This chapter contains violent actions and mentions self-harm. Please read with caution.

_____

'' And you will always have me.''

_____

Amelie's back scored cold against the chair across the massive desk. The white strands of the headmaster's beard fell completely over his chest, '' Would you mind telling me how this year has been treating you so far?''

His tone held gentle yet harsh.

She blinked quickly, feeling as if her veins rushed in dread. She wasn't scared of the man sitting in front of her, but she was intimidated by the situation she had found herself in.

'' It's going well, Sir.'' She said shyly.

'' Is it really?'' He tilted his head, '' Why is it that your year is going well, and not for say, great?''

Her fingers gripped the wood of the armrest of her chair, harder as she swallowed, '' The year has barely begun, Sir. I think I need a little more time for it to be great.''

Dumbledore's eyes narrowed in hers as he slowly nodded, '' Well, I hope that within time, you'll find the rest of this year to be a bit better than just well.''

'' I do too.'' Amelie forced a smile, shifting uncomfortably in her seat, '' Sir.'' She added.

She flinched as he rose from his seated position. The grey cloak shifted lively behind him as he stepped around her, quietly humming for himself, '' As I told you earlier, I was informed by a dark type of magic being used in this school.'' He cleared his throat, '' And that the consequences of such a harmful act can be truly severe.''

Amelie nodded as her eyes stayed on the tall man.

'' It's inappropriate to use that type of spells, Miss Avery, but I happen to be aware of the situation surrounding you, both home and... here.''

Her breath stilled as her mind clocked what the headmaster meant, and the instant she came to the realization of that — that the man in charge of this school knew about the abuse she had been through, made her feel ashamed.

It felt as if someone had invaded her deepest parts of privacy — as if she were exposed and her every thought was on display.

'' I will, however, look past your and Mr. Nott's deeds this evening—''

Her eyes flayed wide as she caught onto Theodore's name.

'' Because I believe that it was an act of self-defense, but since you are still under the age of eighteen, I am required to inform your father about this.''

Amelie's insides twisted as the shame washed over her, and she knew that the instant her father would learn about what she did to Adrian — he would bring all the rage held within him, down on her, because this brought indignity upon his name, Avery. The tells of the Death Eaters and their families spread worse than flames in an open fire, and this wouldn't be different — not to him.

'' And he is on his way.''

Her heart dropped. She could barely breathe as she turned around in her chair to face the headmaster, '' My father is on his way?''

Her bones caved, her mind crumbling.

'' He is indeed.'' Dumbledore granted her a swift nod before turning around as he began to walk up the stairs in his office.

He peered over his shoulder as he strolled up, '' I will speak with him, but I am afraid that he wishes to have a word with you as well.''

'' But in the meantime, I think someone is waiting for you downstairs,'' His steps echoed further away as she aimed around.

_____

Her steps down the stairs held heavy as she was leaving the mysterious office behind her. Amelie felt this weight of feeling in her chest as her courage missed her.

Her father would find out about her using a spell to knock Adrian out, even if she at the time did it for the greater good — for Adrian not to harm Theodore, it was still unacceptable on her part. Amelie's father worships the Pucey's as they honored the Avery's, and the loyalty between the two bloodlines had been set in stone.

This brought shame upon his name, and she knew that she'd live to face the consequences for doing so.

'' Amelie.''

Her eyes darted at the voice speaking her name, and she noticed how the brown-haired boy was anxiously waiting for her, leaning against a hallway wall.

Theodore looked nervous, his brows furrowed as he watched her walk closer — until she held only inches apart from him.

'' How did it go?'' He asked, his breaths shallowed at her silence, '' Amelie, how did it—''

Theo couldn't finish the words he sought to speak before her head collided with his chest. Her eyes closed, and she breathed the scent of him in — that calming savor of honey.

He always scented like honey.

Amelie fought the tears that were still urging to fall, and the feeling of not knowing caved within — of not having any power over her own fate, and the reality of that slowly drained her.

'' This was my fault.'' Theodore mumbled into her head as he wrapped his arms around her, '' It was stupid of me to go down there. If I just had listened to you—''

'' It's alright, Teddy.'' She whispered back, her nose stroking against the fabric of his shirt, '' It's no one's fault. We all made bad decisions today.''

