Aurora | Harry Potter

chapter forty

"Yeah, I know," he says with a smirk, before he draws his wand and points it at the door, locking it with a spell. "Well, why did you just lock the door then?" I ask, my hand by my side ready to pull out my wand as he starts to slowly walk closer to me, his wand now in his trouser pocket.

"I was wondering if you could talk to Granger for me, I can picture us nicely together," he replies as he continues walking. I scoff slightly and go to push past him, but he tightly grabs my arm and pulls me back harshly, slamming into his chest. "Let me go, McLaggen," I spit, trying to pull out of his grip but failing.

"Why would I do that? If you're not going to help me get what I want, then I have to do something to persuade you," he replies, almost in a threatening tone. I stare at him blankly for a moment before I try to grab my wand, but he snatches my wrist and pushes me into the wall, his hands bruising my wrists with his grip.

"Let go of me, Cormac!" I shout, struggling harder against his strength, but not achieving anything. Then, he pulls one hand away, whips his wand out and  - aiming just above my chest - yells "Diffindo!" I groan aloud in pain as the spell hits me, creating a large cut on my chest, cutting through the white fabric of my dress.

I press my hand to my chest and wince when it lands on the cut, blood staining my fingers. "Now," Cormac says in a darkened tone, startling me, "look what you made me do..." From that moment, I feel like I've just completely frozen. I can't bring myself to move as Cormac moves in closer again, his eyes looking me up and down. 

But when he ferociously rips the buttons of my dress open, revealing my bra, my mind comes back to reality and I grab his hands again, gripping them as hard as I can. 

"Cormac, leave me alone!" I shout, forcefully pushing him back and I make a run for the door. I pull out my wand and go to unlock the door, but Cormac grabs my wrist, pulls me back and then pushes me into the wall, my back slamming into the tiles and my knees buckle.

As my body sinks to the floor, Cormac slowly walks over and raises his leg, which slams into my stomach and I cough out in pain, leaning over my knees and clutching my stomach. He kneels down, grabs my chin and raises it up, staring at me with darkness clouding his eyes.

"Get me that date with Hermione," he snarls before pushing my head back, it bashing against the tiled wall. I watch him walk away, unlock the door and run out, leaving me alone. 

My hand reaches up to my chest, shaking, and cover the cut which has now stained my torn dress and bra red. I start sobbing quietly as I clutch my chest, blood seeping through my fingers. I've never seen Cormac act like that before, but now I realise why he kept glancing over at me and Hermione earlier...

"Excuse me, are you ok-- AURORA?!"

My eyes shoot up to see Harry in the bathroom and for a millisecond, he stands there in shock, before sprinting over and almost sliding across the floor to get to me. His hands immediately go for my cheeks, his calm and gentle touch making my entire body relax. I close my eyes and rest in his hands, tears trickling down my cheeks and onto his fingers.

"Baby," he mumbles, his voice wavering as his thumb carefully wipes away my tears, "what happened?" I open my eyes to see tears in Harry's eyes as his hand presses lightly against mine on my chest, my eyes not leaving his emerald greens. 

"I... I..." 

I try to speak, but I can't even string a sentence together about what just happened. "I just want to go back to the Common Room," I mumble, squeezing Harry's hand tightly. He nods his head and helps me to stand back up on my feet, my legs shaking ever so slightly.

"Come on, Hermione will heal that cut," he says as we leave the toilets, mind dazed and my hands red with blood.

-

"Hermione!" Harry exclaims as we enter the Common Room, his arms helping me stand and walk. She turns around with a big smile - Ron and Ginny sat with her - but when she sees my state, she gasps and immediately runs over.

"Oh my God! Aurora, what happened to you?" She asks in shock, her eyes darting over my body. Ron and Ginny look over and immediately rush over too, sitting in front of me as Hermione pulls out her wand and Harry sits beside me, holding my hand tightly.

"This will sting and it will take a few times for the wound to close," she says and I nod my head in response. She raises her wand, giving me a supportive smile.

"Episkey."

I wince in pain as she repeats the spell a few more times, the cut slowly closing up, leaving a scar and my bloody dress. I sigh, closing my hand around the ripped dress and now feeling slightly self-conscious that my bra is partially exposed.

"This was Cedric's favourite dress of mine," I mumble, smiling sadly at the day Cedric first saw me in it. The group look at each other, then Harry removes his dinner jacket and wraps it around my shoulders, buttoning it up. 

"Later, give me the dress and I'll send it to mum," Ron says, placing his hand on my shoulder, smiling kindly, "she'll fix it for you and make it good as new." I smile back and Harry hugs me from the side. I turn around to hug him properly and then, I feel Ron, Hermione and Ginny join the hug. 

Everything feels so warm, comforting and friendly. "I love you guys," I whisper, a large smile on my face. "We love you too."