Chapter 5
Smack.
Raven shut her eyes as soon as the ruler made contact with her skin. Her Aunt forced her to hold her wrist out as soon as she saw her elbows on the table again. It was humiliating. Not only because she were being disciplined by her Aunt Eleanor, but because Pansy and the Greengrass girls made an appearance to their class today. Her old friends.
And it's not like it wasn't a common occurrence. Her Aunt Eleanor does teach this class for any and all Purebloods within the 28 pureblood families. So, it wasn't a surprise to see the three girls, but that didn't make it any less humiliating.
"Rotten Rosier." Pansy coughed.
Raven felt herself flush red at the words, biting her lip to stop herself from crying. She was weak that way, allowing words to hurt her more than anything else. More than the whips, more than the Ruler in her Aunt's hand.
More than herself...
"Stop putting your elbows on the table, Raven." Aunt Eleanor address to her. She could feel the eyes on her back, could feel them judging her. But she made no move to look back. "It's unladylike. I don't want to have to do this again."
The perfect smile on her face says otherwise. But Raven didn't dare comment on it. Instead, she nodded before returning back to her seat beside her older cousin. She instinctively sat up straight as soon as she sat down. It was easier than it used to be as her back was still sore from her whippings, the tender scars still aches from time to time throughout the summer.
"Now, everyone get in line." Her Aunt addressed the class, her hands were behind her back. "Its time to fit into our dresses for the ball tomorrow."
Her smile was nothing like her voice. Her smile was small, grin like. But her voice made Raven want to cringe. It sounded so condescending, so fake, almost as if she didn't care that this class would change the way they saw life forever. Change the way they saw themselves.
She wasn't an idiot.
She knew that Pansy hadn't eaten her dinner throughout her stay at Hogwarts. She ate breakfast, and lunch, but never dinner. And the same went with Daphne. The two of them were like the same person. Where ever one went, the other followed.
Not that she blames them. She struggled to eat during her first few months there. She had to eat in smaller portions, even had to stop herself from jogging whenever she felt like she ate too much. She could hear her aunts voice in her head, constantly critiquing her. Constantly calling her out for eating her food like air.
But her friends, her roommates, blocked out the noise. They always managed to subtly place more food onto her plate whenever she didn't serve herself as much as she should have. They even learned to use her kindness to their advantage by asking her to finish their plate as if it wasn't their 2nd or 3rd. As if it wasn't full.
She has them to thank for her extreme hunger these passed few days. They showed her that food wasn't a weakness, nor something to hate. And all of their progress was going down the drain again.
She knew that going back to Hogwarts will be rough.
Well, maybe not that rough, considering the fact that her Aunt hasn't made a comment about her eating since Christopher called her out. If anything, she's been quiet. And Raven couldn't shake the fear that she'd strike sooner or later. Hopefully, later.
"Hey, Pansy." Christopher flirted. He was leaning against the wall outside of the classroom door in their manor. He winked at the Parkinson girl while Raven and Katherine rolled their eyes. "You're looking good today."
"For the last time, Christopher." Pansy groaned before narrowing her eyes at the boy. "Never going to happen."
"We'll see about that." He smirked as they walked by. Raven glanced at her Aunt and saw that she was leading the way, not once glancing behind her to see if the girls were following. Plus, Raven knew the route.
"You got friend zoned." Raven teased her cousin, playfully messing with his hair. "Dumbass."
"You're the dumbass!" Christopher exclaimed.
"At least I didn't get rejected." Raven winked at her cousin, a tiny smile tugged up and onto her lips before she looked back and saw Katherine waiting for her.
She didn't wait for Christopher to reply as she jogged over to Katherine before getting back into her place in line. She felt Katherine softly place her hand on her shoulders before pushing her thumbs into her spine to straighten her up. Raven stiffened at the touch before shrugging off her older cousin, turning to her with a glare.
"I got it." She said, and Katherine remained quiet. Raven turned back to the front as she pulled her shoulders back, fixing her posture to stand prim and perfect before relaxing her face.
They continued to walk down the hallway before they turned the corner and into another room. A room filled with all the Flint's suits and dresses. She glanced around and saw two dress on two different chairs. One of the dresses was green, while the other was red. She glanced up at the curtains in the room, kind of like a changing room. She looked at one of the hooks and saw a smaller red dress. That had to be for Astoria.
