It was then, I realised, how traumatic my secret had been. I ran out of the dormitory and to the Common Room. I leaned against the wall and sighed shakily.

"I'm at Hogwarts. I'm fine. I'm away from him." I murmured and I felt like I was going insane.

"Isabel!" My eyes widened and I heard footsteps coming down the stairs. Lots of footsteps. I ran out of the Portrait Hole and to the corridors, not caring if I got in trouble or not.

I didn't know where I was going. All I wanted to do was get away from the girls and the Marauders. Especially the Marauders. A door appeared out of nowhere and I opened it to find a room. A large, comfy, bed was on the side. Next to the bed was a small table with cookies and hot chocolate. A large bookshelf was near a fireplace that cackled softly. I sighed and walked over to the bed. I sat down and it was extremely comfy. I looked down at my hands, at all the scars, at all the bruises, at all the marks made by the rope...

I grabbed the hot chocolate from the table. I took a small sip and smiled with satisfaction. I dipped one of the cookies into the hot chocolate and started eating. It was rather filling and calming. I sighed and when I was done, I lay down. I stared at the ceiling.

So I had a nightmare, waking the whole school up. The Marauders came in, all looking rather worried. I ran out of the tower and now I'm here, enjoying some peace and quiet. Something I don't get often.

My eyes were getting heavy, but I didn't want to sleep. I didn't want to wake up from another nightmare. I sighed and stood up. I walked over to the bookshelf and chose a book. I lay back down on the bed and started reading the book. I squinted slightly and cursed myself. I didn't have my glasses so I couldn't see. Or read.

I hated having glasses sometimes.

At least James always wears his. Mine were reading glasses. Without them, I couldn't read. I sighed. I looked around for my wand, which I also left in my Dormitory.

There's more than a dozen books on that bookshelf and I couldn't read.

It was already a nightmare.

I sighed and lay down, having no choice but to stare at the ceiling.

I opened my eyes and looked around. I was still in the mysterious room that had appeared at my aid. Sunlight started to shine through the window. My eyes widened and I jumped up. I looked at my watch, 8:00. I have time for breakfast. I ran out of the room and came face-to-face with someone with brown hair and multiple scars.

"Isabel!" Remus exclaimed.

"Remus!" He opened his mouth to say something but nothing came out.

"I - um... Is-"

"Um... goodbye!" I said quickly and ran to the Gryffindor Tower.

"What?! Isabel!!" He followed me. I looked at the Painting of the Fat Lady.

"Open! Hurry!"

"Password?" The Fat Lady asked. I rolled my eyes and sighed.

"Flying Fireflies! Now open!" The potrait opened and I ran inside.

"Izzy!" He grabbed my arm. I created a fist and swung around. Remus moved out of the way just in time. My eyes widened and I looked down.

"Remus..." He looked at me then back at my arm, turning over so he could see red marks on my wrists. His eyes widened when he saw the scars and bruises.

"What... what happened to your arm?" I pulled my arm away from him but he had a firm grip.

"Nothing-"

"It's not nothing. Your wrists are red Isabel!"

"I know but it doesn't matter-"

"You say that way too many times! It does matter Izzy! You have bruises and scars-"

"Well can you be quiet!" Remus sighed and looked around.

"Sorry. But still. It's not nothing. You have red marks around your wrist." He said, this time more quietly. "You don't self-"

"I don't self-harm myself!" He sighed with relief.

"That's good... but where did you get your scars from? It's not like you're a we-" He stopped suddenly. I looked at his scarred face and sighed.

"It doesn't matter." Remus groaned and sighed with annoyance. I pulled my arm away from him.

"Isabel it's not-"

"Don't tell anyone!" I said immediately and ran upstairs. Remus sighed with defeat.

"Really!" He walked off.

I didn't have time for breakfast. I sighed and walked to the Charms classroom, being one of the last people there. The girls and the Marauders sat on either side of the class. I looked at them and sat beside Alice.

"Hey. What happened?" Alice asked immediately. Marlene and Lily looked up.

"I'll tell you later." I replied quietly and they nodded. I looked around and saw the Marauders all looking at me. Remus turned around to tell them something but caught my eyes. He sighed and turned away from them, I sighed with relief and started doing my work.

After the class, we were the first people to leave.

