In the Melancholy Moonlight

Chapter XXXV: Wow

CEDRIC:

America. For three weeks. The idea was insane. Exhilarating. I couldn't believe we were actually going, but we were.

Dad was going to research sasquatches in the Pacific Northwest. We would be staying with the Richardson family, who we apparently met in Diagon Alley when I was four and Lucy was two. Neither of us remembered the twins Brandon and Jessica, who were a year older than me, but Dad promised we'd have a good time nonetheless. He and Mr. Richardson had kept in close contact over the years due to their shared love of creatures, and when the Ministry asked Dad to lead the sasquatch expedition, he knew exactly who to enlist to help. Mum was going to be staying home to take care of Tuck, and Mrs. Richardson was going to be in Florida visiting family, so the four of us kids would spend most of the three weeks alone. Dad's only rules for us were that we never went anywhere alone and we kept Lucy's Muggle interaction to a minimum so no one asked questions about her scars, which was more than fine by her.

The Portkey was set to activate at six o'clock the morning after the full moon. Lucy wasn't the only one who didn't sleep that night --- since we would arrive in America at ten at night their time, my parents and I decided to stay up. I spent the time writing a letter to Henry explaining he wouldn't hear from me for a while; needless to say, transcontinental owl post had its complications. Once the letter was written and tied to Malachi's leg, I occupied myself with homework, because I had no intention of bringing any of it with me on my first trip to America. I hated not finishing it before I left, but I consoled myself with the reminder that I'd have more than a month to finish it once we were back.

I was incredibly excited to go, but Lucy had seemed... not hesitant, necessarily, but cautious. She smiled in all of the right places whenever we talked about it, but her shoulders had been constantly tense, as if she were bracing for impact. I tried to ask about it once, but she just smiled and said she was just nervous because she'd never been to America. I didn't believe her, but didn't push her.

A little before five in the morning, I headed out to the front yard to wait for Lucy. The morning was cool and damp, and after a long night of stuffy rooms and candlelight, the chill was welcome. I studied the forest with suddenly sharp eyes, looking for any glimpse of my sister. After about ten minutes, I spied a small figure stumbling toward the house, so I jumped over the gate and ran toward her.

The sight of tears on her face startled me. I pulled her into a gentle hug.

"What's wrong, Lu?" I asked, pulling away to study her face.

She shook her head and wiped the moisture off of her cheeks. "I'm okay."

"Not hurt?"

"Just a couple scrapes and bruises, I think." Her voice was small. "Nothing worth worrying about."

I wrapped an arm around her shoulders and led her into the house. We exchanged a couple of quiet words with our parents before heading up the stairs, Dad promising to call us down ten minutes to six so we'd be ready.

"You all packed, Lu?" I asked.

She nodded, going to sit on the corner of her bed.

"What's wrong? And please don't deny it again, I know something's bothering you."

"It's dumb," she said with an embarrassed smile.

"It's bothering you regardless. You know you don't have to be embarrassed with me."

"I..." She laughed, the sound feeble and tired. "It really is dumb, Ced."

I raised my eyebrows at her and waited. She looked away, rubbing the back of her neck.