DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter, or any of the content referenced/quoted. Warning for swearing.
8. The Summer Visit
The summer Em turns fourteen is the summer her mum moves them out of their small town and even further into the countryside. The summer that the Marauders come to visit. She should have known they would make a big thing about it, and maybe in hindsight, she should have warned Cass they were coming.
But where would the fun have been in that?
Her mum waited until Cass came home from her Fourth Year at Hogwarts to drop the news about their new home, a small cottage on the outskirts of Kilmore with a wide field outback and a front garden full of flowers. Em had loved it from the moment she had set eyes on it. Cass did not.
While Em spends her summer exploring the nearby trails, taking cool dips in waterfalls on hot days, and making friends with the sheep and their farmer, Cass moans and groans about being away from the city.
Really, Em thought it was an immature response from her older sister, especially given how it was her reports of the increasing Muggle-born attacks that had sent her paranoid mother looking to escape into the countryside.
The only days Cass didn't seem to moan was when her friends came to visit. Em liked those days as well; Lily slips her a few records, Marlie brings the latest Witch Weekly's, and Alice always has new ingredients from her garden for Em to try in her new bakes. They are great girls, but at the end of the day, they are Cass' friends.
Which is why the day the Marauders come is the best one in the summer. Her mum is working a shift for Mr Danders, and so leaves the girls in charge of the cottage. Cass lingers long enough to kiss Isobel goodbye before she disappears into the garden to await the arrival of her friends.
Em thinks about telling her about the Marauders but decides against it. If Cass is going to be petty, then she can be petty too.
The girls arrive first, fuss over Em before disappearing outback. She sits on the front step and waits a long time for the boys to appear. Scratchers rests at her feet, keeping a close eye on the gate to her home.
They're ten minutes late when she spots them huffing and puffing down the long drive that leads to her new home. She's grinning as they come to a slow stop in front of her.
"What took you so long?"
Sirius collapses at her feet, rolls over to stare up the sky, his face bright red and sweaty. Scratchers lets out an annoyed hiss as the boy narrowly avoids squashing him. The offended kneazle stands and meanders off. Cass holds in a laugh at the sight.
"James got the portkey to the wrong side of Oban."
"I did not!" James huffs, hands on his knees as he glares at Remus. "It was Sirius' fault."
Sirius raises a listless hand in the air, poised to argue back. But he drops it, instead choosing to groan.
Em laughs at the state of them, red, sweaty and out of breath.
"Aren't you supposed to be Quidditch players?"
All three groan at her.
Remus steps forward as if to hug her, but she holds a hand out, stepping back. Something dark flickers across his face and he halts abruptly. Sirius and James both stop groaning to stare at the pair of them, their expressions tight.
"If you come anywhere near me with your sweaty self, I will scream," she says.
Remus blinks at her before a smile stretches across his face. He continues his approach and she squeals and dances away from him. Sirius laughs and James' expression relaxes.
"What's up, Em? Don't you want a hug from your best friend in the entire world!"
"Not when he's sweaty and gross!" She exclaims ducking under his arm.
He catches the corner of her corduroy shirt and tugs her quickly into his arms. He starts to nuzzle his sweaty face against her hair and she shrieks, trying to squirm away. Sirius jumps up and races towards them.
"Aw, Withers, I didn't know you loved us so much!" He cries, clutching at them from the other side. Em tries to bat him away but Remus holds her in place. James bursts into laughter.
"What the hell!"
All four look up to see Cass and her friends hovering at the door. Cass looks disgusted while Lily looks furious. Marlie and Alice try to disguise their laughter at the sight before them.
"What are you doing to my sister!" Cass demands.
"Greeting her, what do you think we're doing?" Sirius replies back.
"Lily flower, how wonderful it is to see you! How's your summer been?" James interrupts getting to his feet.
"What are you doing here, you toerag?"
"I'm visiting a friend," he says, pointing at Em over his shoulder. Cass turns a glare on her and Em smiles sheepishly.
"I didn't know your friends were going to be here when I invited them over last month," Em shrugs.
"Oh, I oughta...stay away from the garden!" Cass replies before turning and stomping off. Lily follows hot on her heels.
"Lovely to see you Marlie, Alice," Sirius says, still clutching at Em. "Any chance you want a hug too?"
"Nice try Sirius," Marlie snickers, before leading a giggling Alice away.
Remus looks down at a sheepish Em after the girls disappear.
"You didn't tell anyone we were coming?"
"I told mum, Cass just wasn't listening," Em says as she shrugs her way out of the boys' arms. "That's not my fault. She's been moaning and groaning all summer about the move."
"Speaking of looks like you've got yourself some nice digs here," Sirius whistles slowly at the sight of the cottage.
"Thanks! I'm pretty in love with it! Just wait until you see our field," she says, "I've made us a picnic. Thought we could sit out there and eat it?"
Sirius halts, and she can practically see his ears twitching at the mention of food. James looks up from his despondent position on the floor.
"The basket is in the kitchen, straight ahead, first door on the left. It's awfully heavy though, so I'm not sure I'll be able to lift it…" She trails off with a sigh.
James and Sirius exchange a look, "We'll get it!"
They scramble inside the house, jostling each other as they try to simultaneously barge down her hallway. Em grins at the sight before turning to face Remus.
"So, how have you been getting on up here?" He asks.
"Honestly?"
"Honestly."
"I love it," Em says, "Being out here, it's less stressful, almost."
"And making muggle friends?"
Em shrugs, "The classes are smaller, so there aren't as many people my age. Which is fine, cause I've got you guys and Cass anyway. That's enough for me."
She looks up to see Remus staring down at her. He is looking healthier than he has in a long time, less pale and weary. There are some new scars on his face, but Em is used to seeing them now.
"Remus," she starts hesitantly, "could I ask you something?"
"Honestly?"
"Honestly."
"Ok, what is it?"
Em stares up at her friend. He looks better that is true, but there is still a weight on his shoulders, some burden he has to bear that he has never in the four years she has known him, ever shared with her. She knows, she thinks she knows, but to tell him that could be to lose him.
"Have you finished 'Emma' yet?" She asks instead, "I think you might be up for an award for Britain's slowest reader by this point."
He laughs, "No, not yet."
"What's taking you so long?"
"I'm enjoying my time with it," he says. She scoffs and bats at him.
"If I'd known you were to take this long to read it, I would have given you a smaller book."
Remus grins at her, catching her hand, "But it wouldn't have meant as much."
"No, it wouldn't have."
They stare at each other, holding hands. The green thing that has taken root inside her contracts, sprouting flowers in her chest. It leaves her feeling warm. Until a loud crash rings out from inside her house and the sound of what may be James shrieking loudly.
"Oh for goodness sake," Em says, scowling. "What have they gotten into now?"
"Better go rescue them from Cass' wrath," Remus says.
"She's going to bloody murder me," she sighs. "Let's go."
She tugs him into the house, still holding his hand tightly. She pretends to ignore the way his cheeks flush, the smile that spreads across his face. She pushes aside her concerns, loses them purposefully amongst the lists of fears and worries, and things she would never say.
She buries that dark feeling in the pit of her stomach that warns her when things are about to go wrong.
...
EDITED: 03/02/21