Escape

** Thanks everyone for those kind reviews! I made that one little change with the summary (apparently I can't count!) Haha- onward to chapter 2-


Pain.

That’s the only way to describe what I felt when I tried to open my eyes.

Lot’s of pain.

I think there was a jack hammer too.

At least that is what I thought I heard all around me.

I think there are tiny little men inside my head slowly chopping there way out of my throbbing skull.

It was also very bright.

Too bright.

I shut my eyes tighter, and pulled the blanket up over my head with some difficulty as I mumbled “Turn off the sun!”

The jack hammer noise had stopped.

“I can’t turn off the sun. That’s physically impossible,” sounded a voice from next to me.

I froze beneath my blanket.

Slowly my very bushy head came out from under the blanket. My tired, hung over eyes were now wide open.

I looked left, saw nothing. Then I looked to my right.

He was there, lying next to me with the same horrible, hung over expression I was most likely wearing.

“What are you doing in my bed?” I asked him in a bit of a panic.

“I slept in here last night.” He said to me as if I should know this.

I obviously didn’t know it, or I wouldn’t have asked.

“Why in Merlin’s name would you stay in my room last night?” I asked while trying to sit up, but thinking better of it as my stomach turned and I felt the urge to vomit. I put my head back down quickly.

“Because you begged and pleaded with me to stay with you. You also couldn’t even walk across the common room on your own, let alone up a flight of stairs to your room. I had to help you. Considering the amount you drank, then force fed me to drink, I am surprised I was able to get you up here at all!”

His face was very pale. More so than usual.

“I don’t remember anything.” I said, with a sadness in my voice I never heard or felt before.

I wish I remembered.

I wish I at least remembered something.

He watched me for a moment. He could tell I was contemplating something.

“Well wasn’t that the point? You said you just wanted to forget for a night.” He said to me. Those words sounded familiar.

“I suppose it must have been.” I said, still not sure why I can’t remember anything at all.

“Is everything okay?” he asked me. “You look confused.”

“Well,” I took a deep breath, “it’s just I can’t remember anything, at all. Nothing.”

“Again, that was the point.” He said with a little laugh in his words, but realized that laughing made his stomach turn over by the look on his face. He stopped laughing very quickly.

“No! I mean, I don’t remember why I was drinking in the first place. I never have before. As far as I can remember you stopped drinking as well. I don’t remember anything after leaving the tower from studying with the boys.” I had my hand over my head.

It still hurt.

“You mean, you don’t remember anything that I told you last night? You don’t remember anything we talked about? Said? Did?” He asked me with concern.

“DID? What do you mean DID? Did what? Did we?” I took another deep breath. “No, we couldn’t have. I wouldn’t.” I was hyperventilating.

“That’s not what I meant. We didn’t do anything to each other.” He said, then seemed to change his mind. “Well, I shouldn’t say that. You held me down, and forced drinks down my throat after you were already drunk.” He smirked.

“By the way, you are really strong for a girl.” He rubbed his left shoulder as he said this.

I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding

“So we didn’t do anything?” I felt relieved.

“Nothing” He smiled a bit.

“Well, you did sick up on yourself at one point. Then when I went to clean you up, you threw up on me as well.
That’s something I would like to forget.” He said.

I felt my face turn red at this.

“Sorry about that.” I mumbled.

I could tell that he was beginning to feel a bit better as our conversation went on. I, on the other hand, still felt sick.

I closed my eyes again, and images started to come to my mind. I saw images of that horrible night a few months ago.

“So do you want to know why you decided to drink last night?” He asked me.

My eyes were squeezed so tightly now. I didn’t want to open them.

A small tear escaped from the corner.

“No, I just remembered.” I whispered, opening my eyes. They were now flooded with tears, as I finally let them all come out.

“Don’t!” He stated forcefully. “Don’t allow him to hurt your when he isn’t even here to do it himself. Don’t allow him to have that affect on you. Fight it. Fight him.” He spoke. He sat up, and pulled himself out of bed.

His shirt was off.

That was the first thing I noticed once I wiped away my tears.

