Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.
Challenges listed at the bottom.
Word Count - 304
No Better Revenge
It took months for her to look in a mirror without wincing. The scars Greyback had left behind were almost worse than if he'd merely bitten her and left her howling at the moon occasionally.
She'd always prided herself on her appearance, and while yes that made her vain, it had also made her confident. Sure of herself.
He'd destroyed that with one rake of his nails against her pale, delicate skin.
Her friends told her that it didn't matter. Seamus told her she was still beautiful. Lavender knew the truth… she was hideous. A monster.
…
Spending her days at Saint Mungo's helped her. She was there voluntarily, and she often attended the group therapy sessions. As she learned to deal with her new reality of people staring at her disfigurements, she learned, slowly, that many people had it much worse than she did.
She got on well with the nurses and slowly, she became friends with them, despite the marks on her face.
They still liked her.
…
"The food here is so bland," Seamus muttered, picking at the shepards pie he'd gotten for dinner. He hated hospital food, but he hated not seeing Lavender more, so he dealt with it.
For her.
She loved him for that.
Lavender chuckled and then, taking a deep breath, she said, "Maybe next week, we can go somewhere else?"
He blinked and then his face lit up and she knew it was worth it.
She still wasn't comfortable with the way people looked at her. She didn't think she ever would be but… she couldn't keep putting her life on hold.
It had happened, and she couldn't change that. Now it was time to move on, to accept herself as she was now, and live a good life.
There was no better revenge than that.
Written for:
Disney - S4. Someone learning to believe in or accept themselves.
Showtime - 40. St. Mungo's
North Funfair - Splash A Mod - Lo - Trio Era
East Funfair - Bingo - Setting Board - St Mungo's
South Funfair - Test Your Strength - Weakling - Trio Era
365. 170. Bland