If This Isn't Love (Fred Weasley Sequel)

Wednesday, January 10

Benjy Fenwick is in the hospital, bleeding out on one of their beds.

We were told Death Eaters found out where our house is located. They had the audacity to ransack and burn down my home.

Before Benjy died, he sent us a letter, but it wasn't sent through my owl. Toad better be okay, he just has to be.

The letter says,

Arabelle
    I wasn't capable of defending your home, and for that I owe you my life.
The Greengrass's flew in, not Death Eaters, like the Minister thinks. I have sent an owl to correct him, and the newspapers since they are covered with this news.
    They took something. A hair barrette, I believe, is the only thing they kept. Everything else went down in the flames. I'm sorry to say your daughter's owl didn't make it either.
    抖阴社区 soon.
    Fenwick

He wouldn't be writing any other letter in this lifetime.

As soon as word gets out of the Greengrass's burning down our home, we get a visitors from the Order of the Phoenix.

Quite surprisingly, it is Severus Snape himself. He knocks on the door politely, but barges in the second after. I gape at him. "Professor?"

"The news of your house is impeccably tragic, Arabelle," he starts, strolling past me.

"Severus!" Arabelle walks up with a smile.

"Your remaining heirloom is a barrette?" He asks, exasperated as usual.

She nods firmly. "We're getting it back."

"Well, tonight would be as good as any, I'd suppose," he announces. "I am told they will be attending an after holiday's party."

My moms eyes flash with excitement. "Perfect. Thank you, Severus."

He turns away.

~~~~
I beg my mom to let me come. I know Snape would never want me to go with her, but I have to go. For Mom. For me.

She finally agrees but tells me if I don't do what she says with a smile on my face, she will take me home without a word. I agree to the circumstances.

Tonight, we have our wands at ready before we leave. Since Snape gave us directions, my mom is going to Apparate us to the back of the Greengrass Manor.

When she does, I find myself trying to retch but I keep it up for our sake.

The back door has magical residue from protection spells. At once, my mom casts several magic-breaking spells. First, it doesn't work until she brings up her wand and throws one last spell.

It sounds like glass breaking when the door is forced open.

"We have to hurry," mom whispers.

We step inside.

Both of us are instantly attacked with dark green and silver walls, the glamour of the Manor, and a smell that no once else could achieve but the entitled Greengrass's. I wrinkle my nose.