He had a scar across his toned abdomen. It was very long, thick and whiter than the rest of his skin. I couldn’t help but look at it.

He noticed I was starring at him, and gave me a funny look.

“What is that from?” I asked, not even attempting to look at something else.

He followed the direction of my gaze, and looked at his stomach. He must have realized at that point he wasn’t wearing a shirt. He very rarely would have a shirt off in the daylight hours. Even the few times I had seen him without one, I only saw him from the back.

He immediately bent down to pick up his shirt off the floor.

“I got that for getting caught sneaking out of the house two years ago.” He said to me quietly as he slipped his shirt over his head.

I felt fear again. It must have been written on my face as well.

“It was from him right? You’re father? I know your mother would never do something like that to you.” I said to him, while I finally decided to sit up. It still made my stomach turn, but I couldn’t lie down any longer.

“Yea, from him. Mother received a matching one on her upper leg for trying to stop him.” He was trying to preoccupy himself by smoothing out the wrinkles in his shirt. It was going to be a losing battle as it had been in a jumbled ball for at least 5 hours.

“I should go get a shower and get ready for class.” He said to me, not really looking in my eyes. He seemed to really be interested in his feet.

“Oh, right. Class.” I had completely forgotten about those at this point. I wasn’t sure how I was going to handle classes on a day like today.

I contemplated for a moment.

“I don’t think I will be going. “ I said finally.

“You know we can’t just hide in our rooms the whole time. What kind of life would that be?” He asked.

“A SAFE ONE!” I said loudly. More loudly then I should have, as I winced at the sound of my own voice because of the hangover.

“I am not going to classes today! You can tell our professors that I am not up to it. They should understand.” I finished, speaking much softer than before.

“So you are going to stay in this room, all day, all alone, all by yourself? He asked me. He as determined to get me to go to classes. I could see it in his eyes.

“Because I will not be here with you.” He continued. “I am going to classes today, everyday. I am going to try and live a normal life. He won’t control me. Don’t let him control you.”

I felt so small. My knees were brought up to my chest, tucked under my chin. My arms were wrapped tightly around them. I felt like a child.

I spent a moment thinking it over. I didn’t say anything until he moved toward the door, obviously fed up with my silence. He looked disappointed.

“No outdoor classes then.” I said quickly before he walked out the door.

He stopped.

“All indoor classes are fine, anything outside has to wait until he is caught and locked away. I wont get caught alone outside again!” I said firmly.

He walked back over to the edge of the bed where I was seated. He tucked a piece of my very frizzy hair behind my ear.

It was a comforting gesture. I appreciated it more than he realized.

“I can agree with that.” He smiled at me.

I finally smiled back.

“Now you have to get up and attempt to function!” he laughed at me.

I must really look terrible.

“Get out and hurry up. I have to shower next ferret face!” I said grumpily as I stood up. He was still laughing at me as he walked out of the room.

“AND DON’T USE ALL THE HOT WATER!” I shouted once he shut my door.

I shouldn’t have stood up, and I definitely shouldn’t have shouted!

I ran as quickly as I could out my door and right into the bathroom just before he walked into it.

“Hey, I was just about to take a shower!” He said as I slammed the door in his face.

“Nevermind!” He said, as he heard me throwing up. “I’ll wait!” You couldn’t mistake the disgusted sound in his voice.

After we were both showered and dressed, he seemed to take great enjoyment in shouting as loudly as possible when talking to me.

I was ready to kill him.

“Mmmmmm I am so hungry for some greasy bacon, and eggs, and toast, and muffins!” He said with a laugh. He stopped once he saw my face pale, as I turned around and ran for the bathroom again.

He began laughing even louder if it was possible.

Now I was really going to kill him!

I am never drinking again!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The end of the school day was upon us.

“You were right.” I smiled at him for the second time that day.

“You were right and I was wrong. It was good to get out. To got to class, and get my mind off of all this drama.”

“I was what? What was that?” He asked me while taking my books out of my arms, and carrying them for me. I was still a bit hung over, and I was walking a little slower than usual.

“You heard me, I won’t say it again.” I said while pursing my lips. I don’t like to admit when I am wrong.

