The Cassiopeia Project [George Weasley] ✓

ELEVEN

Opening the photo album had been hard, but once she did it, Cassie couldn't stop looking at the pictures on it. They were from Diana Moore's school years, and she quickly recognized James and Lily Potter, thanks to the incredible resemblance Harry had with his father.

Her mother had been in Hufflepuff, and in most pictures she appeared hugging one or two friends Cassie recognized from the funeral. Where had all those people been during her childhood? She surely didn't remember her mother having any friends. It had always been the two of them, all her life.

The picture that surprised her the most was the one with her father. They hadn't married, but the love was clear in the moving image, where a man with black hair past his shoulders and a bright smile was twirling Diana around, her red hair flowing in the wind. Cassie spent a good amount of evenings looking at the picture, imagining the music, their laughs, and she life she could have had. If only her father hadn't disappeared...

Professor Lupin also appeared in some photos, being hugged by a much smaller Diana or smiling along with a chubby boy, Harry's dad and the dark-haired man. 'My marauders' was scribbled with her mother's calligraphy under that picture, along with a small smiley face. She would have to ask the teacher about that picture, Cassie decided. Maybe get some information about her dad, even though he had seemed reluctant to talk about him at the time.

All those photos and memories took a good amount of Cassie's time, and it didn't take long before her friends noticed that she was even more silent than usual and didn't spend as much time studying as before.

"We hardly see you anymore." Angelina complained one day during lunch, in late January.

Cassie shrugged, not looking up from her salad.

"I'm busy."

"Can't be from all that studying." Alicia remarked sarcastically, arching one eyebrow. The redhead girl glared at her.

"It is not any of your business." She retorted, standing up abruptly. "Leave me alone."
And with those words, the angry Gryffindor stalked out of the Great Hall,

No one saw Cassie anymore that day. Angelina and Alicia soon grew worried about her behaviour, asking the twins for help. They were as worried as the girls and didn't hesitate in going looking for their friend when she didn't show up after curfew.

"You stay here. No one knows this castle better than us." Fred told the chasers, who nervously sat in the common room.

"We'll be back with her in no time." George guaranteed, smiling slightly.

"If Filch doesn't catch her before — ouch Angelina that hurt."

The hallways grew eerily quiet after curfew, no one but the occasional ghost or teacher strolling by. Fred and George quietly sneaked through them, slipping into secret passages or behind suits of armour when necessary. In their hands was a folded piece of parchment, which they consulted once they were in a wide enough passage.

"Lumos."

"Did you ask Harry for it?"

"A simple accio was enough."

George chuckled lightly and took to study the constellation of labels that adorned Hogwarts' map. Mostly everyone was in their common rooms, but Snape was walking down the corridor not far away and Filch was near the library. However, those weren't the dots that interested the twins that night.

'Cassiopeia Moore' was marked in the second floor, inside an abandoned classroom.

"Bingo." Fred whispered, smirking. George folded the Marauder's Map and put it into his pocket.

"How do we approach her?" He asked as they walked down the passage. His brother shrugged.

"I was thinking a 'hello Cassie, what in Merlin's pants is wrong with you' kind of approaching."

George playfully shoved him, sniggering.

"Maybe something more tactful."

"I don't know, you're the sensitive one."

Her tears had long dried when the twins arrived at the classroom. Cassie looked up, startled, when the door opened creaking, and relaxed when two identical heads peeked at her from there.

"May we enter?" Said the soft voice of George Weasley. She nodded, sitting down straight on the floor.

"How did you find me?" Her voice was hoarse, but no one acknowledged it.

"We have contacts." Fred smiled mysteriously, his twin mirroring him.

A comfortable silence settled between the three of them for a while, until George decided to break it.

"You have been worrying us, Cassie."

"I'm sorry."

"What's going on?" Fred inquired, trying to keep his demeanour calm as to not startle or scare the girl away.

"I-I'm sorry." Her lower lip trembled, and George felt a sudden wave of empathy for the girl.

"It's okay." He half-whispered, ignoring the surprised glance from his brother. "You don't have to tell us now."

"No. I... I want to tell you."

Her answer surprised them, but they smiled encouragingly nonetheless.

"My mother died last May."

The words echoed in the room, stunning the redheaded twins.

"I'm sorry."

"I'm so, so sorry Cass."

"We had no idea..."

Cassie lifted a hand, silencing them, and went on.

"It's okay. Hardly anyone knows. Only family and close friends were told." She hesitated. "I-I just found an old photo album of hers, and I've been too absorbed by the memories. I'm sorry if I haven't been the best friend lately."

Both Fred and George reassured her several times that it was alright, hugging their friend tightly. They stayed like that for a while, hugging each other warmly and just feeling comfortable in the darkness. Cassie hadn't felt so relaxed in a long time, like a weight had just disappeared from her shoulders.

"Thank you." She muttered, almost inaudibly.

George smiled, breathing the smell of her hair. It was a mixture of flowery shampoo and the girl's own smell, and he felt strangely at home. Like he could stay like that forever. Anytime Cass, anytime.