Post Blue

[Artemisia Carrow]

It's in the water, baby
It's in the pills that pick you up

It was official: Artemisia would embark to Pendergast School for Young Roses in September. She was more excited about it than she cared to admit. She'd missed being in a shared environment with her friend, Anais Beaumont. The two had been inseparable at Hogwarts and she'd missed her terribly when her brother had prematurely pulled her out of school!

Speaking of school friends, Artemisia would be having another friend for tea that afternoon, Tilly Moody. The healer her father had secretly brought for her case believed that it'd do her good to ease her way into a normal social life. They didn't want for her to get overwhelmed when she moved to the school. One friend at a time would hopefully do the trick.

Artemisia had felt betrayed by her friend during the hurricane of a period following Sterling's death. Witch Weekly had written an incriminating article about her, accusing her of Sterling's murder! What they weren't lying about, though, was her usage of calming draughts. The only other person who knew about this was Tilly, who had introduced them to the pair!

A lot had passed since there, so Artemisia was no longer mad at her. To be honest, it was hard to feel anger with the potions they were giving her. When they were at the highest of their effect, Artemisia felt energetic and productive and forgiving.

It was with a smile that she greeted her friend that day. A genuine smile. The scars of her trauma were still evident on the girl, though. She'd obviously lost weight during the two months that had passed - Artemisia's cheekbones were protruding and her hands seemed longer and thinner. Her face also lacked any colour.

@'Ottaline Moody' @'Annette Fontaine'

  

[Ottaline Moody]

Tilly had been fretting nearly constantly about Artemisia since her brother’s death, but between Mama’s demanding schedule and keeping up with Circe, she frankly didn’t have all that much time to actually do anything about. At least the Carrow’s were wealthy enough that even her Mama thought a visit was a good idea, and so the debutante had been bundled up in her best visiting dress and leant this pair of gloves and that ribbon for her bonnet until she had passed everyone’s inspection.

“Oh, Artemisia!” She exclaimed as she was shown into where her friend was, quickly hurrying over and taking her hands. Merlin, how thin she was! And Tilly thought she was struggling to find time to eat properly with all the balls! And she looked ever so tired, but that was to be expected- it had been such a horrible few months. “Are you quite alright? You’ve been through so very much!”

  

[Artemisia Carrow]

"I'm alright," Artemisia lied in a light, dismissive sort of way. She couldn't share with Ottaline how not alright she was. Her grief for Sterling had hit her in a level beyond what was considered acceptable.

"I have some news for you!" she added once they've sat down. A teapot served their tea as she spoke. "I will be going to Pendergast School in the autumn!" Her voice oozed forced enthusiasm. She tried to smile, genuinely, but the smile was worn. She'd forgotten how to be enthusiastic.

  

[Ottaline Moody]

”Oh, how lovely!” Tilly beamed, quite genuinely. Dead brother aside, Artemisia was quite lucky- to not only have your future secured but for your family to value your future career as a socialite enough to invest heaps of gold into your better education! Not even many boys got educated after their NEWTs, unless they went to muggle university, which there was no point to.

“You must be looking forward to it so much- getting to spend your days in lessons on the nicer subjects and without any stable boys in your classes either!” She was envious, of course. Not that she could spare a year not husband-hunting, not in the slightest.

  

[Artemisia Carrow]

"In all honesty, I am doing it in lack of a better way to spend my free year before Mr. Lestrange and I marry," Artemisia confessed. She was already quite well versed in the feminine arts. She didn't think that the finishing school would have anything new to teach her. Maybe how to get out of her shell more. Artemisia was polite, but she had never been naturally charismatic. If she wanted to be a future Mrs. Lestrange, she'd have to learn how to be more of a... presence.

"How come has your Mama not considered it for you, Missy?" Artemisia asked her friend. Mrs. Moody seemed very ambitious about her daughters' futures. A year at Mrs. Pendergast's school would make Tilly a more desirable prospect.

  

[Ottaline Moody]

”It’ll be so worthwhile though!” Tilly insisted. “Even if you don’t learn anything you’ll get to be a role model to the other girls with your perfect manners, and some of them will be the socialites of the future jus tlike you.” Artemisia’s life was quite enchanted, she decided. She’d marry into a prestigious family to a young, handsome, rich man, who wasn’t ridiculous either. She’d have all the connections from finishing school, have a few perfectly mannered children and then become an icon and stalwart of society. Tilly on the other hand- well, her life teetered between opportunity and damnation of every kind.

She wasn’t quite sure how to respond to her friend’s question, however. “I’m not sure.” Tilly began slowly. Parts of her wished she could just tell her friend the whole situation- maybe she could help, maybe her family had a way of finding bachelors in an emergency, but she couldn’t do that. “I suppose it's not fair when my older sisters didn’t get the chance. And Mama must be rather tired of the season having five daughters.” Tilly added with a smile even as the mention of Josie, even indirectly, sent a stab of pain and fear through her.