Chapter Six

"What are you serious?" I repeated for the seventh time, blinking slowly at Hermione.

"Umm yeah how do you think Harry and Ron will take it?" Hermione gulped nervously, shifting uncomfortably in her seat beside my canvas and paints.

"Apart from probably yelling, going insane and over-reacting they'll be fine." I replied, sarcasm seeped through my words.

"That's what I thought, but they have a right to know, being my best friends of course…"

I could see out of the corner of my eye that Hermione was on the brink of tears, or worse, a full blown sobbing fit. I had never practically liked her, but right now I could see that it wasn't her fault that she was a bossy, know-it-all, goody-two-shoes, Hermione was just being Hermione.

"Umm don't worry, in time they'll accept it and when they do, they'll probably accept him too." I offered softly, it was the closest thing to comforting her.

"You saw how Ron reacted to Victor Krum at the Yule Ball, he called it, 'dating the enemy' or something like that! So how am I meant to get Harry and Ron to accept my new boyfriend?" the dam walls burst open, tears slid down the Head Girl's cheeks and continued down the nape of her neck. Suddenly, compassion flooded me as I leaned over and patted her softly on her back.

"Look when they see how happy you two are together, both of them will get over the whole 'evil' thing." I whispered in kind of like the same tone Harry hushed with me.

"How will they get over it? I mean, I'm kind of dating Draco Malfoy here!" Hermione wailed pathetically, sobbing hysterically.

A bell unexpectedly echoed through the Common Room, the afternoon classes were beginning in a few minutes.

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I had managed to convince Hermione to come to Advance Herbology after lunch; it was odd how Hermione's problem managed to make me forget about my own until I was in the middle of listening to Professor Sprout's lecture on Fern Flowers which apparently ate muggle ferns and resembled furry flowers with jagged teeth.

"Now the Fern Flowers were originally formed in Rowena Ravenclaws large flora collection, they had been passed down from each Ravenclaw prefect to the next and so on..." Professor Sprout said, swatting away the occasional fly hovering around her soft flyaway hair.

Shit I forgot about that bloody letter…

What am I going to do?

Something obviously…

Thank you for pointing out the obvious…

No problem

"Now break off into pairs and pull on your Dragon Hide gloves, we need their essence extracted for Madame Promfrey's Pepper Up Potions, you will need to squeeze it out of the little cut that has previously been made… Collect the essence in these vials and hand them up to me at the end of the lesson." Sprout continued, indicating the equipment on the front table.

I sat there, wondering whether anyone in this class of Ravenclaws and Gryffindor would actually pick me as their partner until someone came up behind me and tap me on the shoulder rudely. I spun around on my seat to face my twin sister.

"Yes Padma?" I refrained from letting myself snarl at her, because, well our parents adored her and we were exactly alike, although they hated me.

Stupid, perfect Padma, why can't they understand that the Sorting Hat put me in Gryffindor, I didn't ask it to?

"I'm not pairing with you." She replied bluntly, so much for sisterly love…

"Why would you anyway? It's not like our parents aren't forcing us to." I hissed, I felt my whole body tense up.

When I needed her, she was there, but I need her now and she's pushing me away…it must be the Ravenclaw in her…

Now it's because our parents forbade her to talk to you…

So?

"Do you want to pair up?" Harry said, breaking off my chain line thoughts, I hadn't even noticed my sister walk off.

"Umm sure Harry…" I answered, shifting slightly to make more room for him as Harry carefully sat down and placed a Fern Flower in front of me.

"I guess we're supposed to squeeze the stuff from here…" Harry said, showing the small cut under a fuzzy green leaf.

"Hrmm…" I wasn't really paying attention, looking around the room I saw Hermione with some random Ravenclaw, probably avoiding Ron and Harry, and Ron was unfortunately paired with my sibling, flirting indiscreetly and ignoring the plant that was nibbling on his robe sleeve.

"Parvati, can I ask you something?" Harry inquired, dropping his voice into a low hoarse whisper.

"You already did Harry, now come on, this stupid plant won't let me get any of its bloody essence out of it!" I he was going to ask me about my letter, I won't let him bring it up if I can help it.

"But-" Harry began.

"It is a few minutes before the end of class, pass up your vials and if Madame Promfrey is satisfied with the amount collected, then there will be no homework for this week." Sprout ordered casually, removing her gloves and placing everyone's vials into a large box.

Harry didn't get another chance after that, as soon as the bell had run I ran to Divination and purposely sat in the closest spot next to our professor to avoid him. Firenze was still teaching us though; Professor Trelawney had decided to retire from her teaching job because of the 'fading Seer ability due to old age'. In my opinion, she had never had the talent, I can't even believe that I thought she did in my third, forth and fifth year.

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On the day of the Hogmeade's trip, everyone was ecstatic, with the exception of me of course. The feeling of dread and horrid memories surrounded me and I hardly had enough courage to climb out of bed. Another letter had come, confirming my fears if I hadn't come to 'greet' my parents, I would pack my bags and return home. So I basically had no choice, but to go.

"Make sure you're back by curfew children, otherwise expect Hagrid or myself to personally collect you and undoubtedly suspend you." McGonagall warned the large crowd which waited eagerly to be dismissed.

"You may go…" she said, allowing everyone to go down to Hogmeade's

I stood on the edge of it all, wearing a red tank top, covered by a black zip-up hooded jacket and light blue jeans. I decided to come prepared for this beating, my black backpack contained various potions and bandages to help tend to the wounds after my parents had left. Feeling determined, I began walking towards the alleyway behind the Hog's Head, where I was to meet surely, another frying-pan.

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"Why haven't we received a letter from Albus Dumbledore that you had changed houses yet?" Peter Patil hissed, punching me again in the stomach.

"I don't know!" I managed to gasp, coughing up another couple drops of blood. I knew several of my ribs had broken and more bruises were sure to appear once I had gotten back to the castle.

"That's why you're in Gryffindor, you don't know anything!" Paullina shrieked, kicking my back once again.

Tears stung my eyes, I refused to cry out in pain, I refused to reply and so they continued pounding me until I felt like I was a lump of bloody pulp.

"This isn't working Peter; let's take it up a notch."

"Yes, the bitch is still not obeying; I bet she hasn't even gone to Dumbledore yet." My father replied knowingly, I closed my eyes and mentally prepared myself for even more pain.

"Will this do on her?" my mother inquired, nudging my trembling body with her sharp high-heel shoe.

"The whip? Well I don't know, why don't you try it?" he laughed evilly.

They're going to kill me, I just know it!

Don't worry your Angel will come soon…

How do you know?

A sudden audible crack was heard before searing pain lashed out on my side, the leather whip snapped and bit me, wearing me down even further, the stinging pain pumped through my veins and throbbed like mad in my head, I felt like I was on fire, but when I smelt the smoke, I knew I was.

They lit the leather whip on fire and decided to whip me with it… Oh Merlin I am going to die.

I couldn't take the scorching pain any longer, a strangled cry slipped from my lips. All I was thinking about was that I was going to die and nobody would care.

"I think she's had enough for now, come now Paullina let's leave before this pile of crap dies." Peter Patil suggested. I barely heard him because my mind was slipping in and out of consciousness.

Hearing two faint pops I managed to open my eyes in an attempt to locate my bag full of medicine. It lay tattered and torn in the mud and slime; no one was around to hear me moan as I dragged myself across the alleyway and open the slightly charred backpack.

Before I could reach the Pepper Up Potion I slipped deeper into unconsciousness, I heard someone yell my name loudly.

My Angel has come.