My Darling | Theodore Nott

The Ministry Has Fallen

Maddie did not understand why she had been invited to a Weasley Wedding. The Ginger Convention was overwhelming. The tent seemed odd for an evening affair, but given the pallor of the guests, she supposed it made sense to protect them from the sun's rays. Even at this time of night. Carlos shared this hypothesis, sitting next to her. Never one without the other these days. Maddie found herself quite at odds with the chicken dish she had been served. 

Her incisions in the meat were numerous as she hunted for evidence of flavouring. Maybe it was stuffed. Perhaps it was undercooked, and the chef had forgotten. Surely she was not meant to eat it. 

Not on purpose.

Maddie played with her ring, turning it on her finger. She liked weddings. Not this one. The French were here. She and Carlos had been placed at a table of francophones who spoke perhaps three Spanish words between them — no aprendido Español — and two English words — no English. 

"Do they have a dog?" Asked Maddie, nudging her brother. 

Carlos had not been invited to this wedding. Maddie was not allowed to leave the house without him. He was not allowed to leave the house without her. Not after Death Eaters had reached Hogwarts. His leg was bouncing. Carlos kept looking over at Harry Potter. His lips formed a tight line.  

"We should go, Lena." 

"Because of the chicken?" Asked Maddie, "Bit rude but I under-"

"Potter is here," Carlos said. People were beginning to dance. Maddie wanted to dance; she and Carlos loved dancing. "Everyone he loves is here. We should go,"

"You can go."

"Lena,"

"Carlos, I want to dance," Maddie said, 

"I am scared," Carlos whispered; his words cut through the language barrier. A girl from Beauxbatons glanced at them before whispering in rapid French to her companion. They stood up and made their way towards the exit in twin silk dresses. 

Maddie's dress was not silk. It was pink. Maddie was fond of pink.

She shook her head, she liked this dress. She liked these people- She liked most- She liked some, she began again. 

Maddie shook her head. Maddie had spent three weeks sewing the beading onto this dress. Their Abuela had not allowed them to set foot beyond the property line in weeks. Terrified her babies would be taken away. 

Maddie liked a handful of people here. 

Maddie liked three people here. 

If her brother left, it would be like two.

She was fond of the Weasley with the stories about dragons, his earring had found its way into her hand as they had spoken. He was allowing her to keep it. A promise of a trip to Romania was now in her future. He was sitting with the groom. Maddie had not met a new person in months. 

Months.

Maddie missed Theo. 

She had not seen Theo in-

"You do this every time, Carlos," Maddie hissed at him, a sharpness in her tone. 

"And we are still alive," Carlos replied, 

"You can go."

"You are impossible,"

"No. I'm Lena," She mocked. Carlos' cheeks reddened, and he stood from the table, dropping his napkin on his own untouched plate of chicken. She did the same.