One Year Gone By
I feel like I started at Hogwarts yesterday. Before I knew it, it was June and we were getting ready for our final exams. Studying while being best friends with Fred and George was tough, but I managed. Our first year was filled with so much joy. Watching Fred, George, Angelina, and Alicia try out for the quidditch team, watching them not get on the team but watching all the games with them, staying up late gossiping with Ang and Alicia, or staying up late scheming with Fred and George. In between hanging out with my friends, I was actually learning a lot. I learned that, despite Snape not liking Gryffindors and especially not me because of my brother, I was really good at potions, which came in handy for Fred and George’s pranking. I was also really good at Herbology, which is handy since it is incredibly useful for Potions. I learned that I did not like flying and that I was probably the only person who actually listened to Professor Binns. Fred, George, and I learned our way around the castle and befriended Peeves, well, as much as you can befriend a poltergeist.
What really helped us learn about the ins and outs of the castle was a discovery we made. One night, we snuck into Filtch’s office and stole a bunch of items that were taken from students. We found one piece of paper with the words Messers Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs present the Mauraders Map. When I wrote to Remus about it in one of the many long letters I would send weekly, he told me how to make it work. Merlin, it was an amazing piece of magic and Fred, George, and I were happy to have it.
Once we finished our final exams, we all just hung out around the school until it was time to leave. We packed up our dorms and made our way to the Hogwarts Express. The five of us sat in a cabin together and laughed the entire way home. When we finally pulled into our destination, I felt butterflies in my stomach. I saw Remus not that long ago for Christmas break but I was excited to be able to spend a whole three months with him. His birthday present to me was a trip to Ireland this summer, and I couldn’t wait to plan it with him. Obviously, we would have to plan around the full moon, but he promised me we would do it. I grabbed my stuff and ran off the train after hugging Alicia and Ang goodbye. I promised to write them over the summer and they promised they would write back. When I stepped off the train, I immediately spotted Molly and Arthur, but there was no sight of Remus. I walked up to them and the look on their faces told me that I was not going to be receiving good news. They both greeted me and hugged me. I hugged Ron and Ginny who were next to them before speaking up, “I’m so happy to see you all, but where’s Remus?” Arthur and Molly looked at each other before speaking to me.
“Well, sweetie, he wanted to write you before he left but we’re afraid Errol didn’t make it to you in time,” Molly said, clearly avoiding telling me directly.
“What do you mean, ‘before he left’? Where did he go?” I said, panic in my voice. This time, Arthur spoke up.
“Sweetie, I’m not quite sure how to say this, but he won’t be back for the entire summer,” he said hesitantly. Tears welled up in my eyes. He promised me, and then he left? They had to be making a mistake. I wanted to say something, but all I could do was stand there. Arthur got down on my level and held my arm. He said softly, “He was devastated to leave you, Cassandra. We have his letter at the Burrow, I’ll give it to you as soon as we get back. Just know, his decision did not come lightly, but I promise we will make sure you have a fantastic summer with us,” he said as he pulled me in for a hug. As he pulled away, I saw his expression change as he saw his four boys emerging from the train behind us. “Boys!” he shouted as he walked towards them. I stood absolutely frozen. What could be so important that Remus would leave me for a whole summer with no warning? I was shaken out of my thoughts when Fred came up behind me and put his hands on my shoulders.
“Pretty desperate to get away from us back there, huh Cass?” he questioned, using my shoulders to turn me to face him. He must’ve seen the tears streaming down my face because he instantly pulled me into a hug. I cried into his chest as he held me. He didn’t say anything and he didn’t pull away until I did.
“Remus left me for the summer. Your parent wouldn’t tell me where he went. He’s gone,” I said trying to not break out in sobs again. Fred pulled me back into another hug.
“I’m so sorry, Cass. I know how much you were looking forward to seeing him,” he said softly as he stroked my hair. I heard George walking towards us. He didn’t say anything but I could feel Fred shaking his head.
“Alright kiddos, let’s hit the road,” Arthur said to us, causing Fred to pull away from me. George grabbed my stuff and Fred kept me close to him as we headed toward the car. We piled into the clown-like ministry car and headed back to the Burrow. I was silent the entire way while the older boys filled Molly, Arthur, Ginny, and Ron in on the exciting school year they just had. I sat in the very back row between Fred and George. I leaned my head on George’s shoulder and closed my eyes, pretending to be asleep. I soon heard them whispering over my head.
“What happened, Fred? I’ve never seen her this upset,” George whispered, concern in his voice.
“Remus left her for the summer. Mum and Dad wouldn’t tell her why. She was so excited about the trip he promised her for her birthday last month, it’s all she’s talked about since then,” Fred whispered back. I could feel their eyes on me as I stirred and then settled back down.
“We have to make sure she has the best summer ever. She won’t even miss that git,” I flinched as George called Remus that. I was upset with him but there had to be a reason. I know he wouldn’t just leave me like that. Fred must’ve noticed because I heard him whisper,
“I don’t think our conversation is very private, Georgie.”
“I think you’re quite right, Freddie,” George replied, pulling my head up to face him, “How much did you hear?”
“Just a little bit… okay, everything,” the twins rolled their eyes, “I promise I am okay. I was disappointed, but I know Remus had a reason. Please don’t feel like you have to treat me special. I just want a normal summer,” I begged them.
“Oh, but sweet Cassandra,” Fred started.
“A normal summer for us is already treating you special,” George finished. I put my head back on George’s shoulder to hide my blush.
Before we knew it, we were pulling into the driveway of the Burrow and unloading the car. While everyone else was putting their stuff away, Molly and Arthur called me out to the back garden and sat me down on a bench with them. Molly started, “I’m sorry we didn’t tell you at the station, Cassandra, dear. Remus really wanted us to make sure you read his letter.”
Arthur handed me an envelope with my name on the front, clearly in Remus’ handwriting. I took it from him and he said, “I mean what I said earlier, dear. He was absolutely gutted he had to leave you. You’ll understand why when you read the letter. We’ll leave you alone,” he said as they got up to walk away. I opened the letter as neatly as I could with shaky hands. Inside was a folded piece of parchment and three photos. I took out the parchment first and unfolded it.
“Pumpkin,
I wanted to tell you sooner, but time is a fickle thing. You know I have a difficult time finding work with my condition. Bill is being incredibly gracious and allowing me to accompany him on a secret assignment for Gringotts. Due to the secrecy and dangers of this assignment, they are paying me handsomely. I wanted to turn it down, pumpkin, but at the end of the day, I have to think of supporting you.
I promised you a trip to Ireland last month and I swear, we will go. When Bill asked me about this assignment, it was last minute and I had very little time to make the decision. I made the decision for you and for you alone. I have always done everything for you and will continue to do everything for you. You are my pride and joy, pumpkin.
I’m so very sorry, but I can’t have you write to me this summer. I will write to you as much as I am allowed, and I will be back a few days before you are scheduled to leave for your second year. We will do anything you want to when I get back pumpkin.
All the love I have,
R”
I had no more tears to cry but my heart felt heavy in my chest. He left to support me. How could I possibly be mad at him when he is risking his life to support me? I reached into the envelope and pulled out the photos that were in there. The first was a picture of Remus and me at our first Weasley Christmas. I think I was five-years-old in the picture. Molly had made me a sweater with a ‘C’ on it and made Remus a hat. We took a picture with all 11 of us. All the kids were in their matching sweaters and Arthur and Remus had matching hats. I swore to myself after that Christmas that I would learn to knit so that Molly would have something to wear. As you can imagine, six-year-old knitting was not great, but the following Christmas, she wore the scarf I made her with pride. The second photo brought tears I didn’t know I had left to my eyes. It was Lily holding me as a one-year-old wearing a Gryffindor hat she made for me. She smooshed my face against hers as we both smiled as cheesy as we could. The final picture was me and Remus in Diagon Alley. We were sitting in the Leaky Cauldron with Butterbeer mustaches. We could barely stop laughing long enough to take the picture. I cried as I held the pictures against my chest. Good memories are painful when the people you love are gone. I sat outside until the sun began descending.