DOROTHEA {fred weasley}

thirty eight

Dorothea wasn't surprised to see the letter she had sent unopened on the table when she returned home. The first thing the witch did on arrival was throw it in the fire, eyeing her elf warily, to see if she may remember something. Missy showed no sign of it, though, trudging around, taking the witch's bags upstairs and greeting her coldly. She hadn't been gone long, she supposed, but Clementine clearly hadn't come back since their 'argument.' The girl let tears momentarily threaten her eyes before shaking her head and laughing, there was nothing Clementine Rosier could do to surprise her.

Dorothea spent the next few days alone, she rearranged her room twice, and practiced basic magic to ensure that her mother's curse hadn't affected her as the Weasleys had warned it could. She wrote to Elvira, telling her not to write back, but reassuring her that she was okay. Eventually she became so bored that she wrote to Ezra, requesting his company. The boy replied only hours later and Dorothea grinned to herself, thinking keen.

Hi Thea,

Sorry I've not written, Miss Rosier told dad that you're not to be disturbed for the next few weeks, she said you're too busy? I'm surprised to hear that you're alone, dad said Clementine is busy? I've not been avoiding you intentionally. I can come round now, I won't tell dad.

E

Dorothea must have looked worse than she imagined, because when she opened the door to Ezra Nott his face fell and brow furrowed.

"What happened?"

"What do you mean?"

"Look at you!"

Dorothea caught a glimpse of herself in the large mirror in the drawing room, she looked quite tired. Well, very tired, and ill, she supposed.

"We've just been duelling a lot, that's all."

Ezra stared at her, "I duel with my father, it doesn't do this," the wizard pondered for a few seconds, taking in the witch's pale complexion. He thought she looked almost translucent. "Did she curse you?"

Dorothea's pause was answer enough for Ezra, he shook his head and grabbed the girl's wrist dragging her with him into the living room and practically pushing her down onto the sofa.

"What curse?"

"Ezra, I'm fine-"

"What curse?"

"Cruciatus," she replied, trying to sound as casual as possible.

The wizard stood up slowly and began to pace around the room, his hand to his forehead, muttering quietly to himself, looking pained.

"I'm fine," she repeated quietly.

"How can you possibly be fine? You need to be healed, professionally. I don't know what to do, I don't know who to go to."

"I've been healed," she smiled. "It happened days ago."

"Who?"

The witch shrugged and Ezra knew that meant she wouldn't tell him. He couldn't think of anyone who he could make work against Clementine Rosier, so he thought that it was probably best that whatever allies Dorothea had, were kept close to her chest.

"Okay," he nodded, pushing prying thoughts out of her mind. "Have you seen her since?"

When she shook her head he spoke again, "why though? She values your magic so much."

"I wouldn't curse the elf," Dorothea said with a dry laugh.

Ezra sighed and sat back down, closing his eyes and resting his head on the back of the sofa. He opened his hand next to Dorothea's lap and internally smiled when she took it. Clementine Rosier terrified him, she terrified everyone. His father included. Barnaby would never dream of cursing his own sons, or their elf. He wondered if he ought to inform his father of this, he was fond of Dorothea, and soon she was to be his daughter in law. Surely he would have some way to protect her? Would he go against Clementine?