The Houses Competition: Round five

House: Gryffindor

Class: DADA

Category: Drabble

Prompts chosen: (Character) Hannah Abbot

Word Count: 768

Warnings: Child Abuse, alcoholism

Summary: Hannah, a young witch, is dealing with the death of her mother, causing her father to spiral into alcoholism. Despite her father's abusive behavior, Hannah remains hopeful as she prepares to return to Hogwarts for another school year. Her father's hurtful words and actions only serve to deepen Hannah's pain. Despite the difficult situation at home, Hannah remains determined to continue her education and face the challenges ahead at Hogwarts.

Title: Shadows of Loss

Hannah ran her thumb across the photo of her recently deceased mother before placing it inside her trunk, snapping the buckles shut, and hauling it off her bed. She made her way down the creaky steps of her house to her father's study and lightly knocked on the door with her knuckle before opening it. The strong, pungent odor of alcohol assaulted her scenes the moment the door creaked open. Ever since her mother had died six months ago, one of many victims of the Death Eaters attacks, her father has locked himself away in his study, drinking himself into an early grave.

"Dad?" Hannah spoke softly, "It's September first. I'm headed back to Hogwarts," Hannah informed, fully aware that her dad didn't know what day it was or even what month. "Do you need anything before I leave?" Hannah asked, watching as her father fumbled out of his chair and over to his cabinet, where he kept his considerably large collection of alcohol, and poured himself a large glass of brandy.

"How are you planning on getting to the train station? I ain't driving you."

"I ordered myself a taxi with some money that I saved up," Hannah replied "It's gonna be here in a few minutes. Do you need anything before I leave?" she asked again.

Her father stumbled his way over to her, his brady spilling over the lip of the glass as he almost tripped over his own feet. He stared at his daughter for a long minute before speaking. "Why couldn't I have a normal daughter? Instead, I got you, a witch, a freak of nature," her father slurred before taking a large sip of his brandy. "What did I do wrong that God blessed me with you?"

Hannah closed her eyes as she allowed her father to vent out his anger. This wasn't the first time and it wouldn't be the last. The alcohol turned him into a man that she couldn't recognize anymore.

Her father used to be a loving, devoted man who loved her and her mother. He would ask her about her time at Hogwarts and ask as many questions as he could about magic. He loved hearing about her world and wanted to be a part of it, but now…it was like a switch had turned off in his brain. He hated magic…and hated her, and Hannah didn't know how to get her father back.

"I'm sorry Mom's dead."

Hannah let out a loud yelp as a hard slap connected with her cheek. The force nearly threw her off balance.

"Don't you dare apologize…don't you dare! She's dead because of you….you and those….those Death Eaters!" Her father yelled before hurling his brandy at the wall, causing the glass to shatter on impact. "Look at what you did now!" accused her father. "Your mother would still be alive if it weren't for you. You joined that fucking Dumbledore's Army bullshit, and now where is she? YOU KILLED YOUR MOTHER!"

Hannah's father screamed at her before making his way back to his cabinet to pour himself a new glass of brandy.

"It's all your fault," he muttered under his breath before taking a swig of his newly poured drink.

Hannah couldn't stop the tears that started to fall.

She heard all of this before, many times before, but the words still hurt as if she were hearing them for the first time, like a knife to the heart. She didn't understand how her father could say such things to her. Did he even realize the pain he was putting her in, or was he too drunk to even notice the damage his words did to her?

"I will be back during Christmas break," Hannah informed him as she brought her hand up to clean away her tears.

"Don't bother!" her father snapped before slamming his glass down on the cabinet, causing Hannah to jump back a little. "I wish it were you instead of your mother." Her father whispered, but it was still loud enough for Hannah to hear.

"I wish that too; I wish that every day," Hannah admitted, just as the sound of a horn came though. She looked back, knowing that it was her ride. "I love you, dad…even if you don't love me anymore." Hannah said through her tears before stepping out of the study and lightly closing the door shut.

Hannah gave her face one last wipe with her hand before she took in a deep breath. She made her way out of the house and to the taxi for another year at Hogwarts.