She was the youngest out of all of them. Pansy, Daphne, and Raven we're all second years, while Katherine was a fourth year now. But Astoria, she starts Hogwarts this year. She had been coming to theses classes since she was 7 along side her older sister, Daphne Greengrass.
Pansy only started coming recently when she was 11. Two years after the Greengrass girls. Sure, a lot of Purebloods come to the class here and there, but those three come often. At least twice a week.
"Now, get dressed." Her Aunt ordered.
Katherine went first as she was the oldest. She had on a dark blue dress, just like the rest of the family would have.
"Good." Her Aunt praised her. "You look beautiful, my sweet girl."
She said it as if it were venom on her tongue. Raven glanced over at Pansy on instinct, and found that Pansy was already looking at her. It wasn't a surprise that the two of them caught her jealousy clear as day. They were observant like that. And whatever one of them saw, they had to make sure the other saw as well. That's how they were when they were friends at least.
Old habits die hard.
"She does, doesn't she?" A voice spoke out from the doorway. Raven's eyes shot to her uncles, watching as the man leaned against the doorway as he examined his daughter from head to toe.
Katherine flushed, "Thank you, father."
Aunt Eleanor tightened her grip on Katherine's shoulder, "Go get changed."
"Yes, Mother—"
Katherine moved to the curtain, but halted at the sound of her father's voice. "No. Let me look at my beautiful girl for a little while longer."
Uncle Nicholas walked over to her, his eyes continued to burn as he looked his daughter up and down. He stopped in front of her, his hands carefully touched her shoulder—her pale skin on display for everyone to see.
"I'm sure you've broken many hearts at Hogwarts, my love." Uncle Nicholas whispered, and yet everyone in the room could hear his words from how quiet the room was. "Especially looking as beautiful as this."
Katherine gulped, tensing as she instinctively fixed her posture with the amount of eyes she could feel burning into her. But a genuine smile, one that she tried so desperately to avoid pulled its way onto her face at the sight of her father's approval, "You're too kind, father."
Uncle Nicholas glanced over at his wife, and Raven followed his gaze—her eyes widened slightly at the way the woman's smile was tighter than she had ever seen before. And her posture could revival a statue.
"They grow up so fast, don't they, honey?" Uncle Nicholas broke the growing silence as he finally addressed his wife. "I remember when she was just a little girl in my arms, and now, she's growing into a beautiful woman."
"She's still a child, dear." Aunt Eleanor spoke, her gaze burning into the father and daughter. "She is only 16 after all."
"15!" Katherine spoke out of turn. "I turn 16 in a few months."
"Katherine!"
"Katherine!"
Both parents began to scold their daughter for speaking out of turn, but halted at the sound of the others voice. Neither pulled their gaze away from the other before Aunt Eleanor took a few steps forward till she was beside her daughter.
"Dear, if you would excuse us," Aunt Eleanor spoke before she gestured to the girls on the side. "I still have a class to teach. Our daughter included."
"Right." He nodded swiftly before he faced his oldest child, his voice soft. "You look breathtaking, my dear. Your betrothed will be so lucky for your hand. Though, not your lips if you continue to speak out of turn. You're lucky your father is merciful. You might not be as lucky with your betrothed."
"I understand, father. I am grateful for your mercy. It will not happen again. Thank you." Katherine smiled—a tug of strings forcing it up. She moved to the dressing room, "Excuse me."
Uncle Nicholas watched as she left before he cleared his throat, "Now, I must get back to work. My lunch hour only last so long."
He didn't hesitate for a moment more before he walked toward the door—glancing at his wife. Aunt Eleanor followed after him, hands at her side. He paused at the door before leaning in, whispering quietly against her ear. Aunt Eleanor tensed ever so slightly before she nodded, and gave the man a peck on the lips. He sent her a smile and then, he was gone, leaving the girls to his wife's clutches.
It didn't take long for Aunt Eleanor to snap back to attention, turning to the girls.
Pansy went next.
"Pansy," Her Aunt gasped. She fixed her green dress before stood behind her, placing her hands on her shoulders. Raven could see how she tightened them, squeezing her shoulder almost possessively. "Gorgeous. Just like your mother."
Raven could see the way Pansy stiffened at the woman's touch. Their eyes locked in the mirror and Raven could see the slight twinkle of fear inside them.
"Auntie, isn't it Daphne's turn?" Raven spoke out of turn as soon as she saw Pansy's eyes. Her Aunt turned around, letting go of Pansy's shoulders and the Parkinson girl let out a breath, relaxing almost instantly.
