A/N: Written for the Song Lyrics Compeition

"I decided long ago,

Never to let your loved ones know

Who you really are

People want the truth but never the scars"

Draco plastered a fake smile on his face as he greeted all the important figures in the Ministry and the Pureblood Society at the party his father was hosting. They all commented on how he was such an accomplished young lad, and how he was destined for great things. His father simply smiled and accepted the praise meant for him.

He hated it.

He hated the masks and the fake politeness. He hated everything. He hated how he didn't have any friends at school (because in the Slytherin House, there were no friends; only allies.) He would never admit it to anyone, but he could always feel envy well up in him when he saw Potter and his friends laughing together and depending on each other. But he never said anything. Because his parents, but most of all his mother would be worried sick about him.

Draco was scarred because he was trapped.

Hermione pressed her lips together and kept her tears at bay. The hallway seemed endless as she made her way past the staring children. Bookworm, know-it-all, bossy, they called her, mocked her. Teacher's pet, freak, weirdo. Whoever said that words couldn't hurt you was absolutely and completely wrong. She gritted her teeth, ignoring how the words cut into her. She had never told her parents about the isolation. Hermione knew that they would worry about it, probably deteriorating their health even more.

Hermione was scarred because she was lonely.

Harry stifled a sigh as he watched his 'adoring' fans make googly-eyes at him. His shoulders were slumped with the weight of the Wizarding World and he knew it was high time before he completely snapped. Not that he was allowed to, of course. He had to be a leader, someone strong in the face of Voldemort. He was never allowed a break, and expected to do things other people normally couldn't. He was always on a pedestal, never allowed down. People envied him for his fame, but really, he would give almost anything to have a normal life. To not spend his life glancing over his shoulder or constantly practicing spells. But he didn't tell his friends, because he knew they would be upset and grow even more worried.

Harry was scarred because he was idolized.

Ron held back a frustrated groan at one of the Weasley Reunions. It wasn't that he didn't love his family… he was loyal to them and would always be, but it was hard, knowing that he was just another Weasley. Even in his immediate family he was always in the background. Bill had been Head Boy yet was cool at the same time. Charlie had a talent with Qudditch and was obsessed with dragons. Percy was really intelligent. Fred and George could stand out just about anywhere. And Ginny was the only daughter in the family. And he was just… Ron. But he knew he would never tell them, because his mother was already at her limit with seven children, and his father was working to the bone to be able to support them.

Ron was scarred because he was overshadowed.

Luna glided along the Hogwarts floor with a dreamy look in her eyes. They thought she couldn't hear them. The whispers, the pointing, her stuff being stolen away. She acted like it didn't bother her, and most of the time, it didn't. But she was still a human girl. She had feelings too even though she had an odd way of showing it. But she never told her father. She knew that her mother's death had severely cracked him, and this could be the catalyst in completely breaking him.

Luna was scarred because she was different.