Thank You to Emica and Lauren, who've both pointed out how OOC Percy is here, but I like him OOC. =) So just deal with Percy out of character a bit *wink*

DISCLAIMER Don't own them…like I've said in other disclaimers, I'd rich if I did.

Michelle woke up slowly. She opened her eyes, rubbing them to make the room seem less blurry. Her eyes focused on someone sitting beside her bed. "Seamus?"

"You're awake! Madam Pomfrey, Michelle's awake!"

Seamus stood up from his seat to allow Madam Pomfrey to get to the bed. Michelle still felt woozy, her head pounding and her stomach queasy. Madam Pomfrey put a cool cloth across Michelle's forehead. "How do you feel, dear?"

"Tired...and a little sick. My head hurts. What happened?"

"You fell down the steps and hit your head pretty hard. You have a bit of a concussion. Do you know how you could have fallen?"

Michelle thought very hard for a minute. At first she didn't remember a thing. But suddenly the previous night came rushing back to her. Malfoy with his horrible talk of "mudbloods" and Muggles. She had tried to leave the conversation, but Draco had pulled her back by her robes. She tumbled down the hard stone stairs…

"No," she finally said. "I don't remember anything." Seamus watched her suspiciously.

"Well, if you remember anything, let me know. I can heal you faster if I know what happened."

Michelle smiled weakly. "Yes Madam Pomfrey."

As soon as Madam Pomfrey was gone, Seamus turned back to Michelle. "I bet I know how this happened."

"Don't Seamus," Michelle said quietly. "Please." She was regretting ever letting Seamus see her and Draco together in the Great Hall.

"He is not good for you!" he said, a little louder.

"Be quiet! I know he's not. I know."

Seamus sighed. "You have to do something. Anything!"

Michelle was getting angry. "You're only saying this because you hate Slytherins!"

"That is bloody ridiculous!" Seamus shouted. Madam Pomfrey gave him a scathing look and he blushed furiously. "Michelle, you know that's ridiculous."

"No I don't," she replied stubbornly.

"If I hated all Slytherins, then why would I be here? I don't like Malfoy, I'll give you that. But I'd be worried about you no matter who was beating you up!"

Tears were welling up in Michelle's eyes. "I'm scared," she whispered.

Seamus took her hand. "It's okay. Does anyone else know what's been going on?"

"Kind of," she admitted.

"Who?"
"Percy Weasley."

Seamus started laughing. "Why in the world would you tell Percy of all people?"

"I didn't tell him exactly…he found out." Seeing Seamus's confused look, Michelle explained further. "The…the first time I had to go to the hospital, he caught me watching around near curfew. He recognized me and I showed him my shoulder, which was badly bruised, and he figured it out."

"Well," Seamus replied. "I guess maybe he's one of the better people to find out."

"Why do you say that?"

"He doesn't have anyone to tell, except maybe his owl."

"What do you mean?" Michelle asked.

"Percy doesn't have any friends." Seamus said it as thought it were the most normal thing in the world. Michelle was taken aback. Her heart suddenly went out to the poor older read-headed boy who'd been so nice to her.

"Maybe we should ask him what to do," Seamus suggested slowly.

"Do you think he'll know what to do? I…I don't want him to think any less of me…" Michelle's voice trailed off sadly.

"Darlin', he won't think any less of you! This isn't your fault!" Michelle nodded and Seamus got up from his chair. "I'll go find him. We should do this soon."

"Seamus, wait," she said as he turned to leave. "I'm doomed…aren't I?" He just gave her a sad smile and left the hospital.

*****

Unfortunately, Percy was not much help. He could offer no advice except for Michelle to avoid conversation with Draco that would lead to another confrontation. This, she realized, was a very Percy-ish answer.  He hated conflicts. So did she.

Seamus didn't know what to say, so he mostly kept his peace about the situation. However, Michelle could tell that his idea about what was best removed Draco from the picture. The idea was not new to her, but that didn't mean she agreed.

Draco's attitude toward his girlfriend didn't change much after she was released from the hospital. There were times when he was kind and affectionate, but other times he became distant and cruel. Thankfully the violence seemed to lessen. That first trip to the hospital remained a secret, but Draco had seen Michelle fall. Madam Pomfrey even told Michelle that Draco had been the one to bring her in. She wasn't sure if that had been out of worry or guilt.

But as the days went on, Michelle got more and more fed up with Draco and everything about him. Reality began to set in and the boy began to slip from his pedestal.

Seamus didn't help at all. He began to encourage her falling opinion of Draco any chance he got. Michelle knew he was only trying to be supportive, but that didn't make it any easier.

The last straw came as spring made its first phantom appearance of a warm breeze and new blade of green grass. An owl dropped a letter off for Michelle just as she was leaving lunch. She quickly buried it in her robes when she saw "Marie Standish" on the return label.

Why would her mother send her a letter? Michelle never got mail from home. And no wonder why after her less than jovial holiday.

She waited until she was in her room and alone before opening the envelope. She sat along on her bed reading the letter laced with unspoken I-miss-you's and fading relationships. Regardless of the written words of well-wishing, it was one of the saddest letters Michelle had ever received.

Then and there, it suddenly dawned on her. She realized everything she'd sacrificed. Everything she'd given up. And she also realized that she'd received nothing in return.

That was all it took. Seamus' words of advice suddenly all made sense. She knew what she had to do. Hopefully, maybe, she'd be happy again.

She and Draco needed to end.

Preciousonee I know it's violent…but this is not a happy story! LoL, I'm so thankful that I have you as a reviewer, thank you so much!