Chapter 6
It had been a month since Cassandra had arrived in New York with the girls, that evening it was Halloween. The Magical Congress was hosting a Halloween party for their employees and families, it was supposed to be a very family-friendly event. She had gotten the girls dressed in their costumes, she dressed them as princesses since it was the easiest costume for little girls. A knock came on her door, she opened the door, "Evening Richard. Thank you for coming."
He entered the apartment, "Anything for you, Cas."
She smiled kindly at him then looked at the girls, "Ready girlies?"
They just nodded not really sure what was going on since they had never done this before, she giggled softly taking Periwinkle and Hallie's hands while Richard took Holly's hand. Richard was over at the apartment almost daily to help her with the girls sometimes he took them home from daycare if she was running late, she just assumed he was being a king friend because she was oblivious to seeing that he adored her and the children and would do anything for her. He was hoping one day she would accept him more than as a friend but as a romantic partner. He would never press on it though he was too much of a gentleman to demand her affection.
They used the floo network to take them to the Magical Congress of the United States of America, the main floor where the party was being held. The entire floor was lit up with floating pumpkins. There was a band playing while some danced near the stage, food was provided with waitstaff walking around with trays. The evening reminded Cassandra of the feast held at Hogwarts on Halloween, a memory of her and Severus came to mind: they would sneak sweets into their robe pockets then once everyone was in bed, they would go to the astronomy tower watching the stars eating the sweets. She smiled softly to herself, "Happy?" Richard asked seeing the smile.
She looked down at the children looking at the sites in amazement then looked at him, "Very. Very happy indeed."
"Good. You deserve all the happiness."
They made their rounds together around the party letting the girls eat way more sweets than they should and play some games, while they played a game Cassandra got the sudden feeling something was wrong, Richard was kneeling with the girls at a bucket as they grabbed different floating pumpkins in a barrel of water when he looked at her seeing her facial expression change from happy to worry, "Cas…what is it," he stood up getting close to her to not let others hear.
She looked at him their eyes locking as they had on the day of their first meeting, "I do not know…a feeling. Things are about to change."
He was confused, "Let us go…it is late. The girls should get to bed." She nodded slowly taking one of the girls' hands she did not even know who she had, he grabbed the other two and escorted her to the nearest fireplace, and let teleported to her apartment. He made her a cup of tea, "Rest. I got them; I know the routine."
She nodded taking the cup, "Thank you," she said as he took the girls to their bedroom. She did not touch her tea but placed it on the counter going to the window and looking at the night sky.
He returned to her once the girls were settled, "I cannot leave you tonight. Something is wrong and you do not need to be alone tonight."
She turned to him, "I will be fine you need to rest."
"I can sleep on your couch…Cassie, you have a feeling something is going to change."
She sighed, "You will not accept no, will you?"
He chuckled softly, "No, I will not. You need someone."
She approached him, "You are an amazing friend, Richard. I could not do any of this without you."
He frowned slightly when she called him a friend, "Yeah…I am your friend. Nothing else."
She did not take much notice of this, but gave a flick of her wand turning her couch into a bed for him, "I will see you in the morning then."
"Yes…if you need anything I will be here," she nodded then went to her room.
Cassandra lay in bed just looking out the window at the moon shining bright in the sky as she slowly fell asleep. She was awoken very early in the morning the sun barely in the sky when an owl was tapping against her window. She squinted to try and focus better on it, she slowly got out of bed putting her nightrobe on, and she opened the window receiving the letter in the owl's beak, "Thank you," she spoke softly then the owl flew away. She turned the letter overseeing the seal of the Magical Congress on it. She quickly opened it, all the letter said was that she was being told to come immediately to the Department of International Magical Co-Operation. She tossed the letter on her nightstand and quickly got ready then exited to the living room to find Richard awake and reading a letter he had in his hands, "You got one, too."
He looked at her, "They are asking me to come immediately…does not say why."
"Mine did not say either…it is also a Sunday; we do not work on Sundays."
He shrugged, "We will soon find out."
They both got the girls up and used the floo network like usual to arrive, they were barely through the fireplace when they noticed the entire floor was full of staff from all departments. Their president was at the front prepared to speak, their president had just approached the microphone, "Good morning! I bring some good news from our friends in the Ministry of Magic in London, they announce that their Wizarding War is over," the room filled with cheers and everyone hugging each other, crying tears of joy. "Last night, the war ended when he who must not be named entered the home of Lily and James Potter, unfortunately, they did not survive," the room grew quiet with tears filling in Cassandra's eyes learning that her friends were killed she instantly worried about Harry, "their son, Harry Potter, survived the killing curse. He saved the wizarding world from the hands of a dangerous wizard. There is no more he-who-must-not-be-named just the boy who lived."
As everyone talked happily around Richard and Cassandra, she looked at him, "I have to go back to London…I need to check on my friends who are left. Pay my respects to my friends I have lost."
"I will go with you."
"I cannot ask you to do that. You do enough for me."
"Cassie, you cannot take three toddlers across the country by yourself again. You will need help, I got vacation time I will assist you."
She wanted to cry not just from tears of sadness but happiness, she gave him a hug, "You are truly amazing."
He hugged her back, "So are you…let's get a portkey scheduled to take us to London."
She nodded and they made their way through the crowds to the elevators where they went to the transportation department to get a portkey, "You need a portkey to London? For all five of you?" the man at the desk questioned, "Is this for work?"
"It is for me," Cassandra said, "but I cannot leave my children here alone as I am a single mother and Mr. Banks is going to accompany me to provide assistance in my travels."
