𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 2

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TW: Suspicions of (and possible) physical abuse and neglect.

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"(Y/N)!" You were engulfed in a hug before you even had a chance to see your attacker's face. 

You were currently standing in Kings Cross station by yourself, trunk in hand and eyes scanning the platform in search of any known faces. Salem, a black cat you had gotten at the start of your first year, was with you, keeping you company.

"Louis, you idiot! You scared me to death!" You sighed in relief, then hugged him back. 

The boy in front of you laughed and broke the hug, "We haven't seen each other for the entire summer and that's how you treat me?" 

"Guys!" Leo's voice called, joining you and Louis. "How are you? You two look so different!" He turned to you, "I didn't think you could get prettier." 

You laughed dismissively, "You look pretty good too, buddy."

"Oh, hey. Isn't that Sam over there?" Louis exclaimed, gesturing for her to approach you guys. At first, she didn't quite see him, but after narrowing her eyes, she bid her parents farewell and approached you.

"Hey, why did you get here so early?" She questioned you, "If I remember correctly, you're always the last one to arrive."

"I was too excited to see you three I just couldn't sleep." You said dramatically.

"So... How was your guys' summer?" Louis asked the group, "I think one of us," He looked at you, "Had a very... interesting one."

"Why are you looking at me?" You laughed, squishing his cheeks with one of your hands. "Look at Sam. She's the one who still hasn't told us about her secret lover. Are you two still together?"

The girl nodded proudly, "I'll tell you guys someday. She's just... shy."

"So, it's a she, huh?" Leo smirked, but he was shushed by Sam. "Fine, keep the mystery then. I actually had a great summer." 

"Do tell us more," Louis commented, but your ears drowned off the sound of Leo's voice after something way more captivating caught your eye.

Unaware, a grin found its way onto your face and you waved excitedly, basically jumping with joy. "Hey, Reg's here!" 

The skinny boy approached you and the rest of your friends, smiling as best as he could. "Hey, guys." 

"Woah, you grew so much!" Leo exclaimed, comparing his and Regulus' heights. The youngest of the group had always been the tallest of his year, while Leo was just a bit above average.

"And you also changed your hair." Sam pointed out. His hair was messier and wavier, it looked like he finally had left hair gel behind, thank Merlin for that.

But upon further inspection, you noticed something was wrong with his face. It was a bit more swollen from one side, and although you couldn't really be sure because his clothes were covering it, his jaw had something that resembled a bruise.

And not only that, his lips had a small line that was darker than the rest, like they had been splinted. He looked skinnier and paler, which was saying something considering he had always looked like that. 

Did he get in a fight? No, that didn't sound like him. 

Did his parents do something to him? With what you knew, it wasn't a possibility you were willing to discard.

At your intense gaze, he laughed nervously. "Do I have something on my face?" 

"No, I was just thinking." You forced a smile, "How was your summer?"

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He shrugged, "The same as every other year."

You didn't know what else to say. On one side, you wanted to ask him right there and then, but after thinking it through, you decided to wait until you two were alone. 

The oh-so-familiar scarlet train took you out of your thoughts, "Time to go." Louis said excitedly, dragging his trunk to the nearest entrance.

Leo and Sam followed hot on his heels, leaving you and Regulus behind. "I missed you." You told him, quickly hugging him before following after the rest of your friends. 

• • • • • • •

The train ride was filled with chat and laughter, which made it much easier to go through. Soon enough, you were standing in the great hall, watching the sorting ceremony take place.

You were bored out of your mind, chin supported on the palm of your hand. "Why can't we just skip this part?" You complained.

Regulus shrugged, "You could, but I don't think it would be a very good idea. Professors might take points away from Slytherin and people will get mad at you."

You groaned, frustrated. "How many kids are left?"

"About 15." Louis answered, "They're like, the double of what they were last year. Do you think they multiplied?"

Leo grinned, "You don't know how difficult it is to stop myself from making a dirty joke."

You chuckled before returning to look at the sorting hat on top of some random child's head, Professor McGonagall on their side, smile so subtle you wouldn't have been able to notice if you hadn't been so close to her.

"Hey, look at the Ravenclaw table. Some guy is staring at you." Louis whispered, catching you off guard.

"What?" You questioned, "Where?" 

Louis took your chin between his fingers and directed your head to where said guy was sitting. And sure enough, his honeyed eyes made direct contact with your (Y/E/C) ones. 

You had seen him around, here and there. He had dyed hair, a pastel blue with some darker purple highlights: it didn't look tacky, quite the contrary actually. His clothes were nothing special, just the typical black robe everyone in the room was wearing.

"I think he's interested in you." Louis teased you, waving at your suitor, who cowered behind his friend.

"Hey, what are you two talking about?" A curious Leo stopped the words from leaving your mouth.

"Just some guy interested on (Y/N)." The brown-haired boy smirked, "She's gotten quite popular lately, hasn't she?"

"Oh, August?" Leo inspected your suitor, "I know them."

"Them?" You asked, head tilting in curiosity.

Your friend hummed, "They're nonbinary and go by he/they pronouns."

"How do you know them?" Sam joined the conversation.

"We assist some classes together, but I had no idea he liked you." 

"Pfft, like is a strong word. Maybe they just find me interesting." You replied.

Louis raised his eyebrows, "And if that was the case, would you find them interesting too?"

"Well, they're not bad." You answered after a moment of hesitance with a smile, causing suggestive 'oohs'. 

As soon as your conversation with your friends ceased, your gaze unconsciously headed to the Gryffindor table, where Sirius and his friends would normally be chatting and making lots of noise. However, it looked like this time was different. 

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