𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐬 | l. lovegood

xxii

"𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐆𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐀 𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄 𝐇𝐈𝐌?"

Dorothea was laying on top of her bed, her new pet pig sleeping on her chest. He was a miniature that wouldn't grow to be too big.

It was love at first sight when she saw him at the farm her father took her to. She and the micro pig spotted each other at the same time, and he instantly ran over to her, oinking excitedly. She had smiled a real, genuine smile, and laughed when he licked her face. When they came home, Dorothea was in a better mood than she'd been in all summer, and when Andromeda saw how happy she was, she knew that she had made the right decision by agreeing to buy her a pig.

"You know, Dottie...you're gonna have to talk sooner or later," Tonks said gently as she threaded her fingers through Dorothea's hair. "What are you gonna do when you go back to school? You can't just not speak if your professors ask you a question. They'd think you're being rude, and then you'd end up in detention." She sighed and looked down at Dorothea, whose head was in her lap. She lightly tapped her nose, and the teenager scrunched it, jerking her head away from her hand. Tonks chuckled softly. "I know you can hear me. Just...say something so that I know your voice still works."

Dorothea shook her head. She didn't see the point in talking.

She lightly brushed her fingertips across Porcus's bristled hair. Porcus was the pig constellation, so she thought it was only fitting to name him after it. She smiled a little when his nose twitched. He was truly the cutest creature she's ever laid eyes on.

"Mum wants you to see a psychiatrist," Tonks said. Dorothea looked up at her, her brows furrowing. "I overheard her and dad talking last night. She's worried about you. We all are."

Like...a wizard psychiatrist? Or the Muggle one? Dorothea wondered. She sighed and hugged Procus closer to her.

"Girls, dinner!" Andromeda called from downstairs.

Tonks gently nudged Dorothea's shoulder. After a little bit of resistance, she finally got up. Carrying Porcus in her arms, she followed her sister downstairs for dinner. She grabbed an extra chair and placed it in between her and Tonks's spots at the table, setting Porcus down on it.

"Thea, we already talked about this," Andromeda said, sighing. "Your pig cannot sit at the table."

Ignoring her mum, Dorothea placed the bowl with Porcus's dinner in front of him, her expression defiant as she looked at Andromeda. The woman sighed again and shook her head. She muttered something under her breath.

After dinner, Dorothea grabbed a couple chocolate chip cookies and a glass of milk. She took them upstairs and set the plate of cookies down on her bed and the glass of milk on her bedside table. With Porcus laying next to her, she placed a book in front of them. When Tonks came in to join them, Dorothea pointed to it.

"You want me to read to you?" Tonks asked, smiling softly when Dorothea nodded. "Which one did you choose?" She sat down next to her little sister and picked up the book, reading the cover. "Pride and Prejudice?"

Dorothea handed a card to Tonks, which read:

Dearest Thea,

Happy 15th birthday, love! I know you enjoy reading, so I've enclosed a book that I think you'll like.

I hope your summer holidays are treating you well. You're so strong, and I'm proud of you for making it through each day with everything going on. Make sure to eat something if you haven't yet. And drink water.

See you soon,
Hermione

P.S.,
Crookshanks says hi. Well, actually, he said "meow" when I told him I was writing to you, which I'm guessing translates to "hi".