Raven stiffened upon seeing her Aunt's dark eyes locking with her own blue ones. It felt as if the woman saw into her soul, judging her every move. She looked at Raven as if she saw the worst filth in front of her.
"Did I say you could speak?" She asked.
"N— No, Ma'am." Raven stuttered.
"Katherine." She addressed her daughter. Katherine stiffened up. "Get the Ruler."
"But mother—"
"Girls who speak out of turn deserve to be punish." Aunt Eleanor said, her voice sharp as she spoke. She hadn't looked away from Raven once. "That was the first thing I taught you."
"Do not make me repeat myself!" Aunt Eleanor's words caused the whole room to stiffen, instinctively fixing their posture. No one made a move to breathe.
Her Aunt held no mercy in her attack. She grabbed Raven's right wrist roughly, tugging her towards her for the rest of the room to see. Raven didn't dare struggle as she knew the punishment would be severe if she did. Instead, she held her head up high, trying her hardest not to cry.
And she hit her.
And hit her.
And hit her.
And hit her.
She hit her wrist until it turned purple, leaving a nasty bruise in her wake. Raven had let a few tears trail down her face, but she didn't dare cry. She didn't dare make a noise as if it hurt. She stayed silent, biting her lip to halt any and all noise from escaping.
She made eye contact with Pansy in the mirror. And she could see the guilt in the girls eyes. But Raven didn't feel a tug of anything for the girl. Not resentment, but not sympathy either. Sure, Pansy might have bullied her.
Might have called her Rotten Rosier like the other Slytherin Purebloods, but.. at the end of the day, they used to be friends. Up until she had become a Hufflepuff that is.
"She— She's had enough, Madam Flint." Pansy stuttered, her face grew red with her own words. "Plus, I think Daphne is done. Right, D— Daph?"
Because even if they weren't friends anymore, Pansy, Raven, and Daphne always protected one another as if they were.
"Yeah." Daphne agreed as she stepped out of the dressing room, wearing her red dress. "I'm done."
Aunt Eleanor froze for a moment, pausing for a moment as her gaze burned into Raven. The red haired girl didn't know how long they were frozen, starring at one another until her Aunt placed her hand on her shoulder. Raven tensed under her touch—fixing her posture instinctively. Aunt Eleanor clenched her jaw before she moved passed Raven, and over to Daphne.
"Go get dressed." She ordered. Raven didn't think twice to obey.
It was obvious that her Aunt held some sort of resentment for her two family members. Her daughter whom she was jealous of and her niece who had made too many mistakes to there family name. And so, she'd hurt them more. Be harder on them more than anyone else who came into her classroom doors.
She couldn't hurt the Parkinson or the Greengrass girls even if she wanted to. She could use her words, manipulate, but she couldn't hurt them. Not like how she does with her own. She had used the ruler on them a few times, but only left two or three hits in her wake.
She couldn't hurt enough to leave bruises, not wanting to hurt their beautiful skin.
But she did enough to show them who was truly in control. And it wasn't any of them.
Raven nearly slipped before she made it across the curtain. She couldn't see the fake smile her Aunt placed onto her lips. The perfect and prim smile that she taught them. "Now, Daphne, you look absolutely stunning."
Raven shut her eyes at the praise she heard before she exhaled shakingly. She opened her eyes once more as she wiped away the tears that had trailed down her face before wincing in pain at the ache in her wrist. She looked down at her Aunt's finished product and couldn't help but whine at the sight of it.
It was worse than last time.
The bruise started at the top of her wrist before trailing down towards the midpoint of her arm. It spread down the side of her arm, almost as if it wanted to wrap around. The bruise itself looked anything but beautiful. It looked like a raging storm expanding over a sunny day. Her once plain arm now held an ugly storm in its wake.
But it was worth it, wasn't it?
A flash of Pansy's feared eyes came into her mind. The way they looked at her as if she were reaching out for her, for someone to help her.
Yeah. It was worth it.
And so with that thought, Raven quickly got to work, putting on her light blue dress. Unlike the rest of her family, who all wear dark blue, Raven had to wear light blue for the Rosier family. Each pureblood family had their own color. But, they only wear it during the blood ball.
And yet, Raven knew that the reason she were light blue wasn't because she was a Roiser, but because her Aunt and Uncle didn't want her to be associated with them since she is a Hufflepuff now.
