DOROTHEA {fred weasley}

fifty

Dorothea's Christmas dragged by.

On Christmas day she received a long letter from Elvira, detailing her getting a car, and her anxieties over her parents being desperate for her to live as a muggle. Dorothea burnt the letter straight after reading it, not wanting to risk Clementine finding it. Elvira thanked her profusely for the broom, and in return sent back a small pendant necklace, she said she had found it in an antique shop in her village, inside, was a muggle photograph of the pair, hugging, from third year. Dorothea remembered Elvira carrying a camera all year round, then.

Ezra sent her a ridiculous box of presents, with three extravagant dresses, several pearls, and at the very bottom, a huge diamond ring in a small box, with a note attached saying, I hope you'll wear this from now on. Dorothea hid the box at the back of her wardrobe, knowing that she certainly wouldn't be wearing it. Priscilla, Leila and Lilith had all sent cards, Leila's saying she had news, and small gifts with them. She replied to them politely, also sending return cards on Christmas morning to the Malfoys, to Barnaby, and even to the Minister of Magic.

To her surprise, on Christmas evening, she recieved a small box from an owl that looked half-dead. Inside was a lump of coal, with shiny bits, and a note.

Merry Christmas, Rosier.

Hope it's not too awful.

Fred and George.

P.S. never got to show you this - thanks to Umbitch. Use for a quick getaway. Only when needed - F

The girl laughed slightly and quickly scribbled, thank you, Merry Christmas, both. Hope your dad is well, and handed it back to the raggedy owl, who soared away.

Ezra let himself into her house on the 31st December, he found Dorothea reading in her library. The girl jumped at the sight of him and closed her book.

"You couldn't knock?"

"The elf let me in," he lied, sitting beside her and drawing her into a hug, pretending not to notice her deliberately turning her face away from his.

Ezra took her left hand in his and his face visibly fell, "you aren't wearing the ring."

"I'll wear it after school," she replied.

"You'll wear it to the Davies' party this evening."

"I don't want to."

"Everyone knows that we're engaged, Dorothea. We were in the paper, for fuck's sake."

"It's not that, it's more that it's not really my taste."

"It was the most expensive ring in the shop, Dorothea, that's what your mother told me to buy."

Dorothea bit the inside of her cheek, her mother could have a wicked sense of humour sometimes. Clementine's huge emerald had been the one thing about her that Dorothea loved, and indeed, she had been promised it as an engagement ring. Clementine had mentioned it only a few weeks ago.

"My mother must have forgotten, but I'm having the Rosier emerald as my engagement ring, it's been decided since birth."

Ezra's face fell, suddenly recalling the huge rock that Clementine wore.

"But- she- she told me to get the most expensive diamond! This was so-"

"You're a Nott, Ezra, surely it's a drop in the ocean," Dorothea replied sweetly, a harsh smirk on her face.

"You look just like your mother with that expression," Ezra said spitefully.

"And you're half of your father."