sapphire || fred weasley

seventy-three

Triggering content, viewer discretion advised.

December, 1983

"Beatrice," a deep voice called from the foyer of Nott Manor. "Beatrice!"

"Yes father," she rushed down the stairs towards him, jumping into his open arms with a smile on her face.

"There's my darling girl," he kissed the top of her head and put her back down. "How are you my love?"

"I'm alright," Beatrice smiled, looking up at him with a mixture of both adoration and love.

"Did you behave while I was away?" Theodore Nott Sr. raised his brow at her.

"Always," Beatrice nodded.

"Did Theo and Amy behave?"

"Not really," she giggled.

"Of course they didn't, those little devils," he ruffled her hair that was perfectly neat. "Did you miss me?"

"Yes," Beatrice grinned.

"Are you saying that you missed me to get your present?" Theodore chuckled and opened the black leather briefcase he was carrying, pulling out a large box wrapped in shiny paper and a bow on top.

"No," Beatrice smiled thankfully as she received the gift. "I really did miss you father."

"Where's your mother?"

"Right here," Genevieve said from behind her daughter, making Beatrice freeze on spot. "How did the trip go darling?"

"Fine," Theodore said sharply.

"Did Lucius and Rodolphus give you much trouble?" Genevieve feigned interest.

"Not at all," the man with brown hair and hazel eyes replied.

"Beatrice, why don't you go find your siblings?" Genevieve demanded in the fake sweet but sharp tone she used when her husband was around.

"Yes mother," Beatrice's voice trembled as she rushed back up the stairs.

"Genevieve, why is there a bruise on my daughter's wrist?" Theodore hissed.

"I don't possibly know what you are talking about dear," Genevieve chortled. "She must have gotten into a fight with Theodore, children just being children."

"Right," he muttered. "Do they have their robes for tonight's ball at the Greengrass Manor?"

"Of course," the woman with stone cold eyes answered. "Madam Malkin's delivered the girls' dresses this morning, along with Theodore's dress robes."

"And how much did it cost me?"

"Let's not worry about that yet dear," Genevieve dismissed. "We only want the best for our children after all, especially as tonight's event."

"They are not show animals to display Genevieve," he sighed.

"I know that," Genevieve smiled darkly, eyes meeting her daughter's who sat at the top of the stairs. "Beatrice! What did I say about eavesdropping?!"

"Sorry mother," Beatrice squealed and ran to lock herself in her room.

She knew that while her father was around, her mother would not dare touch a hair from her head. But that didn't mean that she wasn't terrified of the woman who had birthed her.