So I just finsished chapter 27... I've done a horrible thing. I didn't think I would actually go through with it, but I did... geez I'm such a bad person, but I'm not going to tell you! Anyways, glad so many liked the last chapter, I did too.

Chapter 16

The party went into late hours of the night, and I found myself easily tired. Although I was probably as healed as I would ever be, my ribs started to throb from all the activity. I made my way out to the front porch, my body aching for a rest.

I was a pity case. He was just being nice because I was the poor girl next door. It wasn't that he liked me; it was that he had nothing else to care for. Next time something happened to someone else, who was hurting, I would be dropped like a hot potato. I was sure of it. The cool air felt good on my face, and I stood there for a good ten minutes before realizing I wasn't the only one taking a breath of fresh air. Remus had wandered out behind me onto the porch, and was also taking in the cool night,

I didn't say anything, and looked out onto the front lawn where a few reporters and photographers had fallen asleep, sure enough waiting for the last picture of the evening. Remus let out a snort and pointed to a rather bulky wizard whose head had rolled onto his camera. "I bet there'll be an indent in his cheek when he wakes up," he said. I nodded my head but didn't reply. He left soon after, and I fiddled with a piece of hair looking at the stars.

I decided I had better get back inside when a hand grabbed my shoulder. A brisk looking woman grabbed me, it was the same one who had been kicked out before.

"The name's Rita Skeeter. Can I get a few shots?"

"Erm… you've already taken plenty haven't you?" I asked, I turned to go inside, but her grip tightened on my shoulder.

"You entered with Harry Potter, do you have a fling going on? Can you give me something?"

"No. You got plenty with that shot with the cute little boy. You should be reporting on the safety of the world… why so concerned with Harry?" I was puzzled at this woman's attitude, as if she was thirsty for gossip.

"So you're on a first name basis are you?" she asked avoiding my question. I shrugged my shoulders and looked where the bulky cameraman had walked up behind her. He pulled up a camera to take a shot and I covered my face with my gloved hands.

"Don't take a picture!" I hissed. This lady was annoying. "I'm going in now."

"Wait what's you name?" she asked.

"I don't know," I said truthfully and proceeded into the palace once again. I strolled back into the ball room where couples where dancing slowly under a dim light. Hermione was leaning rather closely to Ron and I smiled again. I saw Molly and Arthur almost dancing as one person, and the twins were dancing with two rather young pretty ladies. I made my way over to our table and sat down.

I picked up the glass of Fire Whisky that had been poured for me earlier and took a sip. It was refreshing the second time round, and I found myself finishing off the glass rather quickly. My head spinning, I made my way to the bathroom and sat in one of the bathroom stalls, waiting for the night to end.

§

I woke up in a rather large t-shirt, my now flattened curls stuck to my head. My head was lightly pounding. The sun was shining brightly through my tiny windows so I gathered it was morning. I grabbed a clean pair of clothes and made my way over to the bathroom, making sure I checked to see if the landing was clear before I crossed it in my underwear.

My shower was short, and I washed the make-up of my face with little difficulty, and got out of the shower quickly. I tied my wet hair back in a knot and placed my dirty clothes in the hamper before heading downstairs to the dinning room. There was no food on for display this morning, as it seemed that it was lunch.

Molly handed me a sandwich on a plate and asked me if I had scratched my cheek in my sleep. Not looking in the mirror, I didn't notice that the gash on my forehead had been bleeding. I placed my sandwich on the table and rushed to the bathroom and dabbed it with some toilet paper. It clotted and I sighed. The make-up may have worked last night, but this morning was when I had really needed it.

Large purple bags sat under my eyes from a sleepless night. The flecks in my skin were back, and my longer scar had turned a very deep maroon. I left the bathroom and returned to the dining room. I was there along with Ron, who was nursing his head as if he had a huge headache.

"Morning," I said.

"Do you have to yell so loudly?" asked Ron rather rudely.

"Erm… I could just not speak at all."

"That'd be great." His head dropped to the table and he began to snore rather loudly.

I laughed silently and ate my sandwich hastily. After discovering Molly was no longer in the kitchen I went to rid of my dishes, and then left to my library.

