The most effective way to silence our guilty conscience is to convince
ourselves and others that those we have sinned against are indeed depraved
creatures, deserving every punishment, even extermination. We cannot pity
those we have wronged, nor can we be indifferent toward them. We must hate
and persecute them or else leave the door open to self-contempt.
- Eric Hoffer
***********************************************************************
~Chapter Three~
He had kept his silence for most of that year. Safe in his rationalization that Malfoy'd had it coming. Now he was just one less enemy to fight. However, nearly eight months later, after school had broken for the summer he found himself in a muggle park. The same exact park that the Daily Prophet reported was where Malfoy had seen the last of the wizarding world. He sat on a bench, without a clue as to how he got here. And looked around the place where the righteous had cast his enemy.
He stood up and started walking towards the city. Soon he found himself in the crumbling district of the downtown. He gazed down the street, curiously watching the muggles going about their daily routine. Cars rolled slowly down the street, a man jogged while talking on a cell phone, and a helicopter whirred above the skyline. He watched this all in fascination.
As he walked, the buildings became even more cramped and dilapidated. He saw several scruffy drunk men sitting on the curb, eyes glazed over. He saw two boys in an alley with straws stuck up their noses as they sniffed a sugary white substance. He saw young men and women with forced smiles, wearing tightly fitting clothes that left little to the imagination. Some were very young, teens and preteens with the gaudiest make-up in a poor attempt to cover their age. He frowned; these are the kinds of things you'd find in Knockturn Alley.
Several of the older ones looked at his strange apparel in curiosity, but turned their attention to other prospects quickly upon seeing the frayed edges of his robes. However, a young boy and a girl sidled up to him hopefully.
The girl, smiled up at him, her short brown hair stiff with hairspray and her teeth yellow for lack of a toothbrush. "What's you're taste, luv?
She asked putting her hand on his arm while the boy did the same on the other side. The young wizard gaped at her, unsure how to reply his disgust mixed with pity and confusion. He looked at the boy and started, even he was wearing the same gaudy make-up and his hair stuck up in stiff spikes. He tried to shrug them both off. They clung on with tenacity not willing to give up quite so soon.
"Look, kids, I'm not interested. In fact, I'm actually kind of lost. Could one of you tell me how to get back to the park?" The two preteens frowned and jumped away as if burned.
"Oh, I see, just come for a little sight seeing have you?" The boy spat at him angrily.
"No, I just-"
"Go away! Get out of here, we don't want you charity or your pity!" The girl interrupted equally angry.
Disturbed by their out bursts and the threatening looks he was getting from the other locals he turned, trying to get away as quickly as possible. He was in such a hurry; he didn't see the other person until it was too late. He slammed into the slightly smaller form, knocking them both sprawling.
As he picked himself up, he heard one of the two voices that had haunted his dreams for most of the year.
"What the bloody hell are you doing here?!"
************************************************************************
A/N: I wasn't really sure if I should leave it here, but I don't want my chapters too long, so... Thank you all for your reviews, I am so thrilled. * blushes * I wanted to get someone to beta it, but she was busy, so I hope ya like that rest of the story.
- Eric Hoffer
***********************************************************************
~Chapter Three~
He had kept his silence for most of that year. Safe in his rationalization that Malfoy'd had it coming. Now he was just one less enemy to fight. However, nearly eight months later, after school had broken for the summer he found himself in a muggle park. The same exact park that the Daily Prophet reported was where Malfoy had seen the last of the wizarding world. He sat on a bench, without a clue as to how he got here. And looked around the place where the righteous had cast his enemy.
He stood up and started walking towards the city. Soon he found himself in the crumbling district of the downtown. He gazed down the street, curiously watching the muggles going about their daily routine. Cars rolled slowly down the street, a man jogged while talking on a cell phone, and a helicopter whirred above the skyline. He watched this all in fascination.
As he walked, the buildings became even more cramped and dilapidated. He saw several scruffy drunk men sitting on the curb, eyes glazed over. He saw two boys in an alley with straws stuck up their noses as they sniffed a sugary white substance. He saw young men and women with forced smiles, wearing tightly fitting clothes that left little to the imagination. Some were very young, teens and preteens with the gaudiest make-up in a poor attempt to cover their age. He frowned; these are the kinds of things you'd find in Knockturn Alley.
Several of the older ones looked at his strange apparel in curiosity, but turned their attention to other prospects quickly upon seeing the frayed edges of his robes. However, a young boy and a girl sidled up to him hopefully.
The girl, smiled up at him, her short brown hair stiff with hairspray and her teeth yellow for lack of a toothbrush. "What's you're taste, luv?
She asked putting her hand on his arm while the boy did the same on the other side. The young wizard gaped at her, unsure how to reply his disgust mixed with pity and confusion. He looked at the boy and started, even he was wearing the same gaudy make-up and his hair stuck up in stiff spikes. He tried to shrug them both off. They clung on with tenacity not willing to give up quite so soon.
"Look, kids, I'm not interested. In fact, I'm actually kind of lost. Could one of you tell me how to get back to the park?" The two preteens frowned and jumped away as if burned.
"Oh, I see, just come for a little sight seeing have you?" The boy spat at him angrily.
"No, I just-"
"Go away! Get out of here, we don't want you charity or your pity!" The girl interrupted equally angry.
Disturbed by their out bursts and the threatening looks he was getting from the other locals he turned, trying to get away as quickly as possible. He was in such a hurry; he didn't see the other person until it was too late. He slammed into the slightly smaller form, knocking them both sprawling.
As he picked himself up, he heard one of the two voices that had haunted his dreams for most of the year.
"What the bloody hell are you doing here?!"
************************************************************************
A/N: I wasn't really sure if I should leave it here, but I don't want my chapters too long, so... Thank you all for your reviews, I am so thrilled. * blushes * I wanted to get someone to beta it, but she was busy, so I hope ya like that rest of the story.
