Corrupt

     She alone knew the twists and torments of a broken heart. It seemed as though time saw it fitting to have everyone enjoying themselves with someone else, except she. Her reflection examined it's moving partner with sad interest. A trickle of tears dripped slowly, perfectly tracing her cheek, into the crease of her lip, and facing a perilous fall unto her shirt from the precipice of her chin. She knew the tear's journey well- seeking a calm solace in its familiar path day in, day out. She also knew what it had been to try and emulate such a trip herself.

     It had been cold, and she feverish. Her aching limbs were forced to run at an accelerated pace to please their commander, however harsh her wish. Commencing at the grass-starved base of the tower's entrance, her inner-hatred began to collect and spill over. She climbed, grasping the stone walls and touching the air with every exposed inch of her flesh. It came. It all finally came and claimed her as its own. The power. The thoughts. Racing. Speeding. Slowing her down until she crumpled in her steps- the feet that brought her so far disobeyed and she cursed them silently through her bitterness. In her fall, the lamp she carried shattered- and the hope it provided for vision splintered into her skin. With it came the trickle she aimed for. The stickiness found its way from every incision to her robes, and renewed her sense of urgency. She ran- faster- until she found what she desired...

     So close. Yet so far. Damn them- damn them all.

     She caught the tear with her hand, saving it. It did not deserve the satisfaction of leaving her face if she could not leave this world. She sharply inhaled forcing a smile with her impeccable posture. So ends another moment of instability. Cool water splashed against her tear-stained cheeks as she regained her composure and joined the ranks of the elite in the common room.

     Typical, she thought, the morning routine of ‘hello's' and ‘how'd ya sleep?' entwined with lies and careless statements. A joy I'd kill for.

     As though on cue she was met with a chorus of "good mornings" and "how did you sleep" amidst a barricade of "what a dream" and "where's breakfast?". The innocence of the past five years was shed the day she slid past the present time and came face to face with the future. Now she was stuck in a world between the two- that no one could understand, nor cared to. Gods save them now, may they never see through her eyes.

     The signature sparkle never faded from her eyes when in the presence of others, and so, though internally sullen, she merrily greeted her house-mates and made her way to the Great Hall for breakfast and pre-class chatter. Never one to disappoint, she made it a personal requirement to see to it that anyone in need of cheering up felt better before the day was through. Their problems never clouded her thoughts if left unresolved, it just gave her another task for the following day.

     Seated between Pansy and Goyle, directly across from Draco, she reached over for the pitcher of pumpkin juice and secured fresh berries next to a slice of toast. Promptly, she opened her textbook on her lap, so not to disturb the others, and cast a charm to prevent crumbs from penetrating the delicate text. Morning studying was too much for most to handle, but she was never one to sleep much, so the difference between morning and night was too subtle for her to distinguish.

     "Again with that book? You would think after all that reading yesterday you would have had it memorized word for word by now!" joked Pansy. Bit of a bitch that girl was, always intruding on one's business when she had no permission or invitation to. But as long as you didn't go near her understood claim to Draco, she didn't press you to continue conversing with her.

     "That's my foot you're rubbing. I'd appreciate not being involved in your trysts so early in the morning," I said dryly. Her flirtations with Malfoy unnerved me. I cared not what she took to bed or attempted to take to bed, but I did not appreciate being subject to witness such public displays of affection when I had none to parade.

     A bit of blushing was in order, and Pansy took to it quite profusely. Her foot withdrew beneath her seat, and, as though embarrassed, crossed itself behind it's partner. Draco, unaware of our exchange, looked at Goyle and his colleague Crabbe in confusion as they snickered. Those two were like brothers- eerily similar in tastes, interests, and humor. I was not amused. Muttering an incantation, I made Draco aware of the snickers' provocation, and he unexpectedly gathered his books and left without a word- leaving a panic-stricken Pansy to take to chase.

     "You shouldn't have done that. You know he can't stand her," warned Goyle, "he's gonna be pissed."

     "He doesn't know I did it- and he should know what she does around him. If he leads her on and plays head games for fun, he's hurting her. But if he really is clueless, then all that's going to follow his ass out of Hogwarts is embarrassment." I knew the two well from careful observation, and he dropped his argument.