Memories Of Them

Prologue

5 years earlier

"Wait up!" Cassandra Vaughn called out to the two retreating figures ahead of her. The hill she was currently climbing hadn't appeared that steep from the bottom. Then again, she hadn't been able to see all the rocks and holes that littered their ascent. She'd tripped and stumbled, falling further and further behind the two red headed twins who had raced ahead trying to beat each other to the summit.

"Come on slow coach, what's taking you so long?"

Eyes still glued to the path ahead she muttered, "Oh you know me, just trying not to break an ankle" sarcasm dripping from every word she said.

"What was that you said Cassie? Didn't quite catch it." Letting out a small shriek she whipped her head to the side. Standing there bending slightly so he could look her in the eyes was Fred Weasley, a mischievous smirk plastered across his face, a humorous glint in his hazel eyes.

"You scared the gob stones out of me!" She shouted, hitting him in the chest making him stumble backwards. Letting out a loud boisterous laugh Fred grabbed a hold of her hand and began dragging her along, giggles and pants of exertion tumbling from both of their lips.

"Took you long enough!" chuckled George swinging an arm around her shoulders. Letting out a huff and pulling away from George's sweaty grip, she swirled around her white cotton sundress fanning out around her. Her breath caught in her throat, from the summit of the hill she could see the Devonshire countryside laid out before them like a patchwork quilt. Dense emerald green hedgerows intersected each other over the lush green fields. A glittering sapphire river wound lazily through the scene, the August sun reflecting brightly off its surface. Up on the hill a light breeze danced through the long grass, a nice reprieve from the sun shining down on them from high in the sky. Turning around and shielding her eyes she spotted The Burrow, the home of her second family the Weasley's. From her vantage point she could see the higgledy-piggledy design of The Burrow looking just as magnificent and magical from afar, floor upon floor of mismatched cladding balanced precariously on top of each other. In the front garden she could see minuscule white dots flapping around, the chickens had been let out of the coop. The tin roof of Mr Weasley's garage was sending up scorching waves of heat. The orchard, normally alive with the shouts and whoops of a Weasley family Quidditch game, was motionless not even the slight breeze from the hill could reach the trees down there in the valley.

Suddenly an obnoxious laugh snapped her out of her daze, dragging her eyes away from the tranquil landscape in front of her she spun around. Her eyes landed on the twins, sat crossed legged in the swaying grass, their cheeks flushed with laughter. She slowly ambled over to them, throwing herself down on the floor between the twins.

"What's so funny?" she giggled, looking between the pair.

George gestured to the floor in front of them. What appeared to be an average garden beetle was crawling through the grass, however rather than its shell being its regular inky black colour it was flashing various brightly coloured garish patterns; from an orange and turquoise checkerboard pattern, to a yellow and purple zig zag, to a red and pink polka dot pattern.

Cassie let out a small breathy chuckle before asking "How did the two of you manage that?"

With a cocky smirk and a flourish Fred bought out his new wand. Next to him George began spinning his own wand nonchalantly between his long slender fingers.

"Got them yesterday with Mum in Diagon Alley." George said smugly.

"She made us promise we would lock them away in our trunks ready for tomorrow, but we had to get at least a bit of practice in!" joked Fred.