'' No, it's not alright, Amelie. He could've killed me. He was going to kill me, and I—'' The dark note in his tone grazed, '' I can't believe that you're going through this every day.''

His large arms around her breaking body held even tighter, '' And you do not deserve that.''

'' I know.'' Her voice airy as she was on the edge of crying, '' I know, but sometimes we don't have a choice and in this... when it comes to Adrian, I don't have one. I have no say in this.''

'' I know.'' He pushed his lips into the side of her head, '' I know, love, but you'll always have me.''

'' And you will always have me.'' Even if her heart was hurting and the world as she knew it was crumbling down around her — she smiled.

Theodore never fails to provoke that adorable curve on her upper lip.

'' But—'' His hands moved to her jaws, '' How did it go with Dumbledore?''

Amelie's head shook as her sight floored, '' He said that my father was coming here, to talk about what happened.''

'' Your father?'' Theo almost shouted at her, '' Why didn't you tell me that right away?''

'' I was going to.'' She took a step back, '' But I just... I just needed a moment where I didn't think about him.''

'' Miss Avery.'' Professor Snape's voice caught their attention from down the hall, making the two friends turn around, '' Your attendance is... requested. Mr. Avery is waiting for you in my office.''

She nodded, looking at Theodore as she gathered the piece of her strength she would need to face her father.

'' You don't—'' Theodore sought to tell her as the professor cleared his throat, '' Let's not keep Mr. Avery waiting now, shall we?''

'' Of course not.'' Her faked smile made Theo's jaws grit together, and with a hand placed on his shoulder, '' I'll find you tomorrow, alright?''

_____

'' Took you long enough.'' Her father snarled as he shot her a look of disappointment, '' Did you come from the headmaster's office just now?''

'' I did.'' Amelie closed the door behind her as she stayed close to it.

When it came to her father and the type of abuse he sought to put her through — she had learned to always memorize a path of escape. To always have a way out, in case she needed it.

It was something her mother had taught her as a child, in a game she believed they were playing, but as she grew older, and as her fate caught up with her — she grasped that it wasn't a game. Her mother was actually preparing her for her real life.

'' And what did he say to you? Did he say that there will be consequences?'' Andrew kept the fierce eyes on her as a role of hate spread across him.

'' No. He said that he would overlook it.''

Her father hummed in response as his back forced off the desk he was leaning against, '' And you understand why I am here?''

'' I do.'' She said, quietly, '' Sir.'' She amended herself.

His face lacked emotion, '' Then perhaps you could enlighten me, you thoughtless, stupid girl, how you could be so careless and do such a thing?''

Amelie stayed quiet.

'' Answer me, right now.'' He shouted at her as the veins on his neck nearly popped out of anger, '' How you could do this? How you could defend that irrelevant boy over Adrian?''

'' I didn't—''

'' But you did, Amelie. You did, and now I had to come all the way here only because you don't know how to behave.'' His tone accusing, and the face he held was repulsive.

'' He—'' Amelie clenched her fist together, '' He was hurting Teddy, and I had to—''

'' Teddy.'' Her father scoffed, shaking his head at her, '' It's always Teddy. Perhaps we should've let him kill that little friend of yours so that you can focus on the real things in your life.''

Tears prickled in her eyes, and she began to feel angry, betrayed by the mean things her father was speaking.

'' Leave him out of this. He did nothing wrong.''

'' No, he didn't, but you did, Amelie. You did more than wrong, and now I'm expected to have a conversation with the headmaster.'' Andrew pushed himself off the table, taking slow, intimidating steps towards her,

'' I should have gotten rid of you while I had the chance.'' He muttered, '' So that I wouldn't have to come all the way down here, just for this. You are a shame to our name, Amelie.''

Her eyes fell as she nodded, '' I know. I'm sorry.''

Andrew narrowed his inhumane eyes at her, deciding how to punish her this time, thinking of how he could make her life — just a bit worse than it already was.

Her eyes shut as she caught his steps closing in on her, and without a doubt — his hand gripped her jaw in a rough hold, making her look at the devil in front of her.

'' Look at me when I'm talking to you.'' The fear she held for her father graced as his fingers dug into her skin, '' Never, and I mean never do something like this again, Amelie or I will make sure that you'll never see the light of day again, just like your mother never did.''

