Letters And Planning
Dear Barty,
Graduation felt a bit surreal to me. I'm a little upset I didn’t have the time to talk to you and Regulus after the ceremony, but my parents decided to drag me away to a “celebration” dinner that was really just an excuse to lecture me about my future and such. They want me to get a respectable job and all that. I never really thought about what I was going to do after graduation, and now suddenly it's here, and I'm not entirely sure what to do with my life.
Anyways, how are you feeling about the upcoming Death Eater meeting? I know you and Regulus already have your Dark Marks, but I never got mine. I think my parents want me to get it next week, so that’s probably what I’ll do. I’m a bit nervous and a bit excited. I don't really know what to expect, since I’ve never been to one before. It feels like I’ll finally be part of something real, you know? An actual cause to fight for, something bigger than myself that I can be a part of.
I don't know if any of this makes sense, I’ve just been thinking a lot lately.
Sincerely,
Evan Rosier
Evan,
I was fucking pumped about graduation, and I’m pumped about the meeting, too. I’m still living with my parents and all that, but once I get a real job and stuff, I’m moving out as soon as possible. It’s gonna be fucking sick. Maybe we could move in together? Regulus could come as well if he wanted. Just like the dorms at Hogwarts, but it would actually be our own place. I wonder if our parents would allow that, though. I’ll have to ask my dad.
Also, I totally get what you mean about feeling like we’re finally a part of something bigger. I haven't told my dad that I got the Dark Mark, he would totally kill me if he knew. Like, actually. But it feels so fucking good to do something I know he wouldn’t approve of. I just… finally feel free, I guess. Or, at the very least, more free than before. I think that’s cheesy but I don’t give a shit.
Barty
Dear Barty,
I hope you’ve been well since graduation. Evan told me about your suggestion to move in together, the three of us. I don’t think it’s a bad idea, but my parents would never allow it. I’m probably expected to live in one of our family homes, and I think my mother would be very upset at the thought of 3 unrelated men living in the same house. Evan seems to like the idea, though, so perhaps the two of you could move into a shared space.
Evan also wrote to me about the upcoming meeting… I feel anxious. I expect you are rather excited about it. I’ll see you there.
R.A.B
Evan,
So… the meeting. I saw you got your Dark Mark, finally. You winced, a bit, but you did pretty well.
It wasn’t what I was expecting. When I joined the Death Eaters, I did it mostly because of my dad, you know? And also because of you and Reggie, but mostly because I thought it would feel good to do something my dad wouldn’t approve of. But to be honest, the meeting felt pretty much the same as being at home. It was super tense, and I got the idea that everyone was expecting me to be perfect, you know? Like if I messed something up, there would be consequences.
It’s not like I’m backing out or anything, I’m just saying. I miss you, Rosie.
Bats
Dear Barty,
Getting the Dark Mark hurt worse than I was expecting. I know you and Reg both warned me about it, but I wasn’t expecting it to be that bad, I guess. Also, I know what you’re talking about, with the expectations and such. It definitely felt… stifling.
Speaking of Regulus, have you heard from him since the meeting? He hasn’t written me yet. He seemed very quiet during the meeting, and he seemed a bit upset, don’t you think? I’m a bit worried. He told me before the meeting that he was nervous. I already wrote to him, but he hasn’t responded yet. I suppose it hasn’t been that long yet, so perhaps I’m worried for no reason. He’s probably just busy.
Sincerely,
Evan Rosier
Regulus,
Evan and I both noticed you seemed kind of upset during the meeting. Also, you haven’t written either of us yet, so Evan is kind of worried. Evan and I both thought the meeting was kind of… weird. It certainly wasn’t as fun as I expected it to be, and Evan said getting the Dark Mark hurt more than he was expecting. I already told Evan this, but the meeting felt kind of the same as being at home. It felt like there were a lot of expectations. I thought all the older folks were looking down on me, especially the more prestigious families, probably because of my dad.
Anyways, write Evan back or he’s going to bother me about it. Also, I would love to hear your thoughts on the meeting.
