Chapter 8: of Howlers and effects.
Hello again. This chapter of my life may be a short one, I don't know. Here goes. Enjoy.
The next morning I wake up in the girl's dorm, pain searing through me. I think nothing of it, I'm far too used to it and I get up and get dressed. I go to the bathroom and wash up, and everything normal. I walk back into the dorm and glance at the mirror and I'm shocked when I see my face covered in bruises. I think it weird because I didn't feel pain on my face, and it'd never happened on my face before. I look over to the Potter twins.
"They're not capable of this; no matter how much they hate me… are they?" I think to myself.
They see me looking and they grin, almost mocking me.
I put a concealment charm on myself and grab my bag and walk down the stairs not knowing one of the twins had followed me.
I see Calum in the Common Room, but he ignores me and walks to the twin who followed me.
"Calum?" I ask.
He glares at me, pushes me to the ground and walks out. Tears make their way to my eyes as my head comes into contact with the stone floor.
"I can't cry… it's not acceptable, it is a weakness." I whisper to myself. I use all my willpower not to cry.
I weakly get up from the ground and walk to the Great Hall for breakfast, but there's only one space left on the Gryffindor Table… Next to Calum. He glares at me and puts his legs in the space.
I grab a small orange from a bowl and go to the far corner near the exit of the Great Hall. I sit on the cold floor. I hardly notice Mark walk to me. I look up at him when I feel him wipe a tear from my eye. I hug him and almost break down in tears in the process.
He hears me whisper "I can't cry… it isn't right …" and he says "it is ok to cry. You can cry…"
'You're too sweet, too honest… too good to be friends with me…. I don't deserve you as a friend at all.' I think.
Just then, a red envelope drops on the floor. It suddenly flies up about eye level with me.
"A 1st year has a howler!" a boy shouts.
The whole Hall goes silent and watches intently at me.
"GRACE EMMELINE WEASLEY!! SOMEONE TOLD ME YOU'VE BEEN TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT OUR FAMILY AND OUT BUSINESS! YOU WAIT TILL YOU COME HOME!" my mum's voice screeches from the envelope and it bursts into flames.
The entire hall erupts into laughter. I see only one person not laughing, and that's Mark.
I sit still in the corner, shell-shocked and scared. I don't want to go home for the coming holiday.
"Mark… I don't want to go… I wish I could tell you why right now but I can't… you won't understand." I stammer, holding on to him.
He hugs me and lifts me up gently and we both walk out of the room.
Draco and Ginny walk around the corner just as Mark and I left the room. I try and hide my tears but they stop us.
"Grace what's wrong?" Ginny asks.
Mark decides to take charge and tell them. "She got a Howler from her mum threatening her because she told people about what goes on at home. What actually happens?" he adds on.
"She'll tell you when she's ready, not before." Draco says. "Where's Calum? Or should it b where WAS he?"
"H-he was laughing with the rest of them in the Hall..." I whisper.
"The thing with Calum, he's easily led astray from his own way of life." Draco says. "Wait here with Ginny and I'll go get him." He adds and walks to the Hall.
Well, that's all from me now
Join me again soon, won't you?
Please do. It's too lonely on my own…
Grace Emmeline Diggory xx
