Epilogue
It was May 2, 2008, the 10th anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts. The school was alive with festivities. People milled around the grounds, talking with friends and remembering their lost loved ones. Flowers were strewn all over the grounds and in the castle where loved ones had fallen.
Cassie Black was there, along with Harry Potter, his wife Ginny and two of their children, James and Albus. Lily, the youngest, was only a few months old and was left home with a sitter. The Potter family walked around and chatted with old friends, leaving Cassie to make her own way around, enjoying being back at the sight of so many happy adventures.
Her first stop was the lake, the sight of so many memories. James had proposed to Lily there, with the group of them laughing from underneath the willow tree. She laughed silently at the memory of her brother's face after Lily had jumped up and down and finally said yes.
The next stop was the old suit of armour on the third floor where Sirius had first said he had feelings for her. The memories overtook her and a smile slowly moved across her face. He had kissed her softly in the corner, her first real kiss.
The third stop was the Great Hall. So many memories. The last time she had been in the Hall was when victory was declared. She had held tightly to Harry when she found him alive; tried to comfort Molly Weasley when she discovered Fred Weasley had been killed; held the cold hand of her best friend and his wife, trying to comfort herself.
Finally, she made her way back out to the grounds, to the area where she had last seen her best friend and his wife alive. Cassie collapsed into the grass, her eyes seeing the events that had transpired ten years ago. She had been duelling one of the Death Eaters. At the time, she hadn't known his name, but soon found out it was Jimmy Christian, her potions partner from second year.
The memory overtook her consciousness. Moony had been duelling with Dolohov; they threw spells back and forth, aiming to kill. He was standing just to the left of Cassie and she could see him out of her peripheral vision. Dora came quickly running towards them, screaming out Remus' name. He turned with his mouth open as if to scold her for coming to the battle.
Cassie yelled, trying to tell him to turn around. "Stupefy," she screamed at Jimmy and quickly turned to stun Dolohov, but she was too late.
"Avada Kedavra," Dolohov screamed, and the jet of brilliant green light was aimed directly at Remus Lupin's back.
"No!" Cassie screamed, seeing his lifeless body fall to the Earth. When she looked up towards Dora, she too was falling lifelessly, Bellatrix Lestrange cackling madly behind her. The couple still had smiles etched on their faces, happy in their last moment together.
"Mum?" Lily said, sitting down in the hot grass. "Mum, are you all right? Why are you crying?"
Cassie shook her head, letting the images leave her consciousness. She reached a hand up and wiped away the tears that had fallen down her cheeks. "Hi sweetie." Cassie's voice shook and her daughter took her hands, holding them in her own.
"What were you remembering Mum?" Lily asked softly. She had been only two years old when the Battle had taken place. Cassie had left her in the care of Dora and Andromeda, who had stayed to watch Teddy, while she had gone to fight.
"Oh, everything," Cassie finally said. "Come, I'll take you on my tour of Hogwarts." Cassie stood and brushed off her long skirt.
"But mum," Lily whined, "I've been here for a year already. I think I know most of the castle and grounds."
Cassie smiled sadly. "Yes, but you don't know all the stories I have to tell you about your Uncles, Aunts and Dad."
"You have stories! You never tell me the stories about Daddy and Uncle James." Lily's face lit up with excitement. She took her mother's hand and let herself be led across the grounds to the castle.
"Your right. But I think today is a good time to begin telling you. See that willow out there by the lake? Uncle James proposed to Aunt Lily right there…" Cassie began telling her daughter of the many Marauder's adventures, several of which Lily had already heard.
Their trip down memory lane ended where they had begun, at Remus and Dora Lupin's final moment of happiness. "Your Uncle Moony and Aunt Dora were right here Lil. That's what I was thinking when you sat next to me. I was remembering that moment." The tears fell down Cassie's cheeks again and she hastily brushed them away.
"It's okay Mum. Like you always say, they're watching us. Daddy, Uncle James & Remus, Aunt Lily and Dora… they're all watching us." She grinned. "Come on Mum. It's almost dinnertime. The food here is wonderful!" Cassie let herself be slowly led back into the castle and into the Great Hall.
Before they left the grounds, Cassie looked out towards the Forbidden Forest. She blinked as six figures appeared before her. Her feet stopped moving and Lily soon followed. "What's wrong mum? Aren't we going to eat?" Lily followed her mother's gaze into the forest, but saw nothing.
Cassie's face lit up with a smile. James and Lily had their arms around each other, grinning and waving. Remus and Dora had shy smiled on their faces as they too waved. Remus looked as young as he had in school; his hair was dark brown and his hazel eyes bright. Cassie was shocked as her eyes met Peter's, a sheepish smile spreading across his face. "I'm sorry," he mouthed to her and she nodded.
Finally, the last person in the line was Sirius, standing next to James. He looked as handsome as the first moment they met. His dark hair was curled to his shoulders and his bright grey eyes sparkled. He waved to her, his famous grin etched on his face. "I love you Cassie. I'm always with you." His voice sounded far away, but it wrapped around Cassie and she shut her eyes, memorizing the image in front of her.
"I love you," she whispered back. "I love you all." When her eyes opened, the group waved one last time and disappeared.
"Mum?" Lily pulled anxiously on her hand. "Mum, what do you see?"
Cassie shook her head and wiped her eyes again. "Nothing dear. Come on, let's go get something to eat."
The mother and daughter walked quietly into the school where they met up with Harry and his family. For the first time in many, many years, Cassie felt safe and happy. She was home, with her daughter and her nephew. All was well.
AN: Wow. It's over. Can you believe it? After a year and some odd months, Cassie's story is finally finished. Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed this story. I have no idea what to do now. Cassie has been a major part of my writing for such a long time now! I nearly cried while writing this epilogue!
If you have any requests... anything you want to read about her life that I haven't written, let me know. I'll be happy to revisit Cassie Potter :-)
Thank you again! You have been the most amazing readers. I never imagined this story would have 141 reviews. Please leave one more on your way out, letting me know what you thought of the Epilogue. I think I gave Cassie some closure. Thank you again, you are all incredibly awesome!
