𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐉𝐎𝐊𝐄𝐑 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐄𝐍; george weasley

038

THIRTY EIGHT

Dear George,

I don't even know where to begin. I suppose I should start with an apology for disappearing so suddenly. I didn't even get to say goodbye, and I hate that. I hate how everything feels out of my control right now.

I need to tell you what happened. I know you have heard whispers about it by now—the Daily Mail made sure of that. I walked into the Great Hall to see the entire school holding copies of the paper, my father's private... conversation with some woman plastered on the front page. It was humiliating, George. Not just for me, but for my mother too. The entire world knows now.

I felt like I couldn't breathe. I grabbed the first Floo I could find and went straight to Buckingham. I thought I'd be able to talk to my parents, maybe fix something, but things were worse than I imagined. I confronted my father, and—George, it was awful. He didn't deny it. He didn't even try to make it right. And then Camilla had the nerve to come in like she belonged there. As if she were my mother.

I screamed at them. I've never been so angry in my life. And then... Mum walked in. She took me away before I completely broke down in front of them, and later, she told me they're getting a divorce.

I don't even know how to feel. Part of me is relieved because Mum deserves better than him, but I can't shake the feeling that everything is falling apart. My family, my life, all of it.

As if that wasn't enough, the palace's publicist, Clarissa, has decided that a ball is the perfect way to "control the narrative." My sixteenth birthday is going to be turned into a spectacle—a "coming out" ball to present me to the world. But I know what it really is. It's a way to parade me around like some prize, to remind the world that I'm a princess and soon, a potential bride for some perfect suitor.

Just another reminder that I will have the title but inevitably, I will not have the power.

I hate it, George. I hate everything about it. I don't want to be a pawn in their game. I don't want my future decided by people who care more about appearances than they do about me.

But here's the thing—I don't have a choice. At least, not yet. I have to go through with this. I have to smile and pretend like everything is fine while the whole world watches.

I wanted you to know all of this because I trust you. I feel like I can be honest with you in a way I can't with anyone else. You don't look at me like a princess—you just see me. Tori. And I need that right now more than ever.

I won't be back at Hogwarts until after the ball. Maybe longer, depending on how things go. But I need you to be there, George. I need you by my side, reminding me that I'm more than a title. I'll make sure you're invited. I don't care what strings I have to pull or who I have to convince—you will be there.

How is everything back at Hogwarts? How are the others? Is Alicia still... you know?

I miss you. More than I thought possible after such a short time. It feels strange being away from you, from everyone. Hogwarts feels more like home than this place ever has.