title: illuminated

summary: "There's a lot in the past—good, bad and obscure—that people shut their eyes to. Yet, there comes a time when they open those eyes and illuminate that past. Because more often than not, these are the moments that help make us." A companion piece to the Simplicity & Clandestine stories. [A series of One-Shots focused on characters' history.]

disclaimer: if you recognize it, it belongs to JKR. All OCs are mine!

05. U G L Y

summary: 'I think I'm ugly. And nobody wants to love me. Just like her I want to be pretty.' Daphne Greengrass has always liked Angeline Jensen, and right then in that moment, she liked her more than anything. (Year 5)

main characters: Daphne Greengrass & Angeline Jensen

genre: Friendship

rating: T

Boys were stupid. It was the conclusion that Daphne Greengrass had come to, but one that didn't make her feel any better. A conclusion that didn't stop the tears that ran down her face.

There were perks of going to Hogwarts and that included all the little hidden away places she could go to cry alone and without judgment from anyone. The worst part of that thought was that when she was done pitying herself, she couldn't even tell her best friend Pansy Parkinson what had happened. Because she just knew that Pansy wouldn't have sympathized. Pansy would have told her to shut up and to stop whining.

Probably tell her she got what she deserved for not sharing her little secret liaison with a slightly older boy.

That was just the type of person Pansy was when it came to things like this. Daphne knew she didn't mean to come off, well, bitchy. But it just happened that's exactly how she was.

Thus, Daphne suffered alone because there was no one she could tell. No one that would understand her. No one that would just sit with her and listen.

She picked the wrong people to be friends with in that case. Because that was never going to happen for her. No one gave a damn about Daphne Greengrass and her feelings.

"Um, Daphne?" Daphne lifted her head and blinked through her tears to find Angeline Jensen standing there. In her hands a bag of sweets from Honeydukes. "I didn't know anyone else would be here…Uh, this might be stupid to ask, but are you okay?"

Daphne couldn't help but think that it's was more embarrassing for Angeline to have found her than if Pansy had. Angeline was good at not showing weakness. Because let's face it, Angeline was pretty, beautiful even. With her wavy brunette hair, small frame, and light green eyes. She was even dating the hottest boy in their house, Jake Flinton, and yet she was incredibly independent. She had always been independent.

And Daphne?

She was ugly. Her blue eyes, her round face, and blonde hair. For crying out loud, she was a secret to a boy that she loved, and she was terribly dependent. She had always been dependent.

Nobody wanted to love her and everyone knew how desperate she wanted people to love her or just to want to be around her.

She was stupid.

"I'm fine," Daphne muttered wiping at her face. "Please, go away…"

Angeline hesitated, but in the end she moved closer to Daphne. Her arm gently brushing Daphne's as she sat beside her. It shouldn't have surprised her but it did.

Because Angeline wasn't one to poke her nose into others businesses so blatantly, she sat back and watched. Angeline walked alone, having few acquaintances and even fewer friends. Yet, she was a wonder to those that paid attention. A wonder to Daphne.

Angeline sat her chocolates to the side and then pulled a handkerchief from the inner pocket of her robes. She held it out for Daphne to take. When Daphne didn't take it, Angeline tilted her head curiously with concern sitting on her face.

It was a look that Daphne had seen very rarely on her. Angeline tended to wear a mask of indifference, with a hint of mischief twinkling in her eyes. Though lately that mischief had waned and had been replaced with something more dangerous, and her look of indifference had held something more melancholic.

Yes, she laughed and was still as witty as ever, getting into tiffs with people like Draco Malfoy, but she was different since the start of their fifth year. And yes, Angeline was nice, but her open concern and curiosity was something new.

Daphne must have been staring too long because Angeline sighed, though not impatiently. She turned a bit more toward Daphne and began to wipe the tears from her face for her.

"I understand wanting to be alone to cry," Angeline said, "But sometimes what you think you want isn't necessarily what you need." Angeline finished wiping Daphne's face and folded the handkerchief before placing it on Daphne's lap.

"You don't have to be nice to me," Daphne whispered. Angeline frowned, "I'm not always nice to you, and my best friend is terrible to you."

"Where we come from being mean to each other is practically how we show our affection," Angeline shrugged.

"You don't like Pansy."

"I like that I can make her turn purple with just a look," a tiny smirk formed on Angeline's face. "And think of how dull dinners would be otherwise," her smirk faded as quickly as it came, "But we're not talking about her."

"I know, but," Daphne gulped and shook her head, "I still don't understand why you're being so nice to me…"

"I don't know," Angeline glanced to the side. Daphne thought she was lying. Angeline paid attention. Angeline, much like her closest friend Blaise Zabini, knew things others didn't or what others thought no one else knew. "But I saw you alone and well…I was worried, I suppose…" Angeline looked at her again. "I'm not used to seeing you without a smile on your face…seeing you cry…"

"I've had a bad day. Everyone cries once in awhile," Daphne mumbled. "Even you cry, Angeline."