I picked out a book, which was easy to follow with a larger print, and sat and read it for the rest of the afternoon. It was quiet, and the whole house seemed either hung over or exhausted—or both.

I read silently, and enjoyed the sunny day indoors. Around four in the afternoon people began to wake to get things done. There was a disturbance and bustling outside my room, but nobody seemed to be talking to anyone else.

I probably remember the most out of all of them, because I actually remember getting into the car for the ride home, who was sitting beside me, and how extremely long the trip seemed. I had been in a car with Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Ginny. Ginny had been giggling and burping, and I had to tell her to pull up her dress at least three times. Actually, all of them were giggling and burping except for me, because no one had bothered to get me another drink after that first one. They had all been too intoxicated.

I saw Hermione walk by the library roughly three times before coming to sit beside me. We sat in silence for a mere minute before she got up and bolted from the room, and I distinctly heard the toilet flush down the hall. I walked towards the bathroom and found her gargling water.

"That's nice," I said, laughing a little. She spat and looked up at me.

"Oh you think you're so perfect. No drinks at all! Well I'll tell you what! Ginny and I had to drag you out of the bathroom where you were crying over a piece of toilet paper! That's right!" She put some more water in her mouth and leaned back to gargle.

"Really?" I said. "I don't remember that."

"Well you don't remember much do you?" she said angrily.

"Well… no."

"It was a rhetorical question!" she exclaimed and stormed out of the bathroom. I sighed. I wondered why she was angry with me, but didn't pursue her stomping footsteps, instead returned to my library.

§

I skipped dinner that night, afraid to face my friends and their delicate tempers. I put on my pajamas early and went to bed. Not long after seven o'clock there was a knock on my door. I woke with a start and yelled, "Yes?"

Remus opened it up and looked at me with a broad smile.

"There is someone here to see you," he said quietly.

I got out of bed and threw a robe over my underclothes. "Who?" I asked leaving my room.

He didn't reply but led me down to the main hallway. On the way I passed Hermione, Ron, Ginny and Harry, who were all standing in a solemn line. Hermione and Ginny glared my way, and Ron seemed quite out of it. Hermione had obviously spread her irate attitude onto Ginny, and I could see the wheels in her head turning for a prank. Harry however was looking directly at me, as if trying to read my mind.

I continued to tip toe behind Remus, past the elves heads, and Mrs. Black down to the front room.

I stopped with a start and saw a man standing in front of the small couch. His hair short, curly and black and he seemed stunningly fit. His light eyes found me and he frowned before covering it up with a grin. His cloak was soaking from the downpour we had received that evening. His eyes looked me up and down, whether approvingly or not I wasn't sure—the flecks of emerald in them frightened me as I recognized those flecks stood in my own blue eyes. His nose was pointed upward and he had the appearance of someone extremely wealthy, although I knew him not to be.

I gasped and stumbled backwards, my hands on my ribs as I started to hyperventilate. This man had triggered a memory flash flood in my brain, and I found myself muttering under my breath—as if the information was too much to keep in.

"My name is Bethany Charlotte Ramone, I'm sixteen and an only child... My mother is dead. Her maiden name was Hurlie. My father's name is Jack Ramone. He has two brother's… I'm home schooled because he's a Professor… I'm named after my mother. I lived in Star's End, and I love transfiguration…"

I looked at this man, his eyes still examining me. He was exerting a power; it was radiating off his body and I almost stepped back because of it.

"Hello Beth, my Beth." He approached me and I stumbled back a few steps.

"Hey Daddy," I said, my voice high pitched.

"I was looking for you Beth, it's a good thing you've got friends," he held up the Daily Prophet and I saw a picture of me with the little blonde haired boy, his appearance smiling broadly while mine was rather stunned. "I saw your picture Bethany, and I've come to fetch you. It's a good thing I called the hospital is it not? Come give your Papa a hug Beth." He walked towards me some more, arms out stretched.

"I—you… yes Daddy," I said although I kept going backwards. Memories flashed through my head, and white masks and green lights over took my mind. I continued to stumble backwards and hit the elephant foot umbrella stand. Then, everything went dark.