Sunday afternoon:
Hogwarts lay blanketed in pristine white snow. The surrounding air presented a chilly and frigid atmosphere. I pulled my coat tighter around me as I felt a strong breeze push against me. It only continued to snow as time was passing by.
Where is he?
I took a short stroll along the castle walls to distract my mind away from the boredom. I walked on the icy stone pathway as snow fell into my midst. Snowflakes fell gracefully from the sky and some stuck to my eyelashes. All that could be seen beyond the horizon was white. All of Hogwart's grounds was overlaid in pearly white snow. And because so much snow was falling from the sky, I myself was also submerged in it.
Finally, he came.
I caught sight of Kasper making his way towards me.
"Took you long enough," I said.
"Sorry. Are you ready to go?"
"I have been ready. Seriously, what was holding you back?"
"I erm- couldn't find my sweater."
"Really Kas?"
"Yes. Come on let's just go."
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(At Hogsmede):
Kasper and I decided to spend our Sunday together at Hogsmede. I insisted that he accompany me and, after a lot of convincing, he finally agreed. Once we got there, we headed straight for the Three Broomsticks.
"Go grab us a table. I'll get us butter beers," I told Kasper.
Five minutes later, we were sitting at a table and enjoying our drinks.
"You are covered in snow," mentioned Kasper.
"Yeah because I was outside for ten minutes waiting for you."
"Well that's not my fault."
"Oh shut it."
I watched from our table as more students came flooding in. The line stretched outside the doors. I was glad me and Kasper got there at the time we did.
I was taking a sip from my glass of butter beer when Kasper asked me a question.
"So are you and Draco still... you know... mutual?"
"Well yes," I replied in confusion, "Why do you ask?"
"Oh well I assumed since you were dating Harry that-."
I licked the butterbeer off my lips as I thought about it. I opened my mouth to speak but then slowly closed it.
"You haven't told him, have you?" asked Kasper in realization.
"No actually. It's going to be a bit of a shock once I do," I said with a small laugh.
However, Kasper was not laughing.
"Are you afraid?" he asked.
Was I? Was I afraid that Draco would want nothing to do with me? Was I worried about his opinion concerning my relationship with Harry?
You'll see.
I still did not know what he meant by that and, I have to admit, I was afraid to know. That conversation in itself puzzled me. Another thing that really puzzled me was what happened last night. Draco remained a mystery to me.
"No," I answered, "I'm just finding the right time, that's all."
But in reality, I did not think I could ever tell him.
Kasper nodded as he lifted his half empty glass of butter beer to his lips.
"Well actually," I began, "I'm not sure how he'll react which is why I haven't told him."
I wanted to tell Kasper how I felt. I do not know why but I knew I could trust him.
"Well, just tell him straight forward. Either way he is going to find out so you might as well get it over with."
"I accept your advice," I replied.
"But if he does act stupid," he stated, "Come find me."
I replied with a soft smile.
"I will," I said.
Sure, Kasper can come across as rude at times but he is truly the best cousin I could ever ask for. Deep down he truly cared. I admired that about him. After all we have been through, I am lucky to have him. We have looked after each other and kept each other's secrets. We have even suffered together, and although some of the wounds are permanent, we have done our best to move on.
We have been this close since a very young age.
"Hey Kas," I said.
"Yeah?"
"So about the whole Death Eater thing..."
"We can talk about it when we get back to Hogwarts," he quickly interrupted me.
I nodded my head in agreement. We did not need to discuss private things in a public place.
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(Back at Hogwarts):
"I think dinner has already started," I said.
"I'm not hungry," replied Kasper.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah. Just go find Harry I'll see you later."
"Goodbye Kas."
"Bye."
"I love you."
Kasper looked at me in a way I have never seen him before. His eyes remained a metallic gray. His lips were purple from the cold and his hair laid perfectly on his head, covered in a blanket of snow.
I realized it had been awhile since I had spoken those words.
I always have loved Kasper.
Perhaps he had just forgotten.
"I love you too, Holly."
And before he left, he gave me a hug.
"Can we talk later?" I whispered.
"Yes," he whispered, "Let's talk tonight."
And I watched as he walked away with both hands in his pockets and his head down.
Kasper: the stone cold boy with a wounded heart.
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(Flashback):
Footsteps. I heard them.
One.
Two.
Three.
They were mad. I knew just by the way they were stomping throughout the house. My heart began to thump rapidly in my chest.
My door suddenly burst open.
"Young lady. Please come down stairs."
I did as I was told. I waited until my mother had left before I started down the stairs. Both my hands were shaking non-stop. I had to be in trouble.
What did I do?
I trailed far behind my mother into the living room where my father, Kasper, and Kasper's parents stood. I instantly walked over to Kasper and stood by him. I then began to prepare myself for what was about to go down.
My mother began to speak to me and Kasper.
"As you two may already know, we all (motioning with her hands to my father and my aunt and uncle) have taken on new responsibilities and opportunities. Therefore, we have new rules concerning these new choices."
I did not dare move. I listened to my mum.
"First, pure bloods are of superiority and are the only true wizards and witches. Second, you will now refer to one of your family by their last name."
"Mum-." breathed Kasper.
Be quiet, I wanted to say.
Too late.
"Mrs. Norman," corrected Kasper's mum, my aunt.
"But why?"
"Don't ask questions, young man," demanded my father.
"It's alright dear. Don't be so brutal," said my mum.
My mother started walking towards me and Kasper. I squeezed his hand very tightly. I had never been so afraid of my mother in my life until then. Her smile appeared almost psychotic and just her subtle movements frightened me. Slowly, she began to carefully study our appearance.
"Because no longer do we support Dumbledore. Dumbledore is old and cowardly. We now serve the one and only true master, Voldemort."
How dare she speak his name, I thought.
"Third rule," she continued, "We have taken the Dark Mark and one day, when the Dark Lord sees fit, you two will also."
"No!" I blurted out by accident.
Then I felt my mother's hand come in contact with my cheek.
She slapped me.
"Shut it you!"
I sat on the ground in shock, but I did not cry until they all left the room. Kasper immediately knelt beside me and shortly after that it was just the two of us.
My face was red from where she had stricken me. The pain was unbearable. It hurt so bad... my face and the fact that my own mum would do such a thing. I felt as if I could not even call her my mum anymore. Besides, she made it very clear that she was no longer my mum. She was my master and I was her peasant.
"Hey. Please don't cry," pleaded Kasper, "Please."
I cried. I bawled my eyes out. He held me on the floor in the middle of the living room for an hour. In the end, we were both weak and crying.
I was eight years old. Kasper was ten.