𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐲 | 𝐝.𝐦.

forty one

the story of us - taylor swift
3:02

••••

The Astronomy Tower is pitch dark tonight, swallowed wholly by the alluring night, bearing only a couple, shimmering stars that dust the black canvas.

The owl to Betty's side chirps shrilly, bringing her attention to it. She has named it Ginger, after her old owl, despite its fur being a ruffled, buckskin-brown instead of a rusty one, like the old, original Ginger.

She is leaning on the railings, allowing the serenity to engulf her, allowing her mind to be briefly drifting off into the peace moulded by the night.

A letter lies in her hands tentatively. Her eyes skim through it again, reading it over as she makes sure that there are no errors, before she is tying it to the owl's stalky legs.

dear betty,

  it's remus again. suspicious how you haven't written in a while - just wanted to notify you of your mother's progress. she has made quite the improvement, despite her still being unable to recognise any one of us. we've brought her out of the house just this noon - which we had thought might ameliorate her mental state, make her happier -  along with Theo, and it had gone rather well. She is able to walk on her own and we've been giving her enough nutrients for it.
  don't worry though, we made sure she was out of the Ministry's scrutiny and especially, your father's - we've heard the news but I won't write more on it to ruin your mood.
  just wanted to inform you of this progress before you go on writing a billion letters in a week wondering about it. rest assured your mother's in good hands.

remus

Remus's letter is placed in her other hand. She had only received it just this morning, and reading it through during that horrendous start of a morning was a brilliant way to alleviate her stormy mood.

One of the Carrows had gotten into another squabble with Neville over something so minor as him defending an innocent fourth-year, and she had spent her break fixing the tiny cut on his chin.

It is treacherous how the pair of siblings could wander the school, doing as they pleased.

And Betty and her friends had all discussed - and agreed - that they could only do so because Snape was too much of a coward to deny this self-made entitlement the Carrow's egos have curated for them.

Outside of Hogwarts, a brutal war has already been going on, with wizards fighting for their survival and place in the Wizarding World and the Ministry.

The slow conquering of the Ministry by Voldemort is clear, denoted by the many muggleborns being arrested and going missing, multiple aurors losing their jobs, and once good wizards being brainwashed and having sudden changes of heart.

Betty and her friends have received enough news to know that their life in school was way better than what the people outside was suffering through.

She has also heard news of her father from the numerous Daily Prophet flying and dropping into her school, bringing her bad news all the time as his face and name reaches the headlines.

The mountain of evil deeds he has committed to earn Voldemort's favour and the name of the most notorious Death Eater is dreadful - worse than what Lucius Malfoy has done.