The man slowly nodded and wrote stuff on a piece of paper, "Very well. Go to this location within the hour and you will be taken to London."
"Well actually I would like it to be more in Ottery St. Catchpole, it is a small village located in Devon, England."
The man gave a small groan throwing away the piece of parchment he had just written on before grabbing another, "This is your new location and time. If you are late, I will not guarantee I can secure you another spot that quickly. With the recent events, I am sure portkeys will be difficult to come by to go to England. Everyone will want to be part of the celebrations."
She nodded, "Yes…thank you. Appreciate the help," she took the paper and they left too quickly.
They arrived at their departure destination, "Is this safe for toddlers?" Richard asked as they walked the field towards a man standing with the portkey.
"They will probably feel poorly once we arrive, but with the help, this is the quickest way to travel with them. I used to do it with Peri often before I got the twins now I cannot because it's harder to keep them close to me."
They reached the man and handed him their transportation papers then showed their passports, "Cassandra Rice. Richard Banks. Periwinkle King. Hallie and Holly Porter all traveling to Ottery St. Catchpole, Devon, England?"
"Yes, sir. That is all."
He nodded, "Portkey leaves in five…four…three…" Cassandra and Richard quickly grabbed the portkey and it a flash they traveled from a field in New York to a field near the burrow. They landed safely and like Cassandra predicted the girls looked very sick from the travel.
"No more," Hallie whined as she threw up.
"Perhaps we take an airplane next time?" Richard suggested cleaning her up.
Cassandra nodded, "Very well. I should have been more concerned about their well-being I just wanted to quickly get here."
"It is alright we are here now…now why this particular area? Is London nearby?"
She shook her head, "If we drove it's about a three-hour car ride to London, but I chose here because my friends live here."
They began the walk to the burrow, as they came over the hill, she smiled seeing the crooked building that was several stories tall due to Arthur and Molly adding onto the house throughout the years. "This Richard is The Burrow."
He looked at the building, "Is it safe?"
"I guess so Arthur and Molly have seven children."
"Seven…" he was shocked looking at the three girls, "And I thought three was difficult…sorry."
She laughed, "No, it is alright. We usually have our hands full. Come on let's get inside I am sure the girls are starving like I am since none of us have had a chance to eat yet." He nodded as they walked more to the house putting the girls down to let them run a bit if they wanted. They reached The Burrow, she knocked on the door.
There was movement behind the door then the door opened, "Cassie!" Molly said surprised as the girls ran inside ignoring their manners.
"Girls! Hi Molly," she hugged her.
Molly hugged back then looked at Richard, she let go of Cassandra, "Um…hello?"
"Molly this is my friend Richard. He came to assist me with the girls while we are here in England…I came to pay my respects."
She looked at Cassandra sadly, "Yes, of course. You are such a good friend…I heard young Harry went to live with his muggle aunt and uncle. He should be raised here in the wizarding world, but no one asked me," she took a breath, "Molly Weasley it is a pleasure to meet you, Richard."
He shook her hand, "It is a pleasure to meet one of Cassie's friends from her home."
"Mommy, I'm hungry," Periwinkle said coming up to them.
"Let us get all of you fed," Molly said and quickly got a meal together.
As they ate together friends and family together at one table, which pleased Cassandra greatly to see her children enjoying the company of her friends' children. Arthur looked at Molly, "We do have some other news that has not been fully released in the paper yet," he started.
"Oh? Is it bad?"
He sighed, "Sirius has been arrested. It is believed he killed Peter and gave the location of James and Lily's location."
She was stunned, "No…he would never. He was James' best friend and Harry's godfather he would never betray them like that. There will be a court hearing, yes?"
"Yes, by law there has to be one, but all this evidence is built up saying he did."
"I do not believe this for a minute. I will testify for him; Sirius is a good man."
Arthur and Molly nodded, "It will take place Tuesday. I will watch the children," Molly said, "You, Arthur, and Richard can all go to the trial. That is if you would like to go, Richard."
"I want to be there to support Cassie."
She gave a knowing look she could see clearly what his real intentions were, "You are very sweet to Cassie. She needs someone like that."
"She definitely does," he agreed.
They finished their lunch and Cassandra helped clean up while the children ran around playing all over the house. "Where will you stay?" Molly asked her.
"The Leaky Cauldron."
"You are welcome to stay here."
She shook her head, "Thank you, but we have business in London for our jobs it is easier to already be in London."
Molly understood and switched the conversation, "Now Cassie because I love you and care about you, I must know what is with Richard. He has to be more than your friend."
"Molly, he is just my friend nothing more. Sure, he is very handsome, smart, and treats me as well as the children like royalty my life cannot get distracted by men. I have children to care for."
"Cassie, no young man would help a young lady with her children let alone three toddlers if he did not truly care for their mother. He also would not travel across the globe to help you care for them while you come to pay your respects to your friends. He would not be there to support you while you attend the trial of one of your friends who is accused of revealing the location of his best friend and wife's house resulting in their murder. Cassie, he loves you, you must have some feelings either you would have pushed him far away."
She rolled her eyes, "I met him a month ago. He cannot possibly love me and I am not ready for love again."
"The heart is an interesting piece. It knows more about you than you do. You just got to know to let things in. You may have met him a month ago, but the heart knows what it wants. Let your mind and heart communicate to the other, it may show you something you were not expecting. You never know love has a weird way of appearing, shows when you least expect it."
She glanced at her then out the kitchen window at Richard and Arthur who were playing with the children in the garden. Molly's words sank into her and she realized perhaps she did love Richard and just never knew she did because she was denying herself the true feelings.