This chapter is rated a little higher for sexual references and abuse; you've been warned.

Chapter 23

"I know you," he said. His face was hollow and daunting, staring at me like a prowling animal.

"No! I didn't mean to! I'm sorry, please don't. I promise, never again," I said. He came towards me arms outstretched. I couldn't run anywhere. It was black. He grabbed my shoulders and I beat against his chest.

He towered over me, tall and strong. The ideal picture of a man, but without the heart of anything. My Father scowled.

"You don't deserve this," he said. "I should give you away, or try to pay someone to take you."

"Don't! I'm sor—"

There was a harsh sound and my cheek stung.

"Don't ever interrupt me," he said. I looked down. "You're a murderer and a bloody slut."

"I'm sorry," I whispered. "I know and I'm sorry."

"Will you do better next time Bethany?"

"I'll try," I whimpered.

"Trying isn't good enough. Your Mother never tried. She just did. It was when she tried to have you that she failed. Trying will never get you anywhere, Bethany!"

His face changed to Healer Presley's and he started to laugh. It was a laugh that echoed in my head and I covered my ears and started to scream. I had to drown out the noise. Healer Presley held up a mirror that showed my face. I saw me, and then my reflection turned black. He was gone. I was alone.

Then Ginny was there. She was yelling at me, but I couldn't decipher what she was saying. She was yelling and screaming, her ears a faint scarlet and her freckles purple with rage.

"…kill my friend! That's what you could've done! A murderer twice over is what you are! Bloody Hell Beth!" She continued to scream at me, and Harry's face revolved in my mind.

Then I was in a glass box, but I couldn't see out. People were laughing at me, and they had removed their masks to do it. They were talking in low voices about testing before they disappeared and I couldn't see out. I was trapped inside a small box. I couldn't breathe.

I started to yell. Would no one help me? Why would they leave me in the dark?

"Help!" I yelled over and over again until my voice was hoarse.

"Beth!" a voice said. "Beth we're here!"

"Where?" I screamed. "Where are you? Why won't you help me?" The girl lying dead in the field beside me was suddenly at my face.

"You killed me Beth," she said. Her brown hair was still matted and bloody. "You're a murderer."

"No! I didn't mean to; I'm not!"

The voice started to yell again. Over and over it repeated itself.

"Beth! Beth! Beth!"

§

A gentle tapping on my shoulder caused me to open my eyes. The screaming that had been pounding in my ears stopped. Remus sat beside me on my bed. He looked down on me with a frown.

"Are you okay Beth? It was just a nightmare. Nothing more than that." I was still panting heavily, and slightly disoriented. I sat up and leaned my head on the bed board.

"I think I caught Harry's disease," I said faintly. Remus let out a short laugh and the mood lightened. Just a nightmare. It was only a nightmare.

"I'm fine. Sorry. I probably woke you up right?" It was still dark outside, and a little bit of moonlight caressed the end of my bed. There were fresh scars lain across Remus' face, and he grimaced a little bit when he spoke. The compassion I felt for him overwhelmed me, and I immediately willed him to be out of pain.

"It's alright, you didn't wake me. It was lucky I walked in the house when I did. Nightmares can be terrible things." Remus smiled and patted my shoulder. "Are you alright to go back to sleep?"

I nodded. "Sorry," I said. I wiped the tears from my cheeks.

"You aren't seeing things are you?" Remus asked.

"What?" I said, thoroughly confused.

"It's just—never mind," he said and let out a little laugh. "Harry used to see things when he was dreaming and for a moment there I was relating him to you."

"I'm sorry. You can go back to bed."

"Are you sure you'll be all right?" asked Remus. "I was doing this a few nights ago with Harry and now you. He insisted he was fine, but woke up again an hour later. Are you going to be alright?"

I nodded my head. "Go to bed Remus. I'll be fine. It was just a dream. A bad dream, but a dream none-the-less."

He nodded and pushed himself up from the mattress. "But you won't hesitate to come get me will you?"

"Goodnight Remus."

He sighed. "Goodnight Beth."

He left the room and closed the door. For a moment the only thing that was visible was my wand, still glittering on the bedside table, but my eyes adjusted to having no light from the hallway and I could see the outline of things. I got out of bed and walked over to the window. My throat hurt from my screaming. I looked out at the moonlight and then caught my reflection in the glass. My skin had healed a little more, but even though the bruises had faded, I was still hideous. My cheek wasn't as swollen anymore, but still clung to my skull like a saggy pillow.

The gash that ran from my temple to my cheek was no longer bleeding but had turned a shade of purple I could never describe. It hurt to touch, although it could be from the movement I performed in my sleep. I might've hit my face on the headboard. I moved a lot and all the blankets had been twisted tight. My eye was no longer bloodshot, and thankfully looked normal.

I lifted up my shirt and peeled off the sweaty bandages. The three gashes were there to stay. It seemed that although the bruising had faded on my waist, the cuts were never going to fade. I traced the small scar above below my breast where a wand had been plunged and withdrawn. The only thing about me that might heal was that small scar.

Without replacing the bandages I sat down against the wall, resting my head against it. The moonlight had moved from my bed to the floor. I stared at it. The moon was a constant thing. It was there every night as scheduled. I needed a moon. I need something to follow.

The door creaked open. The lanky body that walked in was dark and shadowed. Was he sleep walking?

"Harry?" I whispered.

"Couldn't sleep," he mumbled.

"Me either."

He limped over and looked out the window beside me.

"I heard you screaming," he said quietly.

"Sorry."

There was silence again. He turned and slid his back down the wall. He looked long and hard at my arm, which I had tucked into my body. His hand slipped away from his own and made it's way down my bruised one. His fingers delicately pried them away and I didn't struggle. He traced the purple hand on my wrist before sighing and placing it back in my custody.

"Did he hurt you?"

I turned and faced the other way. Why did he care? I hesitated before answering. "Only sometimes. It's accidental I think. He loves me."

Harry was quiet and pondered before he spoke. "Anyone who hurts you doesn't really love you."

"What do you know?" I replied fiercely. I didn't move however. I felt too stiff.

"Not much," he replied. "But Remus doesn't hurt you. Hermione and Ginny don't hurt you."

I struggled to stand up. I wanted to get away from him. Why was he being so nosy? Why did he care?

"Leave me alone."

"No."

"Please."

"No."

"You had a great birthday, and we're going out for breakfast or something. You should get a good rest. Leave."

"I'm not leaving."

"Why not? What can you possibly do?" I hissed. "There is nothing wrong with my life. He does love me, contrary to what you think. I don't want to change anything, so just leave."

"You were yelling about your mum Beth. Why were you yelling?" His voice was cold and flat.

"Leave Harry!" I wiped my cheeks dry with my hand and turned the other way.

"No."

"Why not? Why do you care?" I hissed. "I'm not even pretty! I'm disfigured, and I—" I sobbed and gasped for breath. Why couldn't he just go? I tucked my knees up into my chest. "Shove off!" I hissed. "Just go away."

"I can't."

"Why not? You can walk."

"Well, I have this people saving thing."