A/N: I finally updated! I am so sorry to all of you who have been waiting (if anyone has been). I wrote a pretty long chapter, and I hope you guys enjoy it. I'd love it if you guys would review my story and let me know how I'm doing. Have a great day! - Piper

We loaded up into the car and I was still overjoyed that I was going to be spending the majority of our break from school with my friends and their families. All I could do was look forward to that and the next half an hour as we drove out of the city to our home. I knew that this next week would be terrorizing, but then it would be Christmas and I would be with my friends and out of harm's way. I loved my family's house. It was nice a big and it was near enough to the city that we could have fun for a day, but far enough away that we didn't have to deal with traffic. It was quiet out by our house because there weren't many neighbors close by, which was great for reading and getting homework done, but it wasn't very good for making friends.

It wasn't until the last few minutes of the drive that I started to get nervous. The realization that I would be alone with my brother the majority of the time while my parents were at work had finally hit me. I was safe for today at least because I knew my parents would have taken the day off to pick us up. We reached the house and my brother and I got out of the car. My parents however did not.

"You guys coming?" I joked.

"Actually, sweetie," my mom began, "No, we aren't. We both got the next week off so your father and I are going on vacation alone for the next five days, and then we can go Christmas shopping when your father and I get back."

"Wait," my brother stopped in his tracks, "So we get to stay home alone for five days? That's awesome!"

"Well, you guys be good and we'll be back in five days," my dad said, trying to get my mom to stop talking and worrying about us

"I've apparated your trunks and other things into your rooms for you. Now don't forget to feed your animals. I love you my darlings," Our mother said to us.

"We love you too," my brother and I replied.

"Hurry home!" I called out as the car drove away. Once the car was out of sight, I turned around and walked up the path to the house. I paused when I got to the door, I really didn't want to go inside. Maybe there was some way I could avoid my brother for those five days, but I knew it wouldn't be possible. He would find me, he always found me. I put my hand on the door knob, twisted it, and entered the house with my head held high.

"You ready for the next five days?" My brother said from the staircase, smirking as he walked down towards me.

"When is this all going to end Harry?" I asked, "Why can't you just leave me alone for once?"

"Because now," he said, "there's no one to stop me. And why wouldn't I take advantage of that?"

"Then just get it over with already, I'm hungry and I have homework to do."

I had decided to just stop fighting back. I would take whatever he threw at me, and then I would come back at him showing how tough I was. I would show him that I would survive no matter what happened.

One more day until my parents returned. I just had to make it one more day. I walked downstairs to get some food because I had only eaten breakfast yesterday. I had slept the rest of the day and through to this morning. My plan to prove how tough I was had taken a lot out of me, and I wasn't sure how much longer I could keep up with this.

"So finally coming down for some food?" my brother said, mocking me, "I thought you were starving yourself again."

"Shut up Harry!" I screamed at him, "Just leave me alone! I'll tell mum and dad, and if you think I won't, then you're a bloody idiot. I just want this all to end."

My brother started to move towards me. He had a look of fury in his eyes, and I knew I shouldn't have said anything. Speaking up always made it worse.

"And you believe that they'll take your word over mine?" he asked me in mock disbelief.

"Well I sure have the scars to prove it!"

"They wouldn't believe your clumsy arse for a second," I could tell them you were just trying to get me in trouble for you slipping and falling down the stairs."

"You wouldn't."

"Try me."

He stared down at me and I glared at him. He slapped me across the face, and I fell to the floor. He kicked me in the gut a couple of times. Then he started to kick my legs. He hit every spot he had in the days before.

"Please, stop, please," I coughed out at him.

"I will, but only if you agree not to eat anything for the rest of the day."

"Why would I do that?"

"Because you don't need the food anyway."

"Fine."

I got up and walked to my room. I decided to pack because I was going to be leaving for to be with my friends in two days. First, I'd have to clean myself up. I went into the bathroom to run a bath for myself, and then I got out my old first aid kit. I climbed into the tub and soaked there for a good hour. Once I was done, I got out, dried off, and bandaged myself up. I knew I would be sore tomorrow, but then my parents would be home and I wouldn't be getting beat up much.

I went into my room and changed into my loose sweat pants and favorite comfy sweater. I started to pack. I wouldn't be coming home until after the end of the school year, but I hoped that I would be able to spend the majority of the summer with my friends as well. Any time I could spend away from my brother would be a good time.

"Why me?" I thought to myself, "Why does stuff like this have to happen to me? Why can't I just be good enough for everyone?"

I started to breakdown. I started bawling, and I wasn't able to stop myself. I didn't know what to do. I wasn't able to calm myself down like I usually could. I needed someone to hold me, but it wasn't going to happen not soon anyway. I needed help, but no one here could give it to me.

I opened my trunk to make sure I had everything from school still packed in there. I hadn't done the homework that I had needed to yet, I knew that I could get it done before classes started. I moved a few things around to check for my robes, my school clothes, my books, and my other class items. Then I found something packed in there that I hadn't packed. It was a little package that was from Rose. When I opened it I found food and a note.

"Make sure you keep up the good work, Rose," I read the note over and over to myself. I couldn't stop smiling. Even though I was in a lot of pain, I knew that everything would be okay.