☽☽☽
SUMMER SEEMED A LOT SWEETER THIS YEAR. Maybe Athena could have ruled this down to the exaggerated amount of pancakes that she'd consumed or maybe it was because she was waking up to see Remus gazing at her as though she was an exquisite piece of art work. Either one of these could be a suitable explanation.
They spent most of their days in the summer sun, exploring villages and walking up hills just to see the sunset from a new perspective. Athena thought every perspective was beautiful, the colours in the sky, how they faded into one another. Remus didn't appreciate the sky as much, he was too busy looking at Athena.
Sometimes they just spent the days together, reminding each other of what they'd missed. Athena really had missed him in more ways than one.
More than ever, she wished the new year of Hogwarts didn't have to start. She didn't want to leave him. Athena wished that Snape hadn't been such a insufferable prick, maybe then Remus and Athena could work side by side just as she'd always dreamt when he had first left her.
It seemed like a perfect picture, maybe too perfect. Of course, Athena could see him whenever she wanted really. There would be no question of how she could travel so fast with Remus as the answer was well known by him.
Athena wasn't as addicted with Remus as she once had been. Although he'd always been her drug, her support and something she needed to feel anything at all, now the years had passed Athena had learnt a lot more about herself. She knew that she didn't need Remus to feel ok, he was just an added bonus.
She saw this as a positive. It meant that she wouldn't be relying on him. Of course she was completely infatuated with him. From his smile to the smallest details like the curve of his nose. Athena was in a constant appreciation but it wasn't enough to drive her crazy.
She was worried she was striding into the deep end again just like she had done many years ago. Athena wasn't intending to rush back into the love that she'd lost nearly thirteen years ago but times like this were hard to avoid. They knew each other too well to be sneaking around. Pretending they were new to each other when in reality there was nothing that they didn't know.
Conclusively, Athena was glad she wasn't addicted because it meant she wasn't acting like a lovesick fool every chance she got. She spent her time wavering around the possibility that this was a mistake but she didn't let the idea run wild in her mind. The way that Remus held her hand, brushed the hair out of her eyes and painted a picture in her mind with the feel of his lips conveyed and everlasting sense of security which hadn't been available to her in years.
She had fallen for him again but she could live without his presence for days at a time if she needed to. This of course was important for her return to Hogwarts. Maybe at weekends she'd be able to slip away however a lot of the time her presence at the school was needed for many students looking for help. Athena always wanted to be there for those who needed it.
However for now, school was a distant future that she wasn't worrying about. Athena had never lived in the moment as much as she did now. Her memories seemed more vivid upon closing her eyes and as though some miracle had occurred, she was sleeping better than ever.
Some things were difficult as they would always be in a relationship with a werewolf however Athena handled it as she handled every situation, better than anyone else could.
Remus wasn't particularly keen about the idea of her being with him when he transformed. Of course Athena disagreed with his view. She could see the scars tangling with his skin, the way they shone light in the glowing sun, shadowed in the passing air. A lot of them hadn't been there when she'd once known him. Athena payed attention as though she'd taken a photo of him with her mind.
She didn't want to send him off into the moonlight alone knowing he'd come back hurt and angered. Athena had the skills that his friends once had, the ability to change into the white wolf when needed. And she did.
Every full moon of that summer, they'd been together. Athena had never felt such experience of running through the late night trees without a care in the world. The twigs hitting her, the soft breeze running through her now white fur. She felt alive in the most exhilarating way possible.
Athena never feared him, not even for a moment. The shape of the wolf beside her wasn't necessarily a comfort like the presence of Remus was. In contrast, the wolf provided her a sense of gratitude. She was glad to be there, helping Remus even when his condition was improbable.
Remus never admitted that Athena was right even when he knew that she was. Athena was always right. This fact was well known by now however he never spoke these facts. Athena didn't need to hear it, his condition after the moon told her everything she needed to know. The scars that stained his skin would always be there however she was glad to realise that no new ones ever accompanied them.
Athena could confidently say that the summer of 1994 was the best she'd had in years. Maybe the first she'd felt completely free since she'd left Hogwarts. Without a upcoming war plaguing them (even though Athena knew that one would be on the horizon) Athena felt free in her own life.
She allowed herself to breathe freely and now let her past grievances control her life. Sometimes this was hard because it felt painful to know she was happy without them.
Happy despite them not being by her side. Something she never believed she be able to experience yet something she had to accept. It had taken Athena a long time to admit that she was happy and even now she felt guilty because of this
Athena supposed that this was something she would have to live with
☽☽☽
She woke up to the sound of birdsong. It drifted in the slightly open window with the summers air. Turning, she saw an empty space where Remus had once lain.
They were in her house. Remus' cottage had been nice for a while however there was something about Athena's house which was irreplaceable for their relationship. It brought back everything good in contrast to the previous years when it had only brought Athena sour memories.
She gathered herself together, dressing quickly before she paced down the stairs. The smell hit her about halfway down, the sweet aroma drifting towards her in a swirling delight.
Athena laughed lightly to herself as she paced in to the kitchen. She saw exactly what she had expected but something she would have been able to predict. Remus was standing there, pan in hand, cooking pancakes.
"Makes a change" Athena raised her eyebrows, "it's usually me making these for you"
"Thought I'd give it a go" Remus shrugged, kissing her gently before he turned back to the food he was preparing.
"Well I'm not complaining" Athena smiled as she sat up on one of the barstools.
"Sleep well?" Remus asked which had been the same question he'd been asking every day they'd been together thus far. It was nice to know that he cared about her plagued nights. Athena had become used to the feeling of being awake.
