and his mom, give him a hug for being so accepting, and I'm on my way.

I walk many blocks from the Zabini house, until I can't walk anymore. By now, it's way past dark, so I pull out my wand and point it across the road, hoping the tales are true. Within seconds, the Knight Bus appears almost running me over.

"You paged the Knight Bus?" the driver calls to me.

"I did."

"Hop on in!"

"Thank you."

"Where to?" he asks. I hand him the address. "That's a far trek," he says.

"I need to get away from Wiltshire for a while. Bad memories."

"Well then, Appleby it is. Go on in to the cabin and settle down. You're going to be here for awhile."

"How much will it cost?"

"For a kid," he says with a smile, "nothing."

"Well thank you, sir."

At that, I turn into the cabin to settle down. There's a few people strewn on some of the bunks laying around, but the cabin's pretty empty. I go upstairs to the top cabin anyways.

Much to my liking, I find this cabin to have only one other person in it. I've never been a fan of strangers, especially if I'll be sleeping in front of them. Plus, I can only sleep in peace and quiet.

I left all my stuff in one of the compartments downstairs, so I throw myself onto the bed without a worry. I immediately relax, and within a few seconds, I'm asleep.

I'm not one to have dreams, but tonight I have a vivid dream. I dream that after shopping, Dad chains me to the porch, so I can't run. At dinner time, Dad comes out onto the porch, but instead of food, he's only brought me something to drink. I peer into the glass and see a green-brown, thick liquid sloshing around.

"What is this?" I ask my Dad.

"Oh, just your dinner. You're not getting anything else, so drink up."

I have no choice but to drink. I'm starving and terrified of Dad, who's now glaring at me. I chug down the liquid and immediately fall in pain. I'm holding my stomach with the hand that's not chained up. I feel as though someone is ripping me in half. With one final agonizing scream, I awake in a cold sweat.