I let out another sob that I miserably failed to hold it. I wasn't scared to cry when no one saw, but I was scared that someone would hear. Actually, not just someone. Father. I was scared that Father would hear.
Mother promised me that she would keep me safe this time. But of course, she was just as scared as Father as I was. I trembled in the darkest corner, curled up into a ball, new bruises along my body and tears streaming down my hot face. My head was pounding with pain, but whether it was from the blows I received, or the crying, I couldn't tell.
"YOU WORTHLESS, VILE ADOLESCENT!" my father had roared at me as I cowered from his blows, on my hands and knees.
"Please, please, I'm sorry," I begged for mercy from Lucius Malfoy.
"YOU SHOULD BE SORRY THAT YOU ARE THE ONE WHO WILL INHERIT MY FORTUNE! YOU SHOULD BE SORRY THAT YOU'RE ALIVE!" he bellowed, his words slurred, and he hit me numerous times after those words. I got away after what seemed an eternity of striking pain and being two times under the Cruciatus curse from my wasted drunk father. I choked out yet another sob at the memory of what happened minutes ago and brought out my silver pocket knife. I didn't care that it was a muggle object; it did a fine job with what I needed it to. I looked at my arms through blurry eyes. They both had so many scars it was hard to imagine that I even had any more room to cut myself. But I took the knife in my left hand, deciding that I really had no more room on my left arm since I was naturally right handed, and cut another slit in a sea of hundreds on my right arm. As the blood oozed out, I felt all the bad things trickling out of my body as well.
After a couple more minutes, several more cuts, and about 5 charms to get rid of the raging headache, I stood up, still whimpering and trembling, and went to my room. I shut the door quietly, so he couldn't hear where I was. I washed the remaining blood from my arms in my bathroom, and then changed into pajamas. Another muggle thing, yet they were far more comfortable than a night dress. Or maybe I just wanted to be as different as my father as I could. As I laid down in my bed, I realized that tomorrow, I would be going to Hogwarts for my sixth year. This was the best news I've found in a long time. This summer had been the worst so far. I had been branded with that awful Dark Mark and sent off to kill Dumbledore.
That was the last thing I ever wanted to do. Headmaster Dumbledore and Professor Severus Snape were the only men I could look up to as father figures. They protected me, kept me safe from harm. And now I had to kill one of my idols, or I would be killed myself. Several times, I had been very close to plunging that knife straight into my heart this summer. I cried myself to sleep, as usual.
The next morning, I woke up feeling something I hadn't felt in a long while. I felt…happy. Don't take it as if I was bursting with joy, but there was enough for me to smile about a minute in the mirror after I showered and got dressed and ready. Then I remembered my assigned task, and the smile and any traces of happiness faltered. Mother and Father took me to the station, and I went to platform 9 ¾ alone. I hugged my mother goodbye and she kissed my forehead.
"Stay strong, Draco. For me," she whispered in my ear, and with that, I let go. After shooting a hard glare and sharp nod to Father, I got on the platform and boarded the train. Pangs of jealousy and new founded pain shot through my heart as I saw happy parents, aunts and uncles bidding goodbye to their children. Especially the fathers wishing their sons good luck and telling them in a joking manner that they should cause a little mischief. But what struck pain through me most was that the son, father, and even mother laughed happily. How much I longed to have a family like that. And then there was Potter with the Weasley's. He had a family, no matter what anyone said. He had the Weasley's, even those twins. I longed for brothers like that. Who made me laugh.
I boarded the train to find those buffoons who I had to call my friends. Or else, of course. Then Pansy came and hugged me, squealing. She was plainly stupid, pug-faced, and a bimbo. The fact that she had gotten me drunk on numerous occasions for her own slutty needs made me gag, which I covered up with a cough. And then there was also the truth that she was more than likely to be my wife one day, just because she was Pure-Blood. That just did it. I shoved her off me and ran to the train bathroom. I kneeled in front the toilet and threw up. I stuck my fingers up my throat and made myself throw up more, the pain and torture I caused myself felt…good. Better than the way my life was going, anyways. After 5 minutes of repeating this, I stood up, flushed the toilet, and rinsed my mouth. The train started moving and I went to my compartment. I was forced to boast in front of Crabbe, Goyle, Pansy, and a couple others of my Dark Mark, because if not, they would go to their Death Eater parents, whom would go to my father, who would hit me. Again.
There came a knock on the compartment door, and outside stood a girl who I had never seen before. She looked about the same age as me, and she looked shy. I slid the compartment door open, overjoyed for an excuse to stop talking about my Dark Mark.
"What do you want?" I snapped. "And who the hell are you?" I didn't want to be mean to her, but I had a reputation that I had to maintain.
"The name is Rose. Rose Joyce. I was wondering if I could sit," she said, shyly, motioning to the empty seat in my compartment. She had an American accent. I couldn't hide my shock as much as I tried; I gaped.
"W-we don't accept Americans in Hogwarts," I said, slowly.
"I know. But Uncle Sev insisted that I attended here for my last two years, even if I already know far more than 7th years," she replied casually.
"U-Uncle S-S-Sev?" I stuttered, bewildered.
"Uncle Severus Snape, yes," she said.
"Professor Snape doesn't have any siblings, if you've forgotten, but nice lie," I smirked.
"Oh, I know. But he has cousins, and my mother happens to be his cousin. Along with her sisters and brother. So therefore, he's sort of my uncle, and he likes it when I call him Uncle Sev," she said, smiling. "And who are you?" she asked warmly.
"Draco Malfoy," I answered quickly.
"I hope you have a nice year," she said, with so much truth that it hurt. I knew it was going to be an awful year.
"Whatever. Anyways, no, you cannot join us," I snapped, and shut the door in her face. She shrugged and moved on. The rest of the train ride was uneventful, and when we got to Hogwarts, I was happier than I had been all summer. Not that I showed my love of Hogwarts on the outside, though. At the Opening Feast, I just picked at my food, silent. Memories and the task I had been assigned haunted my brain.
"And now, I believe Professor Snape has a word to say," Dumbledore's words brought me back to earth. Snape approached the podium.
"Thank you, Headmaster. I do wish to say that my niece is attending this year. If I hear that she is being harassed in any way possible, or comes crying to me for any reason or about anyone, I can and will expel the person who is giving her trouble. She is from the States, and that is even more of a reason to treat that girl with respect. A bad impression from each one of you represents our whole country. Remember that. Without further ado, I wish to invite her to say a few words," he finished his speech, and the girl from the train came from the Gryffindor table up to the stage.
"Thanks, Uncle Sev. All I want to say is that I want to thank you all for immediately accepting me, though I'm different. And one more thing. You shouldn't let words steal your glow. This goes out to everyone in here, all the girls and boys in here. So whatever you've been told, you're worth more than gold. Hold your head high, and just don't let anyone hurt you. You're really worth more than anyone who dares to hurt you, whether verbally or physically. Shine," she said, smiling. She locked eyes with me for a second, and I felt that the whole speech was directed towards me.
I took that time to really look at her. She had sleek, curly, dark brunette hair. And what astonished me most were her golden eyes. They almost had a glow to them. Her smile was so true and warm that it sent another wave of jealously searing through my heart. She had something to smile about. Something that I never had. As soon as the feast was over, I dashed out and went to my dorm. I changed and was in bed before any of the others were in the dorm. Rose Joyce's happiness was still haunting me and once more, I cried myself to sleep once again. Nightmares bothered me all night long, and I didn't get much sleep. Little did I know what I would find that year.