Words and Hurts

It was two days after he found Charlemaine. She was very sick, and wouldn't hold anything down; it was difficult to keep her eating. She now camped out in the bathroom because she couldn't run herself to it. Her feet had many scrapes on them and they pained her when she tried to walk. She refused to talk about how she got into this state of injury, which started futile arguments that often were put out within seconds. Garreth was now twirling his quill as he stared off into space during potions with the Gryffindors. Professor Snape was once again ranting at Harry Potter.

Snape was returned to potions master after Horace Slughorn quit the previous year; he was furious when Lupin once again returned to post and was very snappy whenever the Gryffindors came to class. It frustrated Garreth when Snape was down Harry's throat because he personally thought it was a waste of his time. He could be teaching something important in the minutes spent on punishment.

Finally the period ended and Garreth rushed away to the Great Hall and pushed down some food, then he grabbed some soup and pumpkin juice for Charlemaine. When he arrived at his room he found the bathroom door closed. He set the food on the bedside table then knocked on the bathroom door.

"Come in." Said Charlemaine faintly from behind the door. He slowly peered in and found her sitting on the floor cross-legged in front of the toilet absentmindedly brushing her hair with one of his combs.

"I brought you some food." He said making her look up. He bent down and picked her up without consent, and carried her into the other room setting her on the bed. He handed her the bowl of chicken soup and watched her sip a few spoonfuls before pulling a chair up for himself.

"Why won't you tell me what happened to you?" He said resparking his argument from yesterday.

"Because it needs not to be said; I am gone and safe from that place." Said Charlemaine in a cool voice.

"But you said it would get out eventually!"

"Yes." "Eventually."

"But why not now?"

"Because I said NO!" Said Charlemaine raising her voice for the first time. With that she lifted herself off the bed tenderly walking into the bathroom and slamming the door. He walked over to the door fuming, then he stopped himself and listened, soft sobs were from within. Good going genius, now you made her cry. The day went by slowly and he scolded himself throughout it.

Charlemaine sat in front of the small desk, a quill and paper sat in front of her. She pondered on the right words to say, to portray her situation without being desperate or pathetic. She picked up the quill and dipped it into the inkwell and began to write wobbly slender words.

Dear Garreth,

This is hard to say, so I'm writing a letter because it easier to write it down. I lived on the outskirts of the town of Hogsmead only three miles away from the Shrieking Shack. My mother died when I was two and ever since my father as over protective and crazy. During my childhood I spent most of the days outside by myself; I also taught myself how to read with little help from my father. One day I fetched the mail and found out I was a witch. I was so happy and I rushed into the house to show my father. As he read the letter his face darkened immediately. He refused to let me go to Hogwarts, he locked me in my room, that night after he came home from his usual day of drinking at the Hog's Head he raped me. Ever since then his footsteps have haunted me. I was terrified of him; always afraid of doing something wrong in order to upset him. When I was troublesome he would punish me by beating me. Years passed and I learned to avoid such beatings, and I soon learned how to keep secrets from him. I earned some money by working as a waitress in the Hog's Head and bought myself some spell books. I taught myself how to do simple magic without a wand. I was fulfilling my dream in secret, but one day he found my spell books. He beat me severely, he was probably going to rape me again but I escaped. He chased me into the Forbidden Forrest, yelling and screaming that he would kill me if he caught me. I finally lost him, but then the centaurs chased me and I only barely survived. If you hadn't found me I would have surely died.

Charlemaine

She dropped the quill sending ink droplets over the paper. She wobbled over to the sofa and fell onto it silently crying.

She awakened when she heard the door open. She listened to him pick up the letter and read it. Several minutes later he walked over to the closed bathroom door and knocked on it. He then opened it and looked in not finding her. She heard his footsteps near her. He sat next to her stiffly.

"I'm sorry." Said Garreth in a whisper. "How could I be so cruel as to force something like that out of you?" He bowed his head with shame. He had a horrible pit in his stomach, he attributed to guilt, which was something he was not used to when it came to other people's feelings. She leaned on him and let out a sniffled sigh.

"I never told anyone." Said Charlemaine barely audible. Tears once again poured down her face. His only response was to turn and let her cry onto him. They remained like that for what seemed like hours, and Garreth was already beginning to feel more comfortable with her around.