She had taken off her pants first before taking off her shirt. As soon as her shirt fell onto the floor, she froze at the sight of her back. It wasn't as bad as it should have been. But it was still bad. Ugly.
She had collected a variety of scars because of the whipping she had received over the years for her mistakes. And yet, she had only gotten about a hand full of whippings on her back. Whipping were the last resort in her family. First, her Uncle would smack her, that's how she got the scar on her upper lip. Then, if you still hadn't learn, Aunt Eleanor would control your meals or use the ruler on you.
Finally, if you still hadn't learned, he'd use the whip. Sure, sometimes he'd skip to the end depending on the mistake. Just as he did to Christopher when he had 10 after Uncle caught him talking to the Weasley twins. It was his first whipping. Katherine hasn't had her first whipping yet.
Aunt Eleanor takes care of her punishments more than Uncle. If anything, it seems as if he tries to avoid punishing her.
There were big and small scars on her back. Some looked older than others. But the two big ones were from her first whipping when she was nine. It started from her upper spine in the middle of her back, down to her left rib cage just below her armpit. The second one went from the middle of her right rib cage near her armpit down towards her hip almost like a knife cutting through her skin.
The two new ones were from this whipping and they were the worst ones yet. They looked tender, pink and kind of swollen. The first one started from her right shoulder and trailed down till it met her spine. The second one was right beside it on the left side as it trailed down till it hit the end of her rib cage.
Katherine was right.
It was bad.
No one will marry her now.
"Are you ready, Dear?"
Raven shook away her thoughts as she hurried to placed the light blue dress over her head. She adjusted it, wincing once it grazed her back before taking a breathe. And left the dressing with a perfect smile, not too big, but not quite small. It was barley a tug upwards, perfect.
"Yes, Ma'am." She said before she walked up to the mirror in front. She could feel the eyes of the girls watching her every move, could feel the way her Aunt got behind her as she examined the dress.
"Mhmm." Aunt Eleanor hums before she places her hand on her stomach. Raven automatically sucked in her gut. "Seems like you enjoyed yourself in the Hufflepuff kitchens."
Raven bit her inner lip.
Going back to Hogwarts will be rough.
Aunt Eleanor moved to examine the way the dress looked from behind. Raven could feel her eyes looking her up and down, almost judging. She could feel the way she looked at Raven as if she were nothing worth her time.
She felt her hands begin to burn up, the familiar feel of her magic coming out to play. A portrait fell onto the floor, causing everyone to flinch before glancing over at it. And yet, Katherine's eyes never left her own.
She felt her hands ball up into a fist as she tried to control herself.
"Calm down." Katherine mouthed to her in the mirror. "Breathe."
Raven inhaled before exhaling, feeling herself return back to her natural state. She tried to remember everything her Godfather taught her about controlling her magic. But.. it was harder when she couldn't practice her lessons.
When Aunt Eleanor returned from fixing the portrait, which Raven hadn't even noticed she left, she stepped up from behind Raven, trailing her hands up her arm before she rested them on her shoulders. Raven tensed up at the action, at how close it was to her back, biting her inner lip so hard that she could taste the iron on her tongue.
She forced herself to not react. Forced herself to calm down. No one was allowed to touch her back.
No one.
Not her cousins.
Not her friends.
Not even herself.
The only reason Katherine and Christopher did was because she needed them to help her. And she was too out of it to notice. But she knew that Christopher felt the same way. That he hated when people touched his back. Grazed over his scars.
"You know," Her Aunt began as she moved one of her hands over to her face, using her thumb to touch her lips. "I've always hated that your uncle hurt your face."
No one could hear a word she said as she whispered into Raven's ears.
"This ugly little scar," She grazed her thumb over the scar on her upper lip. Her uncle had smacked her after she raised her voice at him for arguing about wanting to play with Draco and Christopher outside. His ring got her good. She was six. "Took away all your worth. Made you nothing but an extra mouth to feed."
Raven inhaled sharply at her Aunt's words.
"I wonder if your betrothed will want you."
That's right.
Her betrothal. They haven't chosen one yet. That job was supposed to go to her parents. And now, it's up to her Aunt and Uncle to decide. Katherine hasn't had hers yet, but it's in the works. The Parkinson family is trying to set up an arrangement for Pansy and Christopher. But it's still up in the air.
But Raven...
No one wanted her.
Maybe she was destined to be alone forever.