We were sitting in the drawing room on August 2nd. Two days after my brother's birthday and I still wasn't allowed to send him a thing.
Albus Dumbledore had come personally to help with the arrangements necessary for me to attend Hogwarts and meet Harry before school commenced. With him, was a ginger haired man named Arthur Weasley. He was very kind and easy to get along with. Apparently, his son was Harry's best mate.
"I want to get him out of that house, headmaster. If it's as awful as you say then I can't just allow him to live with those dreadful muggles." I said pacing around the room.
"You aren't the only one that feels that way, Catherine." Mused Mr. Weasley.
"Due to circumstances beyond my control, living with your mother's sister is the strongest protection Harry has against the Dark Lord." Said Professor Dumbledore.
"He's hardly a risk as it is. Voldemort has been gone since he tried to kill Harry. I don't see what danger Harry is in if he's in a loving home." I muttered, ignoring the shudders around the room at the name.
"In recent years, Lord Voldemort, weak as he may be, has still been able to make attempts on your brother's life. He is out there, gaining power, and will do whatever he can to strike at Harry. I know you want the best for him, but I assure you that I would pluck him out of there in an instant if it wasn't just that." He said fervently.
"It was his fourteenth birthday two days ago. I've missed thirteen of those birthdays, and I shouldn't have. I really just want to see my brother again, headmaster. I want you to prepare him to have me in his life again, because I'm fairly sure he won't remember me. And I'm terrified that he'll reject or resent me for not being there." I said somewhat near tears. Professor Dumbledore put a hand on my shoulder reassuringly.
"I will speak to Harry before you'll next see him. Your aunt Gwen and I shall speak to him the night before he is to go to the Weasley's house. I assure you, Catherine, that you will be quite the opposite of a burden to your brother. You will be the missing piece he never knew he'd lost in the first place. I will make it perfectly clear to him that you did not want to be parted and that you were under my orders. Do not fret," He said with a twinkle in his blue eyes, "And now for the fun part."
"The umm fun part, Professor?" I questioned looking over at Mr. Weasley and Gwen.
"Well, Arthur here has come to make an offer." He said as Mr. Weasley walked over to us.
"Well, as I was telling your aunt here earlier, I'm taking my boys, my daughter, Harry, and another friend of theirs' to the Quidditch World Cup on the twenty-second. I was wondering if you'd care to join us. It would be no trouble at all, and I figure a great opportunity to bond with Harry and his friends." He said with a warm smile.
I beamed at him. "Really?"
"Of course. I've spoken to my wife Molly about this already. Your aunt and uncle are on board, and I hear you're quite the quidditch enthusiast. So, what do you say?" he asked.
"I say yes! Thank you!" I said giving him a tight hug, "Thank you so much, Mr. Weasley. It really means a lot."
"No problem at all." He beamed walking over to the fire, "It's all planned. You'll join us on the fifteenth; get acquainted with everyone and whatnot. And if you'd like, you can spend the rest of the summer holidays on our end."
"That sounds brilliant." I marveled.
"Thank you, Arthur. It means a great deal." Said Gwen going over to give him a hug.
"Don't mention it. I'd best be off. Molly should almost be done with dinner. Albus." He said tipping his head.
"Arthur. Do give my best to Molly." Replied Dumbledore.
"Will do," He said stepping into the fireplace. "The Burrow!" With a flash of light he was gone.
"If you'll have a seat, we can discuss you transferring to Hogwarts." Said Dumbledore. Gwen and I took up our spots on the couch again as Dumbledore sat in my favorite comfy leather armchair. It was only us in the house as Constantine was at work in town, and Claudius was out with our friends.
"Is Hogwarts a lot different from the institute?" I asked.
"Well, we are not as well rounded, I should say, as the Istituto Romana di Stregheria Mediterraneo," he said with perfect Italian, "for instance, we focus a lot less on divination."
"Good, I hate the bloody subject." I muttered. Dumbledore merely chuckled.
"Watch your language." Ordered Gwen. I rolled my eyes.
"You will be considered an O.W.L. student. Those are Ordinary Wizarding Level Exams. Your course load will include Potions, Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Divination, Care of Magical Creatures, History of Magic, Herbology, and Transfiguration. At the end of the year you will take the exams and your marks will determine which classes you are to continue in, and what careers are open to you." He explained.
"What if I want to be an auror?" I asked quite curiously. He smirked knowingly.
"That's a question for your head of house. On your first night, you will be sorted into one of the four houses. Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Slytherin, and Gryffindor. I assume you are vying for Gryffindor." He chuckled.
