DECEMBER 24, 1993
Arroway ( - Black ) Household, 3:45 pm
"MUM WE'RE HOME!" CASS called out as Lupin shut the front door. Arabella immediately walked to where they were, greeting them with a huge grin on her face.
"I've missed you both so much. It's so lonely being all alone here. I barely had anyone to talk to." Arabella said, hugging both Remus and Cass as tightly as she could.
"Mum, you're going to suffocate us." Cass said jokingly.
"Right, of course. I'm sorry." Arabella apologized, pulling back with a small smile on her face. "Just take your bags up to your rooms and we could go out and explore the town, yeah?"
"Sorry, Ara. Maybe it would be best if Cass and I just got some rest."
"Yeah, mum. I'm knackered at the moment."
Arabella's face visibly fell at this, wanting to spend time with her best friend and daughter. Being alone for so long certainly took a toll on her. Nevertheless, she put on a smile for the two. "That's alright. Rest up you two."
"Don't worry, Professor Lupin and I will be here for two weeks." Cass said, going up the stairs to her room.
"You do realize that you don't have to call me professor outside of school, right? I mean I'm still your godfather." Remus asked laughing, following Cass up the stairs.
"Yeah, but I got used to it." Cass' voice and Remus' laugh getting softer as they both reached the second floor of the house.
Arabella smiled from watching the two but it slowly fell as they disappeared to their rooms. "You'll be here for two weeks," she said, echoing her daughter's words. "then you'll leave again."
______
"IT'S DELICIOUS, Ara." Remus said, complimenting Ara's cooking. They were seated around the dining table, chatting on the various things that happened at Hogwarts while she was away. The three had just finished gossiping on the blooming relationships of Hogwarts students, most of this was just Cass talking but Remus and Arabella still listened intently and commented every now and then.
"Speaking of blooming relationships, what's going on between you and Mr. Weasley?" Arabella asked her daughter. Cass choked on her pumpkin juice upon hearing this and Remus was trying incredibly hard to hold his laughter.
"Which one mum? You're going to have to be specific here. There's so many of them. Six, I believe. Not to mention four of them currently at Hogwarts-" Cass rambled, slightly coughing on pumpkin juice before Arabella cut her off.
"You know who I mean, Cass." Arabella said, looking at her knowingly. "One of the twins. Fred?" Arabella asked, looking at Remus and he nodded. "Yes, Fred."
"Right, Fred." Cass nodded, blushing slightly.
"Well?" Arabella asked, her eyebrow raised and a small teasing grin on her face.
"Idon'tknowwhatyou'retalkingabout,mum.Fred'smybestfriend,that'sall. I swear!" Cass said hurriedly, Remus and Arabella having difficulty in catching all of them.
"Slower, sweetheart. Arabella said laughing.
"Fred's my best friend. Nothing's going on between us."
"Sure, sweetheart." Arabella said with a smile, not quite believing her. Remus, on the other hand, rolled his eyes having heard that line too many times before in the past.
"Anyways," Cass said, desperately trying to change the topic, "Remus and I have something to tell you!"
"What? We do?" Remus asked, looking at Cass with a confused expression.
"Yeah, what Headmaster said. Remember?"
"Oh right? Should I tell her? Or do you want to?"
"You can tell her."
"Right." Remus started, clearing his throat. "Since there has been no Sirius related break ins lately and it has mostly been quiet, and the fact that no one could really link you to Sirius breaking in that one time, Dumbledore is trying to convince the ministry to bring you back at Hogwarts."
"Really?" Arabella asked, her eyes lighting up and a smile starting to form.
"Really." Cass repeated with a small smile.
"But I thought it was Dumbledore's idea for me to take a break, why is he talking to the ministry?"
"It was actually the ministry's idea, they just asked Dumbledore to say it was his." Remus answered.
"Oh."
"I'm sure Dumbledore will be writing to you very soon about your return, mum."
"I sure hope so."
______
AT AROUND 11:30 at night, Arabella woke up from her sleep and went down to the kitchen to make herself a cup of tea. On her way back to her room she heard quiet sniffles coming from Cass' room. She softly knocked on her door but Cass did not answer. Arabella could still hear the sound of her crying. She grabbed the door's handle only to find that it was unlocked. She opened the door and her heart broke at the sight of her daughter crying.
She knelt beside her daughter's bed. "What's wrong, sweetheart?"
"Harry and I had fight and now he hates me!" Cass cried, hugging Ara tightly as tears continued to fall from her eyes.
"You're one of his closest friends. He even said that to me himself. He could never hate you." Ara said, rubbing Cass' back in comfort.
"He could if he thought that my dad is the reason why his parents died." Cass said, sniffling. "But he isn't. Right? Dad's innocent?"
"Of course he is, sweetheart." Arabella said sadly. "Your father is the kindest, sweetest, bravest man I ever knew. He wouldn't hurt anyone without good reason. Besides, James Potter was his best friend. He could never do that to him."
"Then why won't Harry believe me?"
"It's very difficult to prove, sweetheart. Especially since one of our old friends, the reason why Harry's parents really died, is dead."
"Who was that old friend, mum?"
"Peter Pettigrew." Just saying his name sent shivers down Arabella's spine. "Don't worry Cass, everything will be alright."
Arabella looked at the clock that was on top of Cass' bedside drawer and saw that it was already past midnight.
"Happy Christmas, sweetheart." Arabella said, wiping the tears from her daughter's eyes.
"Happy Christmas, mum."
______
THE HOLIDAYS went by quicker than Arabella had hoped it would. Soon enough, it was time for Remus and Cass to go back to Hogwarts.
Arabella waited and waited for a letter from Dumbledore but it never came until late February.
_
Ms Arroway,
How are you doing? I hope you are well.
I am writing to inform you that Sirius Black has broken into Hogwarts again. He managed to enter because a student had dropped the list of passwords.
However, that is not the only reason I am writing. I would also like to inform you that you may return to your post as Arithmancy teacher here at Hogwarts. I have spoken with the ministry and they agreed that there is not enough incriminating evidence against you.
You may come back as soon as you'd like.
Regards,
Albus P.W.B. Dumbledore
______
hey hey hey! new covers for all my books yay!!
anyw, 6 chaps left before this book ends ahhhh
sorry for the shit part
let me know what you think down in the comments and give it a vote if you think it was worthy.
i love you all, thank you for being so so patient.
lots of love and i'll see ya when i see ya,
arielle