The Marauders Era

I'm going to miss you

Over the next few nights, Cassie was relieved that they stayed free of any nightmares, apart from a rather nasty dream where she flew into the quidditch pitch dressed in nothing but her underwear during the house cup final against Slytherin. However, she couldn't compare that dream to the nightmares.

"A galleon for your thoughts?"

A soft chuckle left Cassie's lips as she looked up to Rabastan, who held out a steaming cup of tea. "Thanks." she smiled as she carefully took the teacup and blew it gently in hopes of cooling it down. Moving her gaze back to the snowy scenery in front of her, the snow-filled garden, the glittering hills that laid just behind the house, she understood why Ted and Andromeda had moved here. It was beautiful, not nearly as beautiful as the cottage, though, but she would keep that to herself.

The porch swing moved slightly as Rabastan sat down next to her, and Cassie couldn't help but add, "I doubt my thoughts are worth that much."

"They are to me." He replied softly.

She whipped her head towards the man only to find his warm eyes fixed on the view she had been studying ever since she came out here a little while ago. Though as he looked at the view, she couldn't help but let her eyes linger upon his face, and as she did, she was suddenly reminded by the words she had spoken just a few days ago. Though sometimes he says these things that shock the life out of me.

Just like now, Cassie thought to herself. She looked down at her teacup, moving it slightly, watching as the tea made soft waves on the smooth surface.

"If I say that–" She started slowly, raising her eyes back to his face, uncertain whether to continue, "I'm going to miss you. Would you laugh at me?"

At first, Cassie wasn't sure he had even heard her, as there was no response, but after a moment, a moment that felt almost too long, his head turned towards her, and their eyes met. Though she had looked into his eyes a hundred times over the last two weeks, it felt as if she hadn't truly seen them until now. The way he looked at her, so warm, so intense, it almost took her breath away.

"I would never laugh at you." His voice was filled with such sincerity as he spoke, and she knew that he meant every word. "I might sometimes laugh because of you because frankly you make me laugh, but I would never make you feel as if I was mocking you or that you can't tell me things because I might laugh at you. But if it makes you feel any better, I know that I'm going to miss you."

Her eyes widened, though she couldn't help but find relief in his words. "Really?"

"We've been together every day for the last two weeks. How can I not?" Rabastan chuckled as if finding some amusement from the conversation.

Her lips curled up in a grateful smile; she wasn't sure if he knew but somehow hoped he would notice it. It was strange, for the last two weeks they had seen each other every day, spoken to each other every day, and now she was going back to school, where the next few months would be filled with more studying and training for both the exams and the final quidditch matches. The chances of seeing him again before summer vacation were slim, not just because she was busy but also because he was sure his mother would put him in some use for wedding preparations. They did have the mirrors, though, but it wasn't quite the same.

"Are you going back to the cottage tomorrow or back to the manor?" The question left her as she turned her eyes back to the horizon, raising the teacup to her lips, letting the warm, comforting taste linger in her mouth.

"I'm not sure yet. I suppose I have to stop by the manor. If it were up to me, I would go to the cottage and stay there, forever."

"Would you mind if I'd join you?" She asked jokingly, smiling as she heard a soft laugh from him.