"Naturally, sir." I said smiling.
"Are there any more questions you have for me?" he asked.
"None that I can think of." I replied.
"Well, your school list should arrive to you at the Burrow. You are exempt this year, and this year only from doing summer work, so enjoy that. I will see you when term begins." He said getting up.
"Come, Albus, do stay for dinner?" asked Gwen.
"I couldn't possibly tonight, Gwen. Do give my best to Constantine though. I did always like him." Said Dumbledore.
"Come I'll walk you out." She said throwing me a look.
"Thank you, Professor. It means a great deal to me. All of it." I said sincerely.
"No need to thank me, Miss Potter," he said before walking to the door with Gwen.
The next day I decided I would explain to my dearest friends why I would not be going back to the institute. I also decided it would be the day that I would break up with my loving boyfriend of two years.
"Are you sure you want me there? Wouldn't you rather tell them on your own?" asked Claudius yawning.
"Honestly, Claud, I want you there. Are you scared or something?" I teased.
"Damn right. Once you break it to them, and break Septimus' heart he's going to be pissed. Specifically at me for aiding and abetting you this entire time. I've seen him get into a scuffle here and there and he knows how to knock a bloke out." He said opening the front door.
"Calm down. He won't hit you. And if he's going to be mad at anyone it'll be at me." I said as we walked down the shady road.
"Yeah yeah." He said scratching the back of his head. I would miss times like these with Claudius. He had been an older brother to me all these years, and I didn't stop to think how this might be affecting him. I loved him dearly, and though we weren't all lovey dovey, we were close.
"I wish you were coming to Hogwarts with me." I said honestly.
"Something's you've got to do by yourself, Rin. Besides, I've got my life. You've got to do this by yourself, for you. As much as I'll miss you I understand. It'll just be…"
"Different?" I supplied.
"I was going to say better, now that I don't have to hear your annoying voice all the time." I smacked him hard on the back of the head, "I was only joking! We'll call it different."
"You're not curious about Harry?" I asked as we ventured off the road, towards the lake where we knew our friends were waiting.
"Course I am. But I figure, you should get to know him first, on your own. I'll meet him Easter Break, maybe sooner." He replied, always the realist.
I spotted the four of them in the distance. I could see Lina sitting on Angelo's lap, her dark hair flowing in the breeze as he tickled her. Lina and I had been friends since my family had moved to the island. I knew it would hit her hard that I'd kept such a big secret from her for thirteen long years. We were very close and told each other everything. Well, almost everything. She and Angelo had been inseparable since the age of ten, and so as a result, Angelo and I had become inseparable too. He was our age, with shaggy brown hair and a tall build. She was a porcelain doll with her dark red hair and her ocean blue eyes. They absolutely adored each other and I was sure that they'd be married as soon as they were of age. Sitting a ways away from them dipping her feet into the water was Odette. She was Claudius's girlfriend. Odette was tall, tan, blonde, and the most resilient, stubborn person I knew. She and Claudius kept each other in check and drove each other crazy. They were the same age and had been dating since May, after years of denying any sort of romantic feelings towards one another.
Leaning against a tree, his dirty blonde locks blowing slightly, arms crossed on his perfectly sculpted chest, was Septimus. He and Odette were twins, and not at all emotional towards one another. His father owned half the island, and as a result knew everyone on it. Septimus and I met when we were four at Claudius's birthday party at this same lake. He claims to have loved me since that very moment. All I remember is pushing him off the pier for giving me creepy looks. I knew that this change would hurt him, but it was something that had to be done. He smiled as he saw me making my way over to him.
"Don't chicken out." whispered Claud as he made his way to Odette.
"Hi, love." Said Septimus giving me a sweet kiss.
"Hi." I said rather breathlessly. I started to feel queasy in anticipation of what I knew was coming.
"So, what was so important that you had to talk to us about?" he questioned raising an eyebrow.
"Umm, let's go get the others." He nodded, taking my hand in his as we made our way towards everyone else. It was a sunny day, and as my friends smiled, and laughed in the afternoon's rays, I made a mental picture, remembering them in that blissful moment, before I totally crapped on their day.
"So, Rin, what's so urgent that you couldn't send by post? Not that I'm not happy to get out of the house." said Lina, still somewhat distracted by Angelo.
"Yeah, you've got us coming up with all kinds of different theories." Added Angelo.
"What I'm going to tell you is big. Really big, and before I tell you I want you all to know that I love you very much. And I didn't tell you before because I thought it was for your own good." I said looking at each and every one of them.
