Scars - Kat Marts

Kat knew who was at the door even before she opened it. Even if he hadn't sent an owl earlier to say that he was on the way, there was just something about the way that David knocked that she could always identify him from his very first tap against the apartment door. Beaming, she bounced to the door and pulled it open, greeting her boyfriend with a light kiss before pulling him inside. "Well, hello there."

David's green eyes were sparkling with excitement, and she could sense from him motions as he kissed her cheek in return that he was bursting to tell her something. "And hello to you, beautiful! I've got a surprise for you." He had told her that in his owl message earlier, too, and she could tell it was going to be something big.

The two of them took their usual places, snuggled close on her couch, and then David couldn't wait any longer to give his news. "I managed to get us reservations at La Mer!" Kat's eyes widened immediately, her mouth forming a little "o" in surprise before slipping into an even wider smile than she had had before. "La Mer! Are you serious?!"

La Mer was famous as the finest and most romantic wizarding restaurant in all of Great Britain. And it was usually all but impossible to get reservations for. Reservations were made up to a year in advance and even then you had to be incredibly lucky to be one of the few to get a spot. But if you were, it was supposed to be the finest dining experience you would ever have in your life. Besides that, it was widely regarded as the absolutely perfect venue for proposals. And Kat had caught David glancing towards jewelry shops lately. Kat's heart soared at the thought – he might just be getting ready to propose.

And as she looked into his eyes, it just confirmed that thought even more. The excitement in his eyes hadn't faded in the slightest and she could see it in his expression. David was absolutely wonderful in a thousand different ways, but a good poker face was not among his many skills. And Kat didn't mind that a bit.

"One of my friends had a family emergency, so he and his wife can't make it to their reservation time and he said we could have it. We'll be going on Thursday!" Kat froze, her blood suddenly running cold. "This Thursday?" David missed the hint of panic in her tone. "Yes! I swear, it's a miracle – nobody can ever get reservations that close! And it'll be absolutely beautiful – it's a full moon that night!"

Yes, Kat knew full well that that night was a full moon. How could she not know? She had been tracking the dates of full moons as if her life depended on it ever since she was eleven. Ever since she became a werewolf.

David was still going on and on, not noticing her change in emotion as he rambled off more reasons why the night would be absolutely perfect and how great it would be. And Kat truly wished she could share that excitement with him. If it was any other night, she would be over the moon right now. But, no, that blasted moon had to ruin everything for her.

"David, wait. I… I can't. Not on Thursday." She had told him that! Granted, what she had told him was that she had a friend who was coming to visit, that she was only going to be here that one night. She was going to tell him about her condition – she really was. She just hadn't found the right time yet.

David just shook his head. "Kat, baby, I know you said that, but, come on – it's La Mer! That's the only night we can possibly go. Maybe ever! I'm sure your friend will understand. Listen, once we're there, the first thing-" "David, stop!" And he did, with a sudden look of confusion overtaking his features. It broke Kat's heart to have to do this, but she didn't have any other choice.

"I can't. It's not that simple. I…" She bit her lip, but she knew there wasn't anything else she could do but go on. "There's something I've been meaning to talk to you about. I was hoping for better timing, but…" She shook her head. Slowly, she reached over and pulled up her short sleeves, revealing the scars covering the very top of her upper arm.

David's frown of confusion turned to one of worry in an instant. "Kat, what happened? How did you get those?" Kat closed her eyes, taking a deep breath, and then began her explanation.

"I've told you that my birth parents were killed when I was eleven." David nodded, his brow knit together anxiously as he listened. "In an accident when you were camping, right?"

Kat sorely wanted to let her sleeve cover her arm again. She always kept her scars covered – it was simply second nature by now. Her best friends – Rose and the boys – knew about her being a werewolf, along with basically all the teachers at the school, but beyond that, she tried not to let anyone know. So she left her sleeve where it was as she continued.

"We were at the campfire. There was a noise out in the woods. And then it attacked, out of nowhere…" She was shaking already. Even all these years later, it was still hard to talk about that night. "It was… It was a werewolf. My parents were both muggles – they didn't stand a chance. The aurors who rescued me said that I only survived because of my magic."

David's frown had not gone away. "So… what? You don't like full moons because it was the night your parents died?" Kat's heart sank even further. Did he really think that was what she meant? Or was he just refusing to see the truth?

"There's more to it than that, David. I…" She took a deep breath. Then slowly, her hand shaking, she pulled her sleeve back even further, revealing her whole shoulder and the clear bite mark that marred the skin there. "I was bitten that night. I-" "You're a werewolf?!"

His expression had changed again, from concern to anger all at once, and his voice was completely accusatory. Kat shrank back, turning pale. "David, it… It's totally controlled. With the Wolfsbane Potion-" But David stood, backing away from Kat with a look of horror that ripped into her heart.

"All this time? All this time you've been one of those monsters? At any moment you could have bitten me? Turned me into a werewolf, too?! Kat's mouth fell open. "No! David, it doesn't work like that. I never, ever would have put you in danger." Surely he knew that! She loved him! She never would put anyone at risk on the full moon – she was always locked away in a safe place and the Wolfsbane Potion made her calm, even in the werewolf form.

"Look, this doesn't change anything. I love you. And-" But when she started to stand, David jumped backwards, and Kat suddenly found herself standing with his wand pointed right at her chest. "Don't come any closer!"

No. No, this couldn't be happening! Kat stared at him, her face completely pale, her eyes wide. Her heart was racing and she felt like she could barely breathe. "David…" But he was backing away still, moving towards the door with his wand still pointed at her.

"I should have realized it before. I should have put the pieces together. I've been an idiot." Kat shook her head fiercely. Why wouldn't he just calm down?! "David, listen!" Tears had long since started rolling down her face, but he just kept backing away until he reached back with his free hand to pull open the door behind him. "I can't believe I almost asked you to marry me." She could tell from his movements that he was about to try to apparate away. She couldn't let that happen - she had to make him understand. She felt a chill run through her body as she reached for him, even as he moved further away, out through the door.

"David!" But her scream fell on empty air. David was gone.