𝔄𝔟𝔯𝔞 𝔎𝔢𝔡𝔞𝔳𝔯𝔞 ~ ᴹᴬᴿᴬᵁᴰᴱᴿˢ ᴱᴿᴬ {R.A.B.} {J.P}

[027] 𝔥𝔬𝔪𝔢 𝔞𝔤𝔞𝔦𝔫, 𝔥𝔬𝔪𝔢 𝔞𝔤𝔞𝔦𝔫

**NOTE: this chapter has mentions of domestic abuse, underage drinking, peer pressure, and attempted drugging. If you are not comfortable reading such topics, I would advise skipping this chapter. Read at your own discretion.**

The dreaded moment. Odessa tried her best to keep the smile on her face as she felt the wheels of the train come to a halt; they had arrived back at King's Cross station.

"Don't forget to write to us." Pandora insisted as they made their way off the train.

"I- I'll try. I might not be able to get any post to you guys." Odessa replied. Not only did she not have an owl, but there was no way she would be able to send mail from her home in London; it would honestly be easier to send a letter from Azkaban.

Careful to not be spotted by any muggles, Odessa and the fourth year Slytherins quickly rushed out to the wall between platforms 9 and 10 in Kings Cross. They all looked around for their parents, Dorcas, Evan and Pandora immediately rushing off after finding their parents.

"So you don't want to write to us, Odie?" Regulus teased.

"I would. But I don't have an owl." She excused.

"You can just send back mine with a letter."

"I don't get mail in Azkaban." She lied.

Regulus gave her a skeptical look. "You don't? Wonder how we reached the warden to get you out for Christmas then." He pointed out.

She sighed. "Look, Reggie. I'd love to write to you guys but-"

"Morgan!" She heard a gruff call from down the platform. "Gonna keep me waiting all day?" He complained in a joking manner, though she could hear the annoyance in his voice.

Odessa's face adorned a tight smile as she tried her best to pretend her stomach wasn't doing somersaults; nowhere to go now. She nodded quickly, "I'll see you guys in September." She bid the two remaining boys farewell.

"Morgan, hurry it up." He father called again. She rushed after him. To the boys she left, she looked eager to get home, but that couldn't be further from the truth.

Barty turned to Regulus in confusion. "Morgan?"

Regulus shrugged. "Family nickname I guess?" He agreed it was unexpected for her father to call her by another name, but it could be nothing. Still, something about the sudden change in Odessa's demeanour as they arrived at King's Cross, and how her odd behaviour multiplied after her father appeared... it didn't sit right with him. But there was nothing he could do. He would have to wait to ask about it until after they returned to school; there was no chance he would hear from her other the summer, that much was obvious.

———————————

The ride home was tense, no doubt about that, but it was far better than Odessa was anticipating. She sat still in the back as her father drove the two of them back to the place she told herself to call home. Her father's radio was broken, so all she had to listen to was the rumbling of his car and the whirl of other cars passing by. It wasn't the worst drive home; far from it. She enjoyed the silence over any conversation they may have had.

As her father parked the car, she quickly began grabbing her things out of the back to rush them up to her room. The sooner she could make dinner and hide off in her room, the better.

Odessa was making the way up the stairs when she heard a slam from behind her. Turning quickly, she found the noise was her father shutting the door and throwing down him shoes. "Making friends now, are you Morgan?" He questioned.