"Good God, Rin, you aren't dying are you?" asked Odette.
"No. It's not that grave. My-My name isn't Catherine Calzavara. And Claudius here isn't my biological brother. My real name is Catherine Alice Potter, and Harry Potter is my brother." I said solemnly.
"Nice try." Laughed Septimus. They all joined in chuckling and laughing. I threw Claudius a pleading look, earning only a shrug in response.
"Guys, I'm not kidding! This isn't a joke! He's my brother. I'm being transferred to Hogwarts. I'm not going back to the institute and I'm leaving in a few days." I said sadly.
They stopped laughing. All had different emotions playing on their faces: angry, sad, hurt, confused.
"You mean to tell me, you've been lying to us since day one?" asked Septimus.
"I couldn't tell you. I'm only telling you now since it's imperative." I said answering him.
"Oh, so you're only telling your best friends this major secret because you have to, not because you want to." He sneered.
"It's not that simple. Please don't be upset!" I said taking a step closer to him.
"Not that simple? We've known each other our whole lives, and you're just now telling me you're not who you say you are. This is a lot to take in, Rin." Breathed Lina.
"I'm sorry." I pleaded.
"Sorry? You lied to us, about something pretty important. And YOU knew!" cried Odette, pointing at Claudius.
"You're mad at me? I couldn't tell! I was told not to, same as her!" he defended.
"Whatever, Claudius. I'm going home. I need to digest this." Said Odette taking off back towards the road.
"Odette, wait!" called Claudius running after her.
"I think we'll take off too. I'm not mad, Rin. I just wish you'd told us." Said Angelo weakly.
"Owl me. Let me know before you leave, so I can see you." Said Lina emotionally.
"I will." I said, my voice cracking, "I really am sorry, Lina."
"Me too." She said as they walked away. I turned around, coming face to face with Septimus's scornful look.
"You have every right to be annoyed. I know. But I couldn't tell you, Sep." I said apologetically.
"This really sucks, Rin." He said walking over to the pier.
"I know it does, but there's nothing I can do about it." I called going after him.
"Don't go." He said simply.
"What?" I asked.
"I said don't go. That's what you can do about it." He replied.
"You can't seriously ask me not to. He's my brother. I haven't seen him in thirteen years. I have to go." I said as my eyes started to water. We stood there, two feet apart. Him, a dazzling boy of sixteen, clad in swim shorts and a grey t shirt. Me, an attractive girl of fifteen, dressed in shorts and a black tank top. Both looking down at the ground, knowing the hurt that was to come.
"And I love you. I've always loved you. I shouldn't have to ask." He muttered.
"You're right. You shouldn't be asking in the first place. I thought you would be more understanding" I said wiping away the tears.
"How am I supposed to understand? For eleven years I've known you as Catherine Calzavara. And now I don't know who the bloody Christ you are anymore! Then I come to find out that on top of that you're leaving. So, what am I supposed to do now? Wait for you while you go off to school in Britain? Am I supposed to pine for you, Catherine?" he said as angry tears stung his eyes as well.
"You do know me, Sep! It's me! I'm still the same girl. Just a different surname is all. And I still want to be friends, and-"
"Wait, what?!" he asked incredulously, "Are you breaking up with me?"
"I don't see how it can work. I'm leaving, and it's just not fair to you. I want us to be the same friends we were before." I said sympathetically. He grabbed me and brought me nearer to him, quite aggressively. We were at the edge of the pier now and our conversation had taken a turn for the worst.
"You listen to me, Catherine. I won't let you get. You. Are. It. For me. You can't leave me, you won't leave me." He hissed.
"Septimus, stop! You're hurting me." He growled.
"You cannot turn me down. No one turns down Septimus di Luca down. Especially not the girl he loves." He said refusing to let me go. He started to plant rough kisses on my neck as I fought to free myself. What had happened? I had never seen this side of Septimus before. It scared me that this person had been residing in the boy I had cared for for so long. I knew that I had to play dirty if I wanted to escape. Quivering I kissed him back convincingly. Once he let his guard down I seized the opportunity, and, with all my might, shoved him into the same lake I had eleven years ago.
"Looks like we've come full circle here, Sep. On second thought, let's not keep in contact." I said before ripping off the necklace he'd given me and throwing it on the pier.
It took every ounce of self control I had to not cry until I got to my room. But I did break down once I reached the comfort of my bed. I cried out of sadness and anger for what had happened with Septimus. Out of guilt towards Angelo and Lina. But most of all out of happiness that I'd be seeing my brother.