"Yes actually" Athena smiled resting her chin on her hands, "you must have a gift Remus"
"Yeah I get that a lot" Remus replied sarcastically, "I'm just so boring that I can make people fall asleep at the drop of a hat"
"Boring?" Athena scoffed, "I'm not sure that's a word I ever associated with you".
"Well obviously not" Remus rolled his eyes, "tame werewolf with a surprising literary obsession and a talent at playing the bass, never heard such a thing"
Athena had been pleasantly surprised to see that Remus had retained his hobby of playing the bass even without her presence. It may have been an everlasting reminder of the gifts she'd provided however it had been something he'd hung on to. She believed it was sweet, maybe it even posed as a sign that they could never be removed from each others lives.
"Sums you up perfectly" Athena laughed as Remus flipped his first pancake out onto a plate. It was a given that they weren't as good as Athena's were. That much, she could have predicted. However they still smelt and tasted absolutely amazing.
As Athena was pouring the syrup (also known as the best pancake topping) over her food, there was a chaos of fluttering wings as an owl flew into the room.
The owl was instantly recognisable with feathers pure as snow and large round eyes.
"Hedwig" Athena jumped up straight away. She hadn't heard from Harry that much this summer. This often worried Athena. Harry's safety was almost constantly on her mind, she believed it was her duty to make sure he was alright. She was his godmother after all.
"Harry's owl?" Remus asked as Athena untied the letter from her leg,
"Yeah" Athena nodded, worried as her shaking hands opened the envelope.
"It'll be fine" Remus murmured, putting the pan down so he could come and stand beside her.
Athena
Hope you're having a good summer so far. Mine just got a lot better, my uncle said I could go to the quidditch World Cup with the Weasley's! They're coming to collect me in a few days, not sure how they're planning to do that but I can't wait, I'll finally be out of this house (don't worry I'll be safe).
This next part may be completely irrelevant but just in case it's not, I had a weird dream the other day and when I woke up my scar hurt. The dream was about an old house and I think Voldemort was there with Peter Pettigrew. There were two more there as well, supporters I think but I didn't recognise them.
He killed an old man and there was a snake there. I think Voldemort was talking to the snake, that's how he knew this caretaker man was watching, the scene was from his perspective. I wouldn't bother telling you all this, it's probably nothing but just in case it's not.
From Harry
(See you soon)
"Scar hurting" Remus muttered, "what's that mean?"
"Well the scar was created after Voldemort tried to kill him, I'm guessing it connects them in a way... maybe it's a sign that he's growing stronger"
"Harry said it might not be anything to worry about" Remus pointed out,
"Harry always said that" Athena continued, "I think he is connected to Voldemort"
"How would that work?"
"I'm not sure yet" she frowned, "a connection isn't just formed from a magical bond... it has to be something more... I thought it before I mean... Harry can speak parstletongue"
"He can?" Remus looked up in interest, "well that certainly suggests they're connected"
"I'm sure there's something Dumbledore isn't telling me about the night that Voldemort tried to kill Harry" Athena sighed.
"If Harry was connected to Voldemort, wouldn't he be seeing the dream from his point of view... he said he saw it from the eyes of this caretaker guy"
"I suppose" Athena shrugged, "yet we can't ignore the fact that he is seeing Voldemort I mean... that must stand for something"
"Peter was there" Remus added bitterly, "he's joined him again"
"Of course he has, wouldn't expect anything different" Athena scoffed, "he goes running back to people he believes can protect him... it's bullshit that he got away in the first place, if I'd just—"
"It's not your fault" Remus frowned, pulling her close to his side, "we have bigger things to worry about... If anything it's my fault"
"Don't be ridiculous" Athena shook her head. As she was folding up the letter she saw another owl fly through the window.
"When did it become an owlery in here" Remus mumbled as he paced towards the owl, "it's for you... has the Hogwarts crest on it"
"You sure it's not for you asking for you to be the defence against the dark arts teacher again?" Athena asked hopefully.
"No of course not" Remus laughed, "I know how much you've been hoping—"
"I just think it's completely ridiculous that you're being kicked out of the school for something you can't control"
"I'm not being kicked out" Remus reasoned, "I left"
"Yes but you didn't have to!" Athena exclaimed, "it'll die down, the talk—"
"They've found a replacement by now Rena"
"I'll advocate for your reinstatement" Athena smiled.
"As grateful as I am that you'd want me back at the school, it isn't probable" Remus said as he placed the surprisingly light letter into Athena's palms.
It did have the Hogwarts crest on it. Athena rarely got post from them. Anything she needed to know could be passed on from Aurora. She hadn't attended meetings this summer because she'd been too determined to spend her time with Remus.
She peeled back the seal and opened the letter carefully in anticipation.
Dear Athena,
I am writing to inform you of a development that will be taking place at Hogwarts in this following year. I am sure you will be as excited as I to know that we as a school will be hosting the Triwizard Tournament for the first time in over one hundred years. Students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving in October. The school year will evidently be different yet we will try to retain composed learning as much as possible. We'll let you know more about all the plans at the beginning of the year.
Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall.
"The Triwizard tournament?" Asked Remus, yet again reading comfortably over her shoulder, "isn't that dangerous?"
"Well I'm sure there'll be safety precautions" Athena shrugged, "it does mean one thing though"
"What?" Remus frowned.
"It's going to be an interesting year at Hogwarts"
☽☽☽
A/n
Words -2382
Published - 25th May 2021
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