𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐲 | 𝐝.𝐦.

fifty seven

It is bright and sunny out on this day. The windows to Betty's bedroom are wide open, rays of sunlight spewing into the interior, draping the scarlet rugs.

A couple of weeks have passed since the day she kissed Draco, the day she had been so traumatised and exhausted that she finally succumbed to her feelings.

Those weeks she had spent lounging in Draco's room, too afraid to face the outside world ever since she was met with death right in front of her eyes. It had taken her a while to get her foot back on the right track.

Since then, she had learned that Death was always waiting at the doorstep's of Life's sanctuary; for everyone, not just her. It was just a matter of time before Death finally decides to intrude and take her life away.

And that time is precious - so precious she cannot waste it on grudge, knowing well that the only thing that might bring bliss to life, make it worthwhile, is if she was with the right person.

Draco had asked her if forgiveness was something Betty had finally granted him. A part of her prickled a precise 'no' but from that day, the 'no' had begin to dwindle.

She barely remembers him leaving her at the Astronomy tower when she is with him now. Not when they are lying in each other's arms, coaxing the other to sleep. Not when they are having dinner with their families, exchanging knowing looks. And not when he is making her laugh and she is ridiculing his arrogance.

When forgiveness would finally become a solid 'yes' is uncertain to Betty, but she supposes it would come soon, without her knowing.

Besides that, Betty has finally garnered courage to leave the sanctuary of his room. Of course, Draco had put up a squabble over that, telling her that his room is much vaster than hers, too big for solely one person.

But she was adamant. She couldn't stay with him forever, couldn't depend on him every second of everyday.

The image of the family's shadows standing frightfully under the crumbling building still haunts her everyday. But she needed to let go, to step out of that shell.

So, she finally lugged her trunk out of his bedroom, with the help of her wand, and brought it to her own room in the manor. She finally had pieces of her old persona back even if it had taken her weeks - perhaps why the sorting hat declined her wishes to be in Gryffindor.

Other than that, she stopped avoiding Joseph and the rest of her family, decided she would join them for dinner when the death eaters were not around.

Theodore was so exhilarated to see her back into her own. He had been meaning to bother her when she was in Draco's room, but the blonde-haired boy liked his own privacy with her.

Over the furry rug, two bodies are lying strewn, pressed against the stomach with their legs up, laughing. A chess board is in the middle of them.

Betty is teaching her younger brother how to play Wizard's chess after his incessant bugging early this morning.

"Mrs Malfoy introduced the game to me," the boy had said innocently, standing outside her door. "She said their family hasn't used the set much and I should probably learn it soon - seeing as I'm going to Hogwarts next year. But she didn't have the time to really teach me."

Unable to deny her brother's excitement, Betty had let him in, even though she intended to have a peaceful day to herself.

Now, Betty thinks this might be the most peace she can get out of the day - with her little brother, as he struggles to understand the game.

"What if I'm a squib?" Theodore asks, tearfully giggling as he nudges the chest piece forward except the queen piece refuses to budge. "That's why it won't move for me."