Imperfect Disappointment
Draco Malfoy sat in his room at his father's mansion. He sighed as he ran his fingers over the huge scars on his left arm. These new scars layered on top of the old ones. He winced as he gently touched the wound on his right side, which was still red and fresh from the abuse his father had done to him just minutes before. Draco didn't understand. He tried his hardest to please Lucius but it seemed impossible. No matter what Draco did, it was never good enough. He felt useless. He wanted the pain to end. The first term at Hogwarts was to begin the following day, but the morning couldn't come fast enough for Draco. He wanted to be back inside the safe walls of the Hogwarts castle, away from his father. Looking at the clock, he saw it was nearly midnight. If he didn't get some sleep now, he never would. He pulled back the covers and crawled into bed, switching off his bedside lamp as he did so.
Draco slid down the sleeve of his wizard robes, hiding his now visible scars from his Slytherin peers. He knew that if anyone saw his scars, they'd go straight to the headmaster. He didn't need that. All that would earn him is another painful beating. Draco looked around the compartment of the train in which he sat and noticed a girl sitting on the bench opposite of him. The thing about her that shocked him was that she has the exact same hair color as him. He had suspicions towards her but didn't say anything. Judging by the cover of the notebook she was doodling in he saw that her name was Cassidy. He decided not to question it. Some people look similar to others. It's not something you should worry about. But he was worried. He didn't know why, he just was. He was silent the whole trip to Hogwarts, occasionally glancing at Cassidy. She noticed him looking at her but ignored it as if he wasn't there.
After the start of term feast, Draco was walking down the hallways while the first year students wandered around the castle. Once he got to his dorm, he made sure Crabbe and Goyle weren't around before pulling up his sleeve. The scars from the previous night were now blending in with the other multiple scars and cuts scattered on his arm, but they were more visible than the faded ones. Dried blood stained the inside sleeve of his robes from the end of the year the previous year when his father had beaten him because the year was over. Draco couldn't hold back the tears any longer. He allowed them to stream down his face and fall onto his bedsheets. He hated being who he was. It was because of his father that he was a bully. It was because of his father that he taunted Harry, Ron and Hermione. It was because of Lucius. He sniffled and pulled out a journal from underneath his pillow. He opened the book to the first page, grabbed his quill, and began writing.
September 1st
Today is my first day back at Hogwarts. It's really important that no one finds out I have a journal. There will be some pretty personal stuff in here. Where do I begin? I suffered another beating from my father last night. I've been trying to hide my scars beneath the sleeves of my robes but I think that soon it won't work anymore. I haven't told a soul about my being abused. Considering that I tell Crabbe and Goyle everything, this is a pretty big secret. I don't know how much longer I can take the abuse. I'm suprised I haven't died of blood loss yet. One more magical year at Hogwarts before the pain starts all over again. Kill me now please. Get it over with. -Draco
He stopped writing and stuffed the journal back under his pillow right as Crabbe entered the room. ''What's up Draco?'' Crabbe asked as he crawled onto his own bed. Draco tried to act bored. ''Literally nothing.'' He replied. Crabbe nodded in agreeement and began shuffling through piles of paper. Draco turned and muttered ''For once.'' so softly only he could hear.