Introduction

Beautiful Lie; Amy Studt

There's a sadness that they don't see,
When you come to me, with your sorrows.
It's not enough for you to cry,
Cause you don't know why it still hurts.
I know we've been here a thousand times,
With your past full of lies it's still there.
A constant struggle to find yourself,
But I know that I can't help at all, no.

You don't have nothing but pride, to keep you alive, yeah.
Alive oh yeah.
I can't say it will be fine, it's a beautiful lie,
So please, don't leave it all up to me.

I see the way they talk at you,
They're always trying to prove, that they are better.
You run away cause you can't take,
The way they make you feel.
Another self-hate behind more doors,
and then nobody knows that something's wrong,
You made a cage that you cannot break,
I try but I can't help at all.

You don't have nothing but pride, to keep you alive, yeah.
Alive oh yeah.
I can't say it will be fine, it's a beautiful lie,
So please, don't leave it all up to me.

I can feel you,
I can hear you,
I could help you.
It's a beautiful lie, lost in silence, trapped by violence, oh.

You don't have nothing but pride, to keep you alive, yeah.
Alive oh yeah.
I can't say it will be fine, it's a beautiful lie,
So please, don't leave it all up to me.
You don't have nothing but pride, to keep you alive, yeah.
Alive oh yeah.
I can't say it will be fine, it's a beautiful lie,
So please, don't leave it all up to me.

"I don't want to go home, Professor." It is the last day of the school year, the day when most students are celebrating their freedom, yet here is Draco Malfoy, sitting before my desk, begging me not to send him home,

"You know that you can't stay here, Draco," I remind him gently.

The boy lowers his head dejectedly and sighs, "I know."

Pushing back a strand of hair that has fallen in front of his eyes, he whispers "I just wish…" he shrugs, "It doesn't matter." Draco raises his young eyes to meet mine, "You will visit soon though, won't you?"

"Three weeks," I say with a wry smile, "Just keep your head down and do your best to stay out of his way. You'll be fine, Draco, you're a strong boy."

"Yeah I'm strong," he mutters darkly, more to himself than for my benefit,

"I've got to be haven't I?" He bites his lip and blinks hard as slowly but surely his bravado fails him, "I'm frightened Sir." Draco admits, concentrating on the empty goblet set on my desk. I realise, now, that he really is genuinely scared of returning to Wiltshire, for I know, in my experience as Draco's godfather, that he would rather suffer under the Cruciatus Curse than ever admit to fear for little reason.

"You haven't seen your father since September," I say, taking one of Draco's hands in my own. I can feel it trembling slightly and I look up, regarding his miserable expression uneasily. "And your grades are exemplary," I reassure him, "I wouldn't expect better from even the second years…"

"They're not perfect though, are they?" Draco interrupts, pulling his pale hand sharply away, "He expects perfection Sir. You know that nothing else will be accepted." I sigh and lean back in my chair. I know that nothing I say can make him feel any better about returning home and that troubles me.

I nod slowly, "Yes, I know that. If you could stay here, you know that I would be only too happy for you to do so."

'Anything to get you away from him.' I add mentally.

Draco gives me a small smile of gratitude, "Thank you, Professor."