Author's Note:
Millicent is such an interesting character in the sense that we don't know much about her. We know about her physical characteristics and bits of her personality, leaving the rest for us to imagine. This is my take about her
—- Masks —-
Masks are wonderfully paradoxical in this way: while they may hide the physical reality,
they can show us how a person wants to be seen.
— Joanna Scott
Millicent Bulstrode always stood out from the norm, with her fuller figure and average appearance. She didn't match the typical slender body type that society often associated with femininity.
The fact that she didn't fit the mold of beauty standards was nothing new to Millicent. Her mother had frequently reminded her of this, often during her relentless tirades. These constant reminders had long since desensitized her to the impact of such hurtful words.
"You may not be the most attractive girl, dear, but do try to look presentable," her mother warned with a disapproving tone. "If you don't, no man will want to marry you."
The conversation continued with another jab, "And I hope you're not planning on having seconds unless you're prepared to burst out of your clothes and outgrow this house."
The constant barrage of insults from her mother forced Millicent to develop a protective shield. Despite the harsh words, she refused to wallow in self-pity and instead chose to use her mother's criticisms as armor, turning them into a strength rather than letting them break her down. Over time, Millicent transformed her defense mechanism into a flawless facade, creating a mask that concealed her genuine emotions and weaknesses.
She crafted a persona of confidence and indifference.
Millicent's fellow Slytherins saw the person she portrayed and accepted it for what it was. They respected her for who she was and what she represented, and the superficial things like her looks or weight didn't matter to them. They only cared that she embodied the values and principles that defined the House of Slytherin.
Millicent took comfort in this acceptance, finding a sense of belonging among her housemates. She continued to don her mask, using it to shield herself from the outside world and embrace the identity she had established within her chosen house. Knowing that she had the support of her fellow Slytherin students reinforced her determination to keep up.
But, Millicent had reached a breaking point.
Six years of maintaining her facade had taken its toll on her.
She loved feeling superior to others and flaunting her strength, but the constant effort to play the part had begun to wear on her.
Pansy's eyes widened in disbelief as she fixed Millicent with a bewildered gaze. Her tone, however, was not one of concern but rather one of accusation. "Bloody hell, what's wrong with you?!" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with irritation rather than sympathy.
The dorm room was quiet, save for Pansy's voice slicing through the air. Everyone else had gone to the lake as the weather was perfect for it, leaving only the two of them alone.
Millicent huffed in irritation, her tone growing defensive. "Can't you bloody well just mind your own business!" she snapped in response. She pushed past Pansy, walking to the opposite end of the dorm room.
Slytherin's dormitory, being underground, lacked the natural light that other common rooms had access to. Unlike other common rooms, their view was into the lake.
"Cramps?" Pansy inquired dryly. She settled onto her bed, her eyes fixed on Millicent.
Millicent responded with a simple, "Yeah... cramps," her voice betraying a hint of irritation.
Pansy sat up on her bed, leaning on her arms as she scrutinized Millicent. A hint of suspicion crept into her voice as she continued, "Are they bad enough to cause those tears?" The question hung in the air, an obvious dig at Millicent's emotional state.
Millicent's mind whirled as she felt her tear-stained cheeks, her fingers touching the moisture on her skin. How had she not noticed the tears flowing down her face?
Pansy's chuckle echoed through the dorm room, a mocking edge to it. "Ha, and I thought I had them bad enough," she mocked, pushing herself off her bed and stepping closer.
Millicent's gaze remained fixed on her fingers, the saltiness of her tears drying against her skin. The room suddenly felt colder, the words hanging heavily between the two girls.
"Get a grip, Mill," Pansy stated matter-of-factly, her voice cutting through the air and drawing Millicent's attention. "You've been behaving oddly, and people are talking."
Millicent's gaze flicked from her fingers to Pansy's face, the one girl who had been by her side since her first year, if you could even call her a friend.
"When did I ever care what others said?" Millicent retorted, a hint of defensiveness in her voice. It was true. 'That should do it,' Millicent thought as her gaze locked with Pansy, staring into those familiar dark eyes.
Pansy's smirk widened as she spoke, "Glad to see you back."
Millicent understood what that meant.
Her mask was back in place.