𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐲 | 𝐝.𝐦.

six

Betty wakes to a flurry of apprehension and brittleness coiling in her stomach. It is the first day of yule break, and everyone is to return home unless they have registered to stay in school.

She had written a letter back to the manor, requesting to stay in school because she was afraid to return to the manor, to face the appalling consequences of the death eaters for having yet accomplish her mission.

Though, a part of her was hesitant to send the letter because she desperately wanted to be reunited with her family, to be reassured to see their living bodies.

Regardless, she didn't have a choice, like a puppet drawn on strings, she followed the instructions on the letter sent back from her father, signed by her mother. He wanted her to return to the manor, but he never disclosed any other information, not even an assuring news of her mother or siblings.

The train comes to halt at the mundane platform. It is congested with people, though not as much as the past years. It is evident that Voldemort's return has taken a toll on people.

Some people were unwilling to leave their houses to even
welcome their children home, some, at the start of the semester, refused to allow their children to return to Hogwarts. But Dumbledore was adamant with the studies of the children, assuring these parents that by learning, their children might be able to defend themselves and fight.

Betty hugs her friends goodbye, tried to promise them she would write letters to them if she could find a way to, and watched as they disappeared with their family. Harry is to live with the Weasley's for the holidays. She can't help but admire them, and pity herself.

Once they are all gone, and the crowd starts to subside, she finds herself lost, having not been given information on how to get to Malfoy Manor. Of course they were going to make it tough for her, she mutters to herself, threading a path away from the intimate parents and children.

Just then, she spots a pair of brawny, terrifyingly tall men. They have on a black cloak, and a stern expression plastered on their faces. It is easy to discern that they are here for her even though she couldn't put a name to them. Especially since many of the other people were backing away from them, avoiding them specifically, as if they knew that they were bad news but had no proof of them being death eaters.

"Betty Bennett?" one of the men asks. He has tawny skin and a tiny bun at the back of his head.

Betty's jaw tightens. "It's actually Lin. Betty Lin," she corrects.

"We have explicit instructions to bring you back to Malfoy Manor," the man ignores her and continues, while the other guy stays silent, staring straight ahead.

Must be one of Voldemort's least important henchmen, she thinks to herself, since they are given such incompetent tasks.

"I'm deeply aware," she mutters, glancing around her. She doesn't need to, really, she can already feel all the intense, wary gazes directed at her.

Both men begin walking, leaving the platform without nudging her to follow. They simply trust her to be following them, and she honestly appreciates it.

At first, she assumes they would be leading her to car. A flying car or a regular, muggle car. She doesn't have issues with both. But she is gravely mistaken.

When they leave the station, away from the judging eyes of both muggles and wizards alike, one of the men, the one who was speaking previously, grabs her arm in brusque force. She isn't given time to protest or ask what's going on before he apparates, her with him.

It happens momentarily. The pain and the fear that she might get splinched because of how careless and unexpected the death eater does it without warning her, is brief. Before she is relieved to find her footing on a pavement again.