"Yeah," she ran her hand through her hair, "I do cry…just not over boys."

"Well, you wouldn't with you dating someone as perfect as Jake Flinton," Daphne said. Angeline frowned slightly and for some reason Daphne got the impression that she had been saddened by that comment but she ignored it for another pressing matter. "Wait, how did you know…I mean, I never said why I was crying…"

"That boy in Ravenclaw," Angeline said, her frown not lessening, "You stare at him an awful lot. And he's been leaving you gifts hasn't he?"

"You've been watching me," Daphne accused.

"Just because you're best mates with someone that's as observant as a rock doesn't mean I am," she countered. "I'm sorry," she sighed immediately. "I don't mean to be rude...or to seem like a stalker…I just…I noticed how you were acting…it was different…"

Daphne didn't speak for the longest time and Angeline merely turned her head slightly away from her. It was a wonder that in her silence that Angeline hadn't gotten up to leave. And because she didn't leave, Daphne was actually quite thankful.

"You're right," she finally said and Angeline looked at her again. "He was leaving me gifts and I was staring at him an awful lot…He was my boyfriend, I guess you could say…but he wouldn't tell anyone about us…"

Something akin to understanding dawned on her face. Not the kind that people had when they felt pity, but the kind that people got when they could relate. And that look from Angeline was something that Daphne did not understand at all.

"He hurt you," Angeline stated.

Daphne could feel her throat tighten and her eyes beginning to sting again, "Not in the way you think, Angeline," she whispered. "I was just stupid to believe him."

That dangerous glint that Daphne had mentioned before seemed to show its head at the statement. But it didn't frighten Daphne in the slightest, in all actuality it fascinated her. Why did Angeline feel this strongly about it? Why did she look like she could relate? Why did she feel as though Angeline would fight for or with her?

"Don't you dare call yourself stupid," Angeline said. "Don't waste your tears on him," she sneered. "If he can't appreciate you for how beautiful and wonderful you are then you shouldn't waste your energy or thoughts on him."

"I don't think you understand, Angeline," Daphne said. "I…bloody hell, I slept with him…I let him have me and he didn't even want people to know about us. You're with Flinton, the nicest guy I've ever met. He practically proclaimed his affection for you even before you got together. You couldn't possibly understand what it's like to lose your virginity to someone who only pretended to care about you, just to use you and shatter your entire world right after."

Angeline's eyes had gone glossy and she ran her hand through her hair, "I know a lot better than you'd believe, Daphne," Angeline mumbled. "Trust me, some rumors hold a bit of truth."

What was she talking about?

She couldn't possibly be pertaining to the rumor that Pansy spread about her activities during the summer…could she?

"But let's not dwell on myself or on the words people speak about someone," and just like that, the glossy look was gone and that dangerous little flicker was back. Any vulnerability that Daphne had witnessed was gone.

"Daphne," she began, "Any boy or girl should count themselves lucky to want to be with you. Without a doubt, I would want to be with you and I would cherish the chance you've given me," she said. "I'm not just saying it because we're—" she paused, unsure of what they were to each other. "I'm not saying it because we're housemates or because you're upset. I'm saying it because I mean it and because I believe it."

"You're gorgeous, Daphne Greengrass, I've always thought so and many others have too. Don't let anybody, especially some stupid, little, boy make you feel otherwise about yourself. You are worth a lot more than what he could offer. You're a good person Daphne and you deserve someone that appreciates that, rather than exploit it."

Daphne blinked rapidly at Angeline for what could have been minutes but was certainly only a couple of seconds because she was right. She shouldn't let someone else make her feel like she's unworthy. She shouldn't let what he did to her bring her down. Yes, she could be sad about it, but she shouldn't let it define her.

Without thinking much of it, she threw her arms around Angeline's neck, hugging her.

There was hesitation but eventually Angeline had lifted her arms and hugged her back.

"Thank you," Daphne whispered. "Thank you for comforting me and saying all those kind things…" she pulled back, and she glimpsed the pink tinge on Angeline's cheeks before the other girl moved so her hair fell into her face.

"Don't thank me," Angeline mumbled. "People suck," she added. "In fact, most boys suck, so keep your head up alright, Daphne. You're too pretty to keep it tucked down…" Angeline stood and stuffed her hands into her pockets. "Speaking of boys that suck, I have to meet with Malfoy for a potions project…he's going to throw a fit that I've showed up after him."

Daphne snorted, "Have you no regard for punctuality, Jensen?" she mocked in Draco's drawl. Angeline chuckled and shook her head. "Do try not to kill one another," she added.

"No promises," she rolled her eyes. "We're more likely to kill one another than not."

"But not because you hate each other," Daphne pointed out. "In fact, I think you two argue just for the sake of argument."