“Just wanted to make sure I heard you correctly, because I do believe that was the first time you ever admitted to being wrong!” He said smugly.

The jerk.

“Ha Ha. You just think you’re so funny, don’t you?” I said as I rounded the corner to the entry way of our common room.

We both must have noticed at the same time, because we both stopped dead in our tracks.

Merlin was missing from his portrait.

“Merlin? Where are you?” I asked loudly, so the other portraits in the secluded hallway could hear.

“That’s strange. Merlin has never left his portrait.” He said to me, though I already knew this.

Just as we were about to begin searching the hall, Dumbledore appeared behind us.

“Hello. Would the two of you please follow me?” He turned around and began walking briskly, knowing we would follow without question.

We walked further down that secluded hallway, then took a left down another hallway I had never seen before.

Next we turned down the second hallway on the right. We stopped in front of the fifth portrait to the left.

“Bubble Gum” He said, then walked through.

I looked at the boy next to me in question. He just shrugged in answer.

We followed our professor through to another hallway and he took us to the seventh portrait on the right.

“Gum Drop” He said, and led them into one more hallway. He stopped in front of the first portrait.

“Merlin!” There you are! We were wondering where you went.” I said, happy to see him.

Dumbledore cleared is throat to gain our attention.

We looked, confused.

“This is to be your new living quarters. We had to move you. NO ONE is to know this location. Not friends, not professors, not even the ghosts. NO ONE! Do you understand?” He asked.

We nodded.

“But why?” I asked.

“I do not want to alarm you, but there was a break in this morning during classes. You’re father was spotted in the hallway where your old entrance currently is. This was too close for my comfort. I want you both well hidden.” The headmaster said carefully.

We nodded, in shock. Too much shock to say anything.

“We searched the school thoroughly and have tightened security measurably.” He continued.

Fear was back again. More than before. He was here. He was in our room.

I was shaking.

“You will follow every rule we have made for you. They are for your safety. Merlin is directly connected to a portrait in my office, as well as his old portrait. If someone, other than yourselves tries to enter your new or old rooms, he will notify myself, and you both, immediately. I will be down in this exact hallway in a matter of moments.”

He stopped and looked at us.

“Do not have fear. We have put up more protection spells and more guards than even you are aware exist. There are guards in the castle that are disguised as inanimate objects, they are to watch you at all times. The only time you are ever truly alone is in your dorms, bathroom, and common room. That is why there is such protection on the outside of your dorms.”

He paused once more, and they both nodded once more.

“Please stay in your rooms at night after dinner has ended and do not leave until breakfast the next morning. As today is Friday, you will have no classes this weekend. I urge you to stay in your dorms this weekend, and not leave at all. We are still continuing our search, and we are telling your professors that you have been sent home for the weekend. If your need anything, let Merlin know, and he will arrange for it. Have a good night, and be careful, and cautious.”

He looked at both of us, and turned and disappeared out of the hallway.

“Please decide on a new password.” Merlin said to us.

“Constant Vigilance!” I said, it was the first thing I thought of. I looked next to me. He nodded in agreement.

I entered the room first, he followed me.

As the portrait closed behind us I didn’t even bother to look around.

“I can’t believe he got in! I can’t believe it!” I shouted, and threw myself on the couch.

He couldn’t even comment. I knew he had nothing to comfort me this time. So he just sat on the chair next to the couch.

It seemed like forever before he said anything to me.

“Well, what are we going to do all weekend? Sit here and stare at one another?” He asked. You could see he was already feeling bored.

I shrugged, and finally got up and looked around.

I smiled even with my nervousness.

“It looks like Dumbledore has taken care of that. He bought us a new deck of cards, a chess set, and some other games. OH! Look, Books!” I said excitedly almost forgetting about the current situation that confined us to this room.

“You are such a nerd!” He laughed at me as I started stacking the books I was going to read.

“Thanks!”

A/N- So, the next chapter should please some people... It gets a bit.... HOT in the common room... Tee Hee!!
Anyways, reviews are always appriciated... critisism as well. Thanks!