Lie To Me

Part 48

Kit King
I undressed myself with shaking hands as the water filled up the bath.
As I took off my skirt and shirt I turned to the small mirror that was hanging on the wall.
There was a bruise forming on the left side of my rib cage. My skin was pale and the dark circles under my eyes were more prominent than I would have liked. My hair was a matted mess and it was a struggle to pull the scrunchie out of it.
My once strong emerald nail polish was now chipped and all my fingernails were broken and short.
The necklace Draco bought me once hung proudly around my neck but now it hung loose.
I was a mess.
An exhausted, untidy mess.
I had gone from being a confident and well known Slytherin princess from a powerful family, to nothing.
My family was now feared and everyone knew them for all the wrong reasons.
I was no longer confident and people associated me with my no good parents.
I felt unloved.
No one loved me, not even myself.
Perhaps Draco could love me again, but not like this.

I slipped into the water still in my underwear and immediately pulled my legs to my chest.
I let the tears fall and closed my eyes.
But every time I closed my eyes I saw something horrible.
Dumbledore dying, my parents sneering faces, Fred walking out of the pub leaving me, images of Draco being tortured, Arthur's anger.
My body started to shake and I couldn't stop the sobs from coming out, hurting my ribs as they made their appearance.
I didn't want this anymore.
I didn't want any of this.
I wanted my life to be how it was before all of this.
I wanted to be happy.

Everyone in the house would be able to hear me.
But I couldn't find it in myself to stop.
The pain was too much for me.

I cried for only a few minutes before Molly entered the bathroom, not bothering to knock.
I didn't care in that moment that I was in my underwear.
She rolled up her sleeves and pulled me into her arms, resting her head ontop of mine.
I put my head on her chest as one of her hands stroked my hair.
"Right, let's get that hair washed shall we?" Molly smiled and I nodded, not being able to smile back.
Though part of me felt silly for allowing Molly to wash my hair for me, a bigger part found it comforting to feel a mother's love.

"Whats all that crying for ey?" She smiled and I shrugged.
"I'm disgusting. Look at me. I look like death on legs." I sighed as she wrapped a towel around me.
Molly laughed lightly and turned me so we were both  facing the mirror.
"I see a girl just trying to get by in a messed up situation. You've been through more than any girl of your age should go through."
"I'm not wanted anywhere."
"Don't even go there Kit. I want you here. We all want you here."
"Arthur? Fred? George? I don't think so." I said and wiped away a stray tear.
Molly squeezed my shoulders and began to brush through my hair.
"I'll talk to Arthur. He was just being protective and acted out of anger not logic. And the twins? Of course they want you here. Especially now they know what Ron said wasn't true and the truth has now come out, they'll all come to their senses." She sighed and I nodded. "Anyways, this is my house and you're staying here."
"Thanks Molly." I smiled.
"Now get dressed and I'll make you a nice hot drink." She said before smiling and walking out.

I smiled as I put on the large knitted jumper and a loose pair of shorts that were obviously made for the boys.
I took a deep breath and pushed my hair behind my ears before walking out of the bathroom and down to the kitchen where a sea of red hair was waiting.
Each of them looked at me and I tugged at the shorts.
"Well that's not intimidating at all." I sighed before folding my arms over my chest.
"Take a seat Kit." Arthur sighed and pointed to the only free chair at the head of their table.
I sat down and tugged the sleeves of the burgundy jumper over my hands.
"I owe you an apology. A big one. How I acted was awful and I'm so sorry Kit." Arthur said and I nodded.
"It's ok. Just a bruise." I shrugged.
"No. I behaved wrong. Ron's told us everything and I couldn't be more sorry."
"I think we all owe you an apology. We assumed the worst of you when really you're the best of us all." Ron said and I rolled my eyes.
"Don't go nice on me Ron it's weird." I said and each of us round the table gave off a small laugh.
"And Kit, can we talk? Alone?"
My heart started to beat faster as I looked over at Fred, who was already looking at me.
"Sure."