"Now what happened??" Lily asked anxiously. I sighed and looked around.

"I'll tell you, somewhere private." I answered.

"Okay. Empty classroom right there! Go!" Lily grabbed my hand and dragged me into the classroom nearby. Marlene and Alice followed, locking the door afterwards.

"No one can hear us right?" They shook their heads.

"No. What happened last night? You were screaming and thrashing around!" Marlene stated.

"I was?"

"Yes! That's why we were so worried! You screamed so loudly you woke up the Marauders! Except for Peter, who according to Sirius, is a heavy sleeper."

"You were talking to him? Did you manage to stop blushing?" Marlene glared at me.

"Anyway back to the topic."

"I don't know, maybe we should continue talking about you and Sirius. Now what's your kids names going to be-" Marlene blushed madly. I grinned.

"ISABEL!!!" They all yelled.

"Sorry! Sorry. Okay, so what were we talking about?" I asked, rolling my eyes.

"Last night. You were having-"

"Oh..." My grin faded. "Yeah... I kind of lied to you all."

"What do you mean?" Alice asked. I sighed and sat down.

"It wasn't just a... normal beating. It was worse..." Their eyes widened and I told them everything.

"HE USES THE CRUCIATUS CURSE?!??" Lily shouted. I flinched. "Sorry. But you have to tell someone!"

"I can't!"

"Why not?"

"I don't know..."

"And your mother just sits and watches?!" Alice asked.

"Well yeah..."

"Damn your family had issues!" Marlene stated. "No offence."

"None taken."

"This is why I said you can come over at my house! You're welcomed you know!"

"I know... it's hard to leave though." I admitted and sighed. "We better go to Defence against the Dark Arts, we might be late."

They sighed.

"I guess. Boggarts. Sounds fun." Alice sighed.

We walked into the classroom and Professor Greengrass started the lesson. He explained what we were doing and pointed to the cupboard which held the boggart.

"Now before we start. Let's do a quick quiz-" The class groaned. "Now now. First question, what does a boggart look like?"

"No one knows. Boggarts are shape-shifters. They transform into what the person fears the most." Remus started. "That's what makes them so terrifying."

"Correct Mr Lupin. 10 points for Gryffindor." We smiled and Sirius patted Remus on the back who rolled his eyes in reply. "Now what really finishes off a boggart?"

"Laughter." Lily called out.

"Another 10 points for Gryffindor!" We grinned at Lily who shot us looks. "Now-"

"Can we just battle the boggart now?" James asked loudly. Some people nodded in agreement.

"Very well. Now everyone form a line." Everyone hurried to form a line, all eager to face their boggart and turn into something funny. The Marauders lined up in front of me.

"Hi Fall." Sirius grinned at me. "How are you?"

"Great." I said coolly.

"What would your boggart be?" James asked.

I thought for a minute, trying to think of another fear I had.

"Um... probably my worst fear would be a giant spider..." Half of it was true.

My worst fear wasn't spiders. But I hated them. With their eight legs, their furry little bodies and their creepy little eyes. I shuddered at the thought. James and Sirius snickered.

"Spiders? Seriously?" Sirius asked, snickering. "Isabel Fall is scared of spiders." He laughed and I glared at him.

"I am not-"

"Your worst fear is spiders?" Peter questioned.

"No-"

"Thanks for the idea." James grinned suspiciously.

"Don't you dare-"

A Hufflepuff girl walked to the front and Professor Greengrass opened the cupboard. A giant snake slithered out of the cupboard and the girl tensed.

"Now steady. Think. Turn it into something funny." Greengrass stated. The girl took a deep breath and raised her wand.

"Riddikulus!" She yelled and the giant snake started dancing. The class erupted with laughter. The girl smiled and let out a small giggle.

"Very good! See very good! Next MacDonald." Another Hufflepuff girl walked to the front. The boggart changed into a giant, hairy spider. I let out a small but thankfully silent scream.

"Oh look you're not the only one." Sirius grinned at me.

"Shut up."

"Riddikulus." The giant spider suddenly became legless and rolled around the floor. Everyone laughed but I still shivered slightly.

"Next Lupin!"

Remus walked to the front his wand in his hand though he didn't look confident. The spider took one look at Remus and transfigured into three bodies, lying on the floor.