Evanescence

"Everybody's Fool"

Perfect by nature
Icons of self-indulgence
Just what we all need
More lies about a world that

Never was and never will be
Have you no shame? Don't you see me?
You know you've got everybody fooled

Look here she comes now
Bow down and stare in wonder
Oh how we love you
No flaws when you're pretending
But now I know she

Never was and never will be
You don't know how you've betrayed me
And somehow you've got everybody fooled

Without the mask, where will you hide?
Can't find yourself lost in your lie

I know the truth now
I know who you are
And I don't love you anymore

It Never was and never will be
You don't know how you've betrayed me
And somehow you've got everybody fooled

It never was and never will be
You're not real and you can't save me
Somehow now you're everybody's fool

It amazed me still that the world did not know of our marital problems, especially since the media was constantly in our lives. James was the heir of the Potter fortune, from a line of pureblooded world-renowned aurors. We were constantly interviewed for the fact that we were two of the world's top aurors ourselves.

Sadly, today was one of those days. Nobody except close friends had ever seen past our facades of perfection, and it actually made me sick how we constantly put up the act.

I always fixed my hair and makeup before leaving the house, always looking my best, which in their eyes was close to perfect. James and I walked down the stone steps of the Ministry as we exited, our masks of happiness in place.

Reporters swarmed around us, shouting out questions.

" How does it feel to be two of the world's greatest aurors?"

" What are your plans for the future? Are you thinking of children?"

" What's it like to be so perfect?"

A middle-aged woman directed the last question at me as she smiled, holding her wand under my face. I had stopped in my tracks, but I simply smiled brightly at all of them and continued on my way.

Her question haunted me even late into the night.

I stepped out of the shower and wrapped the white towel tightly around my torso. I stared back at my reflection in the large mirror, my emotions starting to come to life. It was as though a spark were being set within my blood.

What's it like to be so perfect?

The reporter's voice continuously echoed through my mind, driving me mad. Here I stood before my own reflection, my own truth, and it hurt.

" I wish I knew." I whispered softly. I looked down on the counter at the stack of magazines that always seem to travel from room to room throughout the house. At the top of the stack was the latest magazine with James and I on the cover. My own photograph stared back at me, beautiful and vixen like.

Hot tears began to prickle my eyes and I turned my vision back to my reflection, staring in horror at the vision before me. And then suddenly, my fists pummeled into the large mirror and I screamed.

" I hate you! I hate you! Liar! Liar!" my voice was shaky and I sank down to my knees, watching as my reflection was shattered into a million pieces, as though it were being cloned.

With my back against the wall, I hung my head down and cried, my bloody hands staining my white towel. James ran in a moment later, a look of concern etched across his features when he saw what happened. Walking closer, he kneeled before me and picked up my wounded hands, picking the shattered glass from the gashes. His movements were almost caring, almost gentle. Almost……

My tears stopped and my mask was back into place, as was his. The close contact was strange and alien to us both, and I fidgeted uncomfortably. A moment later, he place a clean white towel against my injury, applying the needed pressure.

After my hand was bandaged, he quietly left the room, leaving me to my disturbed thoughts. Standing shakily, I brushed the bits of glass off of my towel, and carefully moved my bare feet towards the door. And with a wave of my wand, the mess was cleaned and the mirror fixed. Oh how wonderful it would be if life were that simple.