A/N: I didn't make this story because it was a task. I made this because we need to be aware, aware of the pain that you can feel in children. We need to be aware of abuse that is happening in families, sometimes, it can happen to families that seem perfect in every way. If you know anyone being abused, alert the authorities. They don't deserve to stick to that pain any longer, I know that they don't want to tell anyone, but you have it, its for their own good.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

Assignment #4 of: Defense of the Dark Arts Classroom
Task: Write about a character who uses a lack of emotion and a lack of reaction as a mask to protect themselves. Alternatively, write about someone who uses exaggerated and over the top emotions and reactions to protect themselves.

Criticism or any form of advice is highly appreciated!

*MAJOR TRIGGERING: IF YOU DON'T LIKE ABUSE. PLEASE DON'T READ! I WARNED YOU!*

I'm Fine

Keith walked down the hall, ignoring the children that pushed him. His face was blank, void of any emotion except fear the being followed. As a Slytherin, he couldn't be afraid, he wasn't allowed to be. No matter how hard they hurt him, abused him, he wasn't allowed to show any emotion. Emotion was just a weapon that stabs you in the back, they betray you.

As the children dispersed to their classrooms, Keith ran the boy's bathroom, but not before checking if anyone was there.

Being glad that the bathroom was empty, he ran to the sink, turned it on and washed his face. "You can't…not again, not again." His shoulders started shaking, his heart burning. "Every damn time, you couldn't just stop…" A tear came down, then came a second. "You shouldn't have talked to them; you shouldn't have remembered."

Keith hated his parents, especially his dad. He hated every slap, every kick, every punch that came from his father. He knew that the relationship was unhealthy, but he couldn't tell anyone, he wasn't allowed to show it.

A punch. "What the hell did I tell you?!" A yell rang out from the boy's room. "You embarrassed me in front of the council! You lowered my reputation! What are they going to think of me now?! Huh!" A kick.

"Daddy! I'm sorry!" The boy cried.

"Don't you dare tell anyone! You are a pure-blood Slytherin, don't you dare tarnish that name as well. What do us Slytherins do?"

The boy stopped crying, his face going taught. He stood up straighter, a small smile on his face, as if his father never beat him, as if he never cried. "We stand up. We don't fall. We don't show emotion."

Keith only shook harder as the sobs racked his body. He didn't want this, he never wanted this life of pain and sorrow. He wanted happiness and friends, unlike the coldness that he got from other Slytherin peers, or that cold feeling of loneliness when he slept in his room.

At that moment, the boy stood up with a gasp, he heard footsteps running towards the bathroom. Looking in the mirror, he noticed his ragged look and panicked, he couldn't look like this in front of anyone. He quickly fixed his hair and wiped his face against his robe to remove any tears that stayed on his face.

After a few seconds, a teacher walked into the bathroom, her face full of concern. "Mr. Walker, I was informed that you skipped some part of class and that you were crying in here. Are you okay?"

Keith smiled, his teeth shining. And suddenly, as he smiled, something shattered inside of him. The breaking hurt, like glass cut his insides, but he smiled anyway. "I'm fine, Professor. I'm okay."

No I'm not.