Angeline smirked as she started to back away from her, "Everyone needs a little entertainment. I'll catch you later, Greengrass," she turned.

Daphne noticed that she had left her bag of sweets and called out to her. Angeline paused and looked at her over her shoulder.

"You forgot your chocolates," she said. "Perhaps you can give them to Draco and he'll be less inclined to annoy you."

Angeline scoffed, "And deal with his you fancy me spiel? I think not," she looked forward, "You can keep 'em," she called and with that she continued on, leaving Daphne alone once more, but yet, feeling much better than she had been.

It came to a great shock the next day when Daphne gained word that her ex, had landed in the hospital after a nasty little jinx had hit him sometime the day before. According to the rumor mill, the spell had done something rather nasty—befitting in her opinion—to the boy's nether regions. Of course, it wasn't something that couldn't be undone, but the satisfaction of him getting what he deserved was enough for her.

Daphne sat next to Angeline that day in the Great Hall and neither said a word as the latter was currently in an early morning tiff with what Daphne would say was Angeline's favorite blond.

"Another meeting?" Draco hissed. "I don't think you. Because there's no point scheduling a time to meet if you're just going to be late," Draco growled at Angeline. Angeline allowed annoyance to come to her face as she stared at him over the top of her Daily Prophet.

"Oh please, why are you still talking about yesterday?" she asked. "Something came up, but I showed up, didn't I? And it's not like you were waiting very long."

"I wasn't, was I?" he glared. "I believe you said meet at four, I showed up at four-thirty, you didn't show up until at least five."

"Merlin, you're annoying," Angeline snapped. "So I'm expected to wait, but you're not?"

"Precisely," he drawled. "So where were you? Because you definitely weren't with your boyfriend. Because I saw him and you weren't with him."

"It doesn't concern anyone where I was, most importantly, it doesn't concern you."

"It does when it's my grade!" he said. "I've got responsibilities around here and I can't worry about whether my potions partner is going to royally muck it up!"

"Oh shut up, Malfoy," she sneered. "It's far too early for all your stupid," she deadpanned. She lifted her Daily Prophet in front of her face to block her view of him.

"I don't need to take this abuse," Draco sneered, "Goyle, switch places." Angeline lifted a hand snidely and dismissively.

A minute of shuffling and another of silence, Angeline finally lowered the paper and turned her gaze toward Daphne.

"What?" she asked calmly.

"I know you did it," Daphne said to her. Angeline blinked once that sparkle of mischief igniting just a bit.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Daphne," she said.

"Why you were so late showing up to your meeting with Draco after you spoke to me," Daphne whispered. "The Boy. How he ended up in the Hospital Wing, you did that to him…"

Angeline's eyes shifted to somewhere across the aisle to the Ravenclaw table before retreating back to Daphne's face.

"Greengrass, I really have no idea what you're talking about," she replied, then loudly, "Now, I'll get back to this fascinating article on how a vampire has overdosed on garlic bread. Maybe if I feed Malfoy some we'll know for certain whether he's part vampire or not," she mused.

"Sod off, Jensen!" Draco shouted before turning in way to not even see her.

Angeline smirked and turned her attention back to the very article she spoke of and Daphne smiled herself. Leaning slightly closer to her, she whispered, "Thank you, Angeline."

Angeline's smirk grew into an actual smile as she turned the page in the paper, "No idea what you're thanking me for, but, you're welcome."

Leaning back, Daphne started to fill not one but two plates with food, Angeline paused in her reading to glance at her again.

"You've got to eat, Angeline," Daphne tutted.

Angeline slowly folded the paper and laid it on her lap and watched with a slight frown as more and more food was loaded onto her plate.

"You need to take care of yourself," Daphne said, "Now eat up," she smiled. Angeline blinked with confusion before picking up her fork. "And if you need anything else, just let me know. I've got it," she said, and Daphne hoped she knew what she meant.

And with the way Angeline stopped mid way from stabbing her eggs, she nodded, Daphne knew without a doubt that she understood.

Daphne only hoped that she could one day help her.

Happy New Year!

That was a weird one wasn't it? But one that I've been wanting to write for a long time. And it's from a different POV, one that I haven't done before. Plus we get to see how a character we don't spend a lot of time with sees our main character.

Truth is, that Daphne is one of those characters that I wish I spent more time with in the main series. The thing about Daphne and Angeline's friendship is that it is quite…odd. They get along quite well and have an unspoken respect for one another. If Angeline was to have a girl friend in Slytherin that she wasn't related to it would have been Daphne. Or Tracey who I unwittingly deleted from existence lol. Shame on me.

Anyway, there's a peek into the very elusive relationship between Angeline and Daphne from Daphne's perspective! I hope you enjoyed it!

A big thanks to Guest and Spirit of Rose for reviewing the last story! I appreciate it very much!

Review me, maybe?

Much love,

TR