CHLOE

If I thought any other year was hard it was nothing compared to sixth year. On top of all the homework, Quidditch season would be starting soon, and I was going to have to fight for my position at tryouts. It was a Saturday morning and I had officially survived another week managing the mountains of homework which I was avoiding at the moment. I took a hot and steamy shower, got dressed in jeans, a tee shirt, and fuzzy socks and then headed down for breakfast. As I entered into the mess hall Draco waved me over, my eyes wandered to the Gryffindor table as I went and I caught Harry's eyes. We both smiled in greeting and I felt a blush rise to my cheeks as I sat down.

"How'd you sleep?" Draco asked, trying to make light conversation.

"Fine." I replied warmly, smiling as I grabbed some warm biscuits from the dish in front of me. Draco had been acting extremely apologetic since the kiss, and although it was nice at first, it was getting to be quite annoying. I knew however he felt awful and was trying to make up for it, so I put up with it. As soon as we all finished eating I decided to grab my broom and head out to practice, I was dying to be the Chaser again this year and determined to beat out others based on the talent, not the money, that I would bring to the team.

As soon as I got out on the field I was overwhelmed by the smells. The scent of the freshly cut grass wafted through the air, I breathed in deeply, closing my eyes. I had missed this more than anything. I had a Nimbus 2001, had been gifted to the past Slytherin team by Mr. Lucius Malfoy. And although it wasn't the newest broom on the market it cut through the air like a champion. I swung my right leg over the broom and kicked off the ground hard. It soared into the air, butterflies filled my stomach and for a moment I couldn't breath. It had been way too long. For a little bit I stopped and dangled in the air. Fifty feet up I could finally think straight; I scanned the grounds. The morning had that crisp feel to it, and the autumn fog hung low on the grounds. I closed my eyes and breathed in deeply, it didn't get much better than this. I leaned forward on my broom and shot towards the ground at a mind boggling speed, at the last second I veered up and soared back into the air and over to the goal posts. Weaving in and out of the goals I shot my hand out and smacked them as I past, making a loud clanging noise with each slap. I zipped over to the other side of the field, leaning down hard, racing faster and faster. My face stung and the air whipped around me and I whooped aloud and dived for the imaginary snitch in front of me. Losing my balance and I spiraled off my broom onto the grass, and laid there for a minute looking at the sky. Getting up and I spat the dirt out of my mouth laughing to myself. Good thing I was near the ground, and good thing nobody saw that. I jumped back onto my broom, and practiced turns and dives until my hands were so numb they could no longer grip my broom.

I headed back up to the castle feeling quite invigorated. My stomach growled loudly, and I made a quick detour to the kitchen, a regular habit of mine that bothered the house elves. However there was a in particular elf that had taken a liking to me. His name was Dobby, and although he was quite a handful, he was willing to snitch me food so a friendship bloomed between the two of us.

"Psst Dobby!" I whispered as I peered my head in the doorway, the elves all looked at me. Many of them rolling their eyes in annoyance. Some of them waved, but many of them pretended to not see me at all. Dobby ran over, his ears flopping with each step, and wide smile spreading on his face.

"Missus Chloe! What an honour!" I smiled back at him, laughing at his funky clothing.

"Yes Dobby! Hello! Do you think you could score me some pastries today? I'm absolutely starved!"

"Of course Missus!" He nodded vigorously, "I think I saw some Lemon Tarts in the back even!"

"What a clever elf! My favorite!" He bobbed off to the back of the kitchen, returning moments later with a magnificent Lemon Tart in his tiny hands.

"Thank you so much Dobby! I must be going! See you later." I grasped his hands in gratitude and picked up the tart, mouth watering. I began to load the thing into my mouth as I sped down the hallway to the room of requirement to stash my broom. The moment I entered though my spirits were dashed. The room was trashed, my posters and books ripped and scattered across the floor. The couches were overturned and the fire stomped out, soot stained the floor around it. I gulped down the lump in my throat, and reached for the shattered picture of my family, left smashed on the floor. That's when I saw it, first in the reflection of the broken glass, and then when I looked up on the wall. There were large red letters written violently on the wall where my shelf used to be, as it now lay overturned on the floor. My heart pounded in my ears, and fear crept into my heart, tears brimmed my eyes, making it hard to read. But it was not to be mistaken, the letters clearly spelt out "Mudblood" on my wall.

My secret was out. The panic rose, I began to hyperventilate, I dropped the picture grasped so tightly in my hand that the broken glass had cut it open. I ran to the door and threw it open, I needed to breath. I sprinted down the hall, going anywhere, anywhere to get away from the shambles of my reality. I whipped around the corner and out into the open air of the back of the castle. I didn't stop however, I ran down the hill at full speed until my legs were going so fast that the rest of me couldn't keep up. I tripped, rolling down to the bottom of the hill, and then curling up in a ball, my head in burrowed into my hands. I felt it coming, the sobs rising in my throat. I hadn't cried in a long time but the fear was over taking me. Body aching sobs escaped my lips, I stifled them the best I could but it didn't do much good.

When I had finally pulled myself back mostly together, I made my way back to the castle. Sticks were poking out of my hair, and dirt was streaked across my face. I tried to keep my head down but there was only so much I could do, and I was eventually spotted.

"Chloe!" I voiced yelled at me from behind. I hung my head lower and walked faster, trying to escape them.

"Chloe stop!" This time I recognized the voice, it was that Ravenclaw girl...Sarah. I turned in surprise. She ran up to me, concern spread openly across her face.

"What happened to you? Are you alright?"

"Yes I'm-" I replied, given away by the crack in my voice. She reached for my hands to comfort me, and I flinched as a sharp pain shot across one of them. I had totally forgotten I had cut one of them. She gasped, seeing the blood, it was a lot worse than I had originally thought.

"We need to get this taken care of right away." She said nodding at me kindly, "Follow me."