I resumed my pacing around my office. My office? I do not think that I could ever think of the room I was in as my office. I had spent too many of my Hogwarts years getting in trouble and sent to this very room where I would be reprimanded by none other than Professor McGonagall, my old head of house. Yet now, here I was. I had overtaken McGonagall's postion as both Head of House and Transfiguration professor. Twenty years ago I would have thought the idea of becoming a Hogwarts professor improbable.
I had an appointment that evening. An appointment with a dear friend of mine. Well, at least he had been twenty years ago at Hogwarts. After all this time, however, we had last contact. So many horrible things had happened whilst we had been silent. Three of my other dear friends were dead, and one dearly deserved the killing. As much as I hated to mention it.
Two days ago, I had received a letter from this friend. He told me that he wanted to meet with me. No words of friendship or familiarity were exchanged. The letter had felt cold and empty, and I had been hesitant to agree to see the man once more. However, against my better judgement, I agreed.
There was a small knock on my mahogany door and I jumped in the air. My heart was pounding violently in my chest and I reached a shaking hand towards the doorknob. As the door opened, my heart swelled at the sight of the man that had been one of my best friends.
At first we leaned forward to give each other a friendly hug, but being hesitant, we shook hands. I helped him dispose of his traveling cloak, which had no possible way of keeping him warm anyway. He proceeded to sit down in one of the two chairs that were positioned in front of my desk.
I sat behind my desk, as I would normally for any other appointment. However, after I had done it I wished I did not. It made the meeting with the raggy man seem too formal.
"Good evening, Professor," The man said and I immediately jumped at being addressed they way he had. Never in a million years would I ever imagine him calling me Professor.
"Please, don't call me Professor," I insisted, and he look slightly happier. "We didn't go to Hogwarts together so that when we met again we would act like strangers."
"Alright, Casey," the man said, and I easily relaxed. "I guess you know why I am here?" I nodded my head solemnly and stood up and resumed my spot by the window. My back was to him.
"Yes," I whispered lightly as I watched the lights in Hagrid's small cabin flicker off. "I do. We are here to discuss things that I wished had never occurred." I groaned as I thought of all of the deaths that had very recently occurred.
"Many people wish that they did not happen," My friend muttered. He stood next to me, and I saw the crescent moonlight shining on his scarred facial features. "But they did, and the only thing that we can do is fight back."
"But what does he have to do with it all, Remus?" I groaned and stamped my foot. "He betrayed us all!" Remus shook his head weakly and I was stunned. What was he saying no for?
"It was not Sirius, Casey. It never was." Remus Lupin whispered, as I sunk into my leather chair. "It was Peter. It was he who betrayed us. We were fooled. We were lied to, it was all a lie. A set up. Our whole life at Hogwarts meant nothing because of Peter Pettigrew." My heart was pounding in my chest. I refused to believe a word Remus said, even if at one point I had trusted him with my life.
"You are lying. It could not have been Peter! He was always weak, not like Sirius. Sirius was able." I snarled angrily. It was impossible for Peter Pettigrew to do all of those horrible things to our lives.
"You are correct about one thing, old friend," Remus said, with much confidence in his voice. He sat down gracefully in the chair in front of mine. "Sirius was strong. Strong enough to say no to Voldemort. But Peter, he gave in. He gave in because he was scared for his life." I groaned, and faced with this view, I could not help but agree.
Seventeen years ago, when two of my good friends, Lily and James Potter were murdered, I was skeptical. At first, it did not seem possible that the Dark Lord was dead, and little Harry Potter still alive. Then I heard from Minerva McGonagall herself that they were dead.
I felt that this had been the worst news that I could have ever possibly heard. However, I was contradicted soon after. I had been working in the Magical Law Enforcement Squad at the time, a postion that I had started just to help out with defeating Voldemort. I was called to scene with Cornelius Fudge himself, and what I saw was burned into my brain for the rest of my life.
I saw Sirius Black, laughing in an maniacal way. His head was thrown back and his long black hair tossing about in the wind. Around him, there were dead bodies everywhere and a small crater in the middle of the road. I had started to make my way towards Sirius, but a Muggle cut me off, terrified.
"He killed them!" The muggle screamed, tears flying down her dirt covered face. She had been pointing at Sirius, and I knew she must have made a mistake. "A short man blamed him for killing some Potters and then he killed them!" I remembered to this day, how my stomach had turned inside out. Sirius kill James? No, Voldemort had.
"Peter?" I had asked and then searched for the man. Several other members of the Squad had arrived and arrested Sirius. I had not been worried about that at the time, but I had searched for Peter. I only found his finger.
It was at that point, that I had thrown up. I had been ready to jinx Sirius to high heavens, but the Squad had whisked him away before I got the chance to get near him.
I quite my job soon after that experience. The Order of the Phoenix, which I had also been a part of, fell a part, and most were glad that they were gone. I worked in Diagon Alley, and then proceeded to work at Hogwarts after Professor McGonagall asked me to work in her unfilled spot. I accepted it, and I had hoped to meet James' son, but was greatly disappointed when I found out he denied attendance.
"Casey?" I was brought back to the present time as Remus called my name. "Are you okay, mate?" I nodded my head and once again resumed my spot by the window. I could not help it, I enjoyed the few. It always helped me calm down.
"Did you know I pranked Snape a few days ago?" Remus smirked and let loose a laugh.
"You didn't!" He exclaimed and I grinned and nodded.
"Yep," I said with a grin. "Tossed a dungbomb in his breakfast just like in sixth year." Remus laughed once again, and it made greatly yearn for the days before all of this horror happened.
"Remus, do you remember our seventh year?" Remus just chuckled gently and nodded his head.
"I sure do mate, I sure do." He whispered.