Barty
Dear Barty,
I’m very sorry for worrying you and Evan. I just… had some thoughts about the meeting, and I didn’t know how you or Evan would react. I’ve just written Evan back, so you don’t have to worry about that.
I agree that the meeting was uncomfortable. I have some other thoughts about this whole thing, as well, but I’m not sure about them yet, so I won't tell you until I am.
R.A.B
Dear Bats,
I miss you. Reg wrote me back, said you told him I was worried. I was not that worried. Also, he was kind of cryptic about the meeting, which is weird.
My parents have been talking more about marriage. They're setting a wedding between me and the girl I told you and Regulus about. I don’t want to get married to her, and I don’t know what to do. Let's get married in secret, just elope. And we could move in together after. Just get away from our parents.
Sincerely,
Evan Rosier
Rosie,
Your parents making you get married is total bullshit. We should definitely elope, say fuck you to them and to my dad and get married to eachother so they’re forced to call off the wedding. And then, we could see each other more often, instead of being stuck with our shitty parents all the damn time. My dad used Imperio on me again earlier, because we had guests over.
I also notice Regulus was being cryptic about the meeting. Do you think something happened with his parents? If he’s also having to be married soon, that would suck. Or maybe he’s having doubts about the whole Death Eater thing. I’m not sure, I guess we’ll have to wait to see what he says about it.
Bats
Dear Barty,
Evan told me his parents confirmed the arranged marriage, and that you both are planning to get married to each other, like we agreed in the dorms. I have a slightly different suggestion.
I don’t know how you or Evan feels about it, but personally, I don’t want to be involved in all this Death Eater nonsense anymore. I recently found out that the Dark Lord has a Horcrux. Nobody else knows, not even the other Death Eaters, so this must stay a secret between the three of us. I believe I know where it is, as well.
Here’s what I propose- Evan, you, and I should all run away together. We can get a house somewhere they can’t find and escape our families and the war. Then Evan wouldn’t have to worry about getting married, and you wouldn’t have to worry about your father using the Imperius Curse, and I wouldn’t have to worry about my family and such. What do you think?
R.A.B
Dear Bats,
Did Regulus send you his proposal? About running away? What do you think? I have to admit, the idea of escaping somewhere my parents can’t find me seems rather appealing. And I also like the idea of being able to see you every day rather than having to communicate via letters. And Reggie too, obviously.
Also, I didn’t know the Dark Lord had a horcrux. I’m not sure how I feel about that. What do you think?
Anyways, I already told this to Reg, but if we did want to go through with running away, I know of a mostly abandoned house my family owns that we could go to. It was supposed to be mine anyways, my parents were going to gift it to me after the wedding. If we run away, I won’t have to get married.
Sincerely,
Rosie
Rosie Posie,
I always wanted to run away from my dad, anyways. I just didn’t have the means to do so by myself. I like Reggie’s idea. I would get to live with you and him, like we wanted, and we wouldn’t have to worry about our families anymore, and things could be good.
About the horcrux thing, splitting your soul sounds kind of cool, but also kind of sick. Like, isn’t that kind of… I don’t know, gross? Also, it sounds fucking painful. I think Regulus is kind of right to be a bit disillusioned to the whole thing because of that. It’s the sort of thing only crazy people do. If he’s keeping that a secret from everyone, then what else is he keeping secret?
Honestly, I’m about ready to run away just to see you again. Let’s do it.
Bats
Regulus,
I like the idea of running away together. Evan said he has a family house we could go to. We could set up wards so nobody can find us, put up wards and all that. When should we do it? It should probably be at night so that nobody catches us. If my dad catches me trying to run away, he’ll have my fucking head on a platter. Let’s ditch all this bullshit and do whatever the fuck we want for the rest of our lives.
Barty
Dear Barty,
Tuesday at midnight, we will apparate to Evan’s family house.
R.A.B
Bats,
Are you excited? I’m nervous, but also I can't wait to see you. I’ve barely seen you since graduation. I miss you so bad, I just hope everything goes smoothly.
Yours,
Rosie