The Badger **Seamus Finnigan Fanfiction**

4:1 A Pinky Promise

Summer had been quiet. Anna and I sat and watched movies a lot. We also read books and baked things. My mom would insist we go outside for walks every other day, which usually resulted in us getting ice cream.

Luna came and stayed with us for a few days. My parents were happy  to see Anna interact with another friend, even if the interactions were tainted with Luna weirdness.

 We camped outside and roasted marshmallows over a campfire. We tried to pretend the world wasn't filled with so much fear and death and some days it worked. Luna was really good at pretending things weren't awkward. She would launch into a story about nargles and suddenly tensions dissolved.

A few days after Luna had left, Anna and I were tucked in our beds in our now shared room. The sun had set and the dark night was peeking in from the window. Anna looked up from a book she was reading and randomly said "Thank you." I was surprised. Anna hadn't been as depressed as I had expected. She was just oddly quiet. "For what? I haven't done anything." I say simply as I turn my attention to her.

"You have though. You let me grieve how I wanted to. You didn't push or...you've really been here for me this summer just by...being here. I love you." I get up and climb into Anna's bed. Truthfully, with our combined growing limbs this has been getting harder than it was when we were 11.

"I love you too. I'm sorry this happened to you. I can't believe I've helped you, because I can barely begin to imagine a loss this great."

"And I would never want you to." Anna said with a half smile. And we just sat there. Just the two of us. Last summer, two friends became sisters and our lives never would be the same ever again.

"Do you want to talk about her? Your aunt. I wish I had gotten to meet her." I said. We met in passing once in the bookstore before the start of 2nd year, but we didn't really talk. Anna and I were so caught up in our reunion I am not even sure I introduced myself. 

 Anna smiled to herself. "She was a terrible cook. She used to burn everything. Boxed brownies, scrambled eggs, vegetables- it didn't matter. She always tried to get back into cooking every few months, but always gave up when she realized we would probably starve."

Anna put her head on my shoulder. "She was out-spoken and brave. And although she worked for the ministry, she had a real problem with how elitist it felt. She taught me to treat everyone equally."

"And when I told her my memory of my parents were fading, she made an effort to tell me as many stories as she could about them. They were muggles, but they were kind and honest people. She always made sure I knew that that mattered more."

Anna sighed and I just hunkered down into her bed. My toes tickling her foot. "I miss her, but she wouldn't want me to be sad, so I guess I'll just keep a part of her with me...always."

The next morning there was a knock on my front door. Anna and I both looked up from our cereal. "Who could that be?" my mom asked. She peeked out the window. "Oh it's Cedric."

I instinctively brush my hair behind my ears. "Hi honey. How are you?" my mom asked him as she let him come inside. "I'm good, Savannah. Just got my letter from Hogwarts. I'm a prefect for the year." I resist the urge to roll my eyes. Cedric. Always the golden boy.

"I was hoping to practice some Quidditch skills with Lottie." he says. I look up from my cereal. I'm shocked. He came to see me. "Only if you want to and have time?" he asks. His eyes are almost pleading.

I felt bad about our last conversation. After all, he was just worried. Which is what any friend or brother would be. Even if I couldn't keep track of my status with Cedric, I did love him and I know he loves me.

"Yeah, give me a second to get dressed." I say and I clean up breakfast. "Anna, you coming?" I ask. She shakes her head. A slight smile playing at her lips. "Oh no, I have a book I'm dying to finish." I knew she was just giving me time and space with Cedric.

Cedric moves to the table and wraps his arms around Anna. "No way. I didn't know you could read." he jokes. She gently slaps his cheek. "Shut up." she laughs.

I walk upstairs to put some athletic clothes on. All I have is relief flooding my veins. My best friend just laughed for the first time all summer.

Cedric takes me out to the field. He first has me practice as a chaser so he can get some Keeper practice in. Then we both just fly in and out and around each other. We start to laugh and joke. "Can't catch me Charlie." he smirks. "Like I'd ever want to. Besides I'd rather fly free." I say putting my hands up. He doesn't flinch when I take my hands off the broom instead he joins me.

We eventually come down for water and lay in the grass. We lay in the grass and just get lost in the shapes. Our heads lay side by side. I can't help but glance at him. He has truly aged well.

"I feel like I keep screwing up. I'm a boy and you are a girl and we keep butting heads over stupid things." he says quietly. I look over at him. "This is my last year at Hogwarts and I don't want to spend it away from you. Can we just promise to try to work things out this year?" his eyes are begging.

"Yeah. I think I'm done with my awkward puberty stage. I promise not to be so sensitive if you promise not to be so bossy." I say with a smile.

"I promise....I'll try. For you. Always." he says with his pinky out. We made a million pinky promises when we were kids. It means it's serious.

"Always. Let's go back to being us, yeah?" I say while I link pinkies with him. "Deal."

We sit up at the same time and each reach for the equipment and start to pack up. "You know my dad has seats to the Quidditch World Cup. Maybe you could tag along."

A smile plays on my lips. "Really?" Cedric throws his arm around my shoulder. "Could always use some Charlie company."

I couldn't be more excited.