He yanked her back, making her spine collide with the wall behind her as he brushed his suit off, '' Well, I will be going now, but I expect to see you at Adrian's ceremony next week.''

She could feel the metallic taste of blood dry in her mouth by how mercilessly he had pushed her into the stone-covered wall.

He shot her a look of disgust, hissing for himself before — with a twitch of his wand, the door flung open, and he stormed out.

And once again — it was her, being left behind.

_____

Amelie didn't leave her room for the rest of that day — she simply stayed in her bed without meeting anyone, not even Theodore.

She shut him out — even if it was a rare thing, Amelie not confiding in Teddy, sometimes, she just needed to make her own mind clear — before she could bring anyone else in it.

She was ashamed — humiliated to what her father did and to what she did herself. She shouldn't have hurt Adrian. She knew that, but she had no strength in seeing her best friend get put in the crossfire.

Amelie would disappoint her father, she would harm Adrian, and she would do anything she didn't believe she was meant to do when it came to Teddy because he did it all for her.

As the nightfall rose, the students had settled into their rooms, and the castle shredded empty — she slipped out of her room to gather with the blonde, just like she had told her the night before.

She wasn't sure if she wanted to — her skin still crawled of what he had witnessed the previous day and how she crumbled at the cruelty of Adrian.

Her stroll through the darkened hallways didn't take long, and it wasn't — as many people would've thought, scary to her at night.

She enjoyed the darkness. She always had because that meant that no one could see the marks carved into her body. She was stainless, clean.

Amelie stared directly at the blonde as she carefully walked through the doors into the library, but he didn't look at her — he was leaning back into his chair, with his legs crossed in front of him, and his head was titled as he so intensely read thought the pages of his book.

'' What are you reading?'' Amelie dropped down onto a seat across the wooden table, her palms flat on the timber.

He still didn't look at her.

He merely turned the page of his book, '' You're late.''

She swallowed, '' I know. I'm sorry.''

'' Good.'' The grey eyes still didn't drag the sheets of paper as he nodded towards the table, '' What is that?''

Amelie looked at the small piece of metal she had missed to notice, placed in front of her, and she gulped. It was the same silvery blade she had been using to harm herself.

'' It's—''

'' And don't lie to me this time, Avery.'' Draco hewed her off, his jaws sharp, '' Tell me what it is.''

'' I'm not lying.'' Amelie raised her voice, '' I haven't seen that for months. I'm not doing it anymore.''

'' You're not?'' Draco lowered the book as he stared right at her, and she could lose her breath by that look.

His eyes were intense, blaming almost, yet broken and cold. It was as if they had never felt attachment before.

''No, I'm not. I haven't been doing it for a long time.'' Her words were honest, and she meant them.

She hadn't been hurting herself for months. Teddy helped her quit doing the one thing she always sought to do when her mind overwhelmed her and the hurt she felt deep within her soul shredded.

He always told her that first, it hurts, not harming yourself, but then it changes you.

'' Is that the truth, Avery?'' Draco's face tense as he showed no emotion, '' Then why is it still here? Why did you hide it in that book—''

'' You looked in that?'' Amelie's lips parted, '' You went through my books?''

Draco's eyes flickered. He didn't know how to answer that because he did. The book she always read — the book that was placed on the bottom shelf, right where she used to sit in the far corner of the library.

'' Why would you do that?'' She felt betrayed, upset almost, '' That had nothing to do with—''

'' I can help you.'' He cut her short again, placing his elbows upon the table, '' I can help you, Avery, but I need to know everything, and I knew that you wouldn't tell me—''

'' That doesn't excuse it.'' She said as a sob climbed her throat, '' That doesn't make it alright. You didn't even give me a chance to explain.''

'' I want to help—''

'' But what if I don't want you to?'' Amelie forced her chair back, '' What if I don't want your help? What if I just want to be left alone, Draco. Have you thought of that?''

His jaws gritted, '' You need help, and I can help you, Avery, but if this is what you want. If you don't want me to fix this, to fix you. Then fine. Suit yourself.''

Draco tore his eyes off of her, before he without as much as an explanation, without allowing her to talk — marched out, leaving the blade on the table.

_____