The Marauders Era

The Cottage

12.52 AM 

Rabastan cursed himself as he hurried around his bedroom, gathering the last few things he needed for the trip. He had promised Cassie that they would leave at one, and he really didn't want to break that promise just because he had forgotten to pack everything. The moment he placed the thick wool sweater that he had been looking for in the suitcase, a rather persistent and somewhat loud knocking echoed through the room. Shaking his head, he closed the lid of his trunk before speaking loudly. "Come in."

No sooner than it being said, the door opened, and an excited Cassie entered his room. She stopped as she noticed the trunk lying on his bed, closed but not locked. "I thought you said you finished packing last night."

"I did. There were just some last minutes things that I forgot." He defended, making Cassie's eyes shine with doubt as she gazed skeptically at him.

"Mhm. "If you say so."Her eyes drifted to his trunk once more before they lit up as she remembered why she was there in the first place. "Are you ready to go?" Cassie questioned eagerly.

"About that.."

Sensing the tone in his voice, Cassie felt a sudden stroke of panic fill her as her eyes softened, and she gazed almost sadly at him. "We're not going?" her voice was so quiet that Rabastan worried his heart was going to break.

"No, no, no, of course, we are going," Rabastan stressed out, seeing Cassie visibly relax, he decided to add. "I just.. there was just someplace I wanted to take you first. Seeing as I never got you a birthday present. There was– is somewhere I want to go before we reach our destination."

Her brown eyes widened immensely as she looked up at him in shock, obviously not expecting that reply. "I know I mentioned it during the drunken letter that i wrote to you. But you really didn't need to do anything. We didn't know each other that well then."

"I know, but I wanted to," he replied while looking at her softly. "But to answer your first question, yes, I'm ready. Are you?"

A brilliant smile appeared on her face as the familiar glint of excitement once again appeared in her eyes. "Yes."

________________________________________________________________________________

As the view around them started to appear, the first thing Cassie saw was a house, or rather a cottage. It was much smaller than the manor she'd been staying at, but somehow just by looking at it, it felt cozier. The cottage was built completely of stone, with two large windows downstairs and a few smaller ones on the second floor.

"This is beautiful. Whose is it?"

"It's mine."

Cassie turned her head so quickly that had it been another time, she would have worried about it falling off. "This is yours? " she waved a hand towards the cottage as her voice was filled with surprise.

"It is," Rabastan replied while fishing a key out of the pocket of his coat. "Though just to make it clear. This is not the Christmas present. I just figured we could stay here for a few days." He turned towards her and smiled. "Happy birthday."

Cassie bit her lower lip to keep herself from smiling, though it seemed in vain, for a few moments later, an almost face-splitting grin appeared. Her eyes lighted up as they turned towards the cottage, and a bubbling feeling of what seemed to be happiness filled her.

"Should we go inside?" He suggested.

She nodded, her eyes not once leaving the exterior of the building, taking it all in. Though it was far smaller than the luxurious houses or grand buildings she had